Candidates in contested races for village offices are busy getting their message out, as village election day draws closer.
Village elections will take place in Aurora, Cayuga, Fair Haven, Port Byron, Meridian (mayor only), Union Springs, and Weedsport on March 18.
Only Aurora, Cayuga, and Fair Haven have contested races.
All polls open at noon and close at 9 p.m.
In Aurora, two village trusteeships are being sought by four candidates: two incumbents, George Farenthold (D) and Janet Murphy (Ind.), with new candidates Sara Wells (D) and Lili MacCormick (Ind.)
Farenthold was previously elected to the village board in March, 2004. He is married to Lisa Ryerson, Wells president, who is also on the Aurora Foundation board.
Some of Farenthold's positions, such as the location of the old Aurora post office, and his support of wireless high-speed internet access in the village, spurred controversy.
Farenthold believes Aurora needs a multipurpose Intergovernmental Business Center near its commercial district to incorporate a new post office, village office space, a county sheriff's substation, village historian's space, and possibly additional space for tourism. He suggests either replacing the current post office or renovating the fire house to include the business center.
He believes sidewalks on both sides of Main Street would improve pedestrian safety. Farenthold suggests using alternative energy sources such as geothermal structures, lake water gradients, wind, natural gas, and biodiesel fuel. He proposes a creek side canoe/kayaking public launch, recreation, and picnic area opposite the water treatment plant, additional village parking areas on corners of Court Street and Cherry Ave., Court and Sherwood roads, better lake access, and Time-Warner for educational and news channel connections to Auburn and Syracuse instead of Rochester.
Putting an end to hauling New York City, downstate, and out-of-state garbage down Main Street (Route 90) should also be a priority for safety and environmental concerns.
Murphy, 40, a registered Democrat running independently on her Family Party line, graduated from Wells College in 1990. She had married a year earlier and settled in Aurora, where she has lived for the past 22 years. Her children, 15, 13, and 10, attend Southern Cayuga. She teaches fourth grade at A.J. Smith Elementary School in Union Springs, where she has taught for the past seven years.
“The most important thing I bring to the board is balance,” Murphy said. “I know the past and am vested in the future.”
Being a woman and part of a family of modest income, Murphy said helps her contribute a different sense of sensibilities.
“That's a good voice to bring to the board,” she said.
For the past four years, Murphy worked with parks, recreation, and public events for the board.
“I'm going to work to try to maintain my position,” she said. “It's a good fit for me.”
Murphy said there are some challenging things on the docket. She wants to be the best voice for the community and provide a program that meets the needs of the children in the village. She noted that the village's program competes with the village of Genoa and the Morgan Opera House for the same limited number of children.
“We're all going to have to work together,” she said.
Murphy said resolving some of the divisive issues during her past term would be a challenge.
“That's why it's so important to have a balance on the board,” she said. “It's my position that everyone in the community has a voice so people don't feel left out.”
While Murphy is a Wells graduate, she doesn't work for Wells. She described herself as level headed, fair, and open minded.
“On some intangible level, that's an important factor,” she said. “I don't have an ax to grind, I'm vested in this community and I'm committed to another four years.”
Sarah Wells (D), is a newcomer to Aurora. She moved with her family to Aurora from Philadelphia two years ago so that her husband, John, could accept a position at Wells College as director of off-campus studies. She holds an MBA from George Washington University and has been an independent consultant in marketing for the past 12 to 15 years. She has two children, Mara, 6, in first grade at Emily Howland Elementary and Jonah, a preschooler at Aurora Preschool.
Wells has a part-time business that she runs from her home, Naturally Cleaners .
“Since we moved here, I've been involved in the community in a number of different ways,” Wells said. She was in a fundraising position on the preschool board as well as the Arts and Merchants Association.
“I really love the community,” she said. “I love the people that are here. I would like to work wherever I could best serve.” Wells said she'd thought about the many nice people in the community that see things from different perspectives. She sees herself helping families, perhaps family members that move to Aurora as well as those who have a legacy there.
“I want to see good things happen here,” she said. “There is a lot of good planning and ideas in the master plan that the village board and planning committee have taken up. I'd like to see it unfold so this could be a place where anybody could live.”
She said people in Aurora were supportive of her small business, and her children made friends right away when they moved here.
