Monroe village board candidates

Monroe - The village election on March 21 will engage four candidates for two trustee seats on the Village Board. Charles Lesser, Wayne Chan, James Purcell and T. Scott Ferguson are vying for the two positions currently held by Trustees Thomas M. Remo, who is stepping down, and Jeffrey W. Peifer, who is running for mayor. Following are the candidates’ responses to questions of how each would save tax dollars when elected, their opinions on merging police services with Harriman and the acquisition of a police force by the town, along with their views on a recent state analysis suggesting the hiring of five additional officers. The town currently relies on the State Police for law enforcement. The candidates’ responses appear in alphabetical order. Wayne Chan Wayne Chan is 52, married with three children and a village resident for 17 years. He holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science and is employed as a system programmer by a computer consulting firm. He has the endorsement of the New York State and Monroe Police Benevolent Association, Local 632 of the IBEW, the Monroe Democratic Party and the SaveMonroe citizens organization. Chan is a former president of the Ambulance Corps and is director of the Ambulance Corps Building Committee. He also is a member of the National Ski Patrol. • On the village budget: He said he will review all village budgets, including the highway and water departments and look for duplication of services and will streamline the departments, saving time and money by implementing automation. He supports investigating the creation of a new village court and sees a paradox in the town not having a police department but does have a court while the village does have a police department and no court. • On consolidation and expansion of police services: Chan said he has no problem with consolidation of police with Harriman and he will discuss forming an expanded department with the town. “As the community grows we will need additional police officers. I support adding the five cops, but they should be phased in. They offer service more than just policing, such as EMT and post 9/11 are part of a tactical team with surrounding municipalities.” • His reasons for running: “I love the village and it has a lot of potential. It could be the jewel of Orange County, but must be spruced-up in the downtown area and at some of the strip malls.” T. Scott Ferguson T. Scott Ferguson is 45, born and raised in the Village of Monroe. He has been the accountant for the Town of Monroe for nine years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Business Administration, is married with two children. As a director on the Governing Board of the New York State Government Finance Officers Association, he participates in subcommittees and initiated quarterly, information sessions for municipalities in Orange County. He is also youth program coordinator at Grace Community Church in Washingtonville, AYSO soccer coach for the Monroe-Woodbury Soccer Club and assistant coach for the Monroe-Woodbury Basketball League. • On the village budget: Ferguson said the first thing he will do is “create a sound financial plan that encompasses vision” and will establish a five-year plan as part of the budget process. He would hold monthly budget review meetings with village departments to review the status of expenditures and will initiate more than three meetings during the budget process. He also said he would seek to create higher expectations from consultants in planning and law. “They should be representing the interests of you, the taxpayer, at the direction of the board. You should know if a project will affect you before, not after it occurs.” • On consolidation and expansion of police services: In regard to the state analysis recommending the hiring of five additional police officers, he said he is not against adding police if they are required. But there should be a balance between “what we can afford and do we need it? We must look at the whole picture.” He said he knows the community is changing with growth and supports hiring a meter-reader to relieve the work from a police officer. In regard to consolidating police services with other municipalities he believes the community must begin to consolidate services. “There is no way to continue to support police as we have been doing.” • His reasons for running: “When I heard that Tom Remo and Jeff Peifer were not running again for trustee, I decided I could help out with my financial background. The village is in the doldrums financially and aesthetically.” Charles Lesser Charles Lesser is 68, has been a Monroe resident since the 1940’s and has been employed in the family-owned Monroe Jewelers since the 1950’s. He holds a business administration degree from New York University, was previously married, has three children and ten grandchildren. Lesser served in the U.S. Army with the rank of captain. Holds membership in: the Masonic Order, past Master; is a trustee on the board of Rockland Division of Help and Improvement for Developmentally Disabled Youth and Adults; and is a coach and sponsor for M-W Little League and girls softball. •On the village budget: Lesser said he would try to consolidate emergency services if the other municipalities were cooperative and he would eliminate health benefits for all elected officials and the village attorney. He proposes hiring a part-time meter enforcer to release the cops for beat duty, which he states is more important. He also said he would like to see more accountability and responsibility by department heads. • On consolidation and expansion of police services: Lesser said the idea of consolidating police services was discussed by the business community years ago. He is “open to consolidation of the Police Department if it could be worked out. This should be financially equitable for all concerned.” For hiring additional police, recommended by the state, he said that first, the village must have funds to do it and this cost could be offset by savings from employing meter-enforcers or grants. He also said he believes the village should use a professional grant writer. • His reasons for running: “I believe it’s time for a change. Things have not been done as they should, the village has gone to sleep. Past administrations have not seen what they should have. This community could be a show place with the right people in office.” James Purcell James Purcell is 41, married with two children and a village resident for 15 years. He has an associates degree in liberal arts and is employed as an electrician with a contracting company. He has the endorsement of the New York State and Monroe Police Benevolent Association and Local 363 of the IBEW. Purcell is a member of the Haverstraw Elks Lodge, Bronx Acorn Club and IBEW Local 3. • On the village budget: Purcell said he would consolidate village services as best as possible, such as combining the Water and Highway Departments. “We must get smart with sharing and think outside the box. I will pursue state grants and go to local state representatives for highway work, parks and police to offset costs and we must sell the village from a business standpoint by encouraging new rateables.” • On consolidation and expansion of police services: “Consolidation of police services with the town and Harriman is a great idea. Cops are EMT trained and the State Police are not. We must look to alternatives.” Purcell said he is very supportive of a town-wide police department and “we must improve communications with the town government.” He said hiring additional police officers in the village is dependent upon the cost to taxpayers but one additional officer should be hired in 2006 or 2007. • His reasons for running: “It’s real simple. It all started with my son asking, ’why don’t you run for (village board)?’ I want to be part of the process. I want to give back to the community what’s been given to me.”