AUBURN - The race for Sennett supervisor focuses on hot-button issues but promises to be civil.
During Thursday's televised forum, the candidates weren't shy about their take on the town's handling of zoning and financial matters.
Jeff Herrick, a town board member backed by Republicans and Conservatives, faced Thomas Gray, leader of the town's Democratic Party, also endorsed by the Independence Party. One will replace incumbent David Sikora.
Gray, a 17-year Sennett resident and retired American history and government teacher of 33 years, said experience, knowledge and enjoyment in connecting people in need to those who can help makes him a good candidate.
He uses a team approach to government - mediation versus litigation and legislation.
“We will work with you for you,” he said.
Herrick, a town board member since 2008 and gadfly, has lived in Sennett for 10 years, served on the planning board and is a firefighter. He called his stint on the town board, “a real education in government.”
A “fiscal conservative,” he said the lack of responsibility that he has witnessed has left him dumbfounded. He attacked legal expenses at more than 20 percent of the budget. He intends to end “personal agendas” giving the town a bad name and hopes to return pride and accountability to town activities.
Both candidates agreed handling of the Bonca's restaurant project was way out of control and that both sides have to come up with something.
Finding a legal solution is Gray's first priority.
He said the conflict “hurt the reputation of the community and reputations of a lot of people. The new town board has to take charge and find by legal means a process to solve this.”
“One fundamental principle went wrong at the start,” Herrick said. “All details should have been worked out before the (building) permit was issued. After four to six months of relatively smooth sailing, it's difficult to stop some things that haven't been ironed out.”
He said town attorneys and the town supervisor “did what they had to do to derail that issue.”
He cited the board's creation of Local Law No. 2, 2008, defining the term “restaurant” right in the middle of the Zoning Board of Appeal's hearing of Bonca's appeal. He also criticized the town's contract with attorneys that led to hiring a third attorney when the town sued the ZBA.
Herrick and Gray said Code Enforcement Officer Paul Weiman generally does a good job. But in this instance, Herrick said, he mishandled it.
Gray stressed outside influences - the town board, the supervisor, and the legal staff who were reading into Weiman's decisions.
“The code enforcement officer needs to be independent and make his decisions based on the laws. Let the code enforcement officer be independent in his job,” Gray said. “I think we can work with the existing code enforcement officer.”
Herrick said although Weiman is a civil servant, he is responsible.
“Separating fact from personal agenda is where he got caught up,” he said.
Gray said the issue has to be solved even if it has to go to mediation.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Jeff Herrick, a town board member backed by Republicans and Conservatives, faced Thomas Gray, leader of the town's Democratic Party, also endorsed by the Independence Party. One will replace incumbent David Sikora.
Gray, a 17-year Sennett resident and retired American history and government teacher of 33 years, said experience, knowledge and enjoyment in connecting people in need to those who can help makes him a good candidate.
He uses a team approach to government - mediation versus litigation and legislation.
“We will work with you for you,” he said.
Herrick, a town board member since 2008 and gadfly, has lived in Sennett for 10 years, served on the planning board and is a firefighter. He called his stint on the town board, “a real education in government.”
A “fiscal conservative,” he said the lack of responsibility that he has witnessed has left him dumbfounded. He attacked legal expenses at more than 20 percent of the budget. He intends to end “personal agendas” giving the town a bad name and hopes to return pride and accountability to town activities.
Both candidates agreed handling of the Bonca's restaurant project was way out of control and that both sides have to come up with something.
Finding a legal solution is Gray's first priority.
He said the conflict “hurt the reputation of the community and reputations of a lot of people. The new town board has to take charge and find by legal means a process to solve this.”
“One fundamental principle went wrong at the start,” Herrick said. “All details should have been worked out before the (building) permit was issued. After four to six months of relatively smooth sailing, it's difficult to stop some things that haven't been ironed out.”
He said town attorneys and the town supervisor “did what they had to do to derail that issue.”
He cited the board's creation of Local Law No. 2, 2008, defining the term “restaurant” right in the middle of the Zoning Board of Appeal's hearing of Bonca's appeal. He also criticized the town's contract with attorneys that led to hiring a third attorney when the town sued the ZBA.
Herrick and Gray said Code Enforcement Officer Paul Weiman generally does a good job. But in this instance, Herrick said, he mishandled it.
Gray stressed outside influences - the town board, the supervisor, and the legal staff who were reading into Weiman's decisions.
“The code enforcement officer needs to be independent and make his decisions based on the laws. Let the code enforcement officer be independent in his job,” Gray said. “I think we can work with the existing code enforcement officer.”
Herrick said although Weiman is a civil servant, he is responsible.
“Separating fact from personal agenda is where he got caught up,” he said.
Gray said the issue has to be solved even if it has to go to mediation.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 8 comment(s)
guitardude62 wrote on Oct 9, 2009 3:44 PM:
And Mr. Logic: Do you want a bunch of yes men/women running this town, because thats what you had, except for Mr. Herrick. True, the Boncas thing is old news and we are tired of hearing about it. But it has been a HUGE drain on the financial well being of our town, and I dont read-hear-or see anyone disputing that fact.
Maybe Mr Cynical, Mr. Lifering and you should go to some town meetings if you havent already, you would see that Mr. Herrick isnt the brazen troublemaker you make him out to be, many decisions get made without any fanfare, and everyone gets along.
I for one won't claim I know all the details of every event and who said what, and who called me this, and who lied about that, but I know this, I want to vote for the person that wants to get things done, and has the courage to stand up for what he believes is right, and to take action and not just go along with the the crowd to play nice. I think many of you don't like a whistleblower, and you could certainly call Mr. Herrick a whistleblower of sorts, but I want someone who says something when he thinks things are not being done the right way, especially since it's for the Town of Sennett. Is Jeff Herrick "helping" Boncas for his personal gain? What, free icecream & pizza?
Maybe Mr. Gray is a qualified candidate for the office. I'm still wondering why he hasn't dropped by our house, or sent any mailers to us, seeing as we aren't registered Republicans and there is a registered Independant living there. Once again, Republican Jeff Herrick spoke with us when he was making some rounds around town, we never saw Col. Madjack at any of our neighbors trying to win a vote. That was some secondhand old regime/Sikora ploy, having him run against Herrick, and the majority saw through that. See you all the next town meeting on the 20th. "
guitardude62 wrote on Oct 9, 2009 2:44 PM:
logic wrote on Oct 9, 2009 11:55 AM:
If he can't deal with the current board now and some of the members will be on the next board, he will still be a polarizing factor. Nothing will get accomplished!!!!!!!!!! "
lifering wrote on Oct 9, 2009 10:31 AM:
Mr. Cynical wrote on Oct 9, 2009 10:09 AM:
stick wrote on Oct 9, 2009 9:42 AM:
balboa wrote on Oct 9, 2009 8:27 AM:
PublicEyes wrote on Oct 9, 2009 8:13 AM: