Hearn Building, YMCA among topics at Cambridge candidate forum

Seats are being vacated by Chad Malkus in Ward 5, and Brian R. Roche in Ward 1. After moving, Malkus and Roche are running for each other’s seats. They appeared at the forum with candidates Laurel E. Atkiss, for Ward 1, and Robert G. Aaron and Cleveland L. Rippons, for Ward 5.

The meeting started a little before 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the Delmarva Community Services’ Weinberg Intergenerational Center, 108 Chesapeake St., Cambridge. Introductory remarks were made by Glenna Heckathorne of the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan organization that supports the open dissemination of public policy information. Each candidate had two minutes to give opening statements, and one-and-a-half minutes to deliver their responses to the prepared questions asked by Heckathorne, who served as moderator.

With a few sound system glitches, the candidates introduced themselves starting with former Mayor Rippons, a certified financial planner; Malkus, an attorney and member of various Cambridge-based professional associations; Aaron, a lifelong resident who claimed a “common sense” approach; Atkiss, a proponent of small business and arts and culture, and former Cambridge mayoral candidate; and Roche, a lifelong Cambridge resident whose remarks centered around his efforts to enhance the quality of life in the area while commissioner of Ward 1.

Questions to the candidates focused on Cambridge residents’ priorities including Council transparency, law enforcement and city and county council relationships. The questions also focused heavily on the state of the Hearn Building and the placement of the YMCA.

The first question asked was directed at Malkus and was one of three about the Hearn Building on the 500 block of Race Street, which is being supported by beams at the façade. The question was what the city should do about the state of the building, which partially collapsed last year.

“The Hearn Building is unfortunately a very complicated issue,” said Malkus. “Where we are today is that, as Council, Greenstreet came to us and presented some plans. Council said, ‘go back to the drawing board’ — they were making it far too large, far too complicated. (Council is) working very hard to go forward with a plan that costs $21 million. We have some existing plans that make it not so big or so complicated. We have some very good buildings downtown that are full of young professionals, that are market rate. They’re all full — almost 55 of those units downtown. They have a proven track record, with retail on the bottom, and they’re very successful.”

“I think it would be cheaper if they tore it down and built something else there,” Aaron said.

Atkiss said, “The quickest solution for a developer and the fastest way to keep their profit margin and leave town with their pockets full is often not the best way to serve the community. We need to make sure the project has sustainability for the people living, for the people working, there. The model with the retail below gives you a lot of options. A lot of what’s been tried so far is clearly not working. Maybe it’s time to go outside the box and think of something different.”

Roche said, “It’s hard to invest in property that has a burned out shell next to it. The Hearn Building is symptomatic of the failure of a lot of zoning policies. We need to continue to redirect resources toward home ownership and improvements to our existing houses, which is what our Neighborhood Revitalization Plan calls for, and we need to invest in some local community with housing affordability, also market rate housing. This proposal we have from Greenstreet as it’s designed is a gift to the developer and nothing more.”

Another question directed at Atkiss focused on the YMCA’s location. She said, “My concerns with the Y being placed on the waterfront is that it’s the outer edge of the county and we’re moving it from a centralized location. That’s one concern. Do you want two (tax free nonprofit spaces) to sandwich together to maximize their capability? There’s a lot to consider, but the most important thing to consider is the community and sustainability. A lot of people may choose to do something for the flash and shine, and recognition, but there needs to be able to serve the people.”

Malkus said, “The concept of moving things to Cambridge Harbor — I do believe in the site activator. Well, the marina is not necessarily a big moneymaker to the city, it is something that brings people here. You have people come down to the waterfront and use the aspects of Cambridge Harbor. At the same time, we can’t completely abandon the property and have a Millstreet situation.”

The next question was directed to Rippons and was about rehabbing the YMCA’s existing building or moving it, and if Rippons supported the move. “The people who support the Y have been placed on the Board of Directors. If they had that faith in them, then allow them to do what they must. Before I can stipulate that the best place for them to go is on the waterfront, predicated on a survey that became phony, I believe we (should) get the Waterfront Development Committee to come in and give comprehensive consideration of what’s in the best interest of the Waterfront and the citizens of Cambridge.”

Another question, directed at Aaron, asked what were the most important budget proposals, how they strengthen and improve the city, and what he believed will benefit the city.

Aaron said, “The main thing is that the budget gets spent. The other one is more or less to do with how much the people who work with the city get. And how much the people at the county get too.”

Roche said, “One of the things I’m most excited about is that we’re finally fixing the sewers… . We are funding the (sidewalk replacement program) finally… . We have funded the fire department, the police department, we have provided every piece of equipment (they) have asked for.”

About the sewer, Rippons said, “One of the suggestions by Mr. Roche was the sewer. We’re finally getting down to the sewer. Under my administration, we did a thing called BNR, bio nutrient reduction (a waste water treatment). Not only did we complete that, we did above that.”

On April 11, 2023, a petition was filed by Dorchester County resident and Cambridge business owner Grady Wilson for the removal of Malkus as Ward 5 Commissioner for non-compliance with residency requirements. Malkus was living in a rented apartment in Ward 5 but moved to Ward 1 in February 2022 after the property owner sold the building where he was renting a unit. The city’s charter gives a 12-month period for commissioners to find new places of residence in their district should they move out of their ward. His period expired March 1.

Roche announced his move from Ward 1 to Ward 5 in November of last year, which became effective on December 1, 2022.

Commissioners called for the June 6 special election on April 24 and the winning candidates will carry out the remainder of the terms for the two vacated seats, which run through January 2025.

In person voting on June 6, 2023, will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 205 Maryland Avenue between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. This polling station will be the only in-person location for both wards.

Registered voters may also request an absentee ballot for the June 6 special election. Requested absentee ballots were mailed to voters starting the week of May 15.

There will be a runoff election for the Ward 5 seat on Tuesday, July 11, if one of the three candidates does not receive more than 50% of the votes. A runoff election is not anticipated in Ward 1, where there are only two candidates — one of which is expected to get more than 50% of the votes.