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April 03, 2009
Dear Editor,
The recently completed Village election included much talk about “accomplishments.” A list was compiled at one point, as if to keep score. Village square improvement, sharing services, riverfront revitalization, hydroelectric power, etc; each one of these projects has its merits.
Yet I question the approach taken by the Village Board. I submit that the role of the Mayor and Trustees is not unlike that of a ship Captain and his Officers. A ship has an intended course, plotted in advance, and those in charge are entrusted with the ability to exercise leadership and good judgment in order to move safely and efficiently along that course toward the intended destination. Each maneuver, each minor course correction, is carried out by the crew using “good seamanship” in response to changing conditions along the way while the destination remains the same. Similarly, officials of a small municipality should be primarily concerned with “minding the helm”- seeing to it that the paid employees are both effective and efficient in running the place with an eye toward keeping step with a changing world.
Here, in Cornwall-on-Hudson, we seem to be very concerned with trying to rack-up great “accomplishments” while trying to preserve the place as it is; to change as little as possible. While somewhat of a contradiction, this strategy also has us “figuring it out as we go along”. Shouldn’t policies and initiatives be made and/or carried out within the framework of some sort of an overall plan?
Let’s give credit where due for the efforts made toward the various projects currently underway in the Village. Each one, and how to pay for it, deserves consideration. However, without a Master Plan in place, these projects, unfortunately, are reduced to little more than political posturing without regard as to how they logically fit into the big picture.
As the Village Board reorganizes this week, I urge the Mayor and Trustees to make finalizing and adopting the Comprehensive Master Plan their first order of business. Regardless of whether or not it is consistent with the wishes of the Mayor and Trustees on the current board, it was completed over two years ago by a committee of Village residents using due process.
To let our “collective vision” languish any longer, to navigate toward an extremely challenging future without the benefit of a “charted course,” is both irresponsible and unacceptable.
Captain John B. Wenz
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Comments:
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I don't think anybody's questioning the hard work or good intentions of our Mayor or Village Trustees. I certainly never have. Nor do I question the hard work or good intentions of the Master Plan Committee.
But the importance of completing the Master Plan should not be undervalued because, as Capt. Wenz correctly points out, the Master Plan is the blueprint for our future, against which the future actions of the Village government will be measured.
Will we return to the Village as it once was, encouraging a nucleus of businesses which serve and support the community? Or will we remain a bedroom community endlessly struggling to pay for vestigial services dating from the days when businesses were here?
I agree with Capt. Wenz that the course the Mayor and Board chart will settle many of the incremental questions on which so much time is spent now.
And that's just one more reason why it's so important to act soon on the Master Plan.
Jon Chase
Cornwall-on-Hudson
posted by Jon Chase on 04/04/09 at 9:59 PM
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If you been here in the old days you probably wouldn't like it. It was a working class town for the most part, which is one of the reasons it worked as a town.
A lot of the businesses that get started here either fail or move to a mall.
posted by Barbara Farabaugh on 04/14/09 at 4:56 PM
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Interesting point, Barbara.
Maybe we need to consider taking advantage of the unique position the Village occupies, situated as it is between mountain, river and scenic road, to encourage businesses that have more of an attachment to this beautiful place.
SKAT would be an example.
Otherwise, the pressure of ever-increasing taxes will continue to affect the public services we've had since the time when businesses flourished here.
posted by Jon Chase on 04/16/09 at 12:12 PM
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