Town
of Saratoga
Supervisor
State of the Town Address
January
12, 2004
At
this time I would like to present my first State of the Town address.� It is my intention to review the current
status of the town and identify some initial goals and directions upon which we
would like to focus.
The
state of the town address provides an opportunity to reflect back on where we
have come from and where we must focus our resources.� In a brief time I can not cover every event, activity,
organization, individual or program so I apologize in advance to anyone or
group that I have not mentioned.
I
am fortunate to begin my term as supervisor in a town that in most every
respect is in excellent condition. Previous town officials, such as retiring
supervisor Bob Hall, retiring town clerk Jean Casey, and retiring town
councilman Phil Griffen are to be recognized and commended for devoting their
life energy to serving the town.� They
did it with a passion, commitment, and excellence.
Our
Town has been blessed with a multitude of individuals that generously donate
their time and talents to serve the town through a countless variety of
organizations and committees. Through the General Schuyler Emergency Squad the
delivery of emergency services to the town residents is the best it has ever
been.� The newly initiated ALS program
has been well conducted and received by residents of the town. Just recently
the efforts of the squad in their response and care saved a two month old
infant that was in respiratory arrest. This past year the General Schuyler
Emergency Squad has responded to over 600 calls and since the initiation of the
ALS paramedic coverage the squad has not lost one first run responder to a
neighboring squad. The three fire districts serving the town have well trained members
and excellent equipment.� A strong
cooperative working relationship between all departments must grow and
continue.� Review and refinement of some
of the 9-1-1 numbers must be done.
Organizations
like our churches, the Old Saratoga Historical Association, our senior citizens
organizations, the library board, youth commission members, Old Saratoga
Athletic Association, the American Legion, and the cemetery association, are
recognized and praised most highly for all of the outstanding work that they do.� The Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce
is recognized and supported for sponsoring events and activities and for
promoting our area businesses and opportunities.�� We will continue to promote economic growth and development
taking full advantage of our Empire Zones. The two villages and town have been
meeting regularly to work on community development and other issues of mutual
concern. This cooperative effort is further recognized and appreciated.� The Quaker Springs Park and The Schuyler
Park plan and all of its components such as Hudson's Crossing and Stark's Knob
will be supported as well as events and activities such as the turning point
parade and eighteenth century events.� A
strong working relationship with the National Park Service and the National
Cemetery will be supported and encouraged.
Town
spirit and pride will be stimulated and emphasized.� Cooperation and relations with our neighboring towns and Saratoga
and Washington County will be built upon and expanded.� Our town has great cooperation and relations
with our Governor George Pataki, our representatives in Washington especially
Congressman John Sweeney, our state senator Joseph Bruno and our Assemblyman
Roy McDonald.� A close working
relationship with Schuylerville Mayor John Sherman and Victory Mayor George
Sullivan will be emphasized.� With the
synergistic effect 1 + 1 = 3.
The
Saratoga Lake Association is recognized for their efforts in protecting
Saratoga Lake.� Through their activities
they have conducted a number of studies and research activities relative to
Saratoga Lake.� The results of these has
and will continue to help protect the lake from becoming a reservoir for
Saratoga Springs and will enable further activities to be conducted that will
improve the quality of the lake.� The
lake association is further recognized for their efforts in creating a lake
historical calendar and promoting efforts to protect and preserve historical
areas of the lake.�
Financial
the town is in good condition.� This has
resulted from sound financial management, strict adherence to state policies,
accurate record keeping, and frugal decision making emphasizing getting the
maximum benefit for every dollar spent.�
A prosperous county economy has generated sales tax revenue that
exceeded expectations and brisk property sales and refinancing of homes have
resulted in increased mortgage tax revenue.�
Extensive thought and research has gone into all town business
transactions.� You don't spend money
because you have it, you spend it because you need to and the expenditure meets
the needs and desires of the town residents.�
We have a low tax rate.� The town
tax rate for this year was reduced and
the� county�
tax� rate� should�
remain� unchanged� through�
at�� least� 2005.������
Our bookkeeper is experienced and knowledgeable of
all
laws and regulations, has accurate records and promptly handles all town
receipts and expenditures.��
������ Our assessor and her clerk have brought
the roles up to an equalization rate of 100%.�
Since the county is now basing sales tax distribution to towns with a
formula using the equalization rate as a major factor, it will be imperative
that the tax roles be updated annually.�
This will insure a fairness to all residents and result in maximum
county sales tax distribution to the town. The assessor is experienced and
utilizes an up to date system and methods to insure that our assessments are
accurate, fair, and up to date.�
Properties in the town are monitored regularly to see that our
equalization rate stays at 100%.� Our Town
tax collector is efficient, organized, respectful and courteous when dealing
with residents and performing her duties.�
When questions arise she eagerly obtains answers.
The
Town board is experienced, broad based, and eager to conduct the business of the
town.� Three of our members are
returning with 28 years of total experience.�
This experience will prove very beneficial in our dealings with
difficult issues that have an extensive background.� Town board members have also served the town in capacities that
include planning board member, Zoning Board of Appeals member, Board of
assessment review member, town historian and members of numerous town
committees and community organizations.�
Our town board members also bring with them a diverse background and
broad based track record and experiences in agriculture, business, public
utilities, education, administration, knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and
leadership.
