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Williams: Proud of new garage, purchase of Elizaville lake property
By Andrew Amelinckx
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Phil Williams, a Democrat endorsed by the Working Families Party, is running for his second term in office.
“It’s been an interesting and exciting four years,” he said.
There are a number of areas that Williams feels he has made achievements in during his first term, including the completion of the town hall garage.
He said the past administration had come up with half the needed money—$350,000— and that they were able to raise the rest.
“I completed the project and covered the additional costs without having to raise taxes or bond the project,” he stated.
He is proud of accomplishments connected with Livingston’s parks, including the purchase of property at Elizaville’s North Twin Lake. He said there had been a defunct bar and hotel there that had become a hangout for illegal activity.
“We’ve cleaned up the property and making a nice park out of it,” he said.
Other park improvements include upgrading the baseball field to meet little league regulations at the Livingston Recreation Park. The move, said Williams, has upped the park’s use.
He said he would continue to seek grants and donations to support improvements at the town’s parks.
With the reduction in sales and mortgage taxes facing the town, said Williams, looking for grants has become more and more important.
“We’re out there looking for grants and other types of revenue sources that can help us,” he said.
Williams said he was currently working on a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and is looking at another from Iroquois Pipe Line.
“We are also working with Germantown and Clermont to look at economic development and possible sharing of services to reduce each of our operational costs,” he stated.
He said he has spoken with the town’s highway department trying to come up with a plan to determine “what can be accomplished with the least amount of expense.”
“We have to sharpen our pencil and at every expenditure,” he said.
In a similar vein, Williams said he has been working to try and bring new businesses to Livingston.
He said when the owners of Blue Stores Hotel and Restaurant were interested in opening their business in Livingston, the town helped them through the process of filing appropriate paperwork on both the town and county level.
“We’re trying to create a business friendly atmosphere,” he said.
Williams said he has been working with Kenneth J. Flood, the county planning and economic development department commissioner to identify potential business sites within the town, including the former Syngenta and Entenmann's buildings.
He said that Todd Erling of Hudson Agribusiness has been working with the town’s farmers on expanding their agri-businesses.
On the county level, Williams defends the county’s purchase of Ockawamick, a former school located in Claverack.
“I believe it was (a sound decision,)” he said.
According to Williams, the county government’s need for space will continue to grow in the future and with the purchase of Ockawamick they will have that needed space.
“It’s an excellent price for 26 acres and an extremely-solid building,” he said.
As for where the Department of Social Services should be located, he said that the agency should have at least a presence in Hudson.
“I’ve always felt there should be a (full service office) in Hudson,” he said. “I think its doable.”
Of Pine Haven, he said, the original idea to move the facility from Philmont came about when the county began looking at area’s aging population and future needs.
“There’s a need for senior daycare and more assisted living facilities.”
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
“It’s been an interesting and exciting four years,” he said.
There are a number of areas that Williams feels he has made achievements in during his first term, including the completion of the town hall garage.
He said the past administration had come up with half the needed money—$350,000— and that they were able to raise the rest.
“I completed the project and covered the additional costs without having to raise taxes or bond the project,” he stated.
He is proud of accomplishments connected with Livingston’s parks, including the purchase of property at Elizaville’s North Twin Lake. He said there had been a defunct bar and hotel there that had become a hangout for illegal activity.
“We’ve cleaned up the property and making a nice park out of it,” he said.
Other park improvements include upgrading the baseball field to meet little league regulations at the Livingston Recreation Park. The move, said Williams, has upped the park’s use.
He said he would continue to seek grants and donations to support improvements at the town’s parks.
With the reduction in sales and mortgage taxes facing the town, said Williams, looking for grants has become more and more important.
“We’re out there looking for grants and other types of revenue sources that can help us,” he said.
Williams said he was currently working on a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and is looking at another from Iroquois Pipe Line.
“We are also working with Germantown and Clermont to look at economic development and possible sharing of services to reduce each of our operational costs,” he stated.
He said he has spoken with the town’s highway department trying to come up with a plan to determine “what can be accomplished with the least amount of expense.”
“We have to sharpen our pencil and at every expenditure,” he said.
In a similar vein, Williams said he has been working to try and bring new businesses to Livingston.
He said when the owners of Blue Stores Hotel and Restaurant were interested in opening their business in Livingston, the town helped them through the process of filing appropriate paperwork on both the town and county level.
“We’re trying to create a business friendly atmosphere,” he said.
Williams said he has been working with Kenneth J. Flood, the county planning and economic development department commissioner to identify potential business sites within the town, including the former Syngenta and Entenmann's buildings.
He said that Todd Erling of Hudson Agribusiness has been working with the town’s farmers on expanding their agri-businesses.
On the county level, Williams defends the county’s purchase of Ockawamick, a former school located in Claverack.
“I believe it was (a sound decision,)” he said.
According to Williams, the county government’s need for space will continue to grow in the future and with the purchase of Ockawamick they will have that needed space.
“It’s an excellent price for 26 acres and an extremely-solid building,” he said.
As for where the Department of Social Services should be located, he said that the agency should have at least a presence in Hudson.
“I’ve always felt there should be a (full service office) in Hudson,” he said. “I think its doable.”
Of Pine Haven, he said, the original idea to move the facility from Philmont came about when the county began looking at area’s aging population and future needs.
“There’s a need for senior daycare and more assisted living facilities.”
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
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