The Post-Standard News |
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Post-Standard,
The (Syracuse, NY) October 23, 2003
REPUBLICANS DENY CLAIMS OF A LACK OF OPENNESS AND FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY. Sara Errington Staff writer A new political party is
challenging Republican incumbents in Spafford. The general election Nov. 4 will be the
town's first contested election in a decade, aside from a write-in
campaign in 1995.
Spafford Party candidate Richard Malcolm will oppose
incumbent Supervisor Gordon Ireland.
Joyce Barnett and Linda Sanders, also from the Spafford
Party, will challenge the two town board members up for re-election,
Charles Parsons and Bill Vinzant.
The Spafford Party formed in August, and its candidates are
calling for updated zoning, more accessible government and a master plan
that would help guide development in the town.
The Republicans have varying views about zoning and master plans,
but challenge the Spafford Party's contention that they don't
welcome open communication with residents and point to their record of
fiscal responsibility and bringing in grant money.
The campaign season has been busy.
Supporters of the Spafford Party have invited residents into
their homes to meet the candidates for coffee and at wine-and-cheese
parties.
"It's been very successful," Barnett said. "We've gotten several
hundred people into the various events. One of the wonderful things is
that a lot of people are meeting each of the candidates for the first time
and sharing ideas."
Discussions about the state of the town have lasted more than an
hour. "They're very eager to talk about what they'd like to see happen in
the town," Barnett said.
Many people have expressed interest in serving on citizens'
committees.
The candidates also are going door-to-door, hoping to speak
personally with the town's 1,130 voters.
"We're feeling pretty good. There are certain neighborhoods where
the doors just fly open," Barnett said.
The last Spafford Party event is tentatively planned for
Nov. 1 at a location to be determined.
Incumbents have been stumping at the Spafford Fire
Department's hall and the town hall, and are sending out fliers.
Parsons said he's pleased to have competition. He said he was
surprised when he first ran eight years ago that there is often little
competition in Spafford.
"I made up a little speech. I bought a new tie. I got a haircut. I
bought a new shirt. I had signs made up and then there was nobody running
against me," he joked.
Parsons said he'll be campaigning hard this time, but he especially
hopes Ireland wins.
"Here's a guy with years of town, county and state experience. Town
supervisor is a thankless job and that guy puts in thousands of hours. Why
would you want to get rid of a guy like that?" Parsons said. "Stick with
what works."
Vinzant also has taken a high-tech approach to campaigning.
"I've been busy on the Internet," he said of his contributions to a
local Web site, www.borodinobullett.com.
Vinzant said a lot of his campaign has involved responding to
questions from people who post on the site's bulletin board.
"I think it's a very interesting use of the Internet, and maybe one
of the relatively few good uses," he said.
"There have been some very good questions and a few cynical
questions. But all in all I think it's been a good experiment."
Ireland said he hopes voters will see past the Spafford
Party's criticisms.
"I think in the end people will wake up to the fact that we're for
real and they're something else," he said.
Several candidates are running unopposed for other offices.
Lisa Valetta, of 3125 Becker Road, is running for town clerk. Carol
Bourque, of 1078 Willowdale Road, is running for tax collector.
Carl Wiers, of 1422 E. Lake Road, will run for highway
superintendent. Incumbent highway superintendent Merrill Clark is
retiring.
Here is a look at the Spafford candidates in contested
races:
TOWN SUPERVISOR
Two candidates, one position. Four-year term. Salary, $5,200 per
year.
Gordon Ireland
Age: 73
Address: 2265 Rose Hill Road
Family: Wife, Nancy. Four children and three grandchildren.
Education: Marcellus Central School
Employment: Retired farmer
Political experience: 1966 to '70, chairman of Spafford
Board of Assessors; 1970 to '77, town supervisor; 1977 to '85 Onondaga
county legislator; 1995 to present, town supervisor.
Party enrollment: Republican
Community organizations: Onondaga County Supervisors Association,
Tri-County Water Association, New York State Association of Towns,
Spafford Area Historical Association
What are two things you want the town board to accomplish during
the next term?
I would like the town board and highway superintendent to continue
to look for state and federal funds to upgrade our roads, bridges and
other projects that are needed.
This is the only option other than raising taxes. The town has been
successful in obtaining grants of over $700,000 in the past eight years.
Eighty-five residents on the west side of Otisco Lake have a
serious water system failure and a decision has to be made whether to form
a water district. The district would involve Otisco, Spafford and
Marcellus.
