Clarkstown Town Council: Election 2013

Incumbent Town Council members Stephanie Hausner and George Hoehmann are being challenged by John Noto and Robert Pitkofsky in the Tuesday, Nov. 5th General Election. Hausner has the Democratic, Working Families, Independence and Conservative lines. Hoehmann has the Republican, Working Families, Independence and Conservative lines.  Noto has the Republican and Preserve Rockland/Clarkstown lines. Pitkofsky has the Democratic line.

Patch sent questionnaires to each candidate, who provided the following responses. 

1. Why did you decide to run for election?

Stephanie Hausner

I am running for re-election because there are several important initiatives I am working on in the town that I would like to see all the way to fruition. Revitalization projects in Central and West Nyack are just an example of the projects that I’m looking forward to seeing begin. I want to continue working with the residents and businesses in Nanuet to re-energize Main Street so that they truly benefit from the Shops at Nanuet.

As we continue our corridor studies, especially in the Nanuet area, there is great potential for the future of our town. We have done so much to make Affordable Senior housing possible and I would like to see it built. I love this town, I love our community, and I love being able to serve my fellow residents. 

George Hoehmann

I first decided to seek elective office to make a positive difference in our community. I was born and raised in Clarkstown and am deeply committed to keeping the cost of government down while maintaining services and protecting our quality of life. After careful consideration I decided to seek re-election to a second term so that I may continue to pursue policies and plans for a more affordable town government that is responsive to the taxpayer. 

Further, I am seeking to complete several of the initiatives that I have proposed currently underway such as solar at our landfill that will save us millions of dollars in our future operating costs. Additionally, I am seeking to explore further consolidations and potential for sharing of services and equipment via inter-department and inter-municipal agreements that will provide further savings. I also believe that we need to aggressively pursue additional housing options for seniors and emergency service workers who cannot afford to remain here due to rising costs.

In conjunction with this I believe we need to aggressively pursue a plan for new ratable opportunities that will broaden our tax base. In short, I am running so that I may also pursue an approach that will insure the character of Clarkstown is protected from overdevelopment and other policies that would negatively affect the quality of life of our residents. Above all I am running again so that I may continue to present a vision of innovation and fiscal responsibility to town government operations.

John Noto

I have always had a desire to serve in my community.  I enjoyed coaching high school football and skiing to volunteering to coach Clarkstown Soccer for over ten years.  I have spent 26 years on winter weekends as a volunteer member of the National Ski Patrol at Windham Mountain serving the public as a first responder in a mountain rescue capacity. 

As the Director of Real Property I had the opportunity to help many of our residents throughout the County.  Now, we have significant issues facing Clarkstown that relate directly to my 25 years of financial and managerial experience.  I look forward to tackling these issues and make Clarkstown a better more affordable place to live for all residents especially our seniors.  I enjoy giving back, utilizing my skills and abilities, helping our community.   

Robert Pitkofsky

I view public service as an extension of community service. Anyone who seeks public service must reflect this attitude, and I feel that our government must reflect this perspective.

I am running for the Clarkstown Town Board because I believe that my skills as a business owner, attorney, and community leader make me uniquely qualified to face the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities that our Town’s residents and businesses face. I share the love that our residents have for our Town, and I want to provide them with a greater voice in managing our municipal government more effectively while rallying the community to address big issues.

2. What personal or professional experiences qualify you to serve as a town board member? Have you run or held elected office previously?

Stephanie Hausner

I am finishing my first term as a Town Board member and I feel that I have helped make Clarkstown an even better place than it was four years ago.

I have worked in the non-profit/advocacy community for much of my career. I find this work very rewarding and it provides me with a good foundation and skill set to serve the town. Working in non-profit organizations has shown me the value of a dollar, and how to stretch that dollar in the most impactful way for your constituents. I believe this is just the experience needed to best serve the town of Clarkstown.  

Additionally, I am very active in a number of community organizations, which keep me connected to various constituencies and causes in our community.

George Hoehmann

As Patch readers are aware I have served as a member of the Town Council since February 2009 and have been extremely active within the community. I have over twenty years of experience as a senior level executive in the not-for-profit sector. In this capacity I know how to run a large business and stretch a dollar, something I have brought to my position as a councilman.

Additionally, I have a background in planning and serve as the President of the Rockland County Municipal Planning Federation and serve on numerous boards for not-for-profits. Finally, I have proposed numerous policy changes and initiatives that are groundbreaking and innovative and have saved money, improved services and protected our quality of life.  

