Candidates’ Night Part 1: Housing Authority

Voters of all ages and backgrounds showed up at the Thursday night to hear from upcoming Town Election candidates during the 62nd annual Wayland League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night.

Audience and LWV questions ranged from the simple to the unanswerably complex, but taxes, land use and government transparency emerged as popular topics.

Only three boards or committees will have contested positions on the April 3 Town Election ballot: The Board of Selectmen, Recreation Commission and Housing Authority. Thursday night, the audience questioned the candidates for all three of these boards on their views of the hot topics mentioned above.

The Housing Authority candidates took the stage first. Jacqueline Ducharme and Laurie Hojlo are vying for a single, one-year term on the board, while Mary Antes and Kevin Goodwin are running uncontested for a five-year term and a two-year term respectively.

Ducharme said she would like to see Wayland maintain its semi-rural character while meeting the affordable housing needs of residents as well as the state's requirements.

“I believe the town needs to have an updated, comprehensive affordable housing plan,” Ducharme said, adding that she’d like to see many options when it comes to affordable housing.

Hojlo pointed out that while many Wayland residents live comfortably in homes they can afford, that isn’t the case for everyone.

“Not everyone in Wayland lives in such optimal conditions,” Hojlo said. “I would love to be able to assist ... in finding healthy housing options for residents who already live in town.”

When asked whether town-owned land should be allocated to affordable housing, both candidates said that decision isn’t necessarily black and white.

“We do have a lot of land in Wayland and there are housing options we can put on that land,” Hojlo said. “I don’t think it’s a cut-and-dried thing, but I think we can look at many options for town land.”

Ducharme pointed out that town-owned land falls under the jurisdictions of numerous boards and committees, so building housing on it should involve a “very clear” process.

A follow-up question asked the candidates to comment specifically on whether they supported the construction of affordable housing on town-owned land on Dudley Pond that is currently being studied by the Dudley Area Advisory Committee.

Ducharme explained that the plans the advisory committee is currently examining feature options that include affordable housing, avoid affordable housing and one plan that allows for affordable housing should a particular “trigger” be met in terms of need.

Hojlo said she understood there was land there that could help meet a need in town, but she would want to ensure proper studies to preserve the environment and protect the space were conducted before going the housing route.

“I think that there is land there that possibly we might be able to use a portion of that to create a housing option for families,” Hojlo said. “I would definitely not rule that out.”

Antes and Goodwin did not respond to questions as they are running unopposed for their positions.

This is the first of three articles covering Candidates’ Night 2012. Wayland Patch will publish part 2, focusing on the Board of Selectmen, on Saturday, March 24. Part 3, focusing on the Recreation Commission, will publish on Sunday, March 25.