Meet the Candidate- Shawn Fenn (Ward 2, City Council)

This profile is part of a “Meet the Candidate” series. All candidates were given the opportunity to answer the same questions. Their responses are published verbatim, without any editing.

Why did you decide to run for office?

I am running for Newburyport City Council because I want to give back to my community and I value public service. Ward 2 is so unique, encompassing residential areas, much of our business community, parts of our waterfront and many of Newburyport’s historic buildings. Ward 2 needs a councilor who can work with many constituencies and be conversant on many issues, and I believe my background has prepared me well to serve in this role.

I have worked in municipal and state government for over two decades and hold a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University. I currently work at UMass Boston in the Collins Center as a Public Service Manager leading consulting practice areas that help municipalities across the Commonwealth implement best practices in public sector management: IT, Data & Analytics, Public Safety, Public Works & Utilities. I have served as a coach and volunteer on the Board of Newburyport Girls Basketball Association (NGBA) for 7+ years and as NGBA President for the last 2 years.

I approach my municipal work and my community commitments with a spirit of teamwork, collaboration, thoughtfulness and a focus on what outcome creates the greatest value for the public, keeping in mind the good of the community I am serving. When problem-solving, I encourage everyone to share their honest opinions and seek out advice and input from as many experts and stakeholders as possible. I never assume my opinion is the most informed. This humility and willingness to challenge my own assumptions leads to a better decision-making process, better buy-in from all involved and a greater chance of consensus solutions.

If elected, what would be your top 3 priorities?

1. Affordability– I want to work with Council, the administration, housing affordability experts, regional public sector and non-profit organizations, and private sector partners to explore a multi-pronged approach to creating more affordable housing and preserving the affordable housing stock we have. I will also work to examine opportunities to become more cost efficient in the way Newburyport delivers its public services, including shared or regional services, where it makes sense for Newburyport. I will work with and support the Newburyport business community and commercial property owners to find mutually beneficial opportunities to increase local receipts and our commercial tax base to reduce the percentage of our overall assessment that falls on residential property owners.

2. Sustainability– I will work with the administration and the Resiliency Committee to make sure we are in the best position we can be with respect to climate resiliency. I will seek continued and increased collaboration with federal, state, regional and local stakeholders to address combined sewer overflows in the Merrimack River that disproportionately impact Newburyport because of our location on the river. I will work to improve financial sustainability via the budget approval process and greater collaboration with the Council, Mayor and School Committee to problem-solve on the issue we have that contracted wage increases and employee benefit costs are continually rising at a much higher rate than overall budget growth.

3. Livability– I will work to make sure that the streets and sidewalks in Ward 2 are completed as scheduled including the much-needed Federal Street repaving. I will work to make sure we prioritize critical infrastructure projects like those at the Upper and Lower Artichoke Reservoir. I will invite collaboration with the administration and the Water and Sewer Commission to make sure we do as much as possible to have “shovel-ready” plans in place for large-scale water and sewer infrastructure projects, so we are ready to apply for federal, state or other grants when the federal funding environment for Massachusetts communities improves. I will work to make sure that the amazing parks, waterfront and open spaces we have in Newburyport are maintained and that our recreation and learning opportunities for youth, families and seniors in Newburyport remain the tremendous community asset they are today.

How has prior experience (either professional or personal) prepared you for this role?

I have worked in municipal and state government for over two decades and hold  a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University. I currently work at UMass Boston in the Collins Center as a Public Service Manager leading consulting practice areas that help municipalities across the Commonwealth implement best practices in public sector management: IT, Data & Analytics, Public Safety, Public Works & Utilities. I have served as a coach and volunteer on the Board of Newburyport Girls Basketball Association (NGBA) for 7+ years and as NGBA President for the last 2 years. I advocated for the “Yes for the Rec” campaign to build a permanent home for Recreation and Youth Services.

In my current position at the Collins Center, I have worked with roughly two hundred communities across the Commonwealth to find ways to deliver services more efficiently and effectively for the public. I have seen innovative solutions to municipal issues succeed and I have firsthand knowledge of the factors that lead to success and failure when implementing new ideas, partnerships, policies and practices.

As someone who personally struggles with the cost of housing in Newburyport, I understand the concerns and issues of many Ward 2 residents who value what Newburyport has to offer but are also concerned with housing affordability. I believe that, with focus, we can have a great community for all residents without completely pricing out those on fixed incomes, long-time residents or working-class families. This is very important to me.

What can city government do to make local housing more affordable?

