Mitch Cohen: Candidate for Board of Selectmen

Why do you want to serve in this position?
I want to use my 25 years of experience as a knowledgeable, passionate, and dedicated local government volunteer to help Northborough any way I can. Serving on the Board of Selectmen is the next logical step. I see the public as both the boss and the customer of the Board of Selectmen. I want to enhance the level of public participation in policy development. Northborough is an amazing Town that deserves the best Board anywhere. I want to be one of our five amazing public servants.

What special qualifications and experience will you bring to the office?
Many have called me a “Local Government Nerd” — and it’s true. Soon after moving to Northborough six years ago, I joined the Library Trustees and the Fire Station Building Committee. I participate regularly at Town Meetings and many Board and Committee meetings. If you attended or watched the ARPA funding forum organized by the Northborough Guide, I helped interpret the ins and outs of rules for the $4M federal government funds available to Northborough. I recently joined the Municipal Code and Bylaw Committee, where I was elected Chair and presented our recommendations at Town Meeting.

Going back in time a bit, before moving here, I was very active in our former town’s government. This was in Douglas, just south of Worcester. I served two terms on the Board of Selectmen, two terms on the School Committee, served on two School Building Committees ten years apart (built two new schools and renovated a third), six years on the Cultural Council, six years on the Financial Planning Committee, eighteen years on the Cable Committee, and many more.

Before my current job, I owned a small software development business for 22 years. I spent several of those years very active in the Worcester and Blackstone Valley Chambers of Commerce, organizing networking events for other small business owners. Small businesses are crucial to any local economy, and along with residents and government one of the pillars of our community.

Describe ONE other activity or (sub)committee you’ve been involved with within the town. What has it meant to you and how did it shape and impact the town?

As part of my duties on the Library Trustees, I Chaired the group that organized events for the Library’s 150th anniversary. A Library employee sent me the meeting minutes of the very first Northborough Library Trustees meeting, held in Cyrus Gale’s home in April of 1868. That led me to reading annual reports of the Trustees throughout history. Naturally, I read about the Gale family’s contributions, including the Library building itself. In the early part of the twentieth century I kept seeing the name Cora Small as a substantial force in the Library’s collection and operations. She served as a Trustee for two decades, even writing a full history of the Library. I remain impressed by her many accomplishments serving on the same board as I do now.

During the pandemic the Historical Society researched and wrote about many historic homes and properties in town. When they shared the research on our home, I couldn’t believe my eyes — the very same Cora Small lived where we do now, from 1903 to 1934. I absolutely love that I sit on the same front porch as another Trustee from a century earlier. Cora shared the home with her sister Abbie. More recently, I learned that in 1883 their father, Sumner Small, was elected to the Northborough Board of Selectmen.

Describe THREE key issues/challenges facing the town and how will you address them in this role?

• Our Downtown has remained in an underdeveloped state for decades. Our new Master Plan calls for an Economic Development Committee and a Downtown Revitalization Committee, which is so obvious both should have been in place for years. I was not surprised when reading the last two Master Plans, from 1997 and 1988, both make the same recommendations. The Board must create these immediately, and begin meeting quarterly with the Master Plan Implementation Committee to be sure they have the resources they need. I applaud the Master Plan Implementation Committee for seeking funds for the Downtown Master Plan Study. The Board of Selectmen must make this a Board Priority and be fully engaged in the process.
• Our Seniors are being taxed out of their homes. Many Town boards recently attempted to fund an eight-unit senior affordable housing project. I was very sad when the State withdrew from the project. We should keep going and make it happen. We also need to find new ways for seniors to age in place when that’s where they want to be. The Board of Selectmen should review additional options, such as Clause 41 exemptions and Clause 41A deferrals, and bring them forward to Town Meeting for consideration.
• Not many residents call into Selectmen meetings — but many who do find the options difficult. Often the Public Comment period begins after 10 p.m. Public Comment should be the very first agenda item, every meeting. Some towns (like Southborough) have it as their first and last agenda items. The Board can be far more responsive to citizen input; this is only the start.

Is there anything else that you would like to share about yourself?

I’m originally from Framingham and have lived in the Metrowest and Worcester areas all my life. I met my wife Alysa when she lived in Westborough twenty years ago. We have two growing daughters – Ariella is a freshman at Algonquin,and Alana in sixth grade at Melican. By day, I’m a software developer at Lexia Learning. If you have kids in the Northborough Elementary Schools, they probably use our “Lexia Core5” reading app.

Please read more at www.MitchCohen.com or on Facebook. Please let me know if you have any questions — or just want to talk about town government. My email is mitch@mitchcohen.com. I need your help to get all this done, and appreciate your support on Tuesday, May 10. Thank you!