WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — While three seats on the Select Board will be on the ballot at the May 13 annual town election, just one seat is contested.

 

Longtime board member Jane Patton is opposed by Shana Dixon, chair of the town's Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee, to fill out the remaining year of a three-year term vacated last year by Andrew Hogeland, who moved out of the area.

 

iBerkshires.com asked the two candidates a series of questions about their priorities and philosophies. Their responses are below. 

 

The Williamstown League of Women Voters is also hosting a forum with Dixon and Patton, moderated by Jennifer Howlett, on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. It will air on Willinet. 

 

The deadline to register to vote in the town election and participate in the May 22 annual town meeting is Friday, May 2, at 5 p.m.

 

After a couple years of relatively low to negligible increases in the property tax rate, Williamstown at this year's town meeting will be asked to approve a spending plan that will significantly raise the levy. As one of five people who would be responsible for directing the town manager, do you feel that the town side of the budget is too high, too low or right-sized to provide the services that residents need? If your answer is too high or too low, what sorts of changes would you recommend the manager make?

 

DIXON

As a town, we face real needs — from maintaining infrastructure to ensuring public services remain strong and equitable. If the proposed budget reflects a thoughtful investment in those priorities, I'm open to supporting it. As of right now, I feel that the budget is right-sized.