Campaign issues focus on growth



NEW SCOTLAND – As this still-rural town faces increased development pressure, issues this election season center on how growth should be handled and the role the public should play in planning for the town’s future.

Candidates from both major political parties are competing for the post of town supervisor and for two town board seats.

The town board is mixed politically. Currently, it is made up of three Democrats and two Republicans.

Supervisor Ed Clark, who ran as a Republican, is retiring after six years in office.

The New Scotland Democratic Team, as the Democratic candidates refer to themselves, includes Thomas Dolin, who is running for supervisor; and Richard Reilly and Deborah Baron, who are both running for re-election to the town board.

The Republican candidates, who refer to themselves as Team New Scotland (www.teamnewscotland.com), include Councilman Douglas LaGrange, who is running for supervisor, and Charles Voss and Gary Schultz, who are running for town board.

Town board members serve four-year terms, and are each paid an annual salary of $7,404. The supervisor makes an annual salary of $52,935 and serves for a two-year term.

According to the Albany County Board of Elections, the town of New Scotland is politically divided, roughly, into thirds — 35 percent of registered voters are enrolled as Democrats, 29 percent are enrolled as Republicans, and nearly 36 percent of voters are not enrolled in a political party. Less than 1 percent of voters are enrolled in one of the small parties.

Town issues

Each of the six candidates was asked questions on the following issues:
— Public water: Access to municipal water is a continuing problem in town. What course, if any, should the town take to provide public water to New Scotland residents"
— Zoning: How does the town’s zoning need to be adjusted to better plan for current and future needs" How might the town address the need for affordable housing"
— Public input: How have the recommendations made in 2005 by the Residents’ Planning Advisory Committee been considered and used by the town" How might they be considered in the future" Is this type of public consensus beneficial to the town" Would you advocate the development of other committees in town to solicit community input to aid in the planning process"
— Planning: Through the public hearings regarding the senior overlay district, the process for planning came into question. How should that process work" Should the public be more involved"
— Comprehensive plan: After discussing updating the comprehensive land-use plan, and applying for and being awarded a grant for planning, the town has essentially decided that no substantive changes are needed on its 1994 master plan. Is it enough to look at the zoning, or does the plan need a more comprehensive communitywide look"
— Commercial development: How can New Scotland work to encourage commercial development in the town" How important is it to the growth of the town, and to easing the tax burden"