Election 2025: Town Meeting Member Profiles: Precinct 6

This article is a part of the Burlington Buzz Election 2025 Series, in which we profile each candidate for election. This year's election is on April 5, 2025, and our mission is to make it easy for all registered voters to vote by ensuring the community has access to information about the candidates and issues on the ballot. ELECTION CORNER

Dan Collins

Tell voters a little about your background and why you're deciding to run for Town Meeting (or why you're running for re-election).

I am running for a second term because I've lived here for 10 years, my wife grew up here, and my kids are growing up here. It's important to me that we have a responsible town government.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting?

We have had some big decisions that will have big effects on every business and resident just in my first term with the new Fox Hill, police station, many zoning articles, and there are more coming up that deserve close attention.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?

It's an honor to speak for my family and neighbors along with the rest of Town Meeting. I try to be as available as possible and will speak to everyone that reaches out to me. Our officials and committees need to bring responsible and well-thought articles to us, and it's it's our responsibility to be that check on the work they put in.

What do you see as the three biggest priorities for Burlington and how should Town Meeting address them?

In the next few years we need to plan for the new high school construction and how that will affect our residents and businesses after the other recently approved building projects. Plus, the changing landscape post-covid and heavy inflation forces us to reexamine zoning barriers such as office space, housing supply, and overall fiscal responsibility with rising costs. We need to be business friendly and keep residential taxes as low as possible.

How will you impact these important issues in your role as Town Meeting Member?

I research, I speak with my fellow Town Meeting members and neighbors and officials to understand each issue and it's impact in the short and long terms. Fostering conversation with everyone is key.

There are a number of building projects on the town's agenda that will impact tax bills for residents for decades to come. What do you think should be Town Meeting's role in the decision making process?

The committees who create these project plans know there are 126 people that have their eyes on the progress and should expect tough questions. It's our duty to hold these articles to a high standard.

Low inventory and high prices have resulted in a nationwide housing crisis whose impacts can be felt in Burlington. What do you think Burlington has done right, and what does the town still lack, to address this issue?

Zoning regulations are barriers. I appreciate the mixed-use zoning articles that have come from the town thus far. We also have historically been able to keep residential taxes low with a thankfully heavy commerce. I'm hopeful that can be consistent in the face of these major school building projects that should have been addressed with a much better plan 15 years ago.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?

I've created and moderate the Burlington Town Meeting Facebook page and encourage all members, neighbors, and families with love for Burlington to join the discussions. To reach me directly, I'm available through social media, my cell phone, or my email. I speak with everyone who reaches out.

Matthew Denaro

Tell voters a little about your background and why you're deciding to run for Town Meeting (or why you're running for re-election).

I’ve been interested in government since a young age and majored in Political
Science at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Now, I’m looking to get more
involved in local government and give back to Burlington. My family moved to Burlington 11 years ago motivated by the small-town feel and proximity to Boston. Our facilities and municipal services are competitive with surrounding towns as we’ve enjoyed a lower residential tax rate. I’m running for Town Meeting so Burlington remains the great town that drew my family here. I want it to remain affordable, especially when prices on everything continue to rise.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting?

It’s time for my generation to take responsibility in local politics, offering fresh
perspectives and innovative ideas. I want to serve on Town Meeting to act as a
transparent, fair and honest voice for those in the community. I also want to serve to ensure that Burlington maintains a balanced approach to commercial development. The town needs to enhance commercial revenue streams to fund infrastructure projects like the Fox Hill School and the new police station, but we can’t sacrifice the livability of our residential neighborhoods or add to the tax burden of residents.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?

My goal is to be an accessible advocate at Town Meeting for my neighbors and the
residents of Precinct 6. This includes maintaining perfect attendance at Town Meeting. I can’t be an effective advocate if I’m not present for the meetings.

What do you see as the three biggest priorities for Burlington and how should Town Meeting address them?

The three biggest priorities are affordability, taxes and housing. All three of these
issues can be tied together. Town Meeting can address these by making sure taxes
remain low. If taxes remain low, then things are more affordable, if things are more affordable then more people can afford to live in Burlington.