John Noto

I received a B.S. in Finance from St. Thomas Aquinas College and owned two successful small businesses. The first was a family owned Real Estate Valuation and Consulting Firm. The second was a Wireless Development and Construction Company, which I co-founded and managed for eight years.  I left that company to be the Director of Real Property Tax Services for Rockland County. 

I currently work for a Commercial Real Estate Firm as an asset/property manager.  My team is responsible for a 1.8 million square foot office complex with a $30 million budget.  This 25 plus years of financial and managerial experience is what is needed in the leadership of today’s municipal environment.          

Robert Pitkofsky 

I am a proud husband, father, homeowner, business owner, attorney, and community leader. Each of these roles provides me with different experiences that support my candidacy. As an attorney who has practiced for twelve years in the private and not-for-profit sector, I have litigated and counseled business and individual clients in a range of complicated legal matters.

I served as in-house counsel for a $100M+ international organization, supporting hundreds of employees. I am proud to serve on not-for-profit organizations that support our community, from Holocaust education to the Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation. I am actively engaged in my school’s PTA and in coaching my kids’ little league teams.

I believe that my experience as a litigator provides a basis for my general philosophy on public service: you can get more accomplished with honey than vinegar. Over thirteen years ago, I ran for municipal office as a second year law student in Pennsylvania, and I learned an important lesson: we can accomplish more by listening to each other rather than speaking first. Our public servants must engage this work at a more personal level. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the dreams, passions, frustrations, and potential of our citizens and businesses.

3. What are the top three issues facing town residents?

Stephanie Hausner

In Clarkstown, we have a serious lack of Affordable Senior Housing, an issue that I have spent the past four years championing. My work has led to expanded zoning opportunities for senior housing.  Now that we have made it possible for senior housing to be built in hamlet centers and in Active Adult Residence Zones, we need to make it happen.

Another focus of mine will be housing opportunities and job creation so young professionals can live in Clarkstown. We have tremendous opportunity for transit-oriented development near the Nanuet train station - that would be appealing to commuters, and more specifically young professionals. I’m seeing many of my friends I grew up with choose to live in other areas because of the lack of public transportation, housing stock, and taxes. Our schools are facing low enrollment, because our housing stock is not turning over, we must change this.

Clarkstown needs to keep its infrastructure intact and functioning without overburdening our taxpayers.  We need to keep our tax rates stabilized. In doing that, we also have to make sure that we spend our tax dollars wisely, and on items that will keep our streets, parks, and other services from falling apart.  I am proud that over my tenure on the town board we have been below the tax cap for 3 of 4 years.

George Hoehmann

Taxes and spending

Economic Development,

Housing and Quality of Life Issues

John Noto

Taxes.

 Increasing Debt

 Economic Development

Robert Pitkofsky

Our Town’s residents face many challenges over the next few years. First, due to budget and fiscal obstacles faced by our County and school districts, our citizens and businesses will be faced with increasing property tax burdens before a single penny goes to the Town of Clarkstown.

Second, as a father of three young children, I am concerned about the seeming inability of young people to purchase homes in our community and find high quality jobs in the Hudson Valley. This has a ricochet effect by making it harder for seniors to sell if they want to downsize, and by placing a higher tax burden on our seniors that want to stay in their homes.

Third, we need to have an overdue conversation about voter apathy and weak civic engagement despite wonderful support for our community’s not for profit and business organizations.

4. What are your plans for addressing these issues?

Stephanie Hausner

We have done a good job keep taxes stable over the past four years and consolidating departments for budget savings. The next thing we need to work on is bonded indebtedness and start paying for our bonds at a faster rate. Paying off our debts in timely fashion will significantly reduce future borrowing costs, maintaining the Town’s AAA credit rating.

In terms of housing issues, through the work of the Housing Committee we have been able to provide more zoning options for senior housing. This winter, we will begin to act on recommendations of our state corridor studies on Route 304, 9W, 303 and 59. This should provide additional opportunities to benefit businesses, and young people looking to stay and move into our community.

George Hoehmann

Taxes & Spending-I plan on seeking additional efficiencies to find innovative ways to reduce spending and provide more efficient services. These range from future consolidations, inter-municipal agreements and further reductions in staffing through attrition. One such example of what I have done is the consolidation of the Receiver of Taxes with the Town Clerk that I proposed along with my colleague Councilman Borelli in 2011 that will save us over $400,000 annually starting in January.

