As candidates vie for nominations for the New Hartford fall elections,
residents deserve to know specifically how they would address issues confronting
town government.
As Planning Board chair, I offer some thoughts on the
more compelling issues facing our town.
I begin by urging candidates and
supporters not to engage in baseless and personal attacks. This behavior deters
qualified people from seeking office and serving in appointed posts.
Residents simply want efficient administration of town operations –
roads, sewers, parks, codes — and financial accountability.
Does anyone
honestly believe that New Hartford — the largest town in the county with a
population of 21,000 and the retail hub with a budget of $15 million — should be
governed using the same model as the town of Ava, population 750?
I
believe we need a robust debate on the merits of hiring a professional town
manager — broached and rejected in the 1990s. The supervisor would continue to
be the chief administrative officer, but day to day management would be in the
hands of a trained professional.
Similarly, New Hartford needs a
comptroller. The recent appointment of a financial analyst is a positive step.
But town residents still need to know how more than $2 million in fund balances
has been spent since 2006.
Using fund balances to hold down taxes is a
common practice by local governments. New Hartford is no exception. Previous
administrations have done the same.
The question is what was the money
used for and was it done properly? The absence of a comptroller has contributed
to the confusion that now exists.
The town also should consider hiring a
part-time staff attorney. In recent years, the cost of legal services has
exceeded $100,000 a year. An in-house staff attorney would save money and
improve the timeliness of legal counsel. The position will attract a line of
practitioners from Butler Hall to Sangertown.
I have witnessed firsthand
that the planning, codes and engineering departments need additional clerical
staff. In addition, these departments need more space, beyond what is currently
provided in the Sanger Building. Along with the seemingly endless quest to find
more suitable space for the town court, expanded space for these offices is
desperately needed.
Continued development of the Business Park is
important to diversify our tax base beyond its reliance on retail.
Yet,
it is fair to question the degree to which the town subsidizes the privately
owned park through infrastructure improvements. The park envisioned a decade ago
as town-owned and shovel-ready never materialized.
Investing today for
tomorrow has merit. Yet, with diminishing sales tax revenue and greater bonded
indebtedness, the town and school district will need to convince taxpayers that
sacrificing property tax revenues today to support the park will accrue benefits
in the years to come.
It is equally important to address questions
regarding Route 840 access to the park, who will pay for it, and whether project
approvals now handled by town staff should be assigned to the Planning Board for
greater transparency.
An environmental study of the southeastern area of
the town, including Chadwicks and Washington Mills is now before the Planning
Board. Candidates need to familiarize themselves with the myriad recommendations
contained in the study.
Do they support protection of farmland,
preservation of open space and curbs on residential sprawl? What’s their view on
managing storm water in this watershed?
Voters need to insist candidates
directly address these and a host of other important issues before casting their
votes.
Jerome F. Donovan is chairman of the New Hartford Town
Planning Board.
