Chatham Courier > Opinion
Editorial — Our elected officials must now get down to business
Elections are over and the voters have spoken, but what’s next? Well, plenty in northern Columbia County. We have Comprehensive Plans to implement and new zoning laws and landfills and salt sheds. There’s plenty to keep newly elected or re-elected supervisors, town board members, etc. busy through the year and quite possibly through to the next election cycle.
In Chatham, while there was no supervisor race, there was a contested Town Board race and when the dust settled, Maria Lull and Henry Swartz Jr. had unseated Bob Balcom and Don Hegeman. Lull and Swartz, along with board member Jean Rhode and Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt, will be in charge of implementing the town’s newly revised and approved Comprehensive Plan.
Swartz is all for setting the Plan in motion, but Lull feels the Plan calls for “outlandish” zoning regulations and new programs that could impact residents greatly, especially in taxes. The town is eager to move forward with the Comprehensive Plan and with the other board members and supervisor in favor of doing so, Lull may be outvoted on this one.
In Canaan, Rick Keaveney has retained his seat as supervisor, which means now he can move forward with the proposal for a new salt/sand shed. His opponent, Gary Flaherty, didn’t want the town to spend a lot of money on such a thing, but Keaveney, who is good at crunching numbers, said that the town has the money to begin the first phase of putting up such a facility, which he said is necessary.
In Austerlitz, incumbent George Jahn was unseated as supervisor by Jeff Braley. Jahn was part of the process of adopting the town’s first Zoning Law, but he won’t be able to see it through (as supervisor) — that will be up to the town’s new supervisor. Braley is no stranger to the position, having served four years ago. He said he wants to educate the populace on the zoning law and make sure implementing it is done in a “fair and even manner.”
New Lebanon also didn’t have a supervisors race, since Margaret Robertson was running unopposed, but the Town Board race, as well as the town justice race, were very much contested. While KB Chittenden kept his seat on the board, Monte Wasch was unseated by Doug Clark. A new face on the board could make all the difference — or maybe not — with town decisions.
And with the ongoing battle between town justices, Jessica Byrne unseating Shaun McHugh could mean big changes in the town court.
Robertson and the board also have an immediate issue at hand — the landfill that could cost the town $1.4 million to cap because it looks like the county won’t be paying for it.
And each supervisor must also continue to represent their towns on a county level, bringing town issues to the county and vice versa. Pine Haven, the purchase of the Ockawamick building and transitional housing were big issues this election season, but just because elections are over, doesn’t mean these issues will go away.
Decisions, decisions. That’s what our newly elected or re-elected officials face this coming year or term. We voted for them because we feel they will make the best decisions for us.
In Chatham, while there was no supervisor race, there was a contested Town Board race and when the dust settled, Maria Lull and Henry Swartz Jr. had unseated Bob Balcom and Don Hegeman. Lull and Swartz, along with board member Jean Rhode and Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt, will be in charge of implementing the town’s newly revised and approved Comprehensive Plan.
Swartz is all for setting the Plan in motion, but Lull feels the Plan calls for “outlandish” zoning regulations and new programs that could impact residents greatly, especially in taxes. The town is eager to move forward with the Comprehensive Plan and with the other board members and supervisor in favor of doing so, Lull may be outvoted on this one.
In Canaan, Rick Keaveney has retained his seat as supervisor, which means now he can move forward with the proposal for a new salt/sand shed. His opponent, Gary Flaherty, didn’t want the town to spend a lot of money on such a thing, but Keaveney, who is good at crunching numbers, said that the town has the money to begin the first phase of putting up such a facility, which he said is necessary.
In Austerlitz, incumbent George Jahn was unseated as supervisor by Jeff Braley. Jahn was part of the process of adopting the town’s first Zoning Law, but he won’t be able to see it through (as supervisor) — that will be up to the town’s new supervisor. Braley is no stranger to the position, having served four years ago. He said he wants to educate the populace on the zoning law and make sure implementing it is done in a “fair and even manner.”
New Lebanon also didn’t have a supervisors race, since Margaret Robertson was running unopposed, but the Town Board race, as well as the town justice race, were very much contested. While KB Chittenden kept his seat on the board, Monte Wasch was unseated by Doug Clark. A new face on the board could make all the difference — or maybe not — with town decisions.
And with the ongoing battle between town justices, Jessica Byrne unseating Shaun McHugh could mean big changes in the town court.
Robertson and the board also have an immediate issue at hand — the landfill that could cost the town $1.4 million to cap because it looks like the county won’t be paying for it.
And each supervisor must also continue to represent their towns on a county level, bringing town issues to the county and vice versa. Pine Haven, the purchase of the Ockawamick building and transitional housing were big issues this election season, but just because elections are over, doesn’t mean these issues will go away.
Decisions, decisions. That’s what our newly elected or re-elected officials face this coming year or term. We voted for them because we feel they will make the best decisions for us.
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