Raj's Record

Principled, Independent Judgment

As a Selectman, Raj has always voted his conscience.

He follows the law.
He follows the facts.
And he follows the best interest of West Boylston and its taxpayers.

When a proposal is right for the town, he supports it.
When it is not, he votes against the proposal even if he is the only one.

Raj does not go along to get along.
He is not a rubber stamp.

He is open.
He is transparent.
And he does not carry a personal agenda.

He is not influenced by developers, political pressure, or boardroom convenience.

He is accountable to the people and not to special interests.

Real leadership is measured when systems fail and people need help.

During the height of COVID, when vaccines first became available, access was chaotic and deeply unfair.

Appointments opened at midnight and were gone within minutes. Many seniors and working families had no way to navigate the system.

While most officials waited for the process to work itself out, Raj did not.

Together with two other West Boylston residents, Raj personally stayed up night after night, logging in the moment appointments were released and booking slots for neighbors.

More than 200 residents were helped at a time when people were frightened, vulnerable, and being left behind.

There was no committee.
No press.
No credit.

Just service.

That is what leadership looks like in a real emergency.

As a Selectman, Raj has never hesitated to stand alone when the facts do not support the decision.

When the Town Warrent article brought forward a proposal for a 5 million dollars Proposition 2 1/2 override, Raj carefully reviewed the request.

The proposal asked taxpayers for a significant increase, but failed to clearly explain
• Why the full amount was necessary
• How the money would be allocated year by year
• The long term financial impact over five years
• What cost controls or alternatives had been considered

In Raj’s judgment, the information presented did not justify asking residents for that level of tax increase.

For that reason, he voted no.

He was the only Select Board member to do so.

Public Safety Infrastructure

West Boylston’s former police station was outdated, unsafe, and not compliant with modern law enforcement standards.

It lacked proper detention facilities and did not meet the operational and safety requirements expected of a professional police department.

When officers came before the Select Board and said, “This is now or never,” Raj listened.
He supported the construction of a new, modern police station and consistently advocated for this investment in community safety.

Raj attended every public forum and open house and made the case publicly and transparently.

This was not about a building.
It was about giving officers the tools to do their jobs safely and professionally and ensuring residents receive the level of protection they deserve.

Strong public safety requires strong infrastructure.

Public office is not just about attending meetings.
It is about answering people.

As a Selectman, Raj made it a priority to be accessible and responsive to residents.
When a constituent called, texted, or raised a concern, Raj responded. And he did not stop at forwarding an email.

If a street was missed for trash collection, he went to the location, documented the issue, and followed up until service was restored.

If there was a hazardous tree, he ensured the proper department was notified and action was taken.

If there was speeding, he contacted the Police Department.

If there was a pothole, he raised it publicly and pushed for repair.

Raj has never hesitated to bring resident concerns directly to town departments or to the Select Board in open session.

Because government that does not respond is government that fails.

His standard has always been simple.

Every issue matters.
Every resident matters.

Raj has consistently defended West Boylston’s zoning bylaws, even when doing so meant standing up to developers and taking cases to court.

Illegal Garage Construction

A developer was denied a permit for a three-story, three-car garage.

During the appeal period, the developer proceeded to build anyway.

Raj stated clearly that this was illegal construction.

The Zoning Board of Appeals denied the project, and the developer sued.

The lower court ruled in favor of the Town.

When the developer appealed again, Raj opposed any settlement and insisted the Town defend its bylaws in court.

The Town prevailed.

Excessive Density Proposal

In another case, a developer sought approval for six single-family homes on a lot where only four were permitted by right.

Raj opposed the over-development, citing:
Zoning limits
• Lot size and neighborhood impact
• Protection of a nearby drinking-water source

The case went to court.

Raj refused to compromise.

The result was that only four homes were built, as the law allowed.

Large-Scale Apartment Proposal

A two hundred to three hundred unit apartment complex was proposed in a densely settled residential area.

Raj opposed the project based on scale, infrastructure strain, and neighborhood impact.

The development was not built at that location.

Guiding Principle

Raj is not anti-development.
He is anti law-breaking development.

He believes growth must be lawful, density must be appropriate, and town rules must be enforced equally with no special treatment.

That is how you protect taxpayers, neighborhoods, and the long-term character of West Boylston

West Boylston’s former Senior Center on Hartwell Street was unsafe and inadequate.

It was a small, deteriorating factory building with only one entrance and no secondary exit, creating a serious safety risk for older residents.
Raj strongly supported replacing it.

Despite opposition, he consistently advocated for the construction of a new, modern Senior Center at Town Meeting, on the Select Board, and publicly.

His position was clear.

This was not just a senior project.
It was a town investment.

Our seniors spent their lives supporting our schools, our taxes, and our community. Now it is our responsibility to support them.

The new Senior Center is safe, accessible, town-owned property that will serve residents for decades.

That is responsible planning.
That is long-term thinking.
That is respect for those who built this town.

Common-Sense Local Policy

A proposal was brought forward to ban all future drive-through businesses along the Route 12 corridor.

From the beginning, Raj opposed the bylaw.

Not because he supports careless development, but because the proposal would have created more harm than benefit for West Boylston residents.

Raj made the case clearly.

• Seniors rely on drive-through pharmacies and essential services
• Parents with young children depend on the convenience and safety they provide
• A ban would increase parking congestion and traffic conflicts at storefronts
• The policy solved no real problem while creating new ones

Raj opposed the measure at Select Board meetings, at Town Meeting, and publicly.

He also submitted a Letter to the Editor explaining why the ban was wrong for the community.

In the end, Raj was the only Select Board member to oppose the bylaw, and the proposal was ultimately tabled and failed.
That was not politics.
That was practical judgment.

When the need is real and the case is clear, Raj will support funding.

For the construction of the new West Boylston Police Station, the public safety need was undeniable and the financial justification was transparent.

For that reason, Raj supported the Proposition two and a half override at Town Meeting.

This is the difference in his record.

He voted no when the facts were weak.
He voted yes when the need was proven.

That is not inconsistency.
That is judgment.
That is fiscal responsibility.

Raj has always valued the service of volunteer board and committee members.

These residents give their time, experience, and energy to the town, often for decades, with little recognition and no compensation.

When long serving, qualified board members were denied reappointment for political reasons, Raj spoke up.

In one case, a resident who had served the Town for more than twenty years on multiple boards was not reappointed.

Raj opposed that decision.

He was the only Select Board member to support that individual.

Because Raj believes appointments should be based on service, merit, and commitment, not politics.

He will always stand for fairness, even when it is unpopular.