Shandaken supervisor Rob Stanley, a Republican, is being challenged on November 5 by Democrat Brian Powers. Last week, we profiled the four Shandaken town-board candidates, of whom voters will be selecting two on Election Day. Below, the supervisor candidates responded to our questions.
Brian Powers
Describe your experience and qualifications for the position of supervisor.
After college and after running a survival training school in Vermont, I moved to New York City and into television production and marketing. Later I had a wholesale warehousing business. From 1999 to 2001, I chaired Phoenicia’s community visioning process for the Catskill Center, and I created and built the original Tanbark Trail. From 2001 to 2010 I published the Phoenicia Times and the Olive Press newspapers. So I’m an effective manager and communicator who’s been a solid advocate for Shandaken’s interests for a good long time, and who’s capable of moving things forward.
What made you decide to run for office?
Rob’s been in office for a decade. I think some things he’s done well, and a fair number of others I’d have approached differently. But I think the pace of economic expansion we’re seeing now requires an enormous time commitment to the job, and I’m happy and able to do that now. We have different approaches to problem-solving, and there is a time when shifting leadership could really help our town.
What do you feel should be done about short-term rentals?
Most of us acknowledge the very positive economic impact STRs have had in recent years, but the good things are mitigated by negatives, including access to affordable housing and the maintenance of essential services by full-time residents.
Rob’s initial regulatory approach was problematical to me, in that I think he initially tried to suppress STRs. But after a townwide survey showed more openness, things have clearly changed for the better. Our current process with our second STR committee is doing great, and they’re on track to come up with solutions that will make sense for Shandaken.
What’s your view of next year’s budget?
It looks like a good, reasonable budget, though I’m not sure we can sustain the increases. The bigger budget issues are on the revenue more than the spending side. For Shandaken, and for every town in the New York City watershed, we need help with our infrastructure issues, because the limitations we live with under the Memorandum of Agreement, combined with the amount of public land we have, suppress our growth prospects, and we need to be compensated for them. So this is going to be about leadership, local and regional, that’s willing to fight for what we need.
What do you see as the biggest issues facing the town in the next few years?
Things are changing quickly now. We have to make sure we can all still live here and pay the taxes. We have to fix our infrastructure, finance it, and build it out. And we need to start planning for a busier future. Part of that planning should include septic treatment for Phoenicia. Our current growth trajectory is also going to continue to place enormous pressure on our planning and zoning boards. So we have to start by returning to having the town board appoint new members for these boards. In other towns, boards don’t get to pick their own new members.
What improvements would you like to see in the town?
Phoenicia’s water system upgrade is pretty critical, and this is our third year of trying to get that $750,000 grant to come through. We have to rethink our whole grant-writing process. We need to bring in people who can do this consistently. Phoenicia’s sidewalks are still a mess, and Pine Hill has these unfunded sidewalk issues. We have to stay on these things until we get the help we need.
Our current lack of cell service reflects poor choices made years ago by the town board under a Republican majority. We need to look at reopening the possibilities for building 70- to 90-foot towers at our firehouses in conjunction with the county’s upgrade of its radio system. We have to find ways to get some cell phone coverage in our valleys.
Rob Stanley
Describe your experience and qualifications for the position of supervisor.
I served as a town board member for four years, and I’ve been supervisor for ten years. I think I’ve done a fair job leading the town, being fiscal manager for the town through all the emergencies and expenses we’ve incurred — the flooding from Hurricane Irene and the Labor Department issues with the ambulance squad, getting them up to legal wages. I’ve balanced those problems without incurring too much cost over time for the taxpayers. I’ve done a good job of working on infrastructure, finding out where we can apply for grants to improve parks, getting supplies for the town. And I hope to continue to do so.
What made you decide to run for reelection?
I enjoy helping the town. My college degree was in playwriting and American literature. One of my favorite eras is the Transcendentalists: Emerson, Thoreau. They really pushed the idea that you need to be bigger than yourself and help your community. My parents helped drive that, too. I feel I’m continuing to direct the town in a positive way. I don’t play partisan politics, I listen to everybody, I’m willing to weigh options for the benefit of the community, as opposed to personal politics or agendas.
What do you feel should be done about short-term rentals?
Like any other business model that operates in town, I feel it needs to be responsibly regulated. Many STR owners already do it responsibly and well, with benefits to the community and to residents who live here full-time. But certain qualifications should be met to ensure the safety and welfare of people utilizing them and the community as a whole.
What’s your view of next year’s budget?
Right now we’re looking at a three percent increase, which is not terribly bad. Almost all our increases for past couple of years are due to the state minimum wage increasing. In Kingston yesterday, I was seeing signs at fast-food restaurants for positions starting at $12.50 or $12.75. People in our offices are handling millions of dollars in accounts and are not even making that much. We’re trying to get people up to a living wage, but we have not dramatically increased spending or costs in the departments.
What do you see as the biggest issues facing the town in the next few years?
One is short-term rentals, making sure we get can get a handle on it. Also, affordable housing for many of our long-term residents. We need to come up with a way to incentivize housing, possibly combined with volunteering for the fire department. If there was a way to promote landowners providing affordable housing for local residents, and if that person becomes part of the fire department, we can pass along tax incentives to them. Also infrastructure is an issue. Phoenicia needs help with the water system. Finalizing the septic maintenance district in Shandaken, which is going to help quite a few folks.
What improvements would you like to see in the town?
We’ll continue to try to make improvements with roads, with Eric [Hofmeister] as highway superintendent. I’d like to see more businesses operating. They’re starting to come into town, and there are not so many empty buildings on Main Street. There’s a possibility of providing wi-fi or at least satellite cellular service within town parks so people can enjoy themselves there with their kids and maybe telecommute.
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