CONSERVATIVE PARTY "D" CANDIDATE FOR TOWN SUPERVISOR

FRANK FORNARIO

frank.fornario@yahoo.com

To Candidates for Town Council:

  1. How can a town councilperson lower school taxes? How much of the county and town taxes are controllable by the town council?
     
  2. How will you deal with the Camp LaGuardia issue?
     
  3. In your opinion, would it be beneficial to combine the Village and Town Police forces if the unions agree?
     
  4. Please discuss the Orange County Sewer District and how you believe you can help the Village of South Blooming Grove with the governance of the facility.
     
  5. If you believe you can lower taxes, please elaborate on how.
     
  6. When you are elected how will you bring the 3 governments together for the benefit of all residents of Blooming Grove?
     
  7. Please discuss the water issues that exist in Blooming Grove and what the town can do to help address this.
     

To All Candidates:

  1. How do you plan on bettering the MLPGH communities and how would you go about it? What will you do to guarantee that will happen?
     
  2. We seem to have to beg up (MLPGH) here for town services. How can we know you will respond to our needs like roads, ie: street paint (double line), etc?
     
  3. Have you read the comptrollers report for 2008 for the town budget?  If so what do you think?
     
  4. In your opinion, what does Mountain Lodge Park/Glenwood Hills need? If you lived here what would you want to change?
     
  5. Most residents are overwhelmed with their personal, family and financial issues. How would you get them to  participate in community activities?
     
  6. Is Mountain Lodge Park/Glenwood Hills entitled to consideration and services equal to other portions of Blooming Grove? If so how do you see addressing the needs of MLPGH equally, given its unique attributes?
     
  7. How soon after you are elected can we expect expect 2 basketball courts, a handball court, a fountain, and toilets?
     
  8. If you win the election how will you juggle a job, your community responsibility, your family life, children, parents and your personal time?
     

1------No elected town official can lower school taxes. These taxes comprise over 70% of our tax bill and they are driving people out of NY. We need changes to our current property tax system and these can only be acted on at the state level. As a resident, I would advocate for an alternative method of funding schools that does not price people out of their homes. In regards to county taxes, they have gone down over 7% in the last two years and we have had a stable county tax rate in four of the last six years. This is a result of the combined efforts of the county executive and legislature. I believe we can do an even better job. Town taxes are used to fund the town budget which is under the control of the town board. Unfortunately, some of the town expenses are state-mandated and unfairly imposed. One example would be the recently imposed MTA payroll tax which will cost the town thousands. We also have an aging road and water system infrastructure which will require a major investment of monies sometime in the future.

2----The Mountco proposal was not my first choice. I preferred the Aristotelian University concept as being more beneficial to the community and the county as a whole. However, we must work together with Chester to see what can be done to make this proposal work while meeting the challenges of water, sewer and traffic. This property must get back on the tax rolls as soon as possible. If the Mountco offer falls through, the property goes back under county control with a newly elected legislature to deal with its disposition.

3-----That decision belongs solely to village residents. I believe village taxpayers would benefit more from having the costs of police services spread throughout the entire town rather than a lower number of homes in the village.

4----I was one of the legislators who initiated a review of OCSD #1. I strongly believe that its governance should be more in the hands of the local municipalities who are paying user fees. A number of my colleagues in the legislature agree with me on this issue. Currently, the county has sent out and is reviewing RFP's for governance and consolidation. I m expecting action on this issue in 2010. 

5----We must begin by thoroughly reviewing our current budget. I am sure the current board has done this but we will look at it again during the course of the year with a new set of eyes. Are we getting optimum value for our tax dollar? After we answer this question, we must analyze and prioritize our current and future needs in a challenging economy. We must keep in mind there are funding sources not under our direct control which can have an impact on our budget (i.e. sales tax revenue). We must address our community needs before we take care of our wants and also consider the fact that if we cut something too much right now (i.e. roads), that it will cost us much more in the future to address the same issue. 

6---As a county legislator, I have enjoyed an excellent relationship with the town and two villages. I do not foresee a reason why they will not continue in the future. It there is any area of disagreement, we should address it without involving the expenses of litigation. As long as we have different municipal structures in place, there will always be some different areas of interest and priorities. 

7---Carefully monitor future residential and commercial development so that our water resources don't become further overtaxed. The Orange County Water Authority is currently undertaking a Mid-County Study of water, sewer, and traffic issues in the Goshen area. I will use my contacts with OCWA to utilize theirs and the Orange County Planning Department as a resource in addressing these issues. 

Part Two

1--First, we must "inventory" the MLPGH community and see what we have in seasonal/year-round use and to assess its total impact on water/sewer. I can guarantee that I will explore the concept if elected. This will provide a more accurate basis as to where to go into the future.

2---The roads are under the direct control of the Superintendent of Highways. As supervisor, I will listen to those or any concerns of the MLPGH residents as I would do for any residents of our town. 

3---No but I will in the very near future. 

4---A hand up by the town but not a handout. I would work with residents in identifying resources that would assist in addressing the quality-of-life issues in the community. Over the years, I have maintained an excellent working relationship with a number of county and state personnel that may be helpful to us in our efforts. 

5---Communication. As supervisor, Blooming Grove will be a leader in this area and will help promote activities in the community through a variety of resources. 

6---I believe in equal treatment for all communities. 

7---As county legislator, I helped secure $37,5000 for the Tommie McDuffie Park. I will look into more grant monies to further upgrade the park. 

8---The supervisor position is full-time with irregular hours. I am retired and my family is supportive of my decision to seek this position. There will be some occasional challenges to balancing the position with my personal life, but I have been able to do pretty well with that during the past 16 years (ask my wife). 

Thanks for the opportunity. I look forward to keeping in contact with you in the future. I have the short-form of the answers completed and if anyone would like further elaboration, they can call me at 469-8292 or e-mail me at frank.fornario@yahoo.com