In continuing with the Manchester Life's candidates profiles, below please find Director Jason Doucette's response (emphasis mine):Running a town of well over 50,000 people like Manchester is always a challenging task. Manchester has vastly different needs than it did 65 years ago when my grandparents started their families here - we are now in a mode of perpetual maintenance of our town's resources and adapting to the changing needs of our citizens and increasing demands on our town's services. Over the next two years, we need to work diligently to make sure those services remain viable and need to work smarter and spend wisely to promote the efficient use of our tax dollars.
We need to protect our investment in town infrastructure by maintaining, repairing and renovating roads, sidewalks, bridges, town buildings and facilities. As just one example, over the next two years I think we need to develop a plan for the future expansion of our town libraries, which serve so many of our residents. Also, we need to help our citizens maintain their own neighborhoods. In my first year on the Board, I introduced an exterior paint program which utilized Federal funding for grants for exterior house paint and supplies for eligible homeowners and properties in Manchester’s older neighborhoods to help maintain and beautify housing. I also proposed a “Housing Development Zone” which would increase access to funding for the rehabilitation of distressed housing, but there is more work required to get this program up and running.
We need to continue to have a comprehensive approach to development and land use. In my first year on the Board of Directors, I chaired a subcommittee to study the most effective way to regulate the preservation and protection of our wetlands and watercourses, which resulted in several recommendations now being implemented. I also served on the Land Acquisition Committee which brought about the acquisition of many acres of open space. We are on the right track here, and I hope to continue working on initiatives like these over then next two years.
We need to improve the lives of our children by continuing to rebuild our schools, and by creating and enhancing places for after-school activities in our neighborhoods. Toward this goal, I traveled to Washington D.C. on behalf of Manchester and lobbied members of Congress for federal funding for a new youth center. I also introduced the Manchester "Platform for Strengthening Families and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth” which proposes a number of initiatives geared towards improving opportunities for our youth and coordinating after-school programming. Again, both of these efforts need more work over the next two years.
As a father and citizen of Manchester, I have a clear vision of what the future of Manchester should hold – a prosperous place with opportunity for all of our children, excellent town services and reasonable taxes – a community we can all be proud of. I would be grateful to the voters of Manchester if they allow me to continue the work I have started towards making this vision a reality.
