Sweeton: Still work to finish

Warwick — Two weeks after his third election victory for town supervisor, Michael Sweeton is forging ahead with the town’s business. Sitting in his office Monday morning, Sweeton is lamenting the snowfall — for no reason except he was planning on filming scenes for the Warwick Development Coalition videos, something that may have to be put off until better weather. He is also arranging for the senior center movie to be shown, gets a visit from the police chief, and talks about his job, what he’s done in the past six years, and what he is looking forward to in the future. Encouraging more businesses to move to town is one aspect of his job as supervisor. Sweeton sees the economic development as a priority. “We continue to push with the Warwick Development Coalition,” said Sweeton. “We are refining the contact list and getting the word out there that Warwick is a great place to do business.” The coalition is producing five videos that highlight Warwick’s quality of life, farming, its villages, and school system. “The message is Warwick is a great place — bring your business here,” he said. With snow coming down, it looks like the filming will have to wait at least one day. The art of compromise Sweeton is owner with his wife, Deborah, of TechniGrowers Greenhouses in Warwick, for the past 27 years. He was first elected supervisor in November 2001. Two years later, he faced the same opposition in 2003 that he did in 2001, Leslie Farney, a Green Party candidate. Sweeton’s victories were landslides both times. This year, Democrat Penny Steyer, a local businesswoman and member of the Architectural Review Board, challenged for the $51,250 office. Although he easily won, Sweeton said he took this challenge seriously. “This was a much more structured campaign,” he said. “My opponent was a very smart lady with a marketing background. She is very driven. I’ve worked with her on Community Preservation. “But I was proud of people. They voted across party lines, which was important.” Sweeton said he did not think party was important in the election or on this level of government. “One thing we’ve been proud of is we have been non-partisan. On some committees, there are more Democrats than Republicans. We look for the best person.” “I don’t like the negative politics that seem to pervade national politics. It’s not productive,” he added. “Americans are middle of the road people. (National politicians) don’t seem to accomplish what we need to accomplish. We’ve lost the art of compromise.” That’s not the case locally, he said. “We look at solving real problems for real people,” Sweeton said. “We have better roads, more police, more recreation, and we’re trying to keep the costs down. People see what they get on the town and village level.” Sweeton said the average town tax bill is between $800 and $1,000. Of that, $300 goes to the Department of Public Works. About half of that, or $150, is for snow removal. “Every time someone comes and plows my driveway at home, it’s $100,” he said. “People appreciate that when we break down the costs.” Tax bills, tax revenues and education The bulk of people’s taxes, though, come from the schools. “Using property taxes to fund schools is antiquated,” said Sweeton. “But there is not a simple fix. We’ve been delivering that message to Annie Rabbitt and Senator Morahan since it is all done through the state.” Sweeton said there is talk of funding education through income tax or sales tax, something that would take the burden off homeowners on fixed incomes. “Let’s define what the state will define as a minimal education. Maybe focus on core subjects then do others on a fee basis. I know the downside of that — it will be unaffordable for some but they can have scholarships. “My kids went to school here. I did, too,” he added. “But school taxes do force people on fixed incomes to leave their houses.” He gives tremendous credit to Dr. Frank Greenhall, superintendent of Warwick schools, for looking for ways to reduce the burden such as talking about taking in Greenwood Lake high school students on a tuition basis. “If we can accommodate Greenwood Lake students, I think it is a good thing,” Sweeton said. “Demographics show we will have 700 less students over the next 10 to 12 years. We are not generating enough new homes to maintain the student population. The homes being built are not starter homes. They are not coming in with kindergarten kids.” Running out of PDR funds Sweeton is looking at implementing the Community Preservation Act by seating a board in early 2008 to evaluate properties for Purchase of Development Rights. The town is at the end of its $9.5 million fund, which was approved by voters in 2000 to buy the development rights of farms to maintain open space. Last year, voters approved a fee attached to real estate transactions to create a Community Preservation Fund, allowing the town to continue its land preservation. There are five more farms in the pipeline looking to be part of the PDR program, Sweeton said, and the town is running out of funds. The Community Preservation Fund is helping to continue the PDR program, Sweeton said, especially because the state and federal governments will give matching funds. “It’s been a pretty remarkable effort,” Sweeton said. “As contentious as it was when the town passed it, I don’t think anyone would see it now as a bad thing at all. If we retire 6,000 acres, that’s a lot of acres. We want to keep those farms productive, working farms, which most are. There is no question in my mind we are helping to bring down the cost of school taxes because of our efforts.” Now, Sweeton is looking forward to four more years of being the CEO of the Town of Warwick. In the past, Warwick has been a springboard for several local politicians to the county seat in Goshen or the state Legislature in Albany. “That wasn’t why I got into this,” he said. “I look at this as a form of community service, not politics. I just like doing the job, meeting people in town, and going to events. I like working with different people.” So, Sweeton will get back to the work of generating more business in the town, consolidating services, and keeping taxes manageable. “I don’t really look beyond these next four years,” he said. “Ten years may be enough. But never say never.”