“As a family of four, we found Aurora very family oriented, with lots of activities. I want to get more involved,” she said.
Lili MacCormick (Ind) is running on her Garden Party. She has resided in Aurora for almost 50 years. A retired art teacher, MacCormick began her career after raising her five children and worked at Emily Howland elementary school at Southern Cayuga. She moved from Framingham, Mass., to Aurora with her husband, Chalmers, now deceased, who taught religious history at Wells. MacCormick said her heart is in her garden. She has a labyrinth garden and a meditation garden.
“I want to work on the timely resolution of conflicts,” MacCormick said. “It's time we did something about that by clarifying the rules that apply, working things out, and not just letting things stew.”
She said that communication is the key to reaching that goal. She also wanted to see consistency on the board in applying rules.
“I want to see some healing of the divisiveness that our village has experienced in the past few years. It involves bringing people together and talking things out. There's an awful lot of talk. It just needs to be worked out,” she said.
Two things that have to be solved in the village include access to the village park and parking, MacCormick said.
Cayuga also has a four-way race for two trustee positions. Helen Day, incumbent, will run again. Independents running are: Christopher Ryan, William Sherman, and Linda Uebelman. Andrew Wright's petition was challenged by the mayor and rejected by the Cayuga County Board of Elections because of errors involving missing and incorrect information.
Christopher Ryan, an Auburn native, has been a practicing chiropractor in Waterloo for 20 years. He lives in Cayuga with his wife, Lori, and three children, Matt, Mark, and Becca. He has served on the village planning board and hopes to upgrade the village's infrastructure for sewage and water. He would also like to use Cayuga's resources to increase the tax base in the areas of tourism and recreation. His list includes the Route 90 scenic byway, historical homes, recreational parks, and partnerships with local businesses, Beacon Bay, Fingerlakes Railway, and Bass Pro. He would also work to attract new businesses for recreation and tourism.
“I believe Cayuga is at a crossroads,” Ryan said. “In order to survive, we need to alleviate our tax burden via better use of our natural resources. We can maintain a bedroom community atmosphere with proper planning and zoning. I realize there will be a steep learning curve if elected trustee. I'll scan the budget, looking for ways to save money, research the workings of the water and sewer system, and motivate the people of Cayuga to work together to plan for our future.”
William Sherman has resided in Cayuga since August 2005. He attended SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Oswego. He is a New York state maintenance department supervisor and facility fire safety officer. He holds a New York state code enforcement certification and water plant system operator certification. Sherman is a member of the Cayuga Fire Department and former member of the Cayuga County Environmental Management Council. He has also chaired the City of Auburn Parks & Recreation Commission, was former treasurer for Options for Independence, and is a former committee member of the Cayuga County Republican Committee.
“Like many of my neighbors, I am concerned about our aging infrastructure, water and sewage treatment and distribution systems, village parks, buildings, sidewalks, and roadways,” Sherman said.
He said while recent improvements have been made to infrastructure, there is much more to be done.
He is concerned about assessments and tax rates and expects local officials to treat all community residents equally.
“I have knowledge in the workings of government and working relationships with many of our state an county officials,” he said. “Decisions made by our village trustees have a long term lasting effect on our community. As we face new and increased challenges, it is time for a trustee who understands that fact, and one that wants to insure that the community our children inherit will be the best community possible”
Linda Uebelman has been a resident of Cayuga for 10 years. Her husband Miles' family dates back to the early 1900s as village residents. She is presently a supervisor at Welch Allyn, where she has been employed for 18 years.
“My desire is to continue supporting village improvements,” Uebelman said. Her slogan is “A New Look.” She believes her experience demonstrates leadership qualities that she can apply to her term as a village trustee.
Her recent involvement with the village includes assisting with the sesquicentennial celebration and supporting her husband, Miles, who was a village board member in 2005-2006.
Uebelman's goals include: expanding on ideas for the village and community as a whole, and saving preservation of the village's identity. She wants to keep increasing costs for the sewer system enlargement upgrade to an affordable amount for all users and improving village zoning laws by working with the code enforcement officer to bring them up to date; they haven't been changed since 1988. She hopes to be a team player in supporting the village board's decisions concerning the cemetery, recreation programs, streets and sidewalks, the fire department, and water/sewer departments.
