While he is now serving residents as a member of the planning board, Dennis Santolucito wants to serve Buxton in a different role, as a selectman.

Santolucito, 48, sees planning as key in Buxton as the population increases. “I think the town needs to spend time and energy understanding the impact of residential and commercial development on infrastructure,” he said.

The town needs to study the impact of growth on taxes along with services like the police and fire departments. He said there are questions that need to be answered. “I’m not anti-growth. It’s how you plan for it,” said Santolucito, who sees a breather in Buxton growth at the present.

He said Buxton is located near the job markets in South Portland and Westbrook. “Growth will happen. Buxton is well located,” said Santolucito “It’s quickly becoming a bedroom community.”

He was elected to a two-year term on the planning board a year ago and would relinquish his seat if elected selectman.

If elected, Santolucito would streamline the permit process for applicants wanting to build single-family homes or for a family subdivision. He said the process is not clearly defined now and he wants it spelled out.

He said that the planning board has had vacancies in the past. He would work to maintain a full board. It’s imperative he said that the town charter be adhered to and reviewed “particularly” in context of maintaining a full board. Also, he said the Budget Committee should be studied to see how many members are necessary for that committee.

Santolucito favored selectmen appointing an open space committee. “The time is now to preserve open space and build a system of parks and trails that future generations can enjoy,” he said.

Recommending the possibility of grants to acquire open space, Santolucito urges action. “You only have one chance. The time is not 20 years from now, its now,” he said.

Praising his opponents, he said both Cliff Emery, chairman of the board of selectman, and Peter Burns, chairman of the budget committee, have done “great” jobs for the town. Taxes are fairly low in Buxton, he said, which attracts developers. “Buxton is financially well run and well managed,” Santolucito said. “Its important that taxes remain as low as possible.”

Santolucito said the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights (TABOR), which limits state and local spending, could work well and he has lived under tax limits in other states. He said that he favors the concept of TABOR.

Not a big fan of regionalization, Santolucito said Buxton people get involved as volunteers to help the community.

He and his wife, Cynthia Santolucito, have four children. The couple has lived in Buxton full time for 18 months, but they have owned property in town since 2002. His wife’s parents also reside in Buxton.

Santolucito has a bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has taken graduate courses in public administration at Suffolk University in Boston, Mass. He works in information technology for Idexx in Westbrook and is involved with the choir at St. Peter’s Church in Portland.

(dennis santolucito) – Dennis Santolucito