The map plan has been prepared by Barton & Loguidice Engineers,
and hopefully grants for funding will reduce the cost per household to a
reasonable charge.
The town continues to work with OCWA to see if residents will
approve or disapprove the district.
What one asset does the town have that the town board should
capitalize on?
This is a rural, residential, agricultural town and should remain
as such. The scenic view is outstanding because the town is located
between Otisco and Skaneateles lakes and there is lots of open space.
With money increasingly tight, what do you think is the biggest
factor putting the squeeze on town budgets and what specific service cuts
or tax increases do you favor to get by?
The biggest factor for us is the liability insurance, increase in
fuel costs, mandated retirement fund contributions, health insurance and
machinery prices.
We have to provide safe roads, which is our number one expense. The
money comes from tax revenues and there is no room for cutting as we are
on a very frugal budget. Total expenditures over last year are minimal
except where necessary as it has been in the past.
Some residents have suggested the town should update its zoning
laws and create a master plan for future development. Do you feel this is
necessary? Why or why not?
The zoning code could use some updating and little change has taken
place over the years.
Before the code changes, a comprehensive plan should be in place to
use as a guideline to see what is needed by residents. The survey is the
best way to get ideas as everyone should be heard and not just one or two
people.
The comprehensive plan does not need to be expensive or involve
costly consultants, as some have stated.
With Skaneateles Lake on the west and Otisco Lake on the east, we
should look into this. Both are drinking-water supplies for Onondaga
County.
Richard D. Malcolm
Age: 43
Address: 1848 Rose Hill Road
Education: Skaneateles Central School, University of Arizona,
Business Administration
Employment: Corporate Director of Food and Beverage, Servus Hotel
Group
Political experience: none
Party enrollment and ballot lines: Not enrolled in a party, ballot
line is independent (Spafford Party)
Community involvement: 2003 featured garden on the Spafford
Area Historical Society summer garden tour. The Spafford Party.
What are two things you want the town board to accomplish during
the next term?
A primary objective is to develop a renewed sense of community
involvement. To create more effective communications between elected
officials and town residence.
My job is to serve the public interest, and to do so properly
requires the ability to listen to the people and act appropriately
according to the will of the majority.
While retaining the rural character of the town and preserving the
significant historical past, it is important to protect the future of the
area by means of a community-guided master plan. A plan that will be
crafted and developed in conjunction with direct input and feedback
gathered from all interested Spafford town residence.
What one asset does the town have that the town board should
capitalize on?
The natural asset the town possesses is its location between two
remarkable lakes. Both Skaneateles and Otisco Lake are true gems that need
to be protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy.
An equally important asset are the people of Spafford. These
intelligent, diverse, proud individuals are its greatest asset and deserve
a real voice in local government.
With money increasingly tight, what do you think is the biggest
factor putting the squeeze on town budgets and what specific service cuts
or tax increases do you favor to get by?
The mere mention of the word "taxes" sends shivers town people's
spines. Nobody wants tax increases.
I believe that better allocation of available resources to enhance
and develop community services would be a less offensive approach.
Some residents have suggested the town should update its zoning
laws and create a master plan for future development. Do you feel this is
necessary? Why or why not?
Zoning laws that have not been updated since the '70s are
definitely in need of review.
Significant development in the town has prompted people to ask for
such action. Revitalized zoning laws are required to protect and prevent
projects that are not in the best interest of the town of Spafford.
TOWN BOARD
Four candidates are seeking two positions. Four-year term; salary
of $1,410 a year.
Joyce Barnett
Age: 47
Address: 2680 Nunnery Road
Family: Husband, Kevin, is a director in the College of Engineering
and Computer Science, Syracuse University. We have two daughters, 7 and
12.
Education: B.A., Eisenhower College, political science,
professional development for resource development
Employment: Independent consultant for institutional advancement
(fund-raising, institutional planning, public relations). Past positions
include director of development, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and
development officer at Onondaga Community College, among others.
Political experience: First-time candidate, but long-time student
of politics, leadership and cooperative problem solving.
Party enrollment and ballot lines: An enrolled Democrat running on
the independent ballot line (Spafford Party)
Community involvement: Various professional organizations for
Resource Development Professionals, first vice president of Skaneateles
Garden Club, president of Spafford Garden Club (SAGE), volunteer
for Town of Spafford Veterans Committee, Borodino Park Committee,
Spafford Area Historical Society.
What are two specific things you want the town board to accomplish
during the next term?
We need to work together to guide inevitable growth and change in
our community by carefully researching and developing a master plan to
serve the entire community of Spafford.
