Meet The Candidates, Municipal Light Commissioner

There are two local residents running for the position of Municipal Light Commissioner in this year's town election. Below, see how candidates Charles O. Phillips and John W. Arata answered questions presented at the League of Women Voters Candidates Night Monday night.

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Question 1. Do you have a problem with light department employees being paid differently than municipal employees?

Charles Phillips: Phillips said he doesn't have a problem with the difference because the requirements for department workers are unique ones that should have their own unique regulations.

John W. Arata: Arata said he has no issue with what Phillips said and agreed with him 100 percent. "The light department is a nonprofit organization that is run like a business and what he said is what I would say too," Arata said.

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Question 2: What should be the role of the light department energy efficiency promotion in town homes and buildings?

John W. Arata: Arata said the department needs to work with the various town departments that own or work with real estate locations in town to implement energy conserving measures.

Charles Phillips: Philips said there is always work to be done but he is happy with the departments track record with promoting efficiency. "I believe that the light department has been influential in  dealing with the high school and the renovations to the village school," he said.

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Phillips and Arata were granted the opportunity to close out their time at the table with a one-minute closing statement.

Closing Statements:

Charles Phillips: Phillips said he's been happy to work for the light department the last 15 years and that he feels that his background in engineering and his experience put him in a strong position to continue the department's plan for the future.

John W. Arata: Arata said there are three major complexities that the town and the department are facing: the closing of Salem Power Plant, the implementation of the Smart Meter Program and whether or not to register in the Green Community Act.