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GREG FINGER
TOWN BOARD CANDIDATE



Greg Finger, the Democratic candidate to fill the one-year vacancy on the Town Board was raised in Westchester County (CROTON and Tarrytown). He first came to Gardiner in 1969 to work as the head counselor/program director at Camp Thoreau on Tillson lake Road. Moving to Gardiner in 1972, he assumed the directorship of the camp. In the summer of 1979, Greg moved the camp, which had grown to serve 150 campers and employ 70 staff, to Vermont where it remained until Greg’s retirement in 2004.

Committed to community service, Greg joined the Shawangunk Fire Company in 1972 holding various positions, including six years as Chief. Additionally, he had a twelve-year tenure as an elected fire commissioner for the Shawangunk Valley Fire District, as well as several years as vice-chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

In January, Greg was appointed to fill the Town Board vacancy and is now seeking an elected position for the remaining year in accordance with election law. He continues to serve as Gardiner’s Director of Emergency Management and wrote the town’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. He also served as a volunteer consultant to the Town of Rochester and wrote their emergency management plan.

As a NYS certified EMS instructor, Greg currently is teaching EMT-B and CFR courses under the auspices of the Ulster County Ambulance Association, including a course recently completed at the Gardiner Fire House.

Greg’s long history of service includes a position on the board of a small foundation and treasurer and co-chair of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York City.

As a thirty-five year resident of Gardiner, residing on Tillson Lake Road with his wife Joan Hollister, a SUNY New Paltz faculty member, and three border collies, Greg wants to continue serving the community he loves.

Recognize Greg Finger’s exceptional community service by electing him to the Town Board. Vote on Tuesday, November 4.

The following article was written by Mike Townshend and was printed on the front page of the New Paltz Times, July 24, 2008 edition

When Greg Finger joined the Gardiner Town Board in mid-January, the veteran firefighter brought the five-person panel back to full strength. But Finger, 62, also decided to step down from his position as vice chair of the Shawangunk Valley Fire District Board of Commissioners. The seat on the town board, he said, would represent a conflict of interest for a fire commissioner.

During the January 21 meeting, the former fire chief was appointed as the newest member of the board.

When asked about his experience on the board so far, Finger replied: “Well it’s just been that one meeting. I’m just getting my feet wet.”

He added: “I like challenges. It’s a different sort of public service.”

According to board member Nadine Lemmon, four candidates -- including Finger -- were considered for the seat. But ultimately his experience and perspective as an emergency responder helped get him the job.

He has been in the community for a very long time,” Lemmon said. “That’s a huge plus for us. That’s going to be someone who is already up and running when they’re on the board.”

In a town where the communication between the town board and emergency responders hasn’t always been the greatest, Finger’s experience and viewpoint could act as a bridging force, she said.

Lemmon said she thought Finger could help guide the town if they pursue a new fire station. “He has a knowledge base that no one on the board currently has.”

One of the motivating factors to search for a final board member was the upcoming vote on the revamped zoning law.

In January, board members decided not to ask their lawyer to include major changes to that law based on input from the public hearing. Instead, they plan to pass the law as is and work to amend those changes into the code at a later date.

Although he ultimately agreed to not ask the lawyer to include the changes, supervisor Joe Katz expressed misgivings about the law itself and said he might vote against it. Newly elected Warren Wiegand also said he didn’t like the pass-and-amend idea.

So potentially a fifth board member could provide a tie-breaking zoning vote. However, Lemmon said that the interviews were devoid of zoning talk. "It wasn’t a consideration when we were asking him,” she said, referring to Finger.

However, the newest board member did tell the New Paltz Times that he generally favors the proposed zoning changes and thought they were a “good start.”

Finger, a Democrat, was appointed to a term lasting until December 31, 2008. He said that town will have to focus on smart growth -- balancing commercial with the residential and retaining jobs with new employers.

He added that this would need to be done responsibly. “Those are not easy tasks.”

Board members are expected to make a final vote on the zoning law in March.