How will you impact these important issues in your role as Town Meeting Member?

I plan to listen to all sides of the issue, perform my due-diligence and do what’s best for Burlington and our residents. I will bring common sense and a logical approach to the issues while advocating for transparency.

There are a number of building projects on the town's agenda that will impact tax bills for residents for decades to come. What do you think should be Town Meeting's role in the decision making process?

Town Meeting should follow a balanced approach in facilitating building projects
around the school department and a new police station. This involves upgrading our infrastructure facilities to meet the times without accessorizing the projects with enhanced features that will drive additional costs. We’ll need to prioritize and make tough choices. Town Meeting members should be involved at the committee levels via Ways & Means and the Capital Budget Committee to hold the departments accountable for bringing realistic building proposals to Town Meeting. Town Meeting can also assist by creating the right conditions for our commercial tax revenue to grow and thrive. Burlington has historically hedged much of our commercial tax revenue around retail-oriented businesses. However, the advent of Amazon and online shopping has changed the nature of brick-and-mortar retail. Burlington has responded by creating the conditions to diversify our commercial tax base. For example, Town Meeting recently made zoning changes to areas formerly designed to serve as office space and allowed the conditions for rezoning to laboratory space which has attracted more activity to
Burlington centered around the life sciences industry.

Low inventory and high prices have resulted in a nationwide housing crisis whose impacts can be felt in Burlington. What do you think Burlington has done right, and what does the town still lack, to address this issue?

Burlington has met the state’s challenge to create the conditions for zoning put forth by the MBTA Communities law. I have concerns with the demands this law has put on cities and towns, but the Planning Board and Town Meeting played the hand dealt by the state effectively. They created the conditions for increased housing along the Middlesex Turnpike corridor. As stated earlier, we need to mitigate potential losses to commercial revenue brought on by shifting preferences related to how consumers shop. The conditions created by the Planning Board and Town Meeting allow existing commercial property owners the opportunity to mitigate potential losses and continue contributing to our tax base by diversifying their real estate holdings to accommodate residential housing.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?

Voters and residents of Precinct 6 are always encouraged to reach out with questions or ideas. They can reach me at 617-955-7293 or mattdenaro14@gmail.com. I’m planning to make myself available at True North on both Saturday, March 15th and Saturday, March 29th from 10 to 11 AM. Anyone interested in talking in-person is welcome to join me then.

Anthony Clark

Tell voters a little about your background and why you're deciding to run for Town Meeting (or why you're running for re-election).

I'm a young programmer who recently moved to town due to economic forces. I want to get involved in the town and its community.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting?

I've always been interested in politics and I want to make an impact. I don't think young people are involved enough, and I want to correct that imbalance.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?

To attend every meeting, be informed on the warrant articles, and vote for the betterment of the people of Burlington.

What do you see as the three biggest priorities for Burlington and how should Town Meeting address them?

Maintaining the town's sources of revenue post-COVID, approving zoning changes that improve the lives of its residents, and working to improve road safety, maintenance, and walkability.

How will you impact these important issues in your role as Town Meeting Member?

I want to bring new ideas to town meeting concerning road safety, walkability, and zoning.

There are a number of building projects on the town's agenda that will impact tax bills for residents for decades to come. What do you think should be Town Meeting's role in the decision making process?

The role of town meeting should be to analyze new building projects and approve them when it makes the most financial sense to do so. We have recently been forced to spend millions more on construction projects than we otherwise would have due to gross negligence from members of town meeting who were afraid of the upfront cost. Sticker shock is no excuse for inaction.

Low inventory and high prices have resulted in a nationwide housing crisis whose impacts can be felt in Burlington. What do you think Burlington has done right, and what does the town still lack, to address this issue?

In regards to the housing crisis, the MBTA Communities Act and Affordable Housing Act are designed to address this issue on the state level. Good housing policy requires action at the state, federal, and local levels. We can improve our housing environment by creating housing-permissive zoning laws and consumer-focused building regulations, thereby enabling the construction of new developments. The end goal should be lower rent for tenants and flexible housing options for all lifestyles.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?

