A Message from the Supervisor
Update from the Supervisor
It’s now been about eight weeks since the Town Board appointed me Interim Supervisor. During that time, I have had the opportunity to talk to many of you and listen to your concerns of today and your visions of a better tomorrow. I am also becoming more familiar with ongoing town initiatives of which the construction of a sewer system, remediation of the Ski Bowl drainage, repairs to the water system, and development of the Ski Bowl Park by ORDA are preeminent. I look forward to continuing the efforts of previous administrations to see these ideas become tangible realities.
As with all municipalities, Johnsburg is in a constant state of change. We can either ride that wave or get crushed by it. How well we can do the former decides our potential for future prosperity. If we opt to pursue that prosperity, we need to forever be re-evaluating what we are doing, how to better do it, and predict problematic events on the horizon in order to get out in front of them. Taking stock of our present state, I have identified a number of items that I believe we should begin to get a better handle on. Briefly, and in no particular order:
Zoning. The present zoning codes were enacted in September of 2007. As the township has evolved, it may be that these ordinances no longer reflect our needs or are not conducive to future growth. Moreover, they may be difficult to interpret by the ordinary citizen. I am working together with our zone enforcement officer to develop flowcharts, similar to those used in decision trees, to provide a quicker, simpler algorithm for common queries such as signage and permitting. The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee is also considering zoning as part of their work. In the meantime, the Town relies on the Planning & Zoning Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals to impartially interpret and enforce our codified procedures and processes. I will be calling on both of these groups to review these and propose changes that can be presented to the Town Board for legislation.
Work Force. As we have seen all too acutely, it is difficult to maintain an arsenal of workers in our communities. Two factors which I feel impact this the most are: Day care and work force housing. Solving these two issues relies on the “build it and they will come” theory. Unfortunately, this is not how to best use public money, particularly, if we build it and nobody comes. My sense of it is that while working sequentially has logical merit, it serves to prolong and perhaps even exacerbate the situation.
• Day Care: I am in the early stages of looking into a solution to the day care portion of the equation. This, at least to me, seems more immediate. If I was doubting this approach, it became clear when I was afforded the opportunity to speak to Heather Olesheski’s class about local government. During the Q&A, one of her students asked me point blank about day care. It is quite compelling when even a 4th grader can see the need exists now. As part of this solution, I am drawing on the template provided by the recent successes achieved by Chestertown and Warrensburg with Small Tales Day Care.
• Work Force Housing: It is difficult to find a developer that is interested in providing affordable housing: Materials have become too expensive; margins are too small; and land is too precious and scarce. I am exploring a potential developer in the Utica area that offers affordable development. Along with this is an analysis of town properties that may be lying fallow and which could be re-purposed for housing. What I’d like to avoid is HUD-like low-
income housing. I experienced this in Canajoharie and, while the intent was to offer much needed housing assistance, it only served to bring in an element that constantly required the attention of law enforcement.
Services for the Aging. This issue is only going to get bigger with the continued and rapid aging of an unusually large portion of our population. At the top of the list is transportation. As some of you may know, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is taking over the Greater Glens Falls Transit (GGFT) and extending routes into Washington County. I spoke briefly to Joe Spairana, a board member of CDTA, at the County Economic Development Committee meeting about potentially expanding into western Warren County. While there are no plans at the present, CDTA will entertain possibilities. I am in the process of preparing a proposal for him that would include ski bus runs in winter and service to Glens Falls twice a week.
ORDA. Whether we like it or not, a great deal of our fate lies hand-in-hand with the success of Gore. Their aspirations for the Ski Bowl can be a source of mutually beneficial prosperity, particularly for the park. The Town Board is sensitive to feedback of a number of differing opinions, and we are engaging ORDA in good faith to explore the extension of the 2017 definitive agreement. In any discussions revolving around that development, and so long as I am Supervisor, my chief concern is that North Creek does not suffer the same fate as Rutland, Vermont. When Killington built many—if not all—consumer services onto the mountain property, it negatively impacted the economic health of Rutland. With NYS Route 28 acting as a proverbial Berlin Wall between the park and North Creek, I believe that it best serves Johnsburg to muster a strategy that keeps Main Street relevant and profitable.
