Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Elections do matter. Many positive things have happened since Rob Lagonia and Greg Vogler won election on the Democratic ticket and joined the Austerlitz town board in January 2014. More good things are planned in 2015 as well. This year is an election year with two additional town board seats to be contested. We will be nominating high quality candidates, and there will be fun and informative campaign events too. The Austerlitz Democratic Committee will keep you updated throughout this year on the upcoming election and events.
Here are some of the changes our newly elected officials brought to energize our town and its government in 2014. These achievements delivered on key commitments of the Austerlitz Democratic Committee's election platform:
- Fiscal soundness and responsibility. For many years the town budget was balanced by heavily drawing down our savings, without a plan to ensure the town did not run out of money for emergency needs, or to maintain our credit rating or to finance much needed and expensive new road equipment. That is now changed, and the budget is balanced without further erosion of our savings reserve.
- The speed limit on Route 203 has been lowered (with special thanks to independent town residents who also took an active role in this change). Stay tuned for developments this year on much needed paving.
- A new road grader has been acquired to maintain our dirt roads. The last grader died suddenly in September and the new one is now on the roads. This is an example of why we need to maintain our savings reserves!
- Greater transparency. Important information is openly discussed at the town board meetings allowing all those who attend (or read the minutes on the town website) to know all of the same facts and considerations the town board has. Click here for the Austerlitz Town Board Minutes
- Real progress on the town park was made. A Community Day was held this past summer to get input on how best to design a renovated town park. With the active role of our new Supervisor, the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation committed additional money to help make this happen.
- Also with the active participation of our Supervisor, and the generosity of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, the former church next to the existing town hall has been purchased. It will become the new Austerlitz town hall as soon as repairs can be made and new office spaces are constructed over the next couple of years. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting resolution of a long standing issue.
- Audits. Each year, the law requires that the town conduct its own audits of the town court, the town clerk, and our tax assessor. These audits had not been done in years; however, they were reestablished in 2014 and will be conducted each year going forward.
- Active participation at the county. Rob Lagonia is an active participant at the County Board of Supervisors, and our voices are once again now being heard at the county level.
This year is shaping up to be another busy year. Here are some of the activities planned for 2015:
- Identify all of the town's large purchase needs, and to develop a fiscally responsible way to acquire them.
- Completion of the new town park.
- Begin renovation of the new town hall building.
- Pursue NY State paving of Route 203.
- Improve the condition of our town roads, and have the proper equipment to maintain them.
- Maintain fiscal soundness, and overall transparency.
- Maintain an active role at the County level.
Stay tuned as the year progresses. Good things are happening! If you have any ideas or comments to share, please send them to austerlitzdemocraticcommittee@gmail.com or mail them to PO Box 266, Spencertown, NY, 12165.
So, as you have read, elections do matter, and can produce results. Importantly, winning elections require funds to have our voices heard. Please help us now by sending a donation to the Austerlitz Democratic Committee at PO Box 266, Spencertown, NY, 12165. Contributions to the ADC are not tax deductible.
Thank you!
Your Austerlitz Democratic Committee
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