Helen Day, having just completed her first two-year term as village board member, said she's running again to complete some things that are in progress.
“There's not enough time and so many things you'd like to see done,” she said. “This is such a beautiful village. I'm responsible for the parks and recreation program for our children and those in the surrounding communities.”
Some of the changes Day helped to implement in that program include separating elementary aged children from middle school and high school students' activities. They were all going to the Cayuga Memorial Hall from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights.
“We didn't like the mix,” Day said. Now elementary students go from 5 to 7 p.m. and the older children from 7:15 to 9 p.m.
“It's easier to manage the program,” she said.
Older children like to play basketball, while the younger ones are more engaged in crafts. An average of about 30 children participate in the high school program, with about 10 to 15 elementary children. Last year, there were about 122 children from Cayuga, and the towns of Aurelius and Springport.
Day said she hopes to help find ways to improve the energy efficiency of the hall by getting new windows if she can find grants to help fund the cost. She did help get the towns to contribute money for the recreation program to cut some of the costs. The children do not have to pay to participate.
She is also interested in continuing the waterfront swimming program, which is in its third year.
“We are also trying to build the Finger Lakes Scenic Railway excursion program,” Day said.
Last year, 400 people signed up for the Santa Claus program from Cayuga to Waterloo.
In Fair Haven, the position of mayor is uncontested with incumbent William McVea running. A three-way race for two trusteeships includes incumbents Walter J. Krehling and Judith Dunaway. Former trustee Daniel Roberts (Ind.) is also running for one of the two trustee positions.
Judith Dunaway, who has been a trustee for one year, has lived in Fair Haven for 57 years.
“I would like to keep taxes low, control spending, and keep this a good place to live,” she said. She was especially concerned about vandalism that occurred at the gazebo over the last year and is in the process of organizing a neighborhood watch group with the help of Cayuga County Sheriff's Resource Officer.
“We don't want it to get out of hand,” she said. “It's a teenage problem.”
Dunaway believes that her experience as an underwriting consultant will help with budgeting. She has attended board meetings over a period of several years, so she believes the job of trustee isn't as big a challenge as it could have been.
She acknowledged some resistance among village residents to the affordability of the new water and sewer lines.
“We don't know what the exact cost will be,” she said. “The village is working on getting state grants to help lower to middle income residents hook up to the sewer system.” She said her strong financial background could be helpful in this area.
Daniel Roberts, a lifetime resident of Fair Haven, has been a member of the zoning board of appeals and a village trustee for two terms. He resigned March 4, 2005 for personal reasons which have since been resolved. Roberts said he now has the time to devote to the position. He believes in keeping taxes low and said he fought staunchly for the rights of the individual taxpayer.
Roberts said he believes in the strength of the populous opinion and that the people are in charge.
“We're just there to represent them,” he said.
On the issue of the waterline in the village of Fair Haven and the town of Sterling, he advised the people of the village to speak up if they were in favor of the project. His word of caution was, “Take a little bit of time and work methodically.”
He also suggested doing “in kind service” in addition to hiring outside contractors. He said he stayed abreast of the project and was “very pleased to see in kind service, working with what we've got at a methodical pace.”
Roberts' profession as a union carpenter and millwright makes him familiar with building methodologies.
“I know the way that things should be done,” he said.
In the past he has offered his advice to the code enforcement officer as well as the planning board. He believes he understands the way people think and feel in the village.
Family roots go back a couple of generations in both Roberts' and his wife Betty's families. Their blended family consists of a daughter, Danielle Gee and son Antoine Jesse Heath, and four grandchildren.
“We have a very extended family,” Roberts said, indicating his wife comes from a family of 12 children. Her father and his mother were both actively involved in the village.
Roberts likes the quaintness and security that he feels in Fair Haven, not being afraid to leave doors unlocked and walking down the street, knowing people and speaking to them. He says his input on the board would be fair and “a voice of strength for the average citizen.”
He would like to see more people at the board meetings.
“I tell them the best thing you can do is go to a board meeting,” he said. “I'm going to push them in that direction. I call it the way it is. I'm not afraid to bring up issues. I have no motive but to see the people get their way.”
He would like residents to be surveyed to get an idea of what the majority would like to see done in the village and how their tax money should be spent. He described Fair Haven as “a village of retired people.” With 60 to 70 percent of villagers on a fixed income, the rest are those who like the lifestyle and live within the framework of a retirement community.
