by Frank Schroth

Nomination papers are not due into the Town Clerk’s office until 5:00 this afternoon but a furry of papers were returned yesterday. The Town Clerk certified the signatures for all papers received to date and the only outstanding question this morning is whether there will be a contest for school committee. There will be contested seats for Assessor, Board of Health, Library Trustee, and Planning Board.

The race for the open Planning Board seat may be the most closely watched. Three relative newcomers to local politics, Bryan Furze, Michael Hale, and Richard Sheldon are vying for the seat vacated by long standing Planning Board member Bernie Lynch. The Planning Board is dealing with a number of high profile issues and developments. There are three 40B projects  in various stages of development and Milton is still exposed given our low inventory of affordable housing (~4.5%). Two of those developments were spawned when previous special permit requests by the developers were denied by the board for failing to meet the zoning. The board is in the process of developing a Housing Production Plan which can direct how and where affordable housing is built and deflect hostile 40B developments. A Master Planning process is also underway as are a number of developments on Randolph Avenue. One of the 40Bs is proposed for Randolph Avenue and there are also proposals for an assisted living facility that would service Alzheimer’s patients (Horseplay Stables site), a hospice care facility (St. Elizabeth’s rectory site) and a new animal shelter (town land near Horseplay). There are the parking and traffic modifications to East Milton and the possibility of development of the DOT park and ride lot also taking place.

There are 5 candidates for 3 open seats on the Library Board of Trustees. Two incumbents, Kristine Hodlin and Frank Schroth, are running for re-election. Mary Riffe Hiss is up for re-election but has stated she will not be running. There are three challengers, John Folcarelli, Ed Duffy, and Sheryl Fleitman. Ed Duffy is name familiar to voters. He is currently a member Planning Board where he has served for many years.

Richard Larson and Brian Cronin will be running for the one Assessor seat. Regardless of who wins, it will represent a complete turnover to that board that began a couple of years. Kathleen Heffernan, Thomas Gunning, and M. Joseph Manning were all long serving members. Ms. Heffernan was the first to retire, followed by Mr. Gunning, and this year Mr. Manning. Either Larson of Cronin will be joining Bill Bennett and Jim Henderson. Adding to the change is the announcement that Town Assessor Jeff D’Ambly is retiring this year.

There are two candidates for a Board of Health seat with a one year term. Laura Richards and Cindy Christiansen. Ms. Richards was appointed to the seat when Tim Lowney stepped off the board. Incumbent Roxanne Musto is running unopposed for a 3 year seat on the board.

The open question this morning is whether there will be a race for school committee. To date only incumbent Leroy Walker has returned papers and had them certified. Incumbent Kristen Bagley-Jones has taken out papers. Based on a conversation with Ms. Bagley-Jones we expect her to run. Leemichael MacLean has also taken out papers but not yet returned them.

All other open seats are uncontested. The following incumbents have returned their papers, been certified, and will be on the ballot unopposed:

• Tom Hurley — Board of Selectmen
• Jim McAuliffe — Treasurer

Also, Kevin Crisom, incumbent of Parks and Recreation, has returned his papers but they have not yet been certified.

Lastly, the following incumbents took out papers but have not returned them as of yet:

• Lee Carey — Housing Authority
• Joe Reardon — Trustee of the Cemetery

You can find a complete list of candidates for town wide election and town meeting candidates on the Town Clerk’s web site here.