HOMETOWN Views
A-4 HOMETOWN ONEONTA
FRIDAY, april 7, 2017
GUEST EDITORIAL
Herzig: Confound Naysayers, Work Together For Brighter Future Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig’s second State of the City speech, delivered Tuesday, April 4, to Common Council.
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n the day I took office, 18 months ago, I stated that I believed that local government can be a force for good. We have assembled a team of professionals that is making that a reality. We now have a leadership team that any organization – for profit, not-for-profit, or government – would be proud and fortunate to have. City government must address a broad mosaic of needs and we are doing so through teamwork and effective leadership. Our employees, our department heads, the volunteers on our boards and commissions,
and our Common Council are all pulling in the same direction and are focused on both the current and the future needs of the people of this City. Let me specifically commend our Council – eight individuals who are here for the right reasons and are driven, solely, by the desire to do good for the people of this city. Our economy continues to be primarily studentbased. We greatly value our students and the business which they create. Ian Austin/HOMETOWN ONEONTA But only a limited few are Leadership, professionalism, partnerships and benefitting. For more of an engaged citizenry will lead Oneonta into us to access good jobs and the future, Mayor Gary Herzig declared. business opportunities, it is the growing small agribusiimperative that we diversify throughout the Mohawk Valley Region and by the ness that surrounds us, and our economy. leadership in Albany. We to provide much needed Our Downtown Revitalintegrated affordable and ization Initiative is designed will work to revitalize our beautiful Main Street, to market-rate housing for to do just that, and it has attract visitors as the hub for Oneonta’s families. This is been praised enthusiastically
HAIL TO THE CHIEF! Education Never More Valuable, Nader Says At Inaugural Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from former Oneonta Mayor John S. Nader’s Friday, March 31, address as he was inaugurated at the ninth president of SUNY Farmingdale.
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s the President of the University of Michigan Mark Schlissel noted in his own inaugural remarks, talent and motivation are widely distributed, but opportunity is not. Every college or university should seek to address that disparity. Let’s be clear: the region, the nation and Long Island have never been in greater need of thoughtful citizens and people prepared to bring skills, knowledge and the ability to continuously learn to our society. To engage, not retreat; to build bridges instead of walls is the essence of higher education. Think about our awesome task: We are asked to prepare students for immediate employment leading to successful careers while imparting the ability to think critically in order to maintain, or improve Please See NADER, A5
a once-in-a-generation opportunity and, therefore, we must get this right. The unusual DRI planning process has left unanswered questions for some. It is important to recognize that our city planning process has not yet begun. A process that will include complete site plan reviews and impact studies conducted publicly by the city Planning Commission. We will also embark on an indepth Housing Study and an update to our City Comprehensive Plan. Both initiatives will be community-based and built upon input from those who live and work here. These initiatives will be essential in reaching decisions regarding any and all future development in both our downtown and throughout the city.
And for those who fear that future development might detract from our historic architecture, I can assure you that will not be the case. I have made a commitment to the Greater Oneonta Historical Society’s Bob Brzozowski and the design committee of Destination Oneonta that they will serve on architectural review boards, looking at both actual plans and design guidelines. Nothing will be built that does not complement our unique and historic downtown. The end result will be something of which we can be proud and will help to diversify and to build upon our economy – creating jobs and opportunities for our future. As we move through the process, there will be Please See HERZIG, A6
FOR THE RECORD
Critical Issues Remain As State Budget Stalls Editor’s Note: State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, issued this statement after the state Legislature was unable to pass a budget by the April 1 deadline.
and $2.5 billion for clean water infrastructure. Now, I will continue to work to enact a final state budget that controls spending, supports our public schools, helps families afford the high cost of or the past six college, eases costs years at this on our small busitime, I have nesses, and expands updated you on the ridesharing Upstate. finer points of our When it comes to new, on-time state “Raise the Age” I budget. This year want to strike a balis a bit different. Seward ance and make sure A number of unyouthful offenders resolved but critical issues are given a second chance, are still being negotiated. but I will not sacrifice So today we passed a public safety or allow viotemporary budget extenlent criminals to walk free. sion which keeps state The temporary budget government operating and covers state expenses ensures essential services through May 31 but I am will be there for you. working to reach a final There is some good agreement soon so that our news in the budget extenschool districts can have sion - a significant boost in a level of certainty going pay for direct care workers into public budget votes.
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Photo courtesy SUNY Farmingdale
John S. Nader takes the helm as president of SUNY Farmingdale.
LETTERS
If Commissioners Don’t Serve Public, Public May Abolish Oneonta Fire District To the Editor: Thank you for reminding residents of the Town of Oneonta to attend the rescheduled April 11 public
hearing at 6 p.m. at the Elm Park Methodist Church at 401 Chestnut Street. 85 percent of Town of Oneonta residents are satisfied with
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our only local professional department, resulting in decreased public safety for our entire region. Please attend if you can because this may be your last opportunity to voice your objection to this proposal. Some town residents and business owners (myself included) will be unable to attend the new
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the round-the-clock professional fire protection provided by the City of Oneonta fire department, yet the town fire commissioners continue to pursue an ill-advised plan to establish a new volunteer department. This expensive and inefficient proposition will not save town taxpayers in the long run and will devastate
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so it is essential that we express our opinions to them in whatever way we can. There is a sense with many residents that the commissioners have so far pursued this plan against the wishes of the town and the question I most frequently hear is, “What can be done if the fire district establishes Please See STAMMEL, A5
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Libby Cudmore Reporter
hearing date. If that’s the case, your voice can still be heard. You may send written comments directly to the fire commissioners or you may send your comments with a friend who may read them into the record and/or submit them. Remember, these fire commissioners are duty-bound to represent the people of the fire district,
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Lori Patryn Made Otesaga Even More Special
e were sorry to learn of the death of Lori Patryn Smith. While we did not know Lori well, for many years now we have appreciated her courtesy, care and concern whenever we had the opportunity to dine at The Otesaga. We first encountered Lori when she was a waitress. Throughout the years, she worked her way up to the position of maître d’hôtel. Yet, no matter her position, her sunny disposition, and obvious concern for those dining at the hotel, never changed. During her long illness, we missed seeing her every time we went to the
hotel to eat. And that is something that will not stop. We extend our sympathy to her family and friends. • We must say we were disheartened CATHERINE to discover that LAKE our street, upper ELLSWORTH Pioneer, which was supposed to have been resurfaced last year but wasn’t, does not appear on the village’s list of street work for this year.
When it became obvious last year that the work was not going to happen, we asked the powers that be why that was. We were told that the way in which the village has been resurfacing streets does not hold up well on streets where there is parking. Foolishly, as a result of that conversation we thought upper Pioneer Street would make the cut in 2017. But alas, that does not seem to be the case even though the mayor notes that he is determined to fix this village. We have to wonder if the mayor knows when the last time Upper PioPlease See COLUMN, A5
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