No doubt many Seneca Falls residents have questions about claims that have been made by the candidates for village offices this election season. Many Seneca Falls residents could likely dispute some of the claims that have been made by each of the candidates. We all sit back and chuckle sometimes at the amazing feats of governing that suddenly appear in the weeks before election day!
Never before have we seen so many claims of accomplishments than in the 2008 village election, mainly from the three incumbents of course. In the 2nd Ward we received a six page listing (and listing, and listing, and listing....) of accomplishments of the Board. It appeared to be mostly just copied off portions of departmental reports stapled together. If nothing else, it's good to know the village's employees are working so hard!
An example of one issue that all of the candidates seem to be focusing on, and taking credit for, is the joint Town/Village Comprehensive Plan. Candidates have touted this accomplishment and have pointed to it as a mandate for lower taxes and consolidation of services. But the Plan itself doesn't mandate anything. The Plan, as its name implies, is truly "comprehensive" in scope. It covers all aspects of community functions and development. A Comprehensive Plan's purpose is to guide the future growth and development of Seneca Falls through specific actions that can result in a better future for our community. It suggests changes to laws and policies, as well as suggests actions and partnerships that go beyond just the Town/Village relationship. The candidates have not focused on how they propose to implement actions included in the Plan. What they have focused on is only the results of the resident survey. The survey showed that the majority of residents want lower taxes and want the town and village to determine where services can be shared and costs can be reduced. This cannot be where the discussion ends!
Obviously if a candidate points to the results of a survey and says "yeah, that's what we want and that's what I will work toward" it sounds good.
But the hard part - and the part that usually becomes a stopping point for elected officials - is actually utilizing a Comprehensive Plan's recommendations. When it comes time to enact changes, or budget for services called for in the Plan, well, the enthusiasm often wanes. This is true not only for Comprehensive Plans, but other plans and studies that are generated by municipalities.
This is why taxpayers all too often can complain that studies and plans just collect dust on a shelf.
I would suggest to our candidates that the greatest accomplishments will come from thumbing past the Table of Contents and Introduction and then starting the work.
Never before have we seen so many claims of accomplishments than in the 2008 village election, mainly from the three incumbents of course. In the 2nd Ward we received a six page listing (and listing, and listing, and listing....) of accomplishments of the Board. It appeared to be mostly just copied off portions of departmental reports stapled together. If nothing else, it's good to know the village's employees are working so hard!
An example of one issue that all of the candidates seem to be focusing on, and taking credit for, is the joint Town/Village Comprehensive Plan. Candidates have touted this accomplishment and have pointed to it as a mandate for lower taxes and consolidation of services. But the Plan itself doesn't mandate anything. The Plan, as its name implies, is truly "comprehensive" in scope. It covers all aspects of community functions and development. A Comprehensive Plan's purpose is to guide the future growth and development of Seneca Falls through specific actions that can result in a better future for our community. It suggests changes to laws and policies, as well as suggests actions and partnerships that go beyond just the Town/Village relationship. The candidates have not focused on how they propose to implement actions included in the Plan. What they have focused on is only the results of the resident survey. The survey showed that the majority of residents want lower taxes and want the town and village to determine where services can be shared and costs can be reduced. This cannot be where the discussion ends!
Obviously if a candidate points to the results of a survey and says "yeah, that's what we want and that's what I will work toward" it sounds good.
But the hard part - and the part that usually becomes a stopping point for elected officials - is actually utilizing a Comprehensive Plan's recommendations. When it comes time to enact changes, or budget for services called for in the Plan, well, the enthusiasm often wanes. This is true not only for Comprehensive Plans, but other plans and studies that are generated by municipalities.
This is why taxpayers all too often can complain that studies and plans just collect dust on a shelf.
I would suggest to our candidates that the greatest accomplishments will come from thumbing past the Table of Contents and Introduction and then starting the work.