Many of the old lakefront homes are being enlarged or torn down and
new larger homes are going up in their place. Other changes in land use
are occurring. A well-constructed master plan is a valuable tool. It will
guide us to the best possible outcome for the community as a whole by
providing research and direction to address the challenges that change
inevitably brings.
As Ben Franklin said: "Failure to prepare is preparing to fail."
The fact that there is a choice of candidates for the first time in
many, many years has already raised the interest of many Spafford
residents.
My involvement with the town board is as a professional
volunteering my services for several worthwhile community projects. The
first thing I noticed was that a handful of people were sitting alone
making decisions that would affect more than 2,000 residents. One town
board member actually appeared to be asleep at the meeting.
We can only benefit from an active, educated, lively discussion of
issues. The Spafford Party candidates already have success because
our very candidacy has encouraged so much more citizen involvement and
interest.
What one asset does the town have that the town board should
capitalize on?
Spafford provides a very desirable and healthy natural
environment in which to live. We also have a wonderful diversity of
people: farmers, professionals who commute, people from every walk of
life, and we all share an appreciation for the land we live on - if we
work together we can conserve this.
With money increasingly tight, what do you think is the biggest
factor putting the squeeze on budgets and what specific service cuts or
tax increases do you favor to get by?
In a town like Spafford, which provides very little
services, there is less pressure on the budget. However, last year the
town board did raise taxes.
As a professional who has worked in resource development for 24
years, I plan to use my skills to bring some new benefits to
Spafford - without raising taxes. A lot of people feel that some
fresh new ideas will be very helpful. We have not had much change in town
leadership for a very long time.
Some residents have suggested the town should update its zoning
laws and create a master plan. Is this is necessary? Why or why not?
The zoning laws in Spafford have barely been touched since
the 1970s. (I believe there was one modification in all this time.) Of
course, they need to be revisited after almost 30 years.
I see responsible zoning as protecting our open spaces, our quality
of life, the quality of water in our lakes and not as limiting individual
freedoms. Many of us like to live on our land, in our own way, and that
should be protected.
The main exceptions are those things that truly infringe on quality
of life for others. Constructing a building in a way that causes erosion
problems for neighbors or interferes with wells and water quality would be
one example of this.
I have heard many residents say they are frustrated the town does
not enforce zoning in a fair and consistent manner. These complaints and
the town's failure to respond to New York state on these issues have
triggered a Department of State audit of the zoning practices in the Town
of Spafford. Inconsistency and unfairness in zoning enforcement is
never acceptable.
Charles Parsons
Age: 50
Address: 1644 Willowdale Road
Education: B.A., economics, Maxwell School, Syracuse University
Employment: Eckerd Corporation, Liverpool
Political experience: Completing second term on town board.
Enrolled party and ballot lines: Republican
Community involvement: Member, former treasurer and lay speaker,
Borodino United Methodist Church
What are two specific things you want the town board to accomplish
during the next term?
I would like to continue the work started at the four corners. With
a little cooperation from town residents we can make Borodino look even
better.
But Spafford is more than just Borodino. People on Olanco
Road need water and we need to keep the new water district project moving
forward.
What one asset does the town have that the board should capitalize
on?
Of course our most valuable asset is the clean water and recreation
that our lakes provide to the rest of the county.
With money increasingly tight, what is the biggest factor putting
the squeeze on town budgets and what specific service cuts or tax
increases do you favor to get by?
We have been fortunate that our revenue has kept pace with our
expenses. But the situation with the state pension fund is a horror story
that would make Stephen King proud, and the day will come when we have to
pass that expense on to the taxpayers.
Some residents have suggested the town should update its zoning
laws and create a master plan for future development. Is this necessary?
Why or why not?
We get this complaint often and it usually comes from lakefront
owners near the border with Skaneateles. I will not subject the rest of
the town to more restrictive "Skaneateles" zoning just because some
neighbors on the lake cannot get along.
We are always reviewing the existing laws and make appropriate
changes when they benefit the entire town. The idea of a master plan for
development has been discussed and we have been consulting with our
friends in Marcellus and Skaneateles as to what would be appropriate for
Spafford.
Linda Sanders
Age: 56
Address: 2493 Nunnery Road
Education: Graduate, Art Institute of Boston and professional
training for federal government employment
Employment: Retired, after 26 years of employment at Department of
Health and Human Services. Formerly director of admissions for Kennedy
Memorial Hospital for Children, Brighton, Mass.
