1. Governance & Transparency - What concrete steps would you take in your first 100 days to create “a true Town Board” where every resident can ask questions and get answers? 

I would change the Agenda meeting format to a more open informal process so that public concerns may be better addressed.  

2. How will you measure progress on transparency, and how often will you publish those metrics?

I would simply answer questions or concerns openly and clearly.  There really should not be any need to have residents FOIL information.  SImply answer the questions and supply the information to the best of my ability.

3. If Town departments resist releasing information, what leverage will you use to change that culture?

Unless there is some legal reason for not sharing information, all departments should be willing to release requested information.  That is part of your job performance and should be addressed directly if not followed.

4. Land-Use & Development - You have argued the town must “align its actions with the comprehensive plan and zoning laws.” Which two parts of the plan are being ignored right now, and what ordinances would you amend to fix that? 

The Comp Plan is a Plan in which it is clear that many of the residents do not want massive growth in the Town.  The Zoning laws have been adjusted to align better with the Plan.  Based on some current concerns from residents, I would recommend we revisit the Zoning plan again to tighten up what is considered too much High Density Growth in Ballston.  However this cannot be done simply because the Supervisor wants to.  The Town Board needs to initiate a review- which I would support.

5. Would you support a short moratorium on major subdivisions or PUDDs while zoning is updated? Why or why not?

Yes- If current projects which are OK with Zoning are considered to not align with the Comp Plan, and citizens are voicing concern, then a moritorium should be put in place to stop building until the Zoning is adjusted.  Again, this would require a majority vote form the 5 member board to commence.

6. How will you balance rural character with economic growth along Route 50 and in the Ballston Spa gateway corridors?

I would not balance the two.  I would make sure the Planning Board members were well versed in our current regualtions and alignment with the Comprehensive Plan.

7. Infrastructure: Sewer, Water, Roads - You opposed the 2018 $15.8 million Route 50 sewer district because of cost and compulsory hookups.  What is your long-term alternative for managing septic failures and lake pollution? How would you pay for it without shifting costs to low-income homeowners?

I do not have a long term alternative.  I opposed the sewers because I felt the majority of the residents were not in favor of municipal sewers. (The vote proved that to be true.) 

Septic failures are not a Town responsibility.  They are a private homeowner responsibility.  

Lake pollution should be mitigated by the Lake municipal sewers as intended.  

I would not promote municipal sewers.  If people want municipal sewers further down route 50, they would be able to tap into areas near Beacon Hill on their own dime.  The last referendum on sewers down route 50 was significantly voted down.  Hence, my opinion is that the Town of Ballston should not be persuing sewer installation.

8. What criteria will you use to decide when and where future water or sewer extensions are appropriate?

Criteria would include the last vote - which was a resounding no.

I would also point to the Comprehensive Plan and see that municipal sewers do not align with the plan.

If one examines the Zoning in our town, one can see that there are areas which include municipal sewer already- with capability of expanding usage. 

Although it would be beneficial for some to have sewer down route 50- it should not come with a price tag that everyone in the town has to pay for. 

As a Board member/ Supervisor, I would never promote municipal sewers down Route 50, unless there was a dramatic shift in public opinion currently- by which we would then need to have a referendum vote by the people of Ballston.

9. Given Ballston’s rapid traffic growth, what specific road or intersection projects top your priority list?

Roads are difficult in that we have a wide variety of local, county, and state highways in which we in some cases have little or no control over.

It is clear though that the Route 50 corridor has its issues.  At Brookline, as well as Lakehill.  Route 67 also has issues towards Eastline.

One immediate item to address is making sure Planning and Zoning Boards are aware of traffic issues- even when they are assured traffic studies are completed by agencies.  

I drive these roads daily and regardless of traffic studies done in the past - at certain times of the day, the roads are heavily congested.

The Town board also needs to be diligent in requesting remediation and changes to assist in these issues would be a first step as well.

10. Farmland & Environmental Protection - After the Farmland Protection & Preservation Committee was dissolved, how will you restart or replace it, and what authority will it have? 

Bring it back and it would be another voice for residents concentrated on these issues.  

11. Do you support using purchase-of-development-rights (PDR) funds or conservation easements to protect prime ag soils?

Yes- when done properly.

12. What is your position on large-scale solar or battery-storage projects on farmland?

Personally I am against them, I did vote against Solar projects while on the Board.  I am still personally against them.  

13. Fiscal Management & Taxes - Supervisor Connolly argues the town is in its “best fiscal health ever.” Where do you see waste or risk in the current budget?

I would need to examine the financial statements to examine waste.  My concern with our fiscal health is making sure our rapid growth doesnt cause fiscal issues down the road.  

Yes, the Town does get more of the county tax dollars based on valuation.  However, with increase of valuation will come increase of expenditures.  We need to be careful to keep the balance.  

14. How will you ensure that impact-fee revenue (traffic, water, recreation) is actually spent on mitigating the projects that generate it?

There has to be financial documents that show this is indeed being followed properly in the Town.

15. Community Services & Quality of Life - What role should the town play in improving cell-service coverage and broadband?

The Town's role should be to make sure this issue is examined, however I do not agree with the recent installation of a cell tower on the Town Hall property.  I do not believe cell service is a responsibility of a local government. other than proper zoning adherence regarding towers.  If zoning does not allow towers in an area, then no towers wshould be allowed.

16. How will you support the library’s expansion and other cultural amenities without over-burdening taxpayers?

I am not sure that is a question to answer.  Library expansion would cost taxpayers more.  

17. What partnerships will you pursue with county or state agencies for emergency preparedness and storm-water resilience?

We currently have a county relationship, as well as committees dedicated to these items.

18. Accountability & Ethics - If elected, will you pledge to hold at least one televised “state of the town” Q&A each year and publish all meeting packets a week in advance?

No. But, I would expect that meeting packets would be published in advance.  If the question is: "would you try and hide and try and pass legislation without public input?"  No, that would not happen.  The Board is expected to legislate the peoples wishes, not work on their own personal agenda or agenda of a few.  There should be nothing to hide or keep from public scrutiny.  It takes more time, but the end results always appear better.

19. Describe a decision you made on the Town Board that you would handle differently today and what you learned from it.

The few items I would handle differently would all be items that I entrusted information from others whom I thought could be trusted. (...without varifying the information.)

 I still trust information from various sources, but now always look to verify before acting.  It is a slower process, but I believe to be better.