Schuyler legislators outline goals for 2016

SCHUYLER COUNTY--A new year means a new opportunity to work toward the completion of set goals. This is no different for elected officials, as many of them, new and veterans, set out to accomplish the goals they think are most vital to the county's success. With next year in mind, the REVIEW&EXPRESS asked the members of the Schuyler County Legislature and the county administrator what their goals are for the following year. Many of these goals included focusing on property taxes, economic development and working on Project Seneca.
Legislative Chairman Dennis Fagan said his goals include continuing to hold the line on property tax increases through further evaluating shared services with other governmental entities. This also includes investigating the feasibility of a solar farm at the Irelandville Landfill through a public/private partnership, while also continuing to push for meaningful mandate relief from New York State. He said he also wants to focus on economic development to grow the tax base and provide good paying jobs by working with the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) and the state in developing projects at the business park, Shepard Niles and Camp Monterey.
Fagan said he also wants to work with the Chamber of Commerce to continue tourism promotion including agri-tourism so that sales tax revenues can continue to grow thereby reducing reliance on property taxes. Fagan wants to address the environmental protection of the county's natural resources by working with the villages on implementing the new Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, as well as with the Project Steering Committee and SCOPED on implementing Project Seneca and the Lakefront Management Plan.
Legislator Barbara Halpin said she wants to continue to stay under the tax cap and continue, to the extent possible, the funding to implement the long-term goals for the county infrastructure. She said she also wants to provide meaningful tax rate reduction that will offset the increases in assessed values. Halpin said all of these goals can be achieved by continuing past efforts to consolidate program areas where practical and share services with other villages, towns and counties.
"I would like to see the county do a comprehensive assessment of all program areas which would include meaningful input from those doing program delivery, and the willingness to 'take on' the state, if necessary over alternative methods for program delivery," Halpin said.
Legislator Michael Lausell said one of his top priorities include continuing to oppose liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transportation through the Watkins Glen State Park. He said last year he brought this issue to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Issues Conference. He said while waiting for the judge's decision, he will continue to educate the local community, the state parks department and Albany on this issue.
"Economic development is important," Lausell said. "We can better serve our community by projects such as the Controlled Environment Agriculture initiative that is already part of our Southern Tier economic plan."
Lausell also wants to ensure fairness in hiring and promotion within the county workforce. He said the first step is to encourage county employees to share their concerns with the legislature, just as all constituents may on issues that affect them. Lausell also wants to establish a county board of ethics that can provide both guidance and enforcement powers to county officials and employees on acceptable conduct. He said he will be presenting his research on this issue to the other members of the legislature so they can move forward in discussing the structure and composition of a county ethics board.
"As a whole, our county must work toward openness and transparency in local government," Lausell said.
Legislator Van Harp said his top priorities include controlling and reducing county spending, adding he wants to spend only on the critical, vital programs that are necessary to the taxpayers of the community. He also wants to focus on the retention of the experienced and productive county employees, noting last year they lost both the county attorney as well as the IT director. Harp also stated he wants to ensure the county has the safest and securest community for taxpayers, noting this includes both domestic and external threats.
Legislator Mark Rondinaro said one of his top goals in 2016 is to listen and learn the ins and outs of being a new county legislator. He also said he wants the legislature to reexamine the possibility of having legislative committee meetings in the evening so more working constituents have an opportunity to attend them. Another one of Rondinaro's goals is to work with SCOPED to keep enhancing the entrepreneurial development in the county to hopefully get someone into the business park soon. He said he has also heard from his constituents in Reading there is a desire for better rural internet, so he would like the legislature to examine what options, if any, are available to address this issue.
Legislator Carl Blowers listed his goals as including building support for Project Seneca, including the wastewater sewer project. He also said business development is key in helping lower everyone's taxes. Blowers said putting money back into the community can also help increase tourism in the area and create jobs.
"Our job as a legislature is to knock down as many barriers as we can to that kind of growth project, which takes in the tourism, industry and lowering taxes just by spreading out or tax base," Blowers said.
Blowers also said he wants to address the drug situation in Schuyler County by doing more to support innovation in law enforcement areas. He said the legislature cannot go out and arrest people, but they can support both the law enforcement and health officials in combating this problem.
County Administrator Tim O'Hearn described 2015 as "an outstanding year for Schuyler County," adding his personal goals include addressing the economy and jobs, tourism and finances. He said the Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) award will translate into continued financial support for Project Seneca and the new wastewater treatment plant, both of which he noted will generate significant private investment and job creation. Additionally, O'Hearn said funding for a high end beverage processing facility to be located in the business park will serve the dual purpose of enabling our wineries and breweries to continue their growth while creating living wage jobs.
"We are on the cusp of transformational and historic development and efforts must continually be put forward towards ensuring that future development is done responsibly and with respect for preserving and enhancing quality of life," O'Hearn said.
The administrator also mentioned he will continue to support all efforts to promote the attractions and natural resources of the region and encourage expansion of these efforts. O'Hearn noted the county has turned its financial situation around in the last two years, claiming they are no longer listed as financially distressed and are restoring fund balances to acceptable and safe levels.
"I will continue to work on further improving this picture and work with all administration and staff to ensure that we are good stewards of the public dollar," O'Hearn said. "We have achieved unprecedented success in streamlining government services this past year and we will continue to pursue shared service and consolidation options in the coming year."
Legislators Phil Barnes and James Howell did not respond by press time.