Davies appointed alternate to New Scotland Planning Board
NEW SCOTLAND Water committee member Jo Ann Davies was appointed as the planning boards alternate member last Wednesday. The spot has been vacant since July, when Chuck Voss moved up to be a regular member.
Councilman Richard Reilly told The Enterprise that he likes the perspective that Davies will bring to the planning board as a water committee member.
Davies, will in a way, be a conduit between the water and planning boards, Reilly said.
"Working on the water committee I’ve come to realize how critical water, or lack of water, is in terms of our growth," Davies said.
The infrastructure of roads, water, and sewer are needed for development to occur, she said. Davies said she wants a thoughtful balance struck between natural resources and growth.
She doesnt want the towns rural feel to dissipate, which is one of the main reasons that people move to New Scotland in the first place, Davies said.
Reviewing the planning board agenda for next Tuesday, she said, "There are a lot of items and a lot of them impact each other."
"Jo Ann has represented herself very well at town meetings...She’s not someone who occasionally shows," Reilly said, applauding Davies dedication. She has put a lot of time and money into working on the water committee and has been very active, vocal and articulate, he said. He anticipates her putting the same kind of dedication and commitment toward the planning board.
Reilly said Davies also is a "great fit" because he likes the planning board to be well rounded with members who have different experiences professionally, different backgrounds, and perspectives, from varying locations of town.
Davies, who lives just south of the Clarksville hamlet, has been a New Scotland resident for 19 years, she said.
Davies said she realizes that Clarksville and Feura Bush are parts of town that havent produced too many public officials; she said maybe shell be the incentive that motivates others.
She retired in 2003 from the Bethlehem School District as the curriculum supervisor of career and technical studies, and now, she said, she wants to give back to the community with her new-found free time.
While she may live in one area, and as a result know more about that one area of town over another, she said, its not her purpose to represent one side of town on the planning board but rather to make decisions that are best for the town as a whole.
