To the Editor:

Hello everyone, the last couple months have certainly flown by quickly. So, once again another campaign is upon us. I am looking forward to again getting your valued support for a three-year term so I can continue serving the people of Dalton. I am very pleased with what has been started in my brief time in office. Each item that was started was a promise made during my campaign, and I would really like to make sure these things happen. And best of all, together I know we can make sure they do.

Over the last couple months I have been busy keeping my campaign promises:

I promised to listen. I have continued my weekly office hours at the Town Hall and also meet with people stopping by my campaign headquarters. I return phone calls in a timely manner and I answer emails. I feel I have been very effective and transparent in educating and being knowledgeable for the public. And what I don't know, I have tried to go out, learn and bring back to people to answer their questions.

I promised to be supportive. I have been working with town employees and residents trying to equitably resolve the dust issue residents of Pleasant Street and Raymond Drive have been dealing with for a long time. I, along with the other members of the Planning Committee, have also been trying to resolve the issues related to Robert's gravel processing operation.

I promised to help improve the town's infrastructure. I am pleased to note that I encouraged the reactivation of the stormwater commission and that we now have a full committee with a great group of capable people. One of the Commission's goals is to map the existing stormwater piping, identify areas in greatest need of repair, and create a repair schedule for the next 20 years that fits within the town's budget. I hope that when stormwater is well underway, we can then look at the sanitary sewer system.

I promised to be prudent with spending. I have continued to promote and campaign for the new police station to be a regionalized police station to hopefully gain substantial financial support from the state and limit the local burden.

I promised to work on improving future planning in Dalton. I have proposed a bylaw to create a Capital Planning Committee that will annually update the town's five-year financial spending plan based on the town's recognized needs and its 20-year master plan.

What I would like to request from everybody is to understand that not only are we again in a four-way election, but this time the challenge is even greater so we need to generate even more support from our friends, neighbors and colleagues to help assure I remain on the Select Board to support a forward thinking future and to continue the progress that Dalton needs.

Robert E.W. Collins
Dalton, Mass. 

Collins won election to complete a term on the Dalton Select Board in a special election in February and is running for a full three-year term in May.

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