Politics & Government
Moreau Asks for Voter's Support as "Voice of Reason" for Woonsocket
Councilor wants streamlined permits, more cooperation from Commission in bid for second term.
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series of articles/videos in Woonsocket Patch's coverage of the Sept. 24 Candidates Night, now turning to City Council incumbents.
City Councilor Bob Moreau, a resident of Woonsocket all his 51 years, intends to streamline business permitting and pursue better cooperation from the Budget Commission's through persuasion and legislation in his bid for a second term.
"Please support me as I try to be the voice of reason for the citizens of Woonsocket," Moreau said during Candidates Night Sept. 24.
Moreau said he takes great pride in responding quickly to citizen's concerns and solving problems quickly. He said he has also received compliments on his ability to remain his own person, voting for the city's interests regardless of politics. "If it's a good idea for the City, it's good for me," Moreau said.
Moreau said he arrives at Council meetings having done his homework. "Most of the time when I ask a question, I already know the answer," he said.
Moreau, a Woonsocket Policeman for 23 years, currently works as Security Director, Woonsocket Housing Authority. He has served as chairman of the Woonsocket Zoning Board, is a member of the Cercle Laurier Club and a volunteer at the Boy's & Girl's Club of Woonsocket and belongs to St. Agatha's Church.
Woonsocket Patch asked each Council candidate a series of questions about their approach to the city's challenges. Here are Moreau's answers:
Assuming the Budget Commission is around for the duration, how would you work with the panel? If I must work with the Budget Commission , I will always do what is best for all residents. I will work diligently to have the commission work along side of the City Council and not against the council. We need to be part of a team, not working in different directions.
The Budget Commission is governed by state law. How can you as a City Councilor affect or change that law? I would write a resolution to the general Assembly requesting that they alter the state law to mandate the commission work in conjunction with the city leaders and not take over the city.
The Budget Commission still needs to raise $1 million for its 5-year plan, and that's proposed to come from trash fees. Do you support this, or, if not, do you have an alternative? The budget commission has not supplied me with information they obtained regarding trash pick. I am unable to support a pay as you throw because of the lack of information supplied to me. It's a fee and residents will not be able to claim it as a tax which it is, no matter what it's called.
Please list a reason you didn't mention at Candidates Night for voters to choose you over the other candidates. I would continue to support businesses in the city. I sponsored the resolution supporting the CVS tax credits that the state tried to eliminate. My record as a member of the past zoning board shows that I have always supported the growth of businesses in the city.
What can Councilors do to improve the City's economy? By making it easier to do business in the City of Woonsocket. I will sponsor & support legislation to streamline permitting & zoning regulations at City Hall. We need to make outsiders believe that Woonsocket is a great city to work with. We need to stop being negative about our city because business owners will not want to come here.
What would your alternative to the Budget Commission have been? As a new councilman, I would have hoped the administration would have come to the council with a solid plan of action so we didn't feel like a gun was put to our heads. We were told there were no other alternatives. The state was not going to give us the money for education and there were no other plans made available to us.
City Councilor Bob Moreau, a resident of Woonsocket all his 51 years, intends to streamline business permitting and pursue better cooperation from the Budget Commission's through persuasion and legislation in his bid for a second term.
"Please support me as I try to be the voice of reason for the citizens of Woonsocket," Moreau said during Candidates Night Sept. 24.
Moreau said he takes great pride in responding quickly to citizen's concerns and solving problems quickly. He said he has also received compliments on his ability to remain his own person, voting for the city's interests regardless of politics. "If it's a good idea for the City, it's good for me," Moreau said.
Moreau said he arrives at Council meetings having done his homework. "Most of the time when I ask a question, I already know the answer," he said.
Moreau, a Woonsocket Policeman for 23 years, currently works as Security Director, Woonsocket Housing Authority. He has served as chairman of the Woonsocket Zoning Board, is a member of the Cercle Laurier Club and a volunteer at the Boy's & Girl's Club of Woonsocket and belongs to St. Agatha's Church.
Woonsocket Patch asked each Council candidate a series of questions about their approach to the city's challenges. Here are Moreau's answers:
Assuming the Budget Commission is around for the duration, how would you work with the panel? If I must work with the Budget Commission , I will always do what is best for all residents. I will work diligently to have the commission work along side of the City Council and not against the council. We need to be part of a team, not working in different directions.
The Budget Commission is governed by state law. How can you as a City Councilor affect or change that law? I would write a resolution to the general Assembly requesting that they alter the state law to mandate the commission work in conjunction with the city leaders and not take over the city.
The Budget Commission still needs to raise $1 million for its 5-year plan, and that's proposed to come from trash fees. Do you support this, or, if not, do you have an alternative? The budget commission has not supplied me with information they obtained regarding trash pick. I am unable to support a pay as you throw because of the lack of information supplied to me. It's a fee and residents will not be able to claim it as a tax which it is, no matter what it's called.
Please list a reason you didn't mention at Candidates Night for voters to choose you over the other candidates. I would continue to support businesses in the city. I sponsored the resolution supporting the CVS tax credits that the state tried to eliminate. My record as a member of the past zoning board shows that I have always supported the growth of businesses in the city.
What can Councilors do to improve the City's economy? By making it easier to do business in the City of Woonsocket. I will sponsor & support legislation to streamline permitting & zoning regulations at City Hall. We need to make outsiders believe that Woonsocket is a great city to work with. We need to stop being negative about our city because business owners will not want to come here.
What would your alternative to the Budget Commission have been? As a new councilman, I would have hoped the administration would have come to the council with a solid plan of action so we didn't feel like a gun was put to our heads. We were told there were no other alternatives. The state was not going to give us the money for education and there were no other plans made available to us.
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