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General News: Candidates Express Views at Forum
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| l to r: Edsall, Gioia, Fogarty, Moore |
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| l to r: Mayor Moulton, Joe Gross |
March 11, 2007
Taxes and revenue sources were on the minds of the public at the candidates forum Friday evening at Munger cottage. About 75 people, mostly village residents, came to hear what the four candidates running for trustee and two candidates running for mayor had to say about a dozen issues facing the village in this election year.
The forum, sponsored by the Cornwall Local, opened with statements from the four men running for two trustee positions: current trustees Mark Edsall and William Fogarty and challengers Charlie Moore and Rick Gioia, whose statement was read by his wife, Barbara, as the candidate himself was traveling on business.
Edsall highlighted his experience as an engineer working with municipalities across the county to implement master plans and create new zoning rules. Fogarty said the village is on the road to fiscal health and emphasized the need to save money in order to spend it, rather than borrowing it.
In his statement, Gioia spoke of the need to get the village’s financial house in order and to maintain the historic identity of the village. Moore said he is an honest person who wants to do what is best for the village, noting that he will give it his best shot.
Mayor Ed Moulton and his challenger for office, Joseph Gross, spoke next, each making a brief statement before responding to a dozen questions that had been submitted in writing by members of the audience.
Moulton praised the board of trustees that works with him to develop a cost reduction plan for the village while continuing “to make our village a pleasant place to live.”
Joe Gross’s opening statement was more biographical, recalling his early years working in the village and on environmental projects on the Hudson River.
The first question asked both candidates how they would raise revenues and neither of the two could offer a convincing plan to increase revenues and reduce the tax burden on residents. They both acknowledged that no large industry could come in to significantly shift the tax burden.
The mayor said that during his administration there have been small-scale improvements in the business environment, noting the opening of boutiques and small restaurants. Gross said that he would take a hard look at how the money is being spent and work for efficiencies. He also suggested looking at a possible hydro-electric project to generate electricity in Black Rock Forest.
When asked about the possibility of consolidating the town and village police departments, Gross said that the village should have an open mind about it although he noted that town supervisor Richard Randazzo did not seem encouraging about it. Mayor Moulton said that the village has employed outside specialists to study the proposal and their conclusion was that village residents could see a reduction in response time with a combined force. He also noted that a substation in the village would still be required, costing taxpayers money.
When it came to past achievements and experience, the mayor talked about the infrastructure improvements and the re-location of the village hall that marked his first decade in office. Gross spoke about skills he developed by running his own business and by working with state agencies to get grants in Newburgh.
The mayor also explained how the building of the new garage for the Department of Public Works saved the village money when the Local Development Corporation (LDC) was able to work around cumbersome requirements that would have significantly raised the construction costs. Gross call the LDC a “stealth” organization and said he would want to take a look at the relationship between the LDC and village government. The goal, Gross said, would be to ‘rein in’ the LDC and “make it more transparent.”
Public input into government affairs came up during the forum and Joe Gross said he thought a mayor’s responsibilities should include going out to talk with people and he proposed that spending items over $100,000 or $250,000 could go to a referendum, “if that’s what people want.”
The mayor countered that the board already holds public hearings on issues and noted that people can petition the board to hold a referendum on any issue.
In response to criticism of the construction of the water filter plant, the mayor went through a detailed description of the problems encountered in building the water filtration plant and said that the board is looking into legal action against the engineers in charge of the project. (Read more about the mayor’s history of the plant here.)
Both men appeared to have similar visions for the waterfront development, including improvements in the boat launch area and the addition of toilets, while maintaining the beauty of the place and the passive nature of the park.
When asked if their vision for the village was “more development or keep it quaint,” Gross said “keep it as quaint as we can.” The mayor said he'd liked to see “some tweaking in the developed area that could increase the tax base but I am opposed to ‘development.’”
How to contact residents in an emergency was addressed later in the forum and the mayor said that the village has a new notification procedure that includes a phone system that can call every resident and leave a message. Joe Gross suggested using the fire whistle to alert people to an emergency.
As the forum wrapped up, Mayor Moulton recounted the improvements made in the village center during his tenure, including the reconstructed bandstand and the creation of Fanning square.
Joe Gross ended by saying “there comes a time to pass the torch, I think that time has come.”
The election for mayor and two trustees will be held March 20. The polls, at Village Hall, are open from 12 noon to 9 p.m.
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