Another is the proposed Solar Field at our former landfill that is a unique public private partnership (the first of its kind in NYS) that will save us $6,000,000 over the next twenty years. I plan on seeking added savings by extending this to other town owned facilities and to look at other operational costs to reduce expenses. Moreover, I firmly believe that we need to have a serious discussion and look at how, where and why we provide the services we offer to find added efficiencies and savings.

One such opportunity is my proposal to explore inter-municipal agreements for snowplowing and other services. It is only by a serious discussion on what the Town should do followed by a plan of action can we find ways to reduce spending and lower the tax burden on homeowners. This is essential we must cut spending.

Economic Development-we need a fuller partnership with the business community and other levels of government so that we can explore incentive programs and targeted zone changes to spur redevelopment to help attract new businesses. I believe we need to look also at programs to make it more affordable for businesses currently in the Town to remain here in the Town. In short we need to build on what we have but look to increase our commercial base to remain a viable community. Looking at creative rezoning of underutilized parcels to bring in new businesses will strengthen our commercial tax base and ease the tax burden for all.

Housing and Quality of Life-we need to find opportunities such as the one discussed for the Beckerle property in Congers that will create new senior and/or volunteer housing options. Our population demands it we need to look at how we can create more opportunities for our aging population. Finally we need to enforce zoning code violations and address quality of life issues so that all residents have the ability to not be negatively impacted by those who would flaunt our zoning laws.   

John Noto

Taxes:  There has to be a multifaceted approach to reducing the Town’s expenses. This can be accomplished by active contract management, consolidation of departments that provide redundant services, further shrinking of the workforce through attrition and eliminating those redundant positions.  Finding creative ideas such as the proposed solar field at the former land fill which will save over $6 million. These are the approaches needed to address the oppressive tax burden being placed on property owners. 

Debt: Freezing all spending increases and requiring a zero base budget process is required.  Force department heads to find ways to ‘stretch a buck’ and use their resources efficiently.  Clarkstown has $100+ million of bonded debt which will increase. Hoping that future economic conditions will improve is not a sound financial plan. Managing the current financial environment and living within our means is.

Economic Development: While reducing expenses is critical, expanding the tax base is also critical. As we strive to maintain a minimal budget we need to work toward bringing more sources of revenue to Clarkstown. Smart clean expansion of our commercial assessment base will spread the tax burden and ease the amount of taxes placed on the residential base. This is not an overnight fix and will take time but the opportunity is great in Clarkstown.          

Robert Pitkofsky

Taxes/fiscal management: (1) Work with new county executive to balance the amount of sales tax revenue that is shared with the Town of Clarkstown (Currently only 6% of county sales tax revenue is shared with the Towns, meaning that the municipalities are forced to shoulder the burden of increased demands on services without the benefit of revenue); (2) Conduct oversight into municipal purchasing rules and make suggestions that make these processes more transparent and request new bids and proposals for services to ensure that the Town is getting the best possible pricing available; (3) Review risk management procedures in Town government to determine ways to reduce exposure and insurance premiums; (4) Engage business owners/corporations to encourage their involvement and participation as a good neighbor in the revitalization of our hamlet centers to fund marketing/rebranding efforts; (5) Work with elected officials and public sector leaders to forge partnerships to address our community’s financial burden; (6) Examine Town’s existing revenue and expenses to identify efficiencies and opportunities for cost savings.

Affordability: (1) Develop a task force of citizens, business leaders, realtors, and not for profit leaders to examine young family/professionals attraction and retention; (2) Identify steps that Town government can lead or simply eliminate obstacles to young family/professional retention; (3) Examine housing options in Town and develop creative solutions to make housing more affordable and flexible to accommodate residents' needs; (4) Promote affordable senior housing options in town.

Increased Civic Engagement: (1) Communicate more effectively by utilizing Facebook, Twitter, e-mail blasts, and other modes to engage and encourage conversation about Town matters; (2) Attract not for profit organizations to collaboratively develop “Town Government 101” mini course to encourage people to learn about how municipal government works and empower citizens; (3) Develop more user-friendly Town government website to allow greater access to financials, policies, procedures, etc. to encourage more engaged citizens, including a mobile app with ability to upload inquiries directly to appropriate point people within government and live web streaming of public meetings; (4) Work with Town Clerk’s office to institute mobile Councilperson offices during different times (nights and weekends) to provide additional opportunities for face to face conversations about town matters.

5. How do you differentiate yourself from your opponents' platforms?

Stephanie Hausner 

More than any other candidate I believe I am focused on the long term future of our community. We need to make sure we provide opportunities for our seniors who have built this community. As many seniors would agree we need to do a much better job for our young people. I see many of the projects in our town working in harmony towards this goal. 

