‘Nasty’ politics

continue in village

Editor, OBSERVER:

When I retired from SUNY Fredonia in December 2015; my wife and I decided to stay in Fredonia. We continue to like that the village is friendly, has relatively low local taxes, and the very good entertainment provided by the Rockefeller Arts Center and the 1891 Opera House.

The village of Fredonia political situation has become so nasty that I want to make several comments as a retiree.

First, it is obvious that the water controversy and dreams for the future of the village are already doing a pretty good job of tearing the village apart. This year’s property tax increase of 58% is far above a reasonable increase, in my opinion. If the work on the water supply is done through grants, that will control tax increases, while slowing down the work. The clear need for an additional water storage tank would be a good first grant request.

The public reaction to the Fredonia schools capital proposal clearly shows there is great interest in tax increases. In my opinion, the trustees should have considered presenting the public with a referendum indicating estimated tax increases.

Why not hold a public referendum on the water issue? It would poll residents on how they feel about buying water instead of producing it.

Were the trustees interested in finding out how the citizens of the village felt about tax increases? We’ll never know.

I would like to see the village trustees inform the citizens of the estimated costs for each project and the fee and tax increases necessary to cover these costs.

The recent Democratic Party primary shows a strong interest in involving a new generation in village politics.

Apparently, the new trustees are not going to have the opportunity to vote on a substantial tax increase. Shouldn’t the vote be delayed so that any new Trustees can have their say?

A few years ago when I taught political science, I stressed to my students that the first job of any elected official is to get re-elected.

Apart from Trustee Michelle Twichell, our current crop of trustees apparently missed that lesson.

DAVID TIFFANY,

Fredonia