Selectmen hopefuls outline vision for town

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Alice LoCicero hadn’t really thought about running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen until she was approached by members of the Maynard Progressive Coalition who asked her to run.

“The more I learned about it the more I really got excited about what I could do to help the people in Maynard who don’t seem to have a voice right now,” she said.

LoCicero is hoping to be elected to one of two open seats on the board. Incumbent David Gavin and Jeffrey Swanberg are also hoping to earn a spot.

A low-income, single mother of a preschooler, she knows what it means to struggle and would like to help others that are struggling to find affordable places to rent.

She realizes this is not directly under the Board of Selectmen’s purview, but says, “the people who live here are.”

The daughter of an immigrant, she believes all immigrants living in Maynard should be allowed to live without fear. She is concerned about low-income families and senior citizens.

“I’m concerned for everybody and I want to know more about what is going on and I want to know where I could help and I feel like I could. I think I would definitely do the right thing and make good choices,” she said.

She’s still figuring out where she can help.

“I’m wondering if there are other people I can help make things better for and I won’t know until I know more,” LoCicero said.

Costs on the rise

She admits she has a lot to learn and is trying to watch previous board meetings on YouTube to get up to speed. Unable to pay for internet access, she is finding it difficult, though and wishes there were other places to access the information.

In addition to high rents, she is concerned about recent increases in water and sewer rates and the ever-increasing taxes.

The board needs to do a better job of explaining why these things keep going up, she said, but she admits she doesn’t know how to change it.

“I know everyone wants to keep it a small town and a safe town and it doesn’t seem to be going in that direction and I think it’s making a lot of people mad. I don’t know what I could do if I was there but I know that I would listen to people and I would take everybody’s feelings into account and I would take time to explain things,” LoCicero said.

She believes the schools should get all the money they ask for “to make it a safe space for kids.” She would vote to spend the money to repair the roof at Green Meadow School, which Town Meeting will consider on June 13.

“I don’t think the school should be skimped on at all,” she said.

As for building a new fire station, another capital item the town is considering, she said she would need more information before committing to spending money on a new station.

Helping others

One of her biggest concerns is the divide she sees among people in town, which she believes is starting because of tension created on Facebook.

“It’s becoming very ugly and I don’t appreciate it or like it and I think it’s a bunch of silliness,” she said. “I think we need to get our heads back where they need to be and have some civility and not be wasting time.”

LoCicero has never been involved with any other town boards or committees, but if elected to the Board of Selectmen, she believes she is up to the task.

“I like the idea of helping. I would like to do better for the town. I’ll do the right thing and I will make good, fair choices if it is up to me to make a choice. I look forward to being able to help Maynard if I am able to do so,” she said.

For more information visit her Facebook page at facebook.com/Alice-E-For-Board-of-Selectmen-103542981277051

Maynard Town Election

WHEN: 7 a.m. 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 23

WHERE: Fowler Middle School, 3 Tiger Drive, Maynard. Note: For this election only there will be only one polling location for all four precincts.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 12

DETAILS: Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, residents are encouraged to vote by mail. Early ballots can be requested on the town of Maynard website at townofmaynard-ma.gov. Allow ample time for the application and receipt of the ballot.