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Hoffmann wants T'kanic super job
Molly Salisbury
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Loretta Hoffmann, a member of the Independence Party, backed by the Democrats, the Working Family Party, the Independence Party and Taghkanic Tomorrow, is challenging Taghkanic Supervisor Elizabeth Young. Young has held the position for 22 years.
Hoffmann and her husband, Jim Carley, are the owners and operators of Changing Times B & B in Taghkanic. Hoffman and Carley moved to Taghkanic three years ago.
A support member of the Taghkanic Fire Company and a member of the executive committee for the Columbia County Lodging Association, Hoffmann decided to run for supervisor while, acting as a support member of the Fire Company, she ended up managing the shelter during last year’s ice storm. “That’s when people came up to me and asked if I would run for supervisor.”
“A crumbling infrastructure, a lack of information from our elected officials and a divided community” are the issues Hoffmann points to as reasons for a change. She has “15 years of supervisory experience in finance and computers. I’m confident (I can do the job).” And because she is in the hospitality business, Hoffmann sees herself as “uniquely qualified to make people feel welcome in the community” — a welcome feeling being, she says, not one many community members have felt.
Taghkanic’s ‘divided community’ is not simply weekenders vs. locals. Lines were drawn when ’weekender’ Alan Wilzig’s proposed motorcycle racetrack was wending its way through the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals — twice. The polarizing issue is property rights — or the personal good vs. the good of the many. Hoffmann doesn’t take a side on the issue. Her focus is healing the divide, or “re-uniting. The Wilzig issue is in the courts - they’ll decide. I’d like to host a community potluck at the Taghkanic State Park.
“Our best asset is our people. It will take a group effort to get our town moving forward.”
On the county level, Hoffmann isn’t sure the county can afford to stay in the nursing home business. “I like Philmont. But Pine Haven costs the (county) taxpayers $2.5 million a year to maintain. I don’t know if that’s wise…I think there are more creative uses for that space.”
And on the Ockawamick purchase, she takes a let’s wait and see stance. “It’s not clean cut. It’s yet to be seen how the final costs come in.”
Hoffmann is less equivocal about the Town. “Decades of neglect and lack of planning combined with inaction is why Taghkanic’s Town Hall and Highway Garage are in the dilapidated state we see today.” Hoffmann asserts that the Town Hall is condemned, and one of the first things she would do as Supervisor is find out what it will take to make it safe. Then she would form a citizens committee to look into grant possibilities for a revamped or new Town Hall.
She is also adamant about the need to wire Taghkanic for DSL and Cable. “Its time every home and business in our County has affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access.” Hoffmann wants to improve the Town’s Web site, making it easier to navigate, more informative and up to date.
Hoffmann thinks Taghkanic could use some growth, some more homes and businesses, but appends hers statement with the need for better zoning. “We need clear-cut zoning that’s easy to understand. When I moved here I couldn’t understand the signage provisions!”
Clarity and transparency are what Hoffmann thinks Taghkanic needs.
“One of the most common complaints I hear from residents is that they don’t know how or where our tax dollars are being spent... I will make sure that the budget is simplified and available to any resident who is interested. They will be able to pick up a copy from our Clerk or access it on line so everyone can see where the money is going and if there is a surplus or debt.”
“I’m not a politician, but it’s time for a change in Taghkanic.”
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Loretta Hoffmann, a member of the Independence Party, backed by the Democrats, the Working Family Party, the Independence Party and Taghkanic Tomorrow, is challenging Taghkanic Supervisor Elizabeth Young. Young has held the position for 22 years.
Hoffmann and her husband, Jim Carley, are the owners and operators of Changing Times B & B in Taghkanic. Hoffman and Carley moved to Taghkanic three years ago.
A support member of the Taghkanic Fire Company and a member of the executive committee for the Columbia County Lodging Association, Hoffmann decided to run for supervisor while, acting as a support member of the Fire Company, she ended up managing the shelter during last year’s ice storm. “That’s when people came up to me and asked if I would run for supervisor.”
“A crumbling infrastructure, a lack of information from our elected officials and a divided community” are the issues Hoffmann points to as reasons for a change. She has “15 years of supervisory experience in finance and computers. I’m confident (I can do the job).” And because she is in the hospitality business, Hoffmann sees herself as “uniquely qualified to make people feel welcome in the community” — a welcome feeling being, she says, not one many community members have felt.
Taghkanic’s ‘divided community’ is not simply weekenders vs. locals. Lines were drawn when ’weekender’ Alan Wilzig’s proposed motorcycle racetrack was wending its way through the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals — twice. The polarizing issue is property rights — or the personal good vs. the good of the many. Hoffmann doesn’t take a side on the issue. Her focus is healing the divide, or “re-uniting. The Wilzig issue is in the courts - they’ll decide. I’d like to host a community potluck at the Taghkanic State Park.
“Our best asset is our people. It will take a group effort to get our town moving forward.”
On the county level, Hoffmann isn’t sure the county can afford to stay in the nursing home business. “I like Philmont. But Pine Haven costs the (county) taxpayers $2.5 million a year to maintain. I don’t know if that’s wise…I think there are more creative uses for that space.”
And on the Ockawamick purchase, she takes a let’s wait and see stance. “It’s not clean cut. It’s yet to be seen how the final costs come in.”
Hoffmann is less equivocal about the Town. “Decades of neglect and lack of planning combined with inaction is why Taghkanic’s Town Hall and Highway Garage are in the dilapidated state we see today.” Hoffmann asserts that the Town Hall is condemned, and one of the first things she would do as Supervisor is find out what it will take to make it safe. Then she would form a citizens committee to look into grant possibilities for a revamped or new Town Hall.
She is also adamant about the need to wire Taghkanic for DSL and Cable. “Its time every home and business in our County has affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access.” Hoffmann wants to improve the Town’s Web site, making it easier to navigate, more informative and up to date.
Hoffmann thinks Taghkanic could use some growth, some more homes and businesses, but appends hers statement with the need for better zoning. “We need clear-cut zoning that’s easy to understand. When I moved here I couldn’t understand the signage provisions!”
Clarity and transparency are what Hoffmann thinks Taghkanic needs.
“One of the most common complaints I hear from residents is that they don’t know how or where our tax dollars are being spent... I will make sure that the budget is simplified and available to any resident who is interested. They will be able to pick up a copy from our Clerk or access it on line so everyone can see where the money is going and if there is a surplus or debt.”
“I’m not a politician, but it’s time for a change in Taghkanic.”
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