March 15, 2022 - Village of Warwick Trustee Election
Candidates for Village Trustee respond to Sustainable Warwick’s ‘Green Screen’
WARWICK. The group asked the three candidates for Village Trustee for their views about the Village and sustainability.
Sustainable Warwick focuses on issues of of sustainability and the environment as they play out in Warwick. As part of that effort, the Green Screen interviews candidates running for local office — Town Council, Village Board and School Board — so that their views on these important issues can be shared with the voters.
The questions posed to the Village Trustee candidates were:
On a scale of 1 - 10, how would you rate the importance/threat of climate change?
What sorts of changes, if any, should the Village be making or considering as the threat of climate change becomes more and more apparent?
The Village of Warwick is generally considered to be a true “success story,” both by residents and neighbors, a village of attractive tree-lined streets with a vibrant Main St and local economy. Still change and improvement is always needed. As Trustee, how do you feel that the Village can grow and still retain the things that make Warwick “sustainable” in every way as the special place it is?
Do you support the Village’s efforts to strive for the New York State Climate Smart Communities certification? If so, which specific actions would you endorse?
Joe Amaturo
Intro: Joe Amaturo is a village resident for over 25 years and a Certified Project Manager. He is community organizer and volunteer, who is also a military veteran.
Responses to the Questions:
1. At the moment, I can not rate it very high, maybe 6. In comparison to the troubles of the economic inflation and increasing cost of living for all American families, the turmoil and possible threats of war in Russia and Ukraine, and kids in our own village going hungry, it does not get high markings.
2. I am not sure I totally agree with the statement; however, I personally installed solar panels on my home and feel the installation of solar farms are a good idea to assist with the reduction of electrical costs to the Village taxpayers. I would like to see recycling cans along side trash cans in the village so we can properly recycle plastics, glass and paper.
3. Warwick is a great success story, however past elected members concentrated on what you stated ‘Main St’ only. Go down the side streets off the village and you don’t see ’tree-lined’ and vibrant streets. ALL the people of the village deserve the same attention as Main Street. We need to invest in sidewalks cracks and slate rocks that are protruding that cause serious trip hazards.
4. This is a great effort to strive towards, however, not at the expense of other dire projects needed within the Village. Efforts to lower our carbon footprint by use of solar at all village facilities is a great start. Many solar companies will subsidize the costs of the panels and installation, only charging us a low per KW price. This price is usually quite cheaper than getting electric from O&R. Updating lighting to LED and other green type lights is another immediate way we can move closer to a greener village.
Carly Foster
Intro: Carly A. Foster is a professional community and infrastructure planner and grant writer. She is an active volunteer, and sits on the Village Comprehensive Plan Committee.
Responses to the Questions:
1. 10. Climate adaptation is a big part of my profession. The Village is a small community near a major metropolitan area that is already suffering from increasing risk. We’re seeing intense rainfall, this is true, and that will continue to affect our infrastructure, but in the coming decades, population migration could put the most pressure on the region and our community. People are already moving; this migration will speed up and we already have tensions around this to address.
2. Growth management, land use, walkability, communications infrastructure, sewer and water infrastructure, and growing concerns about affordability. The Planning Committee is looking at all of these. We must work with the town and the county on these issues as we are all interdependent.
3. The village is mostly built out. We may grow due to annexation and in-fill development. We need to protect our parks and better use second story underused spaces. Our vehicle dependence is a tension that needs to be addressed in the village; one cannot walk or bike or take transit to have their basic needs met. On the Comprehensive Planning Committee we are looking at ways to decrease traffic and speed, and increase walkability. Land use management is key to protecting the charm of Warwick.
4. The Village has already done a lot of work towards sustainability. CSC actions can reduce cost and increase quality of life, and help us get preferential scoring for grants (I am a grant writer as well). I am particularly interested in the land use and community engagement segments of the CSC. Those pieces align with our growth needs and protect the character of the Village. With my professional background I can help with the adaptations part of the CSC.
Lugene Maher
Intro: Lugene Maher and her family have lived in the Village of Warwick for 38 years. She has been actively involved in many community organizations and has an extensive professional career in the life sciences.
Responses to the Questions:
1. 10+ It is a big threat globally and what happens globally affects us here. We need to tend to our earth and that starts locally.
