PLATTSBURGH — Two candidates are looking to fill the Plattsburgh City Common Council Ward 5 seat in next month’s general election.
Current Ward 5 Councilor Caitlin Bopp is not running for re-election.
Barrie Finnegan, a Republican, and David Monette, a Democrat, are now bidding for the three-year term on the council.
The Press-Republican asked each candidate two questions:
What do you see as the most pressing issue in your ward and what would you do to address it?
Finnegan
“Ward 5 is home to the former Crete Civic Center site. The development of this property will be crucial for future generations, we have an opportunity to have something that all people from not only Ward 5, but the North Country, can utilize and enjoy. This is a project that will require everyone’s input so that it’s something we all can be proud of. We really need to get this right. I will work hard and do my homework to ensure that we do get it right.”
Monette
“That’s an interesting question. Since before my campaign began, and certainly during the course of it, I have been walking around and talking with folks in my ward about this very topic. What I have learned is that many of the concerns of my potential constituents are those that, with properly executed solutions, would help improve the quality of life and/or provide a greater degree of satisfaction for not only the residents in my ward, but for those residents of the city as a whole.
“In a nutshell, these concerns can be condensed into: Keeping the city fiscally whole whilst also keeping taxes under control, creating more affordable housing, ensuring that landlords maintain their properties, park maintenance and development, and improved pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures. From among these, it is difficult to choose one that is the most pressing, for each one impacts residents in a different, yet profound manner. If forced to choose, I naturally gravitate towards the first concern. I feel that the number one priority of any person in city government is to understand that any money being spent on any endeavor is trusted to them by their neighbors, and that they must therefore take that trust seriously and with humility. If elected, I would safeguard that trust, ensuring that outgoing funds match those incoming, that grants are found where applicable, that incurring debt is done as a last resort, and that all costs, whether monetary or otherwise, are worth the benefits.”
What does the future hold for your ward and how would you achieve it?
Finnegan
“Ward 5 is a wonderful combination of beautiful homes, rental properties, and businesses. With the housing crisis we are in, Ward 5 is important to maintain all the available housing by encouraging owners to keep these units available by reducing discouraging regulations and maintaining taxes at a manageable number. I will be a proponent for this at all times.”
“We are also home of the Samuel de Champlain monument which is recognized nationally, as is the Kent Delord House. Keeping this combination of homes, rentals, businesses and historic sites functioning properly is very important to the community as a whole. Supporting our homeowners, landlords and business owners will be a priority for me. Maintaining roads, curbs and infrastructure is crucial, as is maintaining city properties. I will be diligent in requesting these services for Ward 5. Wilcox dock is a gem on Lake Champlain, there have been some wonderful improvements, but there is still room for more, I would like to help develop this further for many different uses. The views are world class, we need to emphasize this. The fishing also is a great opportunity for the dock, and the boat launch is a huge draw which is something we could capitalize on. The potential for the dock is unlimited.”
Monette
“Great question. For starters, I see the parks within my ward being maintained better. I feel it is very important to maintain not only the parks/playgrounds in the city, but to also ensure that the sidewalks are cleaned of vegetation and debris. This creates a more attractive space for not only current inhabitants, but for those who are interested in moving here. I feel that this can be done by actively pursuing long-range funding for ensuring upkeep, staffing, etc…, securing grant funding, and actively working and encouraging existing community groups (here meaning, among others, sororities and fraternities at SUNY Plattsburgh and students in the PHS National Honors Program) to contribute hours of service to remove litter and unwanted vegetation. Additionally, I feel the city needs to adopt more sustainable measures for decorative vegetative spaces, like instead of using mulch to keep out weeds (a product that must be paid for and applied every year), to use a natural ground cover planting.”
“Additionally, I see the future of my ward as one with improved pedestrian safety and improved traffic calming measures. I feel we need to regularly conduct comprehensive assessments of vehicle accidents and ticketing rates to show where the highest percentage of such occurrences take place. From there, the city should work toward implementing measures (whether they be speed plateaus, bump-outs, etc….) to control vehicle speed in those areas, thereby increasing pedestrian’s, driver’s, and biker’s safety.”
“Finally, and perhaps more poignantly, I see a ward and a city wherein young people remain after they graduate or decide to move here from without. Granted, this is an issue for the entire state, but I feel the city can do things locally to ensure that the fiscal impacts of an aging population, coupled with the associated decline of school enrollment, do not adversely affect the livability of the community. To counteract this shift and maintain a reasonable level of growth, I feel it is important to tone down unnecessary barriers to business and housing development, to work with area schools and businesses to ensure that educational offerings are in line with what businesses need in a workforce, and to market, both in the local area and outside of it, the tremendous assets in the city, including the waterfront, the cultural center and theater, and the development of the downtown corridor.”