The Affordable Housing Trust has done fantastic work in this area, and we should not try to re-create the wheel. We should involve the stakeholders in our community who have already been working specifically on housing affordability and find what steps we can take based on expert recommendations to chip away at the problem.  The Newburyport 2025-2030 Housing Production Plan has a number of recommendations we could implement in the short and medium term and, because we have been recognized as a Housing Choice Community Designee, we are eligible for Housing Choice Grants to fund studies, planning, and implementation efforts toward housing affordability issues in Newburyport.

I am particularly interested in:

• Preserving existing rental units in Newburyport through zoning, restrictions on conversions and other efforts.
• Increasing our stock of “right sized” (1-2 bedroom) homes for residents to downsize and stay in Newburyport through incentives and zoning.
• Further Investigation of a 40Y Starter Home Overlay District
• Preserving family starter homes and slowing the trend of tear-down and replacement with “McMansions.”
• Reviewing our zoning and ordinances to ensure that we have clear, rational policies and can reduce unneeded barriers to building the types of housing we need in Newburyport.

Do you think residents are getting their money’s worth in city services from taxes?

I believe that we do get our money’s worth in services from the city. Newburyport is a wonderful community with quality municipal services. When I look through the budget and what residents receive from the City, I don’t see unnecessary expenditures but I will look for better ways to provide services in more efficient and effective ways. My experience in public administration across nearly every municipal department will be an asset when it comes to evaluating and rethinking how we deliver services in the most effective ways for the best value.

We do have a structural budget issue that nearly every community in Massachusetts faces – the cost of personnel and benefits rises every year much faster than our assessment can grow according to Proposition 2 ½. We will have to find ways in the future to reduce the cost of doing business through efficiency of operating costs to maintain the quality of services we enjoy now in Newburyport. This discussion must also include long-term planning and evaluation of fiscal impact of contractual wage and step increases for employees. It is unsustainable, even with new growth, to have personnel costs rise significantly faster than our overall budget growth.

How would you balance historic preservation with more practical concerns like safety and accessibility?

I approach issues with an eye towards compromise and collaboration as opposed to win/lose. Newburyport has defined Historic Districts, the Newburyport Historical Commission and the citizen advocacy group of the Newburyport Preservation Trust which are all important stakeholders and advocates for preserving Newburyport’s historic architecture and character. The historic architecture and character of Newburyport is a vital asset and attraction for our community.

We also have public advocates on the Newburyport Commission on Disabilities and the Human Rights Commission who play an important role in ensuring accessibility of public services and accommodations for all of our residents regardless of disability. Municipalities additionally face issues of mandates, legal compliance, risk mitigation and public safety hazards. One example of mandated compliance is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.)

When approaching a problem that appears to be win/lose, we need to bring together the different stakeholders to see where creative solutions might be found. By focusing more on shared versus competing interests, better solutions are achieved. One example of this in Newburyport is that I would look at how we can meet applicable requirements of the ADA and address accessibility concerns while still preserving the unique and defining character of Newburyport’s brick sidewalks. By bringing together experts and advocates together to work toward a shared goal,  I believe we can have both.

How do you think Newburyport schools stack up against others in Essex County?

Our school community is one of the crown jewels of Newburyport. As a parent of two school-aged children, I believe our public schools are a huge asset. When I moved here in 2014 with my family, we did extensive research on school districts and decided that a combination of factors including community investment and involvement, AP opportunities, school sports and clubs, and school facilities all made Newburyport the right choice for us. My first community involvement in Newburyport was as a classroom volunteer. Our community places a high value on education, as evidenced by the budget commitment and outside organizations like the NEF which provide amazing opportunities to our students above and beyond the school budget.

One of the biggest challenges facing our schools and the city as a whole is that the schools’ budget has consistently risen as a percentage of the overall general fund budget. I see this largely as a reflection of the implications of Proposition 2 ½. Our budget cannot keep up with the rising cost of personnel and benefits.

In comparing Newburyport Schools to the other school districts in Essex County, we can find areas where others are rated higher or perform better but I do not want my daughters in any other school district. The schools have been fantastic for my children and are an asset to our community. There are, of course, areas for improvement. I believe our schools could investigate ways to reduce costs in non-personnel expenses through efficiency or shared services and will need to be very thoughtful and forward-thinking in how to recruit and retain the high-quality staff members we have while beginning to reduce the sustainability gap of personnel costs to overall budget growth.

What else should voters know about you?

I am a collaborative, thoughtful, experienced and dedicated public service professional. If elected, I will approach my role as a councilor with humility,  setting aside my personal interests to make decisions in the best interest of Ward 2 and the broader community. I will not be swayed by personal grievances. I love Newburyport – it is such a unique community, with residents who are passionate and engaged. I feel lucky to be raising my daughters here.

I encourage any voters who would like to please reach out to me via my campaign website at www.fennforward2.com

Shawn Fenn is a candidate for Newburyport City Council, Ward 2. Election and early voting information can be found here.