WEYMOUTH - October 16 - Weymouth residents heard from eight candidates Thursday night seeking seats on the Town Council at a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, with discussions centering on infrastructure challenges, development at the former naval air station, and community engagement as the November 4 election approaches.
The Full Story
The forum, moderated by Jack Eklund and Elizabeth Foster Nolan, featured five candidates competing for three at-large council seats and three candidates running in two contested district races. The event began with a moment of silence for Jim Melody, a councilor-at-large candidate who recently passed away.
In the counselor-at-large race, incumbents Christopher Heffernan and H. Richard Coughlin face challengers Stephen Shinney, and Alyson Dossett. Incumbent . Candidate Andrew Ryan Donovan was unable to attend due to a death in his family but submitted a written statement, while incumbent Frederick Heppel Jr. was also absent.
The candidates identified water infrastructure and population growth as the town’s most pressing short-term and long-term challenges. Heffernan, who has served eight years on the council, emphasized the importance of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) application submitted by the administration. “The deadline for that pipe actually being operational is 2030, and that’s going to require quite a lot of work,” he said, noting the pipe will likely come through either Braintree or Quincy.
Coughlin, an incumbent seeking reelection, connected water infrastructure directly to development potential. “MWRA being online within about the next six years is going to be critical,” he stated. “As that’s being done, New England development is already moving forward with Union Point.”
Shinney, making his first run for office after managing former councilor Greg Shanahan’s campaigns, emphasized his community involvement. “I’m a board member on the North Weymouth Civic Association for the last six years, I’m the president of the Weymouth Vietnam Memorial, and I’m also a Weymouth youth soccer coach,” he said. On growth issues, Shinney stressed the need for “common-sense building” at Union Point that doesn’t burden residents with increased taxes.
Dossett, a 34-year resident and citizen advocate with the group Friends of Fennel, brought a different perspective focused on immediate infrastructure needs. “In the short term, I see the seawall project over in North Weymouth as being one of critical importance,” she said, noting that federal funding was cut. She advocated for state support given “the immediate threat I see for the residents who live there.” On longer-term issues, Dossett highlighted the town’s aging water system: “We lose a million gallons a day to the ground, which does not pay.”
Donovan’s written statement, read by the moderator, outlined his focus on “safety, services, and systems,” committing to ensure first responders have adequate resources and infrastructure keeps pace with growth. His statement concluded: “Weymouth’s future is bright, and together we can make sure it stays that way.”
When discussing departmental funding priorities, all four present candidates agreed on the primacy of public safety and education. Dossett argued against cutting safety positions first: “I don’t believe that we should be looking to cut those positions or those services first. I think there are plenty other places in a budget that could be trimmed.” Shinney echoed this concern, noting that as Weymouth grows, response times become critical, particularly for Union Point development.
Coughlin characterized the budget challenge as a matrix rather than a hierarchy: “I don’t see a list of one, two, three. I see a one, one A, one B... Safety is number one... education is a close second... and then finally, the infrastructure needs to be worked on.” Heffernan warned of potential financial challenges ahead, noting the governor has issued a hiring freeze and municipalities may face difficult budget years.
On development issues, candidates emphasized responsible growth that respects neighborhood character. Heffernan cited his intervention in the Jackson Square proposal: “I purposefully went to the administration and said we need to slow down. We need to get more input from the public before we take any step forward.” Dossett stressed protecting R1 residential zoning from commercial encroachment, citing recent citizen organizing efforts against inappropriate development projects.
The $32.4 million state grant for Union Point infrastructure dominated discussion of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station development. Coughlin explained the funding is designated specifically for infrastructure, water, and sewer improvements: “It’s almost like site work... that infrastructure has to be done before you can actually start building.” Heffernan emphasized the need for traffic studies and advocated for a public safety substation at Union Point, calling it “imperative.”
Regarding community engagement, candidates acknowledged low attendance at council meetings and proposed various solutions. Heffernan suggested the council create its own Facebook page and televise committee hearings, not just full council meetings. He also proposed field hearings where committees meet in relevant neighborhoods rather than requiring residents to travel to Town Hall. Dossett advocated for bringing back virtual meeting options from the COVID era to include residents who cannot physically attend, and suggested both social media expansion and physical or digital newsletters for those not on social media.
