Burchell, Pike trade views at Belmont forum

Selectman candidate Wade Burchell said he’s opposed to a plan offered being offered by the current selectmen to spend $275,000 on purchasing the old bank property across from the Town Hall.

Burchell made his statement at a candidates’ forum held at Belmont High School last night.

Only about 40 people attended the event, which seemed to discourage Burchell’s opponent, incumbent Jon Pike. “My biggest worry is what’s happening here tonight,” he said, looking around. “There’s not enough people… We need to get Belmont more involved in Belmont.”

Pike said he’s been trying to do that, “but judging from tonight I guess I’ve failed.”

The Burchell and Pike race appears to be the most interesting on going into Election Day Tuesday. Several other candidates spoke at the event, but the only other contested race with all candidates present was for a three-year Belmont seat on the Shaker Regional School Board.

In his opening remarks, Burchell said he doesn’t like the idea of buying the old bank building and its surrounding property as proposed out in warrant Article #35.

“I wouldn’t buy a building without an appraisal, would you?” he said. “And what’s the real plan for it? It’s not clear to me.”

Burchell, who is seeking to replace Pike after the selectmen’s first three-year term on the board, said that financing a 30-year-old loan for the property will make the purchase even more costly. “And when you figure in the lost tax revenue you’re talking about spending $425,000 without a real plan. I think that’s worth a little more time investigating.”

The candidate said he’s not opposed to buying the land but he believes more “due diligence” needs to be done to be sure the price and the future plans will work out.

Pike did not respond directly to Burchell’s comments about the bank property but Selectman David Morse did.

Morse said the $275,000 price is what the property’s current assessed value and the town assessor, as well as other officials, have looked at it lately and feel it can be an immediate help by “taking some of the pressure” off the crowded Town Hall office space.

Morse also questioned Burchell’s allegation that the town bid on the land when the real estate market was high and could now likely get it for less.

Pike said he was a local businessman who was “on the streets” often enough so that he knew what people were talking about. “I’m not the best businessman, I’m not the best leader, but I think I’ve got more common sense to get through life than most people.”

Pike also offered some off-handed praise to Burchell. “He has good issues,” he said. “I have a good record.”

Meanwhile school board candidates Greta Olson-Wilder and Rich Bryant talked about the credentials they would bring to the three-year seat on the Canterbury-Belmont school board.

Olson-Wilder talked about her many community involvements, both with the school and the town — including working for the last 10 years on the Old Home Day Committee.

“I’m not running for school board to change the world but I am a big believer that there’s always room for improvement,” she said. “I think we have a successful school district now and I want to keep that going.”

The candidate also said her 25-plus years experience in banking, auditing and training will make her “an asset on the board.”

Bryant said he worked as Belmont High School’s school resource police officer for the past 10 years before retiring several months ago, so and his knowledge of the community and the bonds he’s built with the students would be a benefit to the school district.

“I think m 23 years here in town gives me an understanding of the socioeconomic realities of our district,” he said. “Some people struggle with finances, and we’re dealing with the needs of the kids. I think I have a clue about what kids really need in this district.”