The debate lineup, PAGE B3 BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

NORTH ATTLEBORO - The four candidates running for the board of selectmen will face off tonight during a debate on North TV.

Incumbent John Rhyno, planning board members Joan Marchitto and Christopher Sweet and former Representative Town Meeting member Walter Matthis are vying for two seats on the board of selectmen at the April 7 town election.

Rhyno said he is running for a fourth term on the board because he enjoys helping residents navigate the maze of town government to resolve problems.

"There is a lot of work that needs to be done," he said. "The people in North Attleboro need an advocate, and I feel like I've tried to fill that role by having office hours and meeting with people every day," he said. "I'd like to think that most people don't feel intimidated by me, and that they know I'm here to help them." Marchitto, who has served on the planning board for five years, said her experience will be valuable to the board of selectmen.

"I understand the importance of collaborating on goals and being persistent to keep those goals on the front-burner," she said.

As a retiree, Matthis said he can offer something unique - a daily presence at town hall as a full-time selectman, on hand to resolve issues as they arise.

"I feel there's a need in town for people to step forward and be proactive," he said. "I'm the only one who will be a full-time selectmen. I will be at town hall every day, and people will be able to see me face to face. I'm fully committed to being there with the town administrator to help people with whatever they need. I will be able to talk them to a department on that day to get help."

Sweet, who has served on the planning board and finance committee, said his working knowledge of government and budgets, will be helpful to the town in these difficult financial times.

"This is a very tough budget period, and I have the background to help with it. I know the lingo - I'll be able to hit the ground running. I won't need a primer on government finance," he said.

Here are the stances taken by the candidates on some of the issues faced in the community:

BudgetAll of the candidates are concerned about the town budget for the upcoming fiscal year and have spoken about their approach to its challenges.

If elected, Marchitto said her top priority will be working on a prioritized financial plan

"I think we need to go back to the department heads because they know how to best bring essential services to our residents. They know what they need," she said. Matthis said the town will need some "belt-tightening" because of cuts in aid from the state, saying, "We can't hurt police and fire. We need good schools, and we need to help seniors. But there are areas that can be cut - maybe looking at whether some jobs can be done by part-time personnel instead of full-time and trying to make our equipment go one more year before it is replaced."

Sweet said nothing should be taken off the table when the aim is to "preserve as many jobs as possible." He said furloughs and freezing contracts could be considered, as should non-essential items, such as cell-phone use.

"We need everyone to check their egos at the door. It comes down to everyone's well-being. We need to get everyone working together," he said.

Rhyno also said the town should rely on its department heads to help make decisions about budget cuts. He said the town's unions are being asked to make some concessions that will save money and jobs.

"You have to preserve as many jobs for as many employees as you can. You don't want to destroy the fabric of the town," he said.

Government reformMatthis said he believes Representative Town Meeting (RTM) provides critical checks and balances and should be kept. He said government reform efforts should focus on increasing involvement and making other tweaks to the current form of government.

"I feel our basic type of government is pretty good. I'm in love with the RTM portion of it, though I think it needs a bit of a makeover. I lived under a mayor and town council in the past, and when I moved here, the RTM just blew me away. To me, that's real democracy because it provides checks and balances for what happens in this town," he said.

Before launching into government reform, Sweet said the town needs to build consensus about what that reform should be. He said any changes should be aimed at saving money, increasing efficiency and improving openness - much of which could be done through bylaw changes. Sweet also believes that Representative Town Meeting should shrink to the point where competitive races are common.

"The only reason to change town government is to make it more efficient, save money or improve communication."

Rhyno said government reform efforts should be aimed at bringing more accountability to the town.

"I think we need one person in charge. I can honestly say that it doesn't matter to me if that person is appointed or elected. What matters is that we have one person who can meet with department heads, and that is the person the buck stops with," he said.

Marchitto said that current government reform should be a collaborative effort among town officials, boards and residents at large. She said the key is to identify what problems need to be resolved.

"I always walk out of those meetings not knowing what the problem is. It gets frustrating," she said. "We have lots of new department heads, and they are all willing to work together to make things better. They have insight brought from other towns that will help make our government work more smoothly and more efficiently."

Tax rateWhen it comes to the debate over a dual or single tax rate, three of the candidates say they favor taxing business and residential properties at the same rate.

Marchitto, Matthis and Sweet are all in favor of a single tax rate, saying that a dual tax rate puts an extra burden on the town's business.

Rhyno, on the other hand has voted in favor of both dual and single rates, depending on the economic climate at the time. He most recently voted in favor of a dual rate, saying he makes a decision based on what is best for the entire community.

The 'Afghans' paintingWhen it comes to the "Afghans" painting, Sweet said the town should be focusing its efforts on more important issues at this time.

"The art market has gone to hell, there's really no reason to consider selling it right now. I think we should give Mr.. Thompson his due by providing recognition for his gift to the town. Only with consent of the family should we sell the painting and create a trust that would use the interest to help students in performing arts, music and fine arts programs," he said.

Rhyno is opposed to selling the "Afghans" painting, saying, "It's considered a public trust in any court of law. It's not about keeping it or selling it to me - it's about the wishes of the donor family who are very opposed to selling it."

Marchitto said she felt the school committee did a good job securing the painting. However, the impasse that exists over the painting's fate needs to be resolved because it takes time away from more pressing issues.

"Let's start building bridges and talking to each other," she said. "We have more difficult challenges we have to face - we're talking about the budget and securing people's jobs in a time when people are being laid off and businesses are closing down. We shouldn't still be talking about a beautiful painting."

Matthis said he believes the "Afghans painting never should have left town and said he hopes meetings between the school committee and selectmen will resolve the issue once and for all.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.