The trash fee deficit generated diverse responses. The town recently increased trash fees, but they still don’t cover collection costs. Heffernan committed to “working with the administration to lower those fees” by finding new revenue sources rather than burdening taxpayers. Dossett took a different approach, arguing that fees, fines, and taxes “are all the same bucket” and the town should address the million gallons of daily water loss before imposing additional fees on residents.
In District 1, incumbent Pascale Burga faces challenger Kathy Kelly. Kelly was unable to attend but submitted a statement emphasizing compassion and infrastructure. “Our home should be our safe place. When that safety is compromised, we deserve leaders who stand behind us, listen with heart, and fight for what’s right,” Kelly’s statement read.
Burga, attending in person, highlighted her six years of experience and accomplishments including Beals Park improvements, $5 million in North Weymouth road improvements, and advocacy against inappropriate commercial development. “I’m proud to be the first woman in leadership on the Weymouth Town Council as the vice president, and starting in November, I’ll be interim president,” Burga stated. She emphasized her accessibility: “I work day and night. I take my constituent calls with my families on vacation wherever I am.”
In District 2, school committee vice-chair Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw faces Ed Cowen, a Marine Corps combat veteran and entrepreneur. Both candidates live in Weymouth Landing and addressed traffic congestion concerns directly. Sherlock-Shangraw, who has served on the school committee since 2018, emphasized working with the state on traffic light timing and lane configurations while being “mindful that some of the roads and streets are not under Weymouth control.”
Cowen emphasized listening to residents for solutions: “I think if there is a solution to be found, it’ll be found with the residents, essentially.” He also proposed an unconventional priority: exploring whether Weymouth could join Braintree’s municipal electric utility (BELP). “Taunton has some of the cheapest electricity rates in the state. I think that’s why Braintree sticks with BELP. I think we should look into that,” Cowen explained.
Sherlock-Shangraw identified infrastructure as her top concern, particularly in District 2: “Aging pipes, small pipes create issues, and as we develop, we need to be mindful of expanding and fixing our infrastructure.” She cited the Essex Street Central Sewer Improvement Project, a $9.5 million investment, as a template for responsible infrastructure spending. Cowen focused on utilities broadly and community building: “It’s bringing people into their own government... making an effort to invite people that you agree with or disagree with to come into their own government because it is theirs.”
On qualifications, Sherlock-Shangraw emphasized her eight years navigating complex issues on the school committee, including the pandemic, the new Chapman Middle School opening, and superintendent transitions. “I’m a teacher. My day job is teaching and synthesizing sometimes really complex information for people to make it easy for them to understand,” she said. Cowen highlighted his military service and entrepreneurial experience: “There’s not a lot of combat veterans trying to run for office, but it is specifically because of that which made me want to run for office... seeing my neighbors yelling at each other, or just not being able to talk to each other. I just think we can do better.”
If elected, Sherlock-Shangraw expressed interest in revitalizing the Education Committee to bridge communication between the town council and school committee, particularly with upcoming needs for school building planning. Cowen indicated interest in substance abuse issues: “I’ve lost a lot of people, like in my family, immediate family, cousins, uncles. I think it has been addressed... but not to the level that the problem really is.”
Why It Matters
With multiple contested races, Weymouth voters face significant choices about the town’s direction on development, infrastructure investment, and fiscal management. The Union Point development represents potentially the largest development project in eastern Massachusetts, with candidates emphasizing that five percent of Weymouth’s population already lives there. Infrastructure decisions, particularly regarding MWRA water connection and aging sewer systems, will affect both the pace of development and residents’ utility costs. The election also marks a generational shift, with several long-serving councilors not seeking reelection and new candidates bringing different perspectives on community engagement and priorities.
What’s Next
The election will be held Tuesday, November 4, 2024, with polls open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Early voting is available Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at Town Hall (75 Middle Street) in the clerk’s office. The last day to register to vote is October 25, 2024. Additional candidate forums are scheduled: the North Weymouth Civic Association is hosting a candidates night on October 22 at the Whipple Center at 7:00 PM, and the League of Women Voters is sponsoring a school committee forum on October 30 at Town Hall.
Full meeting available via Weymouth Educational Television (WETC).