Meet the Select Board Candidates

Cindy Napoli

Is there one specific issue you would like to tackle if you are elected/re-elected?

There are actually two. Communication and Policy. 

How has it been campaigning in a town with no newspaper? How do you reach out to your constituents? 

Campaigning takes a lot of time and is hard work. Social media platforms have become the primary source to share information but they exclude residents who do not utilize them - especially our elderly population.  A Town newspaper or newsletter would certainly help fill that gap.  

If elected/re-elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term? 

This past year it became clear that the loss of seasoned members on the Board created a void. Protocols and procedures that were second nature to the Board now need to be solidified in writing in order for the board to stay on task and operate effectively. I am one of the remaining members on the Board with that institutional knowledge. One of my projects, if re-elected, will be to update the Select Board Policies and Regulations with sustainable procedures that promote unified approaches. Another project which I feel is very important is creating a Town newsletter. The Littleton Independent does not really report on the Town of Littleton or provide the consistent flow of information about our community that residents want. While attending the Massachusetts Municipal Managers Annual Meeting in January and learned how the Town of Lexington and Town of Needham created their own newsletter and with my leadership, we can do the same for Littleton. 

Why do you think you’re a good fit for Littleton specifically? 

Great question! To begin, I grew-up in Littleton. I attended Littleton High School as did my husband and we have three children. Two attended Littleton High School and the other one attended the Nashoba Valley Technical High School. My parents live in Littleton and before retiring, they both operated very successful businesses in town for many years. My in-laws also live in Littleton. To say I am invested in our community would be an understatement. I have a deep appreciation for the history of Littleton and its traditions. We live in the type of community where people who grew-up here or moved here want to stay and I am one of those people. There are many different people, places, and things that make-up the fabric of our community and I have a deep appreciation for what makes Littleton special.      

Is there one specific issue you would like to tackle if you are re-elected?

There has been a great deal of staff turnover at Town Hall. We are finding it difficult to hire and retain qualified professionals. The municipal labor market has made it tough for all towns to recruit candidates, and there are also some challenges within our organization, communication, and culture that are putting undue pressure on some of our employees.

If I am re-elected my first priority is to refocus the Select Board's fiscal goals away from buying buildings and large new projects, and towards operational improvements within Town Hall: policies, staffing, training, etc. We need to make sure that our Town government is operating at full strength for the next few years as large projects start up: the Sewer, development of the IBM property, and the Common. These have the potential to impact Littleton in the future, and need to be carefully managed.

How has it been campaigning in a town with no newspaper? How do you reach out to your constituents?

One at a time.

I am calling friends, acquaintances, and strangers, to ask them to vote on May 6th. I am asking everyone I speak to to reach out to their friends, and their friend's friends. I am canvassing door to door as well. I am holding Office Hours in the library on Fridays (check LCTV for upcoming dates) in order to encourage even more communication with the residents.

In all these cases in addition to talking to residents about the election, I always ask about their concerns or requests.

Why do you think you’re a good fit for Littleton specifically?

I've lived in town for 23 years, and my wife and I raised our family here. We have been deeply involved in the town for many years. My wife served on the School Council, and ran Littleton Community Farm for several years. I was a Scoutmaster with Troop 20, have volunteered with the Littleton Trail Crew, and serve on several boards and committees.

I bring professional management and leadership experience to the Select Board. I am committed to doing what's best for the Town, without a personal agenda or any special interests. I want to give back to the Town because it has been a truly wonderful place to raise my sons, to work and play in, and to make my home for the last 23 years. In that respect, I believe that I am a good fit because I truly have the best interests of the Town at heart.

When I became a Littleton resident, I joined the efforts to build the new library and had many positive conversations with other residents in town. And I have been an active PTA member, most notably at both the Shaker Lane School and also Russell Street Elementary, where I am now co-chair of Fundraising. I also served as a Parent Representative to the Littleton School Committee’s Start Times Subcommittee. 

Why are you campaigning for a position on the Littleton select board?

My corporate experience has taught me that when a group is making decisions together, different perspectives, skill sets, and life experiences lead to better outcomes, and my background can fill in perspectives not currently represented on the Select Board.  It’s more important than ever that the Select Board includes the voices of long-term Littleton residents and people like me, who chose to make this community our home.  As a government contracts consultant and a lawyer, I offer skills that are directly applicable to the business of the Select Board. I will be the only parent of school-age children in our public schools on the Select Board, which speaks to a long-term vision and personal understanding of one of our Town’s greatest economic drivers. 

Is there one specific issue you would like to tackle if you are elected/re-elected?

Communication will be the key to our success. The projects the town has planned in the next few years demand the cooperation and input of many different organizations, so I will focus on strengthening communication across those organizations. Equally as important,  I want residents to know about decisions before they are made. I will work to increase the visibility and transparency of the Select Board so that we have efficient options for staying up to date on town business.

How has it been campaigning in a town with no newspaper? How do you reach out to your constituents?

I have been reaching out to my fellow residents since the beginning of the year; knocking on doors, making phone calls, sending letters of introduction, engaging in online conversations, and attending meet-and-greet events with Q&A sessions hosted by fellow residents. I am also hosting an open house with fellow candidates Anna Hueston and Matthew Nordhaus at 20 Meetinghouse Road on Saturday, April 29 so that anyone who wishes to can come meet us, ask questions, and learn more about our views and approach to the offices we are running for. 

If elected/re-elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

In the short term, I plan to work with the LHS Press Club and hope to launch a pilot program as soon as possible for the coverage of Select Board meetings. I’d also like to research the viability of a municipal license for software to summarize meetings and post those summaries online.

Relationship-building will be another big priority.  It will be important to spend time getting to know my fellow Select Board members better, learn about their goals and discuss our goals as a Board and our strategies for reaching them. And I will build on the avenues of communication I have established with other organizations and make myself available to residents via open “listening hours,” to increase accessibility for residents.

From a broader perspective, I want to support efforts to minimize the costly turnover at Town Hall by enacting a modern, comprehensive Code of Conduct for the Select Board, creating a sense of consistency by hiring a Town Administrator, establishing a channel of communication for town employees to voice concerns without fear of retaliation, and promote a culture of professionalism and respect by and between Select Board members. 

Why do you think you’re a good fit for Littleton specifically?

The residents of Littleton have amazing hearts and a powerful sense of community. We value honesty, and helping others who are in need. 

Our town government is based on service and giving back. I hold contributing to the community as a core value. The culture of Littleton is to look out for your neighbor and pitch in, and it’s why our family feels at home here. 

I view this role as a way to give back to the community and to ensure that the Select Board reflects our values.