The Hamlets. Sometimes it’s hard for people to imagine Johnsburg as being more than the hamlet of North Creek. Yet we are, and, like a family, we need to keep engaged one with another. And in that spirit, it is equally as vital that we invest, whenever we can, in strengthening those bonds. The Historical Society is christening a new home for itself in Wevertown. This summer we will have meditative labyrinth in Baker’s Mills. Plans are proceeding to convert the old garage space in Johnsburg into a park. I am in the early stages of investigating a road race along the race the train course from Riparius to North Creek that would alternate start and finish lines every year.
Unfortunately, many of the thoughts here do little to serve us in the near term. Most are years in the making; there is no magic wand we can wave nor can we say “Shazam!” and everything is manifest today. They lie in the amorphous future; but let’s not forget that the future is measured in a string of todays. Not to start is never to finish. It all reminds me of advice an aikido sensei shared with me in Japan:
始め。真中。終わり。人生で全ての活動がそうです。
(In life, everything you do has a beginning, middle and end.)
Today is a beginning of sorts; what I’m offering is hope in exchange for a measure of patience.
Mark Smith
Supervisor
Update from the Supervisor
It’s now been about eight weeks since the Town Board appointed me Interim Supervisor. During that time, I have had the opportunity to talk to many of you and listen to your concerns of today and your visions of a better tomorrow. I am also becoming more familiar with ongoing town initiatives of which the construction of a sewer system, remediation of the Ski Bowl drainage, repairs to the water system, and development of the Ski Bowl Park by ORDA are preeminent. I look forward to continuing the efforts of previous administrations to see these ideas become tangible realities.
As with all municipalities, Johnsburg is in a constant state of change. We can either ride that wave or get crushed by it. How well we can do the former decides our potential for future prosperity. If we opt to pursue that prosperity, we need to forever be re-evaluating what we are doing, how to better do it, and predict problematic events on the horizon in order to get out in front of them. Taking stock of our present state, I have identified a number of items that I believe we should begin to get a better handle on. Briefly, and in no particular order:
Zoning. The present zoning codes were enacted in September of 2007. As the township has evolved, it may be that these ordinances no longer reflect our needs or are not conducive to future growth. Moreover, they may be difficult to interpret by the ordinary citizen. I am working together with our zone enforcement officer to develop flowcharts, similar to those used in decision trees, to provide a quicker, simpler algorithm for common queries such as signage and permitting. The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee is also considering zoning as part of their work. In the meantime, the Town relies on the Planning & Zoning Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals to impartially interpret and enforce our codified procedures and processes. I will be calling on both of these groups to review these and propose changes that can be presented to the Town Board for legislation.
Work Force. As we have seen all too acutely, it is difficult to maintain an arsenal of workers in our communities. Two factors which I feel impact this the most are: Day care and work force housing. Solving these two issues relies on the “build it and they will come” theory. Unfortunately, this is not how to best use public money, particularly, if we build it and nobody comes. My sense of it is that while working sequentially has logical merit, it serves to prolong and perhaps even exacerbate the situation.
• Day Care: I am in the early stages of looking into a solution to the day care portion of the equation. This, at least to me, seems more immediate. If I was doubting this approach, it became clear when I was afforded the opportunity to speak to Heather Olesheski’s class about local government. During the Q&A, one of her students asked me point blank about day care. It is quite compelling when even a 4th grader can see the need exists now. As part of this solution, I am drawing on the template provided by the recent successes achieved by Chestertown and Warrensburg with Small Tales Day Care.
• Work Force Housing: It is difficult to find a developer that is interested in providing affordable housing: Materials have become too expensive; margins are too small; and land is too precious and scarce. I am exploring a potential developer in the Utica area that offers affordable development. Along with this is an analysis of town properties that may be lying fallow and which could be re-purposed for housing. What I’d like to avoid is HUD-like low-
income housing. I experienced this in Canajoharie and, while the intent was to offer much needed housing assistance, it only served to bring in an element that constantly required the attention of law enforcement.