Walter J. Krehling was not able to be reached for comment. He was previously a trustee in 2000 and served as deputy mayor in 2007. He was employed by the Red Creek school district as a bus driver.
Port Byron has two trustee seats open. Incumbents Jeffrey Girvin (R) and Dwight Wethey (R) are running unopposed. The justice seat is also being sought again by incumbent JoAnn Bell (R).
In Meridian, elections will be held only for mayor to finish a one-year unexpired term previously held by Thomas Fadden. Meridian has only independents. Only one petition was received for the position, from Edward Eppert.
Union Springs has two trusteeships open. Incumbents Johan Lentonen and Dawn Locastro are running unopposed.
In Weedsport, Jean Saroodis (R) incumbent, is running again for mayor. There are also two four-year trustee positions being sought by incumbents Chere Perkins (R) and Harry Hinman (R).
Geoffrey (Glen) Fritsch (R) is seeking the four-year justice position to replace Andrew Maltese.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Cayuga County village elections
Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. March 18. Up for election:.
AURORA
Positions: two trustees (four-year terms, $1,000 per year)
Polling place: fire house meeting room, 456 Main St., Aurora
CAYUGA
Positions : two trustees (two-year terms, $1,700 per year)
Polling place: Community Room, Railroad Building, Wheat Street
FAIR HAVEN
Positions : mayor and two trustees (four-year terms; mayor, $6,000 per year; trustees, $3,000 per year)
Polling place: village offices, 14523 Cayuga St.
MERIDIAN (off-year election)
Positions : mayor (1 year to finish term) $1,000 per year
PORT BYRON
Positions : two trustees and justice (four-year terms; trustees,$2,000 per year; justice, $5,500 per year)
Polling place: village hall, 52 Utica St.
UNION SPRINGS
Positions : two trustees (two-year terms; $1450 per year)
Polling place: village offices, Chapel Street
WEEDSPORT
Positions: mayor, two trustees, justice (four-year terms; mayor, $4,908; trustees $3,000; justice, $6,744)
Polling place: Brutus Municipal Building, 9021 N. Seneca St.
CATO and MORAVIA are not holding village elections in March.
Only Aurora, Cayuga, and Fair Haven have contested races.
All polls open at noon and close at 9 p.m.
In Aurora, two village trusteeships are being sought by four candidates: two incumbents, George Farenthold (D) and Janet Murphy (Ind.), with new candidates Sara Wells (D) and Lili MacCormick (Ind.)
Farenthold was previously elected to the village board in March, 2004. He is married to Lisa Ryerson, Wells president, who is also on the Aurora Foundation board.
Some of Farenthold's positions, such as the location of the old Aurora post office, and his support of wireless high-speed internet access in the village, spurred controversy.
Farenthold believes Aurora needs a multipurpose Intergovernmental Business Center near its commercial district to incorporate a new post office, village office space, a county sheriff's substation, village historian's space, and possibly additional space for tourism. He suggests either replacing the current post office or renovating the fire house to include the business center.
He believes sidewalks on both sides of Main Street would improve pedestrian safety. Farenthold suggests using alternative energy sources such as geothermal structures, lake water gradients, wind, natural gas, and biodiesel fuel. He proposes a creek side canoe/kayaking public launch, recreation, and picnic area opposite the water treatment plant, additional village parking areas on corners of Court Street and Cherry Ave., Court and Sherwood roads, better lake access, and Time-Warner for educational and news channel connections to Auburn and Syracuse instead of Rochester.
Putting an end to hauling New York City, downstate, and out-of-state garbage down Main Street (Route 90) should also be a priority for safety and environmental concerns.
Murphy, 40, a registered Democrat running independently on her Family Party line, graduated from Wells College in 1990. She had married a year earlier and settled in Aurora, where she has lived for the past 22 years. Her children, 15, 13, and 10, attend Southern Cayuga. She teaches fourth grade at A.J. Smith Elementary School in Union Springs, where she has taught for the past seven years.
“The most important thing I bring to the board is balance,” Murphy said. “I know the past and am vested in the future.”
Being a woman and part of a family of modest income, Murphy said helps her contribute a different sense of sensibilities.
