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?
During my time as a member of the School Committee, I have truly valued the opportunity to serve my community. With my youngest just graduated from NHS and my four-year term coming to an end in December, I’m feeling eager to zoom out and look at the big picture of the city budget and how a healthy school budget fits into this picture, along with other priorities necessary for a healthy, thriving community.
If elected (or reelected), what would be your top 3 priorities?
- Protecting our water supply by moving forward with critical water infrastructure projects
2. Improving affordability for residents through a thoughtful, fiscally responsible budgeting process
3. Maintaining “missing middle” housing stock, i.e. rentals and starter homes (see details in response below)
How has prior experience (either professional or personal) prepared you for this role?
My four year term on the School Committee has prepared me well for a seat on the City Council. I have actively participated in four budget cycles and two rounds of union contract negotiations. I look forward to bringing my specific expertise in school budgeting to the Council. In addition, I spent my first three years on the School Committee in the Vice-Chair role, which entailed creating agendas in collaboration with the Superintendent and presiding over the meetings. Being the Presiding Officer helped me develop my communication and management skills, as well as my facility with Robert’s Rules of Order.
What can city government do to make local housing more affordable?
This is not a simple question but a very important one. I’ve heard more than one naysayer in Newburyport say, “that ship has sailed…” when asked about affordability. However, I have been actively seeking solutions and getting informed on this topic through reading and meeting with experts in planning, zoning, and housing advocacy. I have learned that our city suffers from too much spot zoning, and would benefit from a comprehensive zoning review. There’s potential for upzoning (increase allowable number of units) and changing to “by right” building. Current R2 (two-family) zones require builders to apply for a special permit, a lengthy, burdensome process that involves hiring a lawyer, which disincentivizes the development of two-family homes.
We could also increase our funding for the Affordable Housing Trust from the current 10% state minimum. Finally, our city was fortunate to receive a Housing Choice Designation from the State, which allows us to apply for special programs and funding.
Do you think residents are getting their money’s worth in city services from taxes?
I’m not sure about the phrase “getting their money’s worth” because all municipalities are required to provide essential services such as schools, road maintenance, first responders, etc in order to function. I think more in terms of, is the city spending our tax dollars responsibly in service of the community? As a City Councillor, I would want to dig into the numbers in the next budget cycle so that I can answer YES to this question with confidence.
When I speak with residents, many are concerned about rising property taxes, particularly when it comes to seniors on fixed incomes. Maintaining city services and addressing critical capital projects in the face of inflation and a decline in federal funds is a real challenge. The new ranking system for projects in the Capital Improvement Plan is a good start at prioritization and identifying wants vs needs. There may also be opportunities for cost savings through consolidation of positions and/or departments. In fact, the City recently received grant funding to hire a consultant to look into this very issue. The final report should be available in time to have a positive impact on the FY27 budget cycle.
How would you balance historic preservation with more practical concerns like safety and accessibility?
The best example I’m aware of where this balance is important, is when it comes to the brick sidewalks. Another important variable in this equation is fiscal responsibility. Brick sidewalks are a costly option and they need to be installed properly by an experienced bricklayer to be long-lasting and safe. Having said this, I believe it’s worth the cost to maintain the brick sidewalks in the downtown/historic area. I’m less certain of the fiscal feasibility of installing and/or maintaining brick sidewalks on residential side streets. An ordinance with some flexibility in materials for residential areas would be more fiscally responsible.
I also feel the need to point out that residents in the many neighborhoods outside of the historic district have concrete or asphalt sidewalks in serious disrepair, or even no sidewalks at all, and so are not happy with the idea of the city footing the bill for individual residents to have expensive brick sidewalks in front of their homes.
How do you think Newburyport schools stack up against others in Essex County?
As an experienced educator and parent of recent NHS grads, I’m very proud of our schools. Back in the fall of 2021, 800+ community stakeholders came together to contribute to our shared vision for all students when they graduate from NHS. Known as the Portrait of a Graduate, it consists of five key components: That all NHS grads are: 1) literate across all disciplines, 2) socially, emotionally, physically well, 3) creative, collaborative problem solvers, 4) civically engaged, 5) prepared for life after graduation.
Over the past two years, individual students have brought their personal “portraits” to life through impactful presentations, banners, and videos. Seeing the vision of the Portrait of a Graduate in action, as well as witnessing my own sons’ academic success, was powerful.
While I’m aware that our District MCAS scores are middling and disappointing to some, it’s important to bear in mind that these scores are simply one measure of success and not the whole picture. Newburyport students are fortunate to be in a District with many outstanding teachers and staff where the stated mission is “to ensure every student achieves intellectual and personal excellence and is equipped for life experiences.” As a member of the school committee, I’ve been honored to be a part of the ongoing process of vetting our policies, programs, staffing patterns, and budget priorities to ensure that we stay on mission.
What else should voters know about you?
I live in Ward Six, west of I-95. Out of eleven sitting City Councillors, eight of them live in Wards 1,2, and 3. That’s the three councillors representing those wards, plus all five at-large councillors. That’s a supermajority! As a resident of Ward 6, it’s a concern to me that the West End of the city is so underrepresented on the City Council. When all the attention is on the downtown/historic district (think Waterfront West, Bartlett Mall, brick sidewalks, outdoor dining), sometimes West End concerns like proper drainage, safe roads and sidewalks, and maintaining stock of affordable starter homes can get overlooked. Balanced representation on the Council will ensure that all voices are heard and that all neighborhoods across the city can thrive.
Sarah Hall is a candidate for Newburyport City Council, at large. Election and early voting information can be found here.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Leave a Reply