Services for the Aging. This issue is only going to get bigger with the continued and rapid aging of an unusually large portion of our population. At the top of the list is transportation. As some of you may know, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is taking over the Greater Glens Falls Transit (GGFT) and extending routes into Washington County. I spoke briefly to Joe Spairana, a board member of CDTA, at the County Economic Development Committee meeting about potentially expanding into western Warren County. While there are no plans at the present, CDTA will entertain possibilities. I am in the process of preparing a proposal for him that would include ski bus runs in winter and service to Glens Falls twice a week.
ORDA. Whether we like it or not, a great deal of our fate lies hand-in-hand with the success of Gore. Their aspirations for the Ski Bowl can be a source of mutually beneficial prosperity, particularly for the park. The Town Board is sensitive to feedback of a number of differing opinions, and we are engaging ORDA in good faith to explore the extension of the 2017 definitive agreement. In any discussions revolving around that development, and so long as I am Supervisor, my chief concern is that North Creek does not suffer the same fate as Rutland, Vermont. When Killington built many—if not all—consumer services onto the mountain property, it negatively impacted the economic health of Rutland. With NYS Route 28 acting as a proverbial Berlin Wall between the park and North Creek, I believe that it best serves Johnsburg to muster a strategy that keeps Main Street relevant and profitable.
The Hamlets. Sometimes it’s hard for people to imagine Johnsburg as being more than the hamlet of North Creek. Yet we are, and, like a family, we need to keep engaged one with another. And in that spirit, it is equally as vital that we invest, whenever we can, in strengthening those bonds. The Historical Society is christening a new home for itself in Wevertown. This summer we will have meditative labyrinth in Baker’s Mills. Plans are proceeding to convert the old garage space in Johnsburg into a park. I am in the early stages of investigating a road race along the race the train course from Riparius to North Creek that would alternate start and finish lines every year.
Unfortunately, many of the thoughts here do little to serve us in the near term. Most are years in the making; there is no magic wand we can wave nor can we say “Shazam!” and everything is manifest today. They lie in the amorphous future; but let’s not forget that the future is measured in a string of todays. Not to start is never to finish. It all reminds me of advice an aikido sensei shared with me in Japan:
始め。真中。終わり。人生で全ての活動がそうです。
(In life, everything you do has a beginning, middle and end.)
Today is a beginning of sorts; what I’m offering is hope in exchange for a measure of patience.
Mark Smith
Supervisor
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Welcome to the Adirondack Town of Johnsburg, NY
In addition to serving as a gateway to the Great South Woods the Town of Johnsburg is a destination all in itself. To learn more about our opportunities visit our Tourism website and our Resources for Business page
Safety News and Notices
Road crews are out working on your roads. Please remember to drive safe in the work areas. Go slow in the work areas big machines cannot see you in your car or on foot,
Thank You
Town Of Johnsburg Safety Officer
Ernie Dunkley
safetyofficer@johnsburgny.com
Thank You
Town Of Johnsburg Safety Officer
Ernie Dunkley
safetyofficer@johnsburgny.com
News and Notes
The Town of Johnsburg's 4th of July Celebration will be held on July 2nd at "Ski Bowl Park"
North Creek Water Department will begin flushing hydrants in North Creek on Monday May 22 and continuing through the week until Friday May 26 or until the system has been completed.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Charlie Rawson
NCWD
Thank you for your cooperation.
Charlie Rawson
NCWD
The Town of Johnsburg sewer referendum passed with 34 votes in the affirmative, and 14 votes opposed. This vital economic development initiative will now enter the next phase of implementation and the town board will keep the public informed of progress.
USE OF CAMPERS/RVs OUTSIDE OF CAMPGROUNDS IS UNLAWFUL IN THE TOWN OF JOHNSBURG. This is explicitly stated in the Town’s Zoning Law (Sec. 832). Enforcement is a priority for the 2022 season. Thank you for your cooperation and compliance, -Town of Johnsburg Zoning Dept
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