2. I looked at the energy benchmarking for government buildings and the LED lighting change over. These are great. We must assess what is achievable and most important in the options available to us. Additionally, I would look at the Village vehicles, find out if our contractors are green certified, and investigate solar options for our government buildings. We need to maintain open space, where possible, such as in our parks. We can also explore the feasibility of adding recycle bins throughout the Village. Can the Dial-a-bus and other Village vehicles be converted to an electric vehicle? We can do more to encourage walking and biking, adding bicycle racks in key locations and assuring safe paths for each. We can also consider a shuttle bus from parking areas into the Village to minimize the number of vehicles in the Village.
3. We need to assess our Village building codes with a focus on sustainability, like the NY Energy code. We should be mindful of the effects of annexation from the Town into the Village. We could consider tax benefits for green Village merchants and look at supporting green jobs in the Village.
4. I am in favor of the CSC program. I know that we are already working on LED conversions and building benchmarking efforts. But there is more we can do. Possibly each trustee should have a sustainability assignment. We can look at our HVAC systems, water, sewer, and power to ensure use of energy efficient pumps and equipment. Is there an opportunity for an alternative fuel infrastructure? It would help us find out what other communities are doing. We can learn a lot by looking at the sustainability work in municipalities around us. Lastly, we should engage residents to work on the CSC in partnership with the Board.
Tom McKnight
Intro: Tom McKnight actively serves on the Village Planning Board and Comprehensive Plan Committee; believes he has the relevant experience, skillset and temperament to be an effective Trustee.
Responses to the Questions:
1. Climate Change – between 9 and 10.
2. It is a global issue; we need to act with urgency. At the village level, clean water and effective sewage treatment and preserving open spaces are all linked back to the underlying theme of climate change. New York State has programs and grants to help with these issues. The Climate Smart Communities and the Clean Energy Communities can guide us and serve as a source for grants. We also should consider adopting the New York Stretch Building Codes.
3. The Village of Warwick is pretty much built out. For the remaining two developments we could consider NY Stretch Building Codes, strict enforcement of current codes and looking to protect open space. Beyond that the only growth could come by annexation and greater building density . Currently growth around the Village is a problem that the Village is going to have to navigate through the next 20 years. This might involve changing zoning laws, buying up the land for the Village and the Town, and protecting more farmland.
4. I support the Climate Smart Communities program and would be willing to head the Committee. When I was on the Comprehensive Plan Committee, I coordinated a survey in which 80% said environmental sustainability was important, and that overwhelming response is driving me to take specific action.
Orange County has a Bronze Certification; currently no Orange County cities, towns or villages are certified. In 2020 the Village of Warwick registered its intent to be part of the CSC Program, the next step is to form a task force and appoint a coordinator. The village has completed some CSC actions and needs to write them up to earn points. If we inventory our greenhouse gas emissions that will earn us points and point out where we can improve in other areas . I want the Village of Warwick to be the first town to receive Bronze Certification. It is going to take discipline and organization to take us to the next level.
Brian Torpie
Intro: “It's thanks to civic groups like Sustainable Warwick that help keep Warwick vibrant. I look forward to working with them.”
Responses to the Questions:
1. On a scale of 1-10, I am a 5. I think we should differentiate between climate change that is caused by humans as defined by the UN, and a changing climate. I do see the climate is changing and we need to address this.
2. Trustees should be stewards of the finances of the Village. Our actions should be dependent on the finances available. We should position ourselves to get more grant funding. For example, We should adopt the New York State building stretch codes which will help get points for the CSC grants and would save homeowners in the long run. I want to bridge the gap between the views of various groups on climate change. Some might only care about the costs involved in addressing the challenges. I want to explain how the incentive structure can help raise the funds needed to cover, at least some of these costs.
3. Warwick is a very special place, there is a fine line between keeping the balance between necessary growth and spoiling what we have. The village is nearly built out so there is not a lot of growth potential for the village unless we expand beyond our borders and I don’t think we should do that. I hope that due diligence is being done on all the approved new developments. I want to ensure that the personnel charged with overseeing these developments are not overstretched. I want to preserve the green entryways into Warwick. The residents here are greatly in favor of this.
4. Yes, I am definitely in favor of CSC. I believe all actions and steps that are required will enable us to qualify for more grant funding to cover the costs. As a large percentage of the village population are seniors, we cannot look to them to cover any large tax increases that might be necessary to cover these costs. Accessing State funding will help here. I am in favor of activities that can be done without imposing a tax burden on the residents. Issues like adopting the stretch building codes for new development is a good idea. It may cost a bit more, but it will pay off in 4 or 5 years.