Continuing community planning initiatives, such as the Route 9W study, and involving Bethlehem’s citizens in improving the town’s vision are a few highlights of Supervisor Theresa Egan’s 2007 State of the Town address, delivered Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Bethlehem Historical Association’s Little Red Schoolhouse in Cedar Hill.
Making improvements to key town intersections is one of the issues of 2007, Egan said.
I am proud of the public involvement, said Egan. `We have more volunteers involved in our advisory committees than the town ever has.`
Those committees, including the waterfront revitalization group and the citizens advisory committee on conservation, will be joined in 2007 by new committees, including one that will try to make improvements to the Delaware Avenue area.
`This civic group will work with music groups and theater to recreate the main street, from the CVS to the Four Corners as a downtown attraction,` said Egan.
Marketing the Delmar and Bethlehem region to outside parties as a place to live is another of the supervisor’s goal.
`Making investments in a marketing strategy for our community to attract some of the technology that is headed to our area,` Egan called it.
A new committee will be formed to see if the current emergency management services in town is meeting or exceeding the dollars spent on that service.
The inter-municipal management advisory committee formed in 2006 will continue to work toward implementing recommendations made in the past year, including sharing services between some departments.
Egan also highlighted achievements of the past year, including completion of the townwide reassessment, the Slingerlands hamlet study and the re-development of certain sites, including the DaisyTek building, as well as the progression of the Vista Technology Park.
New residential development this year will include 587 new housing units that make up Clapper Meadows, and the proposed Van Dyke Spinney senior housing project.
`Fiscal responsibility` according to the supervisor, will be key in 2007.
There were fewer building permits issued in 2006 than in years prior, but Egan said that is OK.
`We need to grow, but in a managed way,` she said.
Town board members Sam Messina and Kyle Kotary were both present to hear the supervisor’s message.
`The supervisor read a long list of accomplishments in 2006 and laid out a very comprehensive plan and vision for 2007,` said Kotary.
`I believe the key issues for 2007 are the Vista Technology Park, Colonial Acres Golf Course and continued fiscal discipline,` said Kotary.
The town is currently working with the state to seek funding for the Colonial Acres Golf Course with the town goal to run and manage the course once it is sold and turned over.“