To the Editor:

Vas Lefkaditis has accomplished a lot in his four years as Knox town supervisor. He is constantly working to improve the lives of all the people that live in this town. Let’s continue the momentum of the last four years.

Last week in my letter, I stated why Vas Lefkaditis as the chief financial officer (CFO) of Knox is a genius at saving the town money while expanding services without raising taxes. None of this is a coincidence; it is due to his skill at managing the Town’s finances.

Another characteristic of his administration is that there is now open discussion about everything. Town meetings last for hours because of his ability to have an open dialogue about the issues.

The Multi-Use Recreational District (MRD) proposed on Route 156 was recently not approved with Earl Barcomb and Dennis Barber voting against it. The proposal for the MRD was unanimously approved by the zoning board of appeals and approved by a 4-to-3 vote of the planning board.

This issue has been thoroughly discussed at planning board and town board meetings since June 2016 when the original proposal was for a business district. The fact that any permitted new business in the area would be limited by the area’s site limitations (geology, water resources, septic) and additionally would be subject to an extensive environmental review would ensure that any businesses allowed in the proposed MRD would be compatible with the character of the town.

The town now has a few new businesses like the Knox Café and Groomingdales. These places sat empty for years. Some will have you think this is just a coincidence but Vas Lefkaditis and his running mates support more opportunities for small locally-owned businesses that provide much-needed conveniences and services for residents. 

They also support expansion of farms and helping the small farmer. The town board is moving toward approving zoning-law changes that would allow pig farms and expansion of home-based businesses. 

Every day I wake up and appreciate the spectacular beauty of this town and would not want anything to change its rural character. However, I would like to see some additional small businesses that would provide needed services and hope that someday the former Highlands could reopen as a restaurant.

Vas Lefkaditis has made town government open, transparent, and provided positive accomplishments for the town and forced us to have conversations on many issues with respect and honesty.

I hope you will join me and vote for Vas Lefkaditis for town supervisor, Dennis Cyr and June Springer for town council, and Traci Schanz for town clerk.

Anna Wolfe

Knox

Editor’s note: Anna Wolfe’s husband, Tom Wolfe, chairs the Knox Planning Board.