Last modified: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 2:01 AM EDT NA selectmen hopefuls debate finances, reform BY AMY DeMELIA / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTH ATTLEBORO - Squaring off on issues of financial management, government reform and term limits, the four candidates running for the board of selectmen gave voters a taste of their visions for the future during Monday night's debate. Incumbents Marjorie Kraskouskas and William Moffitt faced off against finance committee members Michael Thompson and Mark Williamson in a debate hosted by North TV, the town's community cable television station. The debate, which will be broadcast on channel 15 periodically before the April 1 election was moderated by North TV Executive Director Peter Gay and featured questions from panelists from The Sun Chronicle and The Free Press. Among the issues highlighted in the debate was how candidates would handle the town's $1.4 million budget shortfall. All four candidates pointed out it is early in the budget process and that the budget shortfall may not come in as high as projected currently. Asked for specific ways to address the shortfall, Thompson said, "I would free salary and wages if in fact we have a $1.4 million shortfall. Second, I would go to all department managers and ask them to decide where to bring the budget back down. I would do everything in my power not to lay anyone off. We had a $3 million deficit in 1993 and we didn't lay anyone off." Kraskouskas highlighted her experience dealing with difficult budgets in the past, saying, "I was a member of the board of selectmen in 1993 and we didn't lay anyone off. We need to continue looking to where to pare the budget- the cost of fuel is a real concern. In the end I'm hoping the gap will be much lower than $1.4 million." Moffitt said, "The town administrator is taking the right approach. He has sent the budget back to department heads. If we find we need more cuts, I'm hoping some of that can be done voluntarily. I've talked with town employees who said they might be willing to volunteer to take some time off." Williamson said it is too early to make specific recommendations, saying, "If this were your home budget and if you're not able to look into your checking account to see what's in there, how do you know what bills you're going to pay? That's the problem." The candidates also differed on their approaches to government reform when asked what changes they believe residents specifically want to see. "Residents want to be heard. Residents want to be listened to," Williamson said. "We need to have discussions with residents to determine what are the best options for them to gain access to services. My approach is essentially to listen to residents and then advocate on their behalf." "What people want is to be responded to," Thompson agreed. "It doesn't matter what type of government we have, what it comes down to is how the people on the other side of the counter are treated." Kraskouskas said she has heard from a number of residents on the issue during the campaign season. "First, residents tell me they appreciate that they can come to any board of selectmen's meeting and be heard. They tell me they want to reduce the RTM so they know who their representatives are. And they tell me they want one-stop shopping for the permitting process," she said. Moffitt said that consolidation - such as one place to pay all bills - would help to streamline services but added, "I don't see it as a government reform issue, I see it more as an issue of the expectations of residents when they come to town hall," The candidates also discussed the issue of term limits, which was brought up during a prior debate by Williamson. "I certainly do support term limits on the board of selectmen. The part of my platform that is attractive to people is that I'm offering a new outlook. People who are immersed in issues may not be able to see the forest for the trees," he said. Kraskouskas, who is the town's longest serving selectman disagreed, saying she has always kept up on town issues and that, "North Attleboro does have term limits - my term limit is three years. I don't believe in a democratic society, you should limit terms." Moffitt agreed, saying, "With so few people stepping forward , when you have an experienced candidate who is doing a good job, I don't know why you wouldn't embrace that." Thompson said he could see both sides of the term limit issue and that he would be open to discussion on it.