Sally Tallman was sworn in as village of Marcellus trustee on April 2 following her win over Bill Burnette in the March 20 election. She filled the spot left open by Mary Jo Paul, who chose not to run for re-election in order to focus on her run for the town board.
Before retiring last July, Tallman worked 20 years with Conifer Development and, most recently, 10 years for Two Plus Four Management, both times as an office and building manager.
Tallman was born and raised in Marcellus, and lives with her husband, Clint, on Reed Street, where the couple raised their two kids, Jeanine and Thad.
How does it feel to be elected to the Marcellus Village Board?
I was very excited to win the election which allows me to be involved in the day to day operations of the village.
What led you to run for village trustee?
After I retired I felt I had more time to become involved in village government. I had been on the zoning board of appeals for l5 years and believed it was a good stepping stone. My uncle, Martin Sennett, was mayor of Marcellus and my cousin, Mary Sennett, is a trustee in Skaneateles, so possibly it runs in my blood!
Now that you’re on the board, what is your next step?
I obviously plan to do the best job I can as trustee. I will fully support the efforts of the current administration by providing my input and ideas when and where they are needed.
You’ve lived here all your life, correct? What about Marcellus led you to stay here all this time?
My husband and I are both natives of Marcellus and have lived in the village for over 60 years. We lived elsewhere for about five years, when we were first married, and decided the best place to bring up our children, Jeanine and Thad, was Marcellus where we grew up. We moved back to the village at the first opportunity and have always been thankful we did. Even though we both had long commutes to work every day we were always glad to come home to Marcellus.
Are there aspects of the village you think could be improved?
Change in order to make improvements, as always, is inevitable and I would weigh each proposed change as to the affect it will have on our village, as well as the affect it will have on our taxes. Remember, I am a tax paying resident along with the other residents of the village. Just trying to maintain existing infrastructure is a challenge to our tax base, as is our sewer system which is very expensive and at capacity at present. The village continues to improve its infrastructure, but is limited in what it can do. Much of what is done is not even visible as it is underground and that is very expensive. We continue to try and beautify the village with banners, flags and historic lighting. I see no extensive improvements to be made in the village, with the exception of the unoccupied buildings in the business district. Sadly, the village board has no jurisdiction over these buildings unless they become a code enforcement issue. Possibly an active chamber of commerce might work in tandem with the village to attract businesses and give some life to our unoccupied buildings.
You’ve held positions in village government previously. Can you elaborate on those and say how your experience will factor into your new role as village trustee?
I was a member of the zoning board of appeals for 15 years, spending 11 years as chair. During that time I gained an understanding of the problems that people encountered as residents and assisted them with workable solutions for many of them. I also was on the committee to update the Marcellus Code book which provided me with a wider knowledge of the workings of the village.
What do you expect to be the biggest challenge ahead for the village of Marcellus?
Without question the unfunded mandates, levied on the village by the state and/or county, are the biggest hurdles that we face. We will endeavor to handle these mandates to the best of our ability without endangering the fiscal welfare of the village.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I look forward to being totally involved in the operation of our village, along with Mayor Curtin and Trustee Cox, for the village’s betterment.
Ned Campbell is editor of the Eagle Observer. Reach him at [email protected].
