Greg Finger
Town Board
The Town of Gardiner continues to make progress, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of Gardiner's hard working Town Board team. Working together with all of the citizens of our town, to keep Gardiner moving forward has been a rewarding experience, and that is why I am a candidate for re-election to the Town Board this November 3rd.
As a resident of Gardiner for more than 36 years, I have learned a lot about the issues confronting Gardiner, such as the need to increase our tax base by strengthening existing businesses and attracting new business, the importance of affordable housing, and the balance between development and open-space preservation.
These are difficult economic times, and even though the town taxes are only about 9% of the total tax bill (which includes school and county taxes), I'll work with Supervisor Katz and my colleagues on the Board to reduce and where possible eliminate any increases in expenditures over which the Town Board has control. As a Fire District Commissioner, I've demonstrated fiscal responsibility in constructing budgets that provided for first-rate fire and EMS services to our town, but limited the tax burden on the homeowner.
In both my 30 years of experience as a small business owner/camp director and my 37 years of fire and EMS service to the community, I've developed leadership skills, but more importantly, I have a proven track record showing ability to work with many different kinds of people to build cooperative efforts to achieve common goals.
This year I've worked with my colleagues on the Ethics Board to draft an improved town ethics law, which is currently in public hearing. I've drafted, and the Town Board has passed, a revised flood damage prevention law, which meets new federal standards, and thus enables Gardiner homeowners in the flood plain to be eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program. Last winter I worked with Supervisor Katz to implement the "Winter Watch" program to protect Gardiner's senior citizens and other vulnerable members of our community as heating oil prices rose dramatically – and I will do so again this winter. I co-founded and chair our Business Development Committee, which is working with local business owners to strengthen existing businesses, and to develop ways to attract new business.
I want to partner with all of my fellow Gardiner residents to find solutions to our problems and keep Gardiner moving forward as a wonderful place to live: rural, contemporary, and affordable for our children in the future. I hope that all who share this vision will vote for me on November 3rd.