Our downtown revitalizations, the new Shops at Nanuet, the work I have done with our Chambers to promote our Main Streets, my work on the Housing Committee and with our corridor studies. I don’t just talk about ideas, I make sure they happen.

George Hoehmann

While I cannot speak for the others running, I can offer that I have a record of results that is innovative, fiscally responsible and demonstrates solid business and management experience. I supported the term limit proposition in 2011, proposed major new initiatives such as consolidations and solar at our landfill that will save us money and I have worked to improve the safety and quality of life of our residents.

I proposed and coordinate the “File of Life” and “Project Lifesaver” that helps improve emergency response and protects seniors and persons with disabilities; I recommended that we follow the New York City model for progressive discipline for illegal housing conversions and levy steep fines for zoning code violations a version of which was eventually adopted earlier this year; and I have proposed innovative ways to save money by co-sponsoring the Consolidation of the Receiver of Taxes with the Town Clerk’s Office as well as proposing the aforementioned Solar Field that is a model for the State. Since joining the Town Council four years ago we have eliminated over thirty positions, consolidated departments and still maintained services. 

I am proud of my efforts as the Chairman of the Special Board for the Comprehensive Plan implementation that oversees the recommendations to update, strengthen and improve our zoning laws to allow for improved economic development and find new options for senior and volunteer housing. Moreover, I am proud of my record as an award-winning executive within the not-for-profit industry that separates and distinguishes me as a person with proven experience and gives me a unique and valuable perspective on how to save money and provide efficient and exceptional services under a strict budget. Doing more with less is not just a saying it is something I have done throughout my career and a perspective that I have brought to Town Government.   

John Noto

I have a fiscally conservative philosophy which is very ‘common sense’ based.  I have significant real world business experience and financial analysis skills.   

Robert Pitkofsky

I respect each of my opponents’ unique perspective on our Town and feel that each of them brings different solutions to the problem. For my part, I feel that government works best when we are all engaged actively. As a business owner and attorney, I do not have the inclination to develop a “quick fix” or bumper sticker approach to score political points.

I believe that we have to look for long-term solutions, ones that might not take effect immediately, but ones that will have a positive impact beyond the election cycle. I feel that leaders should analyze the situation more broadly and develop strategies to prevent similar problems from occurring in the future.

I understand the cynicism and frustration that people have with government generally. Government is sometimes a messy business – lots of people and competing ideas involved. However, it must remain open, accessible, transparent, and encourage public confidence. Further, I hope that my campaign demonstrates that we must not shrink from difficult and unpleasant conversation, but instead embrace our public affairs and accomplish the public’s business in an ethical and upfront manner.

6. If elected, what would you like to achieve over the course of your term?

Stephanie Hausner

Keeping tax rates stable is always a top priority. To keep tax rates low, we need to encourage smart and sustainable economic development like the Congers Corporate Corridor I have spearheaded, viewed as a true hub of manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies for our region. As I mentioned before, I will work to have affordable senior housing built.

Although, immeasurable I want to create a greater sense of community and civility in our town. The town board - Democrats and Republicans work together every day for the benefit of our community - that spirit of collaboration fosters greater public/private partnerships, community partnerships, and respect for each other.

George Hoehmann

If re-elected I would pursue the following goals:

Spending/Zero Based Budgeting-While some may say it is not possible, I believe we need to pursue spending reductions by implementing a zero based budgeting stance. This means that we start at zero in every department and find ways to reduce costs and not raise taxes. The goal for us should be to make Clarkstown affordable so that we can maintain our seniors and attract new businesses. This will only happen if we cut and hold the line on spending.

Inter-municipal Agreements-we must explore and pursue inter-municipal agreements for things such as snowplowing, equipment sharing and repairs, purchasing and infrastructure improvements to name just a few. I believe by exploring how we can share equipment and services we will save money and provide services in a more cost effective manner.

One example is snowplowing and general road maintenance, I have proposed we seek agreements with the State and County DOT for these roadways located within our Town like done elsewhere in NYS. Currently, during a snowstorm Town Highway trucks travel over State and County roads to plow town roads—why not get paid to plow them via an inter-municipal agreement? This and a host of other opportunities for shared services will seriously reduce expenses and must be pursued at every level of government.

Housing-the over eighty population will increase by 105% over the next dozen years we simply do not have the right types of housing for our aging population. We need to find innovative ways to offer such housing for our seniors so they can remain in Clarkstown and also for our emergency service workers so that we do not end up having to go to a paid force, which will be cost prohibitive.

