Muriel Kramer for Selectmen, Proven Leadership to Get Results
Effective leadership in government is about progress on the tough issues for the community keeping a focus on the future.
In my three years on the Board, I have worked to support existing businesses and encourage new business growth. The upcoming Lonza expansion was a key initiative; together with the TIF committee, the DPW, and the Building Inspector, I worked to insure that Lonza kept its multi-million dollar expansion in Hopkinton. I worked with businesses large and small (Stryker, Barry Controls, Maria’s and Ciao Time) to fortify Hopkinton’s business base and offset residential taxes.
I helped set a professional tone for the Board of Selectmen reducing acrimony, negativity and unnecessary partisanship. The Board today focuses on government much more than politics, and Hopkinton is better served.
In my two years as Chairman, we addressed two very substantial priorities. We hired Hopkinton’s first Town Manager to establish more professional town government, and we responded to the Weston Nurseries sale ensuring Hopkinton’s Chapter 61A rights were protected while preparing for today’s effort to facilitate a revenue positive and attractive development. Today Hopkinton’s consultants are working to insure Hopkinton realizes the substantial benefits of SMART Growth with development that enhances Hopkinton.
Fiscal discipline is a continuing priority. I have worked with the Financial Plan Working Group on key initiatives, targeted consolidation of services, insisted on competitive bidding for the future and worked to get agreement on a reduced debt ceiling. The structural deficit can best be corrected by bringing expenses inline with revenues; that is my goal for the fiscal future.
I was newly re-elected Chairwoman when tragedy struck and the TM was unable to work for many weeks, I and the Board responded as a professional team managing in crisis mode until an interim manager was hired. During that time we held a historic Special Town Meeting and kept the day to day business running with the capable support of dedicated government employees.