Political experience: First-time candidate for elected office,
former president of Federal Women's Group in CNY, AFL/CIO union
representative.
Enrolled party and ballot lines: Not enrolled in a political party,
ballot line is independent (Spafford Party)
Community involvement: President, Spafford Area Historical
Society; member of Borodino Fire Department Association; volunteer for
various community service organizations including Hope for Bereaved.
What are two things you want the town board to accomplish during
the next term?
I hear a lot of concern about maintaining the rural atmosphere of
Spafford and also keeping pace with the ever-growing needs of the
community. We need to address those needs now; the current board has been
lagging behind and does not see the changes in demography and land use
that have been occurring for some time.
Many residents feel that the current town board is not open to
their comments or participation. I speak to a lot of residents who want
their voices heard.
Mr. Ireland's comment in The Post-Standard Aug. 26 speaks volumes.
According to Ireland: "If you don't like Spafford, you can leave."
Spafford is a very diverse town and is spread out geographically -
the town board should be sensitive to the needs and input of all segments
of the town.
What one asset does the town have that the town board should
capitalize on?
The current board is lacking the vision that is needed in today's
world. They are well-meaning, but ill-prepared and not inspired.
There are many people in Spafford with skills, good ideas,
energy and enthusiasm. This is the asset that I would like to see the town
board capitalize on.
With money increasingly tight, what do you think is the biggest
factor putting the squeeze on town budgets and what specific service cuts
or tax increases do you favor to get by?
Meeting the needs of a community during a time of limited resources
is not impossible.
It does require strong management skills and leadership. It is also
important to encourage cooperation at all levels of government.
These are the skills the Spafford Party candidates would
bring to town government.
Some residents have suggested the town should update its zoning
laws and create a master plan. Is this necessary? Why or why not?
A master plan merely researches the issues a town is facing and
lays out options. Why wouldn't we want to do this?
By neglecting to look into a plan, town government will deprive the
residents of Spafford of an important tool and leave them
unprepared for the future.
Bill Vinzant
Age: 70
Address: 1789 East Lake Road
Family: Wife, Ruth, and three grown daughters and one cow.
Education: B.S. in dairy husbandry and teacher's certificate in
vocational education - NMA&MA 60 plus graduate hours in (primarily)
engineering, chemistry and physiology.
Employment: General Electric 1956 to '91; Cornell University, 1992
to '95
Political experience: Previously served on town tax grievance
board, zoning board of appeals; Spafford Town Board, 1997 to
present
Enrolled party: Republican
Community involvement: Borodino Volunteer Fire Department, SAVES,
Boy Scouts, 4-H
What are two things you want the town board to accomplish during
the next term?
I hope we can complete work on the proposed water district. It will
be up to the approval or disapproval of district residents when the costs
are a bit better defined.
I like that resident approval part because one of my goals is to
limit the intrusiveness and expense of government as much as possible.
What one asset does the town have that the town board should
capitalize on?
The beauty of our community is our greatest asset. Re-examination
of our rules on signs would help preserve that beauty.
With money increasingly tight, what do you think is the biggest
factor putting the squeeze on town budgets and what specific service cuts
or tax increases do you favor?
Money is always tight but fortunately this year we were able to
reduce the town tax rate by about 10 percent. The fact that we had a
revaluation helped us do that, but still I don't think many people had a
major increase in town tax dollars paid.
While serving on the tax grievance board it became obvious to me
how frustrated people were over the frivolous spending of some government
bodies.
We as citizens have little influence over many taxes and town
government is one place we have some control. We can avoid a significant
tax increase if we elect those who will limit spending.
Some residents have suggested the town should update its zoning
laws and create a master plan. Is this necessary?
Our opponents hint that they would "preserve rural character" by
extensive planning, zoning and development regulation. That strikes fear
in many long-term residents - and with good reason.
I observe the town and village of Skaneateles with their truly
draconian regulations and plans. While the plans and rules have opened the
door to endless litigation, suburban sprawl has replaced the rural
character and the village has become little more than a tourist trap.
It seems that those with the most influence and deep pockets do as
they please while the average person is hobbled by the regulations.
I am not totally opposed to a master plan but the development of a
plan that will garner wide community support is a much more serious and
effort-consuming matter than my opponents are willing to concede.
For example, I do not believe that any of the three Spafford
Party candidates have offered their services on the Spafford zoning
or planning boards or availed themselves of any of the courses on town
planning or zoning that SU or ESF offer.I believe I have taken all that are offered for town
officials.
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