Economic Development-I believe we need to build on the Shops at Nanuet, and the other newer commercial additions and attract more business by creative programs that include limited zoning changes and possible incentives that will allow for some new development especially in our downtown areas and near transportation.

Innovation-Our new Solar Field is a model for the State and is being studied by the New York Power Authority so that it can be replicated. This type of innovation will lead to others such as other public private ventures for reconstruction and an extension of the solar to all town buildings where it will save money. I intend to pursue a “micro power grid” for our buildings to improve resilience and reduce the cost of electricity and to continue to explore any idea that can drive down the cost of local government.

Term Limits and Government Reform-I am in favor of term limits and will look for an opportunity to pursue this in the coming term for town, County and State offices.

Sales Tax Equity-currently 63% of all sales tax collected in Rockland County is raised by the businesses in Clarkstown but the county only shares 6%, which is evenly divided with the Towns and Villages. This is a fundamentally flawed approach because Clarkstown residents bear an undue burden for maintaining the roads, policing and courts that are required to sustain the large commercial base. I will work to pursue a fuller and fairer share of the sales tax to help pay for the services that we provide that enables the sales tax to be generated. Equity demands that this be addressed in a meaningful way and I am committed to doing this in the coming term.   

John Noto 

1) I would like to see the financial direction reverse and see a smaller, leaner, local government with our bonded debt decreasing and revenue sources expanding. 

2) I would also like to institute Term Limits for our elected officials. 

Robert Pitkofsky

Clarkstown has many assets – historical, cultural, educational, economic – that are not be adequately leveraged for our Town’s benefit. I feel that Councilwoman Hausner’s leadership in encouraging the development of the Heritage of West Nyack is a shining example of bringing together government and citizens to identify and value some of our rich heritage and history in an effective way. As a Clarkstown community, we must encourage more public-private-not for profit partnerships to similarly identify and market these assets to showcase them for our greater regional community.

I will work with the Supervisor and County Executive to create a Clarkstown tourism initiative which can bring together vendors, restaurants, hotels, and attractions in an effort to capture visitors who shop at our world class malls. Let’s engage our Main Street businesses’ ingenuity and entrepreneurship to our community’s advantage. When our businesses succeed, we all succeed by helping our neighbors and reducing tax burdens upon residents.

Further, I will work with the Rockland Economic Development Corporation, Rockland Business Association, business leaders, and our local chambers to identify opportunities to attract high quality employers, as well as start-up businesses, to develop a strong base of employment for our residents.

Over my term, I would be proud if citizens and businesses increased their collective engagement in our Town’s civic affairs. We can measure this in terms of number of people voting as well as those providing feedback to their government (advocacy, wishes for better “customer service”, programs, etc.).

I want to lead/facilitate an effort to address some of the large challenges that face our community, in an open manner with as many stakeholders from our community as possible. Some of the issues include youth retention, senior housing and ensuring that our senior citizens have the ability to remain in their homes and communities, and increasing economic development efforts to attract new businesses, start-ups, and retail which will lessen the tax burden on our residents.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to work with our stakeholders and public employees to work on finding efficiencies in our Town’s budget. As elected officials, we must work diligently to find new revenues and take a hard look at expenses to keep our Town’s tax rate as low as possible while providing strong value for our tax dollars.

7. Incumbents: Do you have other employment or own a business in addition to your elected post? Challengers: What is your current employment and will that change if elected?

Stephanie Hausner

I provide consulting services, run professional development workshops and educational programs for the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ as the Manager of the Synagogue Leadership Initiative. 

George Hoehmann

In addition to being a Councilman I am also the Executive Director of the Rockland Independent Living Center where I work with and for people with disabilities. In this capacity I am responsible for an annual operating budget in excess of $8,200,000. Prior to that I was the Chief Operating Officer at Camp Venture and was well acquainted with the management and operation of a large agency with a $35,000,000 annual operating budget and a staff of over 500.

John Noto

I am currently employed in the Property/Asset Management field.  There will be no changes in my current employment if elected. 

Robert Pitkofsky

I am the proud owner of Pitkofsky PLLC, a legal practice in Clarkstown which provides legal services to businesses and individuals in a wide range of practice areas. As a small business owner, I have flexibility in my schedule and do not anticipate any issues in balancing my legal practice and public responsibilities. Time management remains a cornerstone of my practice and I anticipate spending as much time as I can on listening to constituents and working on their behalf.

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Clarkstown Town Supervisor: Election 2013