Select Board contenders share ideas

CHELMSFORD » The Chelmsford Select Board candidates shared their ideas on everything from diversity, equity and inclusion to pandemic recovery and the town’s infrastructure during the group’s third debate Thursday night, sponsored by the Chelmsford League of Women

Voters.

Ellen Harde, of the Westford League of Women Voters, hosted the hour-long debate, and incumbent George Dixon, Latosha Dixon (no relation to George Dixon), Mark Carota and April Danielson participated. Deirdre Connelly, the only Planning Board candidate in attendance Thursday night, was given a platform to share a statement, since candidates Glenn Kohl, Tim Shanahan and Paul Mcdougall were not able to attend.

During the candidates’ opening statements, Latosha Dixon emphasized public health and safety as the town emerges from the pandemic, especially for front-line workers and students. She also emphasized the importance of supporting the town’s small businesses.

Carota used his opening remarks to address head-on an issue that was not otherwise brought up in the debate: the dispute over Town Manager Paul Cohen’s contract renewal. “I felt as though we could potentially broker some more communication, close the gap,” he said. He also mentioned pandemic recovery as a priority.

George Dixon used his time to talk about his deep roots in Chelmsford and his love of helping the people in it. He said he would use a fifth term to continue some of the major projects the town has started, including the sewage capacity issue, the “water issue,” which is likely the PFAS chemical contamination found in the North Chelmsford Water District, and communication