BEVERLY — George Binns said Mayor Bill Scanlon is a smart guy, and when asked to grade him, Binns gave him a B, a solid grade by any standard. The problem with Beverly is the City Council, which is easily intimidated by Scanlon, according to Binns.
SDLqThe mayor has been very clever at pulling financial rabbits out of a hat," Binns said. "The problem is the hat's getting empty and the last few rabbits have been scruffy."
Binns, who is running for Ward 4 councilor against incumbent Kevin Hobin, said a city councilor should "do the homework" before making decisions.
Binns is armed with an abundance of numbers to back up his opinions, and he knows what he wants: for Beverly to stop expanding and focus on maintaining what it already has.
Binns does not think a new high school was necessary.
"The whole thing could have been fixed for a fraction of the cost of the new school," he said, referring to the old school, which lost its accreditation.
Hobin, who is seeking his fourth term, says a new high school was the right decision for Beverly.
"It was the easiest, most important vote I have ever done," Hobin said, also mentioning the state's 58 percent reimbursement on the project.
If Hobin is re-elected, he has two main projects in mind, a pavement management system and an online citizen request network. The pavement management system, currently in progress, will catalog the condition of the roads, making it easier to address problems as they arise.
And the online citizen request would be set up much like the service already offered in Salem on the city Web site.
"I'd like you to be able to go online and make reports, like a streetlight has gone off," Hobin said. "Then be able to check updates."
While he would like to see citywide changes, he says ward issues are his first responsibility. After hearing numerous noise complaints from Ward 4 residents, Hobin proposed a new noise ordinance, which the council passed.
"The neighbors who are affected love it," he said.
Binns is also concerned about the ward, which he said is falling into disrepair. At the corner of Bertram Street and Odell Avenue, there is an orange barrel covering a pothole, and Binns said it's been there for two years.
He also wants to see Cove Elementary School kept as an elementary school, not converted into a public early learning center.
"I have no problem with the mayor pushing the envelope, but the City Council needs to evaluate it," Binns said. "A $100 million operation deserves more attention."
The election is Nov. 3.
Kevin Hobin
Address: 6 Gardner St.
Age: 53
Occupation: Anesthesia technician at Beverly Hospital
Education: 3 years at Worcester State College
Family: Wife Maureen, daughters Lauren, 24, and Elizabeth, 19, and son Andrew, 22
Previous elected experience: 6 years as a Ward 4 councilor
Grade the mayor: A
Would you accept the city's health insurance? No
George Binns
Address: 51 Baker Ave.
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired, former technical and program manager at General Electric and Pratt & Whitney
Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from University of Rhode Island, master's degree in applied mathematics and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Family: Wife Claire, sons Brant, 48, Peter, 46, and daughter Nancy (deceased)
Previous elected experience: Beverly School Committee from 1969 to 1973 (chairman in '73)
Grade the mayor: B
Would you accept the city's health insurance? Maybe
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