“That's a good voice to bring to the board,” she said.
For the past four years, Murphy worked with parks, recreation, and public events for the board.
“I'm going to work to try to maintain my position,” she said. “It's a good fit for me.”
Murphy said there are some challenging things on the docket. She wants to be the best voice for the community and provide a program that meets the needs of the children in the village. She noted that the village's program competes with the village of Genoa and the Morgan Opera House for the same limited number of children.
“We're all going to have to work together,” she said.
Murphy said resolving some of the divisive issues during her past term would be a challenge.
“That's why it's so important to have a balance on the board,” she said. “It's my position that everyone in the community has a voice so people don't feel left out.”
While Murphy is a Wells graduate, she doesn't work for Wells. She described herself as level headed, fair, and open minded.
“On some intangible level, that's an important factor,” she said. “I don't have an ax to grind, I'm vested in this community and I'm committed to another four years.”
Sarah Wells (D), is a newcomer to Aurora. She moved with her family to Aurora from Philadelphia two years ago so that her husband, John, could accept a position at Wells College as director of off-campus studies. She holds an MBA from George Washington University and has been an independent consultant in marketing for the past 12 to 15 years. She has two children, Mara, 6, in first grade at Emily Howland Elementary and Jonah, a preschooler at Aurora Preschool.
Wells has a part-time business that she runs from her home, Naturally Cleaners .
“Since we moved here, I've been involved in the community in a number of different ways,” Wells said. She was in a fundraising position on the preschool board as well as the Arts and Merchants Association.
“I really love the community,” she said. “I love the people that are here. I would like to work wherever I could best serve.” Wells said she'd thought about the many nice people in the community that see things from different perspectives. She sees herself helping families, perhaps family members that move to Aurora as well as those who have a legacy there.
“I want to see good things happen here,” she said. “There is a lot of good planning and ideas in the master plan that the village board and planning committee have taken up. I'd like to see it unfold so this could be a place where anybody could live.”
She said people in Aurora were supportive of her small business, and her children made friends right away when they moved here.
“As a family of four, we found Aurora very family oriented, with lots of activities. I want to get more involved,” she said.
Lili MacCormick (Ind) is running on her Garden Party. She has resided in Aurora for almost 50 years. A retired art teacher, MacCormick began her career after raising her five children and worked at Emily Howland elementary school at Southern Cayuga. She moved from Framingham, Mass., to Aurora with her husband, Chalmers, now deceased, who taught religious history at Wells. MacCormick said her heart is in her garden. She has a labyrinth garden and a meditation garden.
“I want to work on the timely resolution of conflicts,” MacCormick said. “It's time we did something about that by clarifying the rules that apply, working things out, and not just letting things stew.”
She said that communication is the key to reaching that goal. She also wanted to see consistency on the board in applying rules.
“I want to see some healing of the divisiveness that our village has experienced in the past few years. It involves bringing people together and talking things out. There's an awful lot of talk. It just needs to be worked out,” she said.
Two things that have to be solved in the village include access to the village park and parking, MacCormick said.
Cayuga also has a four-way race for two trustee positions. Helen Day, incumbent, will run again. Independents running are: Christopher Ryan, William Sherman, and Linda Uebelman. Andrew Wright's petition was challenged by the mayor and rejected by the Cayuga County Board of Elections because of errors involving missing and incorrect information.
Christopher Ryan, an Auburn native, has been a practicing chiropractor in Waterloo for 20 years. He lives in Cayuga with his wife, Lori, and three children, Matt, Mark, and Becca. He has served on the village planning board and hopes to upgrade the village's infrastructure for sewage and water. He would also like to use Cayuga's resources to increase the tax base in the areas of tourism and recreation. His list includes the Route 90 scenic byway, historical homes, recreational parks, and partnerships with local businesses, Beacon Bay, Fingerlakes Railway, and Bass Pro. He would also work to attract new businesses for recreation and tourism.
“I believe Cayuga is at a crossroads,” Ryan said. “In order to survive, we need to alleviate our tax burden via better use of our natural resources. We can maintain a bedroom community atmosphere with proper planning and zoning. I realize there will be a steep learning curve if elected trustee. I'll scan the budget, looking for ways to save money, research the workings of the water and sewer system, and motivate the people of Cayuga to work together to plan for our future.”