I'll keep my email and phone open, reach out to communities that may be affected by incoming decisions, and maintain communications with committees to keep myself informed on every vote.

James Fraczek

Tell voters a little about your background and why you're deciding to run for Town Meeting (or why you're running for re-election).

I have been a resident of Burlington since 2011 with my wife Margo. We have 2 children in the Burlington schools at the middle school and high school. I grew up in Salem, MA and graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Microbiology. I currently work as the head of a quality control laboratory for a pharmaceutical manufacturer. I have been a longtime coach with Burlington youth soccer, currently coaching my son’s team and recently joining the referee ranks.

I first became a member of Town Meeting in 2020 and have continued in that role through the present day. I am running for reelection to represent the residents of precinct 6. My goals are to ensure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely and that town government is meeting the needs of all Burlington residents.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting?

Many of the things that come before Town Meeting require an ability to understand complex problems and determine how the proposed solutions solve them, not just in the present but also years into the future. I feel that I am able to contribute positively to the discussion. I proudly stand behind my votes, particularly when they are on issues which are controversial or have a high degree of public interest.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?

In Precinct 6, I think that my constituents are most interested in improving the education provided by the public schools, keeping the residential taxes affordable, providing a business friendly environment within the town to attract employers, and maintaining the character of the town.

What do you see as the three biggest priorities for Burlington and how should Town Meeting address them?

Improving the education provided by the school system. Part of this is upgrading our school buildings, including the approval of a new Fox Hill School last year and the coming decision on proceeding with replacement/renovation of Burlington High School. As these are high price tag projects, we need to make sure that they meet the educational needs of Burlington students while remaining affordable for the town’s residents and ensuring that we have ability to fund future projects.

Managing growth of the town in a sensible manner to maintain the town’s character while still attracting new businesses to keep our strong commercial tax base. We want Burlington to be a place that provides a high quality of life for its residents. Town meeting plays a key role in approving zoning changes that directly impacts this.

Keeping the town on a solid financial footing through efficient use of our residents’ tax dollars and strong planning for the future. Within the past two years I feel that the Ways and Means Committee (and others) have provided a much clearer picture of the town’s finances and how our votes in Town Meeting will impact the bottom line. In the past, it seems like some of the capital budget requests have not been very well thought out and in those cases Town Meeting should not be afraid to turn those down.

How will you impact these important issues in your role as Town Meeting Member?

Being responsive to my constituents, asking the necessary questions to make sure that I fully understand all impacts of warrant articles coming before Town Meeting and being willing to vote in a manner that benefit residents most even when it may be difficult or unpopular.

There are a number of building projects on the town's agenda that will impact tax bills for residents for decades to come. What do you think should be Town Meeting's role in the decision making process?

Town Meeting will need to approve funding for needed projects but should push back on unnecessary bells and whistles. As these projects are likely to require a debt exclusion or a Prop 2-1/2 override in the near future, Town Meeting should work hard to minimize the tax increases on our town’s residents in order to keep Burlington as an affordable community to live in.

Low inventory and high prices have resulted in a nationwide housing crisis whose impacts can be felt in Burlington. What do you think Burlington has done right, and what does the town still lack, to address this issue?

Burlington has done well with past building of multi family housing such that compliance with the 3A MBTA Communities Act was a non-issue unlike the experience of other Eastern MA cities and towns. At the same time, Burlington has maintained its suburban character and does not feel like the dense neighborhoods found in cities like Cambridge or Salem.

The poor availability of affordable starter homes remains an issue but this is not unique to Burlington.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?

Talking with Burlington residents, whether it’s in my neighborhood, at school or athletic events and other places in town. I often bring my dog Billy to the dog park and have found that others are more than happy to share their views on things coming before Town Meeting.

Robert Aloisi

This candidate did not provide a profile to Burlington Buzz.

Daniel DiTucci

This candidate did not provide a profile to Burlington Buzz.

Darrell Interess

This candidate did not provide a profile to Burlington Buzz.

William Trelegan

This candidate did not provide a profile to Burlington Buzz.