Our
new Town clerk enters her position with a good working knowledge of the job
responsibilities having served as deputy town clerk for the previous year.� Her computer skills and knowledge are
extensive and her human relations skills are superb.� Her goal is to serve all residents in an efficient prompt and
professional way.�
The
Town of Saratoga Highway department superintendent and the members of the town
highway crew are second to none.� They
have years of experience with knowledge that is extensive in both breadth and
depth.� The crew is experienced,
dedicated, hard working, and professional that take their job seriously and do
the very best job possible.� I have
personally observed them on several occasions and will attest to their high
skills and professionalism.� Our roads
are in great shape. They are well engineered, maintained and cared for.� The town has adequate equipment with a
maintenance and replacement schedule that insures that it is up to date and
operates at top performance.
The
planning board and zoning board of appeals are composed of members with years
of experience. �They are motivated to
promote the best interests of the town reflecting the comprehensive plan,
common sense, and good judgment.
Our
town justices and town attorney have experience, training, and motivation to
conduct the legal business of the town in a fair, just, and responsible
manner.�
Our
Animal control officer is available, responsive, efficient, and hard
working.� Although he is relatively new
to the position he is up to speed on regulations and procedures.
Our
new Historian and deputy historian have extensive knowledge of the history of
the town.� They are rich in
organizational, writing, and technology skills and have the contacts and people
skills to thoroughly document current events and accurately research the past.
Having
touted all of the strengths and assets of the town one would think that this is
utopia and no work remains to be done.�
If this was the case we could adjourn the meeting and go home.� The reality is that there is still much work
to be done.
Initially
we want to preserve, protect, and foster the things that make the Town of
Saratoga a great place in which to live and work.� Being a lifelong resident and growing up and working on a farm
has given me a strong appreciation for the land and lifestyle of our
community.� We need to focus on and
protect our environment.� As I stated
earlier Saratoga Lake will be defended from being a source of water for the
City of Saratoga Springs.� The EPA
efforts for dredging of the Hudson River continue.� I will work so that the voice of the Town of Saratoga will be
heard by working with the community leaders in Saratoga and Washington
Counties.� It will be important that the
local residents have a voice that is heard and that sound science� guide the path to make the right decisions
for the Hudson River and our area.�
County Board of Supervisor Chairman Fred Acunto recently named both Bob
Hall and Butch Lilac to membership on the Saratoga County committee that will
monitor and review all dredging proposals.�
The
recently adopted town comprehensive plan has established the goals and
priorities of the Town.� These will
serve as the guide for the town. Promoting agriculture and maintaining open
spaces will be both a priority and a great challenge.� The development pressures within the town are great and will most
likely increase over time.
��������� We must recognize that we do not live
in a microcosm, and that it is important to have a strong, vibrant business
community.��� We will promote economic
growth and development taking advantage of our empire zones and working with
the villages to encourage development in our downtown areas. The town will work
together with the Schuylerville area chamber of commerce in promoting our area
businesses and opportunities.�
Staff
development for all town officials and employees will be encouraged.� This training is an investment in our future
and will insure a town government that is current, efficient, and productive.
Communication
needs to be enhanced and expanded.� Town
government is the level of government that is closest to the people and
therefore must be the most responsive.�
We will Listen to the residents to determine their needs and
wishes.� We Can't do all things for all
people.
One
of the major efforts that I will make is to implement research based, data driven
Shared decision making practices.� The
rationale for this is simple - those that are closest and most impacted by an
issue are in the best position to give input and give direction to the
decision.� Shared decision making takes
longer but gives constituents ownership of the decision and results in better
decisions.� The internet and e
government will be expanded.� Minutes of
all town board meetings are already published and shortly planning board and
ZBA minutes will be added.� A monthly
town calendar and news letter will be published.� E mail and voice mail will be expanded and responded to in a
timely manner.� Residents in all areas
of the town will be sought out for input.
As
openings become available for town boards and positions they will be filled by
appointing responsible qualified people to town positions.� I encourage anyone interested in being a
member of town committees and boards to notify myself, town board members, or
the town clerk.
Discussions
regarding a new town hall will be commenced shortly.� The reality of the town hall is that the building has some
serious structural problems that are cost prohibitive to repair.� A series of public forums will be sponsored
to first of all gain input from the residents regarding what they did not like
about earlier town hall propositions and what they would like to see in a new
proposal.� Given this information a
committee will be formed to research best practices and develop some
preliminary possibilities.� There will
be several meetings to review the action plan and exchange� ideas and information with all town
residents.� Although the process will
take time we will end up with a proposal that will meet the needs and desires
of the town residents.���
Another
focus of the town will be to implement the goal set by the town comprehensive
plan to establish a town park.� We must
provide better town sponsored�
recreational facilities for all of our town residents.
Now
I know that I told you earlier that 1+1 = 3 and you may wonder what kind of
math we taught.� But I can tell you that
in the Town of Saratoga 1 + 1 really does�
= 3 and that is because of the synergistic effect that we have in this
community.� We have great things
happening and we are going to build on these successes.� Shared decision making is the process that
we will use to make our successes.�
Today, just as in 1777 when the American forces rallied to defeat the
mightiest army in the world and give rise to America's freedom - so to today
our town residents will rally and work together to build the greatest
collective future possible. It is with enthusiasm and excitement that we will
move forward in 2004.
Thomas
N. Wood, III� ��Supervisor
Town of Saratoga