As the Penfield Town Board met to prepare for the year ahead, it started by re-appointing many who have been part of the team in years past.
Much of the decision making at the town level starts at the bottom with advisory committees staffed by Penfield residents who give their time to different areas of interest, ranging from conservation to zoning to ethics.
Board and committee chairs serve terms at least one year in length, and the majority of these individuals have served for multiple years.
“It’s very rare that we have to go through and not appoint someone because all our folks are very consistent,” said Town Supervisor Tony LaFountain. “I believe that’s a very positive thing.”
He added that this team dynamic is especially crucial in facing the challenges the town will face in 2012.
Looking ahead, the various town boards and committees will help update town code this year. Like the sign ordinance that was changed 2011 after 30 years, many sections of the code are in need of updating.
From a development standpoint, BayTowne remains a project of local interest. LaFountain said this is one example of the need to strike a balance between Penfield’s commercial and residential properties.
As Gov. Cuomo’s “State of the State” speech last week addressed the need to help fill the state’s $2 bilion deficit through new sources of revenue, LaFountain said that creating revenue should not be the primary focus, locally.
“The biggest issue we need to work on is looking to cut the size of government and run government a lot more efficiently than we’re running it,” he said.
He added that the town will likely see more rising costs in health insurance, workers compensation, and employee retirement.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to absorb those costs without raising taxes,” he said.
LaFountain will give his “State of the Town” address on Feb. 7 at the Penfield Town Hall at 7 p.m.
As the Penfield Town Board met to prepare for the year ahead, it started by re-appointing many who have been part of the team in years past.
Much of the decision making at the town level starts at the bottom with advisory committees staffed by Penfield residents who give their time to different areas of interest, ranging from conservation to zoning to ethics.
Board and committee chairs serve terms at least one year in length, and the majority of these individuals have served for multiple years.
“It’s very rare that we have to go through and not appoint someone because all our folks are very consistent,” said Town Supervisor Tony LaFountain. “I believe that’s a very positive thing.”
He added that this team dynamic is especially crucial in facing the challenges the town will face in 2012.
Looking ahead, the various town boards and committees will help update town code this year. Like the sign ordinance that was changed 2011 after 30 years, many sections of the code are in need of updating.
From a development standpoint, BayTowne remains a project of local interest. LaFountain said this is one example of the need to strike a balance between Penfield’s commercial and residential properties.
As Gov. Cuomo’s “State of the State” speech last week addressed the need to help fill the state’s $2 bilion deficit through new sources of revenue, LaFountain said that creating revenue should not be the primary focus, locally.
“The biggest issue we need to work on is looking to cut the size of government and run government a lot more efficiently than we’re running it,” he said.
He added that the town will likely see more rising costs in health insurance, workers compensation, and employee retirement.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to absorb those costs without raising taxes,” he said.
LaFountain will give his “State of the Town” address on Feb. 7 at the Penfield Town Hall at 7 p.m.