William Sherman has resided in Cayuga since August 2005. He attended SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Oswego. He is a New York state maintenance department supervisor and facility fire safety officer. He holds a New York state code enforcement certification and water plant system operator certification. Sherman is a member of the Cayuga Fire Department and former member of the Cayuga County Environmental Management Council. He has also chaired the City of Auburn Parks & Recreation Commission, was former treasurer for Options for Independence, and is a former committee member of the Cayuga County Republican Committee.
“Like many of my neighbors, I am concerned about our aging infrastructure, water and sewage treatment and distribution systems, village parks, buildings, sidewalks, and roadways,” Sherman said.
He said while recent improvements have been made to infrastructure, there is much more to be done.
He is concerned about assessments and tax rates and expects local officials to treat all community residents equally.
“I have knowledge in the workings of government and working relationships with many of our state an county officials,” he said. “Decisions made by our village trustees have a long term lasting effect on our community. As we face new and increased challenges, it is time for a trustee who understands that fact, and one that wants to insure that the community our children inherit will be the best community possible”
Linda Uebelman has been a resident of Cayuga for 10 years. Her husband Miles' family dates back to the early 1900s as village residents. She is presently a supervisor at Welch Allyn, where she has been employed for 18 years.
“My desire is to continue supporting village improvements,” Uebelman said. Her slogan is “A New Look.” She believes her experience demonstrates leadership qualities that she can apply to her term as a village trustee.
Her recent involvement with the village includes assisting with the sesquicentennial celebration and supporting her husband, Miles, who was a village board member in 2005-2006.
Uebelman's goals include: expanding on ideas for the village and community as a whole, and saving preservation of the village's identity. She wants to keep increasing costs for the sewer system enlargement upgrade to an affordable amount for all users and improving village zoning laws by working with the code enforcement officer to bring them up to date; they haven't been changed since 1988. She hopes to be a team player in supporting the village board's decisions concerning the cemetery, recreation programs, streets and sidewalks, the fire department, and water/sewer departments.
Helen Day, having just completed her first two-year term as village board member, said she's running again to complete some things that are in progress.
“There's not enough time and so many things you'd like to see done,” she said. “This is such a beautiful village. I'm responsible for the parks and recreation program for our children and those in the surrounding communities.”
Some of the changes Day helped to implement in that program include separating elementary aged children from middle school and high school students' activities. They were all going to the Cayuga Memorial Hall from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights.
“We didn't like the mix,” Day said. Now elementary students go from 5 to 7 p.m. and the older children from 7:15 to 9 p.m.
“It's easier to manage the program,” she said.
Older children like to play basketball, while the younger ones are more engaged in crafts. An average of about 30 children participate in the high school program, with about 10 to 15 elementary children. Last year, there were about 122 children from Cayuga, and the towns of Aurelius and Springport.
Day said she hopes to help find ways to improve the energy efficiency of the hall by getting new windows if she can find grants to help fund the cost. She did help get the towns to contribute money for the recreation program to cut some of the costs. The children do not have to pay to participate.
She is also interested in continuing the waterfront swimming program, which is in its third year.
“We are also trying to build the Finger Lakes Scenic Railway excursion program,” Day said.
Last year, 400 people signed up for the Santa Claus program from Cayuga to Waterloo.
In Fair Haven, the position of mayor is uncontested with incumbent William McVea running. A three-way race for two trusteeships includes incumbents Walter J. Krehling and Judith Dunaway. Former trustee Daniel Roberts (Ind.) is also running for one of the two trustee positions.
Judith Dunaway, who has been a trustee for one year, has lived in Fair Haven for 57 years.
“I would like to keep taxes low, control spending, and keep this a good place to live,” she said. She was especially concerned about vandalism that occurred at the gazebo over the last year and is in the process of organizing a neighborhood watch group with the help of Cayuga County Sheriff's Resource Officer.
“We don't want it to get out of hand,” she said. “It's a teenage problem.”
Dunaway believes that her experience as an underwriting consultant will help with budgeting. She has attended board meetings over a period of several years, so she believes the job of trustee isn't as big a challenge as it could have been.
She acknowledged some resistance among village residents to the affordability of the new water and sewer lines.
