The four men vying for two seats on the Bethlehem Town Board appeared for a public debate Thursday, Oct. 29, and covered a wide range of topics from general governance philosophy to sidewalks.
Democrats Mark Jordan and Kyle Kotary (an incumbent) and Republicans Fred Di Maggio and John Flanagan took to the podium at the debate, which was sponsored by Spotlight Newspapers and the Albany County League of Women Voters and took place at Bethlehem Town Hall. In addition to opening and closing statements by each candidate, moderator and Spotlight Managing Editor Bill DeVoe read questions provided by the audience, to which each candidate had a chance to respond.
While those questions covered a wide range of ground, the budget and fiscal management came to the forefront on several occasions.
Di Maggio wasted little time in throwing his support behind the Republican candidate for supervisor, Sam Messina’s, plan to hold the 2010 tax hike to zero percent.
I can’t tell you how many people have complained to me bitterly about the cost of living here, he said.
Jordan immediately countered that point by saying the town must focus on maintaining its services.
`People move here to raise a family, they stay here because of the municipal services,` he said. `I want to hold the line on taxes but not at the cost of town services.`
Kotary said that the proposed budget being considered now, which calls for a 2 percent tax hike, is fairly conservative and already cuts $1 million. He also said the quality of service in Bethlehem is tantamount to the town’s success.
`The notion that we’ve done it at a higher cost is false. We’ve done more with less,` he said.
Flanagan said that there are places to cut the budget, and argued against a 1.5 percent cost of living increase for town employees.
`There are a lot of Americans working on one income that are not getting a raise,` he said.
The candidates were questioned on the topic of economic growth, and specifically were asked about a controversial proposed development of housing and commercial space near the intersection of Feura Bush Road and Elsemer Avenue.
Kotary and Flanagan noted that the town’s comprehensive plan calls for a hamlet-like development at that location, and encouraged residents to continue communication with Town Hall on the issue. Di Maggio and Jordan both acknowledged the need for development buy mentioned that the comprehensive plan was drafted in 2005, and should not be taken as gospel.
`Just because it’s permitted doesn’t mean it’s the best use,` said Di Maggio.
Jordan suggested that the economic downturn and slowing of development might present an opportunity to revisit the plan. None of the candidates expressly condemned or supported the project.
A brief moment of levity was introduced through a question about the recently completed parking lot expansion at the Bethlehem Public Library. Kotary noted that as a library project, the town did not have a role in the expansion, and the candidates politely deferred issuing opinions for the most part.
Flanagan said that if elected, he would call for more meetings in the community and better public access.
`Bring it to the residents, not just here in Town Hall, but out in Bethlehem,` he said.
Jordan spoke on the importance of expanding the town’s commercial tax base, and said one way to attract businesses would be to invest in infrastructure and contain the cost of energy.
Kotary, the only candidate gunning for reelection, mentioned the planks of the platform he ran on four years ago`including implementing the comprehensive plan, open space preservation, sidewalk construction and finding efficiencies`and said that he has been pleased at what the Town Board has accomplished during his tenure.
`Over the past four years we’ve managed our town’s services with fiscal responsibility and we’ve navigated our town through some incredibly tough waters,` he said. `Together, working as a team, we will continue to accomplish even more.`
Other candidates criticized the way town government has been operating. Di Maggio said that he thinks the Town Board has been shirking the fiscal responsibilities suggested by the town’s 2020 study.
`We need balance on this board, we need different voiceswhether they’re in the same party or not, we know they’re singing off the same song sheet.`
Statements by the two town clerk candidates, Democrat Nanci Moquin and Republican Melanie Calzone, preceded the debate by Town Board candidates.
Calzone spoke of her experience as a small businesswoman, doing office work and time as a substitute teacher. She said her `eclectic` set of skills and experience with budgets would make her an ideal candidate.
`I would look to areas that need improvement to increase the efficiency with which the town clerk’s office operates,` she said.
Moquin touted her position as records manager for the Planning and Zoning boards and her service on town committees.
`If elected, I will evaluate the town’s record management system and see where I can apply my record management experience to increase efficiency and accessibility,` she said.
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