Today, I present my questions to town board candidate, Art Borin, and his responses. He is running for one of the two seats up for election on the town board this year.
Could you please tell us about yourself and why you are running for the town board?
“My wife and I have been married for 48 years. We have 6 children and 15 grandchildren. We have had a home in Dresden for 20 years. I served on the town board for 4 years. I believe I was a contributor to many areas in the town and I feel that my experience would serve the town well.”
As President of the Huletts Landing Volunteer fire department you spearheaded the construction of the new firehouse. For this you should be commended. Other Adirondack communities are dying rapidly. What other businesses and/or development would you like to see Dresden attract?
“I would like to see a country store in Dresden and I would like to see it also be a farm market so that residents who grow local product would have an outlet for their eggs, fruit and vegetables. This would be a co-op. It would also be nice to be able to buy the basics without a long car ride.”
Because the Town of Dresden pays a high percentage of the taxes to finance the school budget, and the school district shows no willingness to curb spending, this percentage will likely grow in the years ahead. What specific steps will you advocate that will “grow” the tax base of the Town of Dresden?
“I do not feel that a large increase in the tax base is the answer. Rather I have joined a group that is petitioning the legislators to fund the schools with an alternative means. Currently Huletts Landing has 0 students in the Whitehall school yet we pay a large percentage of the budget. Dresden in total has less than 10% of the student population and Dresden pays a large portion of the school costs.”
Over the last 30 years, radical elements of the environmental movement have moved into the area often proposing rules which either they don’t want to comply with themselves or which they show no understanding of how these rules will affect the tax base of local communities. How should the Town best “stand up” to these radical environmental elitists?
“It is difficult for the town to react to the radical elements. One of the worst is the APA. They stifle any attempt at progress in our area. As an example, it took me over 1 year to get APA approval for the new firehouse. Their attitude is costing jobs in the area and we are powerless to resolve the problem.”
Many residents of Huletts Landing have turned to renting their property in order to afford the exorbitant taxes we pay. What steps should the Town of Dresden take to market and promote Huletts Landing as a popular destination?
“Dresden is fortunate to be bordered on one side by Lake George and on the other by Lake Champlain. We should have a Dresden website that promotes our town.”