Position sought: Village trustee

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Why are you running for this position?

I have been witnessing the forward momentum of Lake Placid, and it is important to me to be in the village trustee position where I can contribute to the management of this growth. We need board members who recognize the importance of cooperation and teamwork to achieve our goals. A diverse board will provide a global perspective that incorporates the viewpoints of our demographic.

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What are your qualifications?

My professional career has spanned management and support positions in the private and public sector. Currently working for the state of New York, I have a complete understanding of the policies, protocols and ethics that are the framework of the best practices of government management. As a resident of Lake Placid and a member of the Joint Review Board, I have witnessed the substantial transformation of Lake Placid’s landscape. This experience has given me an excellent platform for assessing change. As trustee, I would utilize these skills to steer meaningful discussions and initiate a common purpose.

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What are your main goals?

If elected to the village board, I would ask the board to work in conjunction with the Lake Placid/North Elba Community Development Commission, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and the town of North Elba to develop a long-term vision, mapping a course for sustainable growth for the entire community. Every project and event should be evaluated based on impacts to the community, financial benefits, quality of life and community character. As trustee, I will have the responsibility of weighing the best interests of residents and visitors when making development and community character related decisions. I will encourage all residents to become involved based upon this shared vision.

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What do you think are the three biggest problems in the village, and how do you propose solving them?

Short-term rentals, affordable housing and parking are at the forefront of everyone’s list. We are making headway in all of these areas. I currently sit on an ad-hoc committee that has been tasked with the review of the land use code. A revision of the code, if approved, will impact how we manage short-term rentals. Also in development are two projects that will provide much-needed workforce housing as well as affordable housing along Wesvalley Road. The reconstruction of Main Street will lend itself to future additional parking.

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Other comments:

In addition to the above issues, we also need to consider the following concerns:

Employee recruitment and retention: Employees are the single greatest asset for any business. The village is no exception. Sustaining an engaged workforce in a small community is challenging. Every business in our area is pulling from the same labor pool. Providing a competitive compensation package is not enough. The management of village employees needs to include all the tools to be successful, such as personal as well as professional advancement, training, recognition and a safe work environment.

Event fatigue: Prior to the pandemic, the general discussion community wide was in regards to the large-scale events held throughout the year. The infusion of participants of these events alongside our normal tourism has the potential to place additional burdens on the taxpayer and compromise the experiences of our visitor. Having a destination management plan in place that respects the needs of our residents, without compromising our tourism-based economy, will be crucial to the economic stability of Lake Placid.

Mirror Lake watershed: The village needs to be vigilant about the health of our watershed. As recently as November, an algal bloom was discovered in Mirror Lake. Healthy watersheds provide critical services that support economies, the environment and quality of life. The village must continue to support initiatives that reduces or eliminates pollutants entering our waterways.