“We don't know what the exact cost will be,” she said. “The village is working on getting state grants to help lower to middle income residents hook up to the sewer system.” She said her strong financial background could be helpful in this area.
Daniel Roberts, a lifetime resident of Fair Haven, has been a member of the zoning board of appeals and a village trustee for two terms. He resigned March 4, 2005 for personal reasons which have since been resolved. Roberts said he now has the time to devote to the position. He believes in keeping taxes low and said he fought staunchly for the rights of the individual taxpayer.
Roberts said he believes in the strength of the populous opinion and that the people are in charge.
“We're just there to represent them,” he said.
On the issue of the waterline in the village of Fair Haven and the town of Sterling, he advised the people of the village to speak up if they were in favor of the project. His word of caution was, “Take a little bit of time and work methodically.”
He also suggested doing “in kind service” in addition to hiring outside contractors. He said he stayed abreast of the project and was “very pleased to see in kind service, working with what we've got at a methodical pace.”
Roberts' profession as a union carpenter and millwright makes him familiar with building methodologies.
“I know the way that things should be done,” he said.
In the past he has offered his advice to the code enforcement officer as well as the planning board. He believes he understands the way people think and feel in the village.
Family roots go back a couple of generations in both Roberts' and his wife Betty's families. Their blended family consists of a daughter, Danielle Gee and son Antoine Jesse Heath, and four grandchildren.
“We have a very extended family,” Roberts said, indicating his wife comes from a family of 12 children. Her father and his mother were both actively involved in the village.
Roberts likes the quaintness and security that he feels in Fair Haven, not being afraid to leave doors unlocked and walking down the street, knowing people and speaking to them. He says his input on the board would be fair and “a voice of strength for the average citizen.”
He would like to see more people at the board meetings.
“I tell them the best thing you can do is go to a board meeting,” he said. “I'm going to push them in that direction. I call it the way it is. I'm not afraid to bring up issues. I have no motive but to see the people get their way.”
He would like residents to be surveyed to get an idea of what the majority would like to see done in the village and how their tax money should be spent. He described Fair Haven as “a village of retired people.” With 60 to 70 percent of villagers on a fixed income, the rest are those who like the lifestyle and live within the framework of a retirement community.
Walter J. Krehling was not able to be reached for comment. He was previously a trustee in 2000 and served as deputy mayor in 2007. He was employed by the Red Creek school district as a bus driver.
Port Byron has two trustee seats open. Incumbents Jeffrey Girvin (R) and Dwight Wethey (R) are running unopposed. The justice seat is also being sought again by incumbent JoAnn Bell (R).
In Meridian, elections will be held only for mayor to finish a one-year unexpired term previously held by Thomas Fadden. Meridian has only independents. Only one petition was received for the position, from Edward Eppert.
Union Springs has two trusteeships open. Incumbents Johan Lentonen and Dawn Locastro are running unopposed.
In Weedsport, Jean Saroodis (R) incumbent, is running again for mayor. There are also two four-year trustee positions being sought by incumbents Chere Perkins (R) and Harry Hinman (R).
Geoffrey (Glen) Fritsch (R) is seeking the four-year justice position to replace Andrew Maltese.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Cayuga County village elections
Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. March 18. Up for election:.
AURORA
Positions: two trustees (four-year terms, $1,000 per year)
Polling place: fire house meeting room, 456 Main St., Aurora
CAYUGA
Positions : two trustees (two-year terms, $1,700 per year)
Polling place: Community Room, Railroad Building, Wheat Street
FAIR HAVEN
Positions : mayor and two trustees (four-year terms; mayor, $6,000 per year; trustees, $3,000 per year)
Polling place: village offices, 14523 Cayuga St.
MERIDIAN (off-year election)
Positions : mayor (1 year to finish term) $1,000 per year
PORT BYRON
Positions : two trustees and justice (four-year terms; trustees,$2,000 per year; justice, $5,500 per year)
Polling place: village hall, 52 Utica St.
UNION SPRINGS
Positions : two trustees (two-year terms; $1450 per year)
Polling place: village offices, Chapel Street
WEEDSPORT
Positions: mayor, two trustees, justice (four-year terms; mayor, $4,908; trustees $3,000; justice, $6,744)
Polling place: Brutus Municipal Building, 9021 N. Seneca St.
CATO and MORAVIA are not holding village elections in March.
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.