To the Editor:

I would like to correct some misinformation Vasilios Lefkaditis said in last week’s interview of him as a candidate for supervisor of the town of Knox.

He referenced an email I sent on July 25 to him and others who participated in a series of workshops for the comprehensive plan update.  It had two attachments that were identified as “compilations of the input we received.” It said, “They represent all points of view that were expressed” and, “We want to make sure everyone’s views are accurately represented.”

It is incorrect and misleading for Vas to call that material a “draft comprehensive plan.” 

There is no draft comprehensive plan yet.  Vas was reading suggested ideas for action strategies that came from a variety of residents, with many conflicting views.

These suggestions will have to be reviewed and sorted out so that those that can advance the goals of the town will become part of the comprehensive plan, and those that would be counterproductive will not be used.  The town board will have help from a professional planner for that step.  

In this “silly season,” it looks like Vas is misrepresenting suggestions from workshop participants as official proposals for new taxes to frighten people into voting for him.  There are no proposals for new taxes now or for the future.

Mike Hammond is always conservative about keeping taxes low, and the proposed budget for 2016 will have a zero-percent tax increase. 

Vas’s statement that “there is not a single permitted use” in the new business district in the hamlet is also misleading. Many uses are allowed with a site plan review by the planning board. 

That is not red tape.  It is responsible oversight to protect the quality of life for people who already have homes in that mixed-use district. 

If this is any indication of his ability to gather facts and form reasonable conclusions from them, Vas would be a poor choice for supervisor of the town of Knox.

Amy Lauterbach Pokorny

Knox

Editor’s note: Amy Lauterbach Pokorny is a Democratic member of the Knox Town Board who has headed the initiative to update the town’s comprehensive plan. Vasilios Lefkaditis is challenging the incumbent Democrat, Michael Hammond.