GOSHEN — Voters at the annual town election Saturday will decide one contest for a three-year seat on the Select Board left vacant by Scott Bisbee who is not seeking reelection.
Wayne Glasser, 64, and Frank Burnett, 79, will square off for the seat on the three-member board.
Glasser currently serves on the town’s Capital Planning Committee.
“It has been during my year on that committee that I realized just how much planning wasn’t being done or wasn’t being done well,” he said.
Glasser is a retired information technology specialist and has worked in finance for small businesses, Fortune 500 companies and academic institutions.
“The Hilltowns have a high population of folks that are elderly and on fixed incomes and that puts constraints on how a town can raise money when the primary funding comes from property taxes,” Glasser said. “This makes budgeting and capital planning even more important.”
Glasser said that in small towns without a manager or administrator, information gathering and fact-checking falls to select boards, which he says requires board members to be accurate and focused.
“I am a big proponent of learning and making informed decisions based on facts, not just feelings or emotions,” Glasser said.
A resident of Goshen for almost 30 years, Glasser said that he has not been a “political animal” but wants to help the town in setting priorities that will “help move the ball forward in a good direction.”
Glasser said among his concerns is securing broadband services for the area.
Glasser lives with his wife Pam Skinner at 26 Fuller Road.
Burnett is a retired maintenance foreman for the University of Massachusetts physical plant department who served as a firefighter for several years on the Goshen Fire Department until becoming an auxiliary member after turning 70.
He was also a member of the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Department.
“I worked as a special officer for the trial court serving and arresting deadbeat dads,” Burnett said.
Burnett said he was encouraged by several people to run for the open seat on the Select Board and was nominated at the town caucus.
He noted that two of the issues he feels strongly about are providing safe drinking water to the center of town. Due to problems with a town well, the water in that area is unsafe to drink.
“It has been like that for quite awhile,” Burnett said. “What if there was an emergency situation in town and there is no safe drinking water at the Fire Department or town offices? We need a good well.”
Burnett also said that he would look into getting solar energy for municipal buildings.
After retiring from UMass, Burnett moved from Amherst to Goshen 13 years ago where he was appointed to the position of constable.
“I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Amherst and the people up here are very nice,” Burnett said.
Burnett said he is concerned about public safety and town planning.”I don’t know all of the issues facing the town right now, but once I get there I know I can get into it and do some good,” he said.
Burnett lives with his wife Nancy Burnett at 558 East St.
Unopposed candidates on the ballot are Stephen M. Estelle, 126 Berkshire Trail, assessor, three years; Diane E. Bushee, 63 West St., assessor, three years; Nancy E. Grove, 130 Spruce Corner Road, Finance Board, three years; Pearl L. Judd 36 Main St., Finance Board, three years; Ann Marie Deres 609 East Street, Finance Board, one year; Robert H. Labrie, 3 Maple Road; Lisa Newman, 131 Sears Road, Planning Board, five years; Thomas J. Cairns, 583 East St., Planning Board, one year.
Also, Keith M. Wright, 38 Wildwood Lane, Chesterfield/Goshen Regional School Committee, three years; Roger A. Culver, 55 South Chesterfield Road, Tilton Fruit Farm supervisor, one year; Robert O. Goss, 12 White Road, Tilton Fruit Farm supervisor, one year; Richard Polwrek, 162 Spruce Corner Road, Tilton Fruit Farm supervisor, one year; and Diane E. Bushee, 63 West St., Hanpshire County Councilor, two years.