Now that Democrat Kris Kastberg is the mayor-elect, he said changes are in store beginning Jan. 1.
After beating his Republican opponent and current trustee Armon Benny by close to 300 votes, Kastberg said he plans to change the way the board works together.
Instead of a shotgun approach as it’s been for the last four years ` I plan to address priorities and have a board who works together,` said Kastberg.
Kastberg said the support he has received from his wife, Crystal, and daughter, Kiersten, 10, has been helpful to him. He also added that the support from the police department, fire departments, both paid and volunteer, and the Save the Geese organization helped him make his campaign a success.
`These groups were behind me and contributed a lot of manpower. I hope they know that I will take a non-partisan approach to running the village and really listen to their needs,` said Kastberg.
Kastberg said he plans to hold weekly work sessions with the board to identify the town’s needs.
He also said the mayor’s office should be the first place a citizen goes with a concern or suggestion. He feels the No. 1 responsibility of the mayor is to listen and respond to village residents.
`The more people we can get involved in maintaining and running our village, the better,` said Kastberg.
In addition to a new Democratic mayor, the village board will fill two seats with new trustees. Democrat Joe Rizzo and Republican Tom Neals will replace Kastberg and Republican Nelson Austin, who is retiring from the board.
Rizzo said he will present the board with a Build a Better Scotia, Block by Block plan. The plan is a neighborhood-based group that would work to address subjects such as noise, broken sidewalks, and emergency response from police and fire departments.
`I know people are well protected by our fire department, but I also know a lot of us don’t think about making our house numbers visible. The whole idea of this plan would be about knowing your neighbors better, just as people used to a generation or two ago. It is nice to know when someone is ill or on vacation,` said Rizzo.
Rizzo said building a better block would result in a better village. Kastberg said the plan would benefit the village.
`The idea makes great sense to me, and I know that village department heads would want to work with local residents. I can see this effort paying real dividends for residents,` said Kastberg. `Each involved citizen is another pair of eyes watching out for the welfare of the village.“