Village board elections will be held Tuesday, June 21. In Liverpool, voters will choose from three candidates for two open seats on the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected to two-year terms. Jim Rosier, a Republican, is an incumbent, while Matt Devendorf, also a Republican, and Brad Young are newcomers. Young is running on the Residents’ Party line. Incumbent Nick Kochan is not running again.
In addition, residents will vote on a referendum on the village court. The referendum language is as follows: “Shall the office of Village of Liverpool Court Justice be abolished and the Village of Liverpool Justice Court be dissolved, yes or no?”
Residents can vote at Village Hall, 310 Sycamore St., Liverpool. Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m.
—
Matthew Devendorf
Biographical information:
My name is Matthew Devendorf and I live with my wife, Sarah, in the Bassett House at 215 Sycamore St. with our two daughters Eloise and Claire. I have an interest in historic preservation and have served the village of Liverpool for the past four years as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. I have been a village resident for five years and a resident of Liverpool my entire life. After graduating Liverpool High School in 2001, I went on to the University at Buffalo where I received a M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am currently employed as the manager of business development for Tactair Fluid Controls, an aerospace company located in Liverpool. My wife, Sarah, is a family nurse practitioner and is employed by Update Medical University.
Why are you running for office?
As owners of an old house, we believe that we have a responsibility to honor the past and ensure its survival for the next generation. The village of Liverpool warrants the same level of responsibility from its residents. There is enormous pressure to consolidate services within municipalities, which we need to fiercely resist. I want to ensure the survival of this village so that my children can be members of a community and to understand that local government can work. Our leadership has been strong. We need to ensure it remains strong by calling on the next generation of residents to become involved. I’ve decided to step forward because I believe the best place to lead is from the front.
Why are you the best candidate?
My family and I have a vested interest in the future and health of the village of Liverpool. We intend to raise our family here and contribute our share to make it a wonderful community to live in. I believe that I represent a viewpoint that is important for the future of the village, that of the young and growing family. I believe this perspective, in addition to my experience in contract negotiation, proposal management and marketing from my professional career, makes me a good asset to village leadership.
What are the major issues facing the village, and what will you do to address them?
I believe that the village faces three major issues:
1. Pressure from the state government to consolidate services and reduce the number of local municipalities.
The pressure to consolidate services will be a continuing challenge for the village of Liverpool. The best solution is to remain fiscally conservative and strive to provide services at a cost benefit to the residents of the village. If changes need to be made to secure the viability of the village for the future, clear communication with the residents is essential to ensure that we act as a community.
2. Healthy balance of rental property
Studies have shown that even the most conscientious landlords and tenants invest less in their homes than homeowners. The western approach into the village on Second Street is riddled with once-beautiful large homes that have not seen investment in decades. We need to make sure that we continue to be diligent on enforcing village code to keep rental property up in appearance and encouraging families and retirees to look at the village as a place to live and invest.
3. Redevelopment of core business district and through traffic
The center of the village has experienced several vacancies in the past few years. We need to make sure that we encourage redevelopment of this area, but not at any cost. Careful consideration must be taken to make sure that we maintain the visions in the Comprehensive Plan. I’d like to work with the county to investigate concepts for traffic mitigation through the village and encourage development of the core business district to improve the ambience of the Second Street and Route 57 areas.
—
Jim Rosier
Biographical information:
Twenty-five years ago, I bought my home at 707 Tulip St. In 2002, after my youngest graduated from high school, I ran for the village board and have been serving ever since. I bring to the position a great deal of experience, dedication and commitment.
When my children were young, I volunteered my time as a coach for the Liverpool Optimist Club, Pop Warner Football and St. Joseph the Worker Church. I am married to Pat DeBona Rosier, current board of education president and retired Liverpool teacher. We have four children (Elyse, Jeff, Cory and Johnanna) and three grandchildren (Ray, Lauren, and Charlotte).
My degree is in business administration, which has been very helpful for my work on the board. I am the executive director of Physical Therapy Plus and worked as village clerk treasurer for five years in Western New York. I am also an active member of several local networking groups and was president of the Syracuse Executives Association, where I served on its board of directors for eight years.
Why are you running for office?
I believe in giving back. The village has provided tremendous opportunities for my family and now I want to pay it forward. From my years of experience as a village trustee, I know the importance of: 1.) maintaining fiscal responsibility to taxpayers, 2.) promoting growth and development in the village without compromising its character, 3.) maintaining a strong sense of village community despite changing demographics, 4.) providing a variety of services that meet the needs of people of all ages and 5.) making the village more pedestrian-friendly. These are my priorities as village trustee.
Why are you the best candidate?
I am a results-oriented business professional with more than 30 years’ experience in operations management, project planning, contract negotiations, employee relations, budgets, business strategies and organizational development and leadership.
I have 14 years of experience as a village trustee and do not shy away from making difficult decisions that will benefit the residents of this village. My decisions are based on reason, logic, research and information, rather than emotion. I listen more than I talk, do not make rash decisions, nor allow myself to be caught up in “politics.” During my time on the board there has been no increase in taxes (with one exception in 2007), and I have been instrumental in restructuring the county’s financial contribution when sales tax revenues were reduced, supporting the Johnson Tract during the controversy surrounding Walmart and the Flying J, maintaining round-the-clock police department services in spite of tough financial times, improving village infrastructure (sewer, roads, drainage, curbs) and encouraging the development of the JGB Town Center units.
What are the major issues facing the village and what will you do to address them?
Our biggest challenge is to have sufficient revenues to meet the cost of doing business, especially with so many unfunded mandates imposed upon us by New York state. And, because our village has limited space in which to expand, the importance and implementation of well-considered, well-planned growth for the betterment of the community is essential. In addition, the village has an aging population on fixed incomes and young families on limited incomes. We must continue to be fiscally responsible and committed to maintaining minimal (if any) taxes increases, as we have done for the past six years. Finally, we need to be open to new opportunities, but proactive about keeping the character of the village intact, especially given the projected development of Onondaga Lake and the surrounding areas. It will be essential to work in tandem with the appropriate agencies to affect lake development that could adversely change the quality of life in the village.
I have considered it an honor to represent you on the village board. I hope you will allow me to continue to serve, and ask for your support at the polls on June 21.
—
Bradley Young
Biographical information:
Along with my wife of 23 years, and my Eagle Scout son, I have lived in the village for 19 years.
After having worked at the Onondaga County Bar Association as a paralegal, I am now retired at age 65.
I volunteer on a regular basis at the Family Law Clinic in the Onondaga County Courthouse.
Why are you running for office?
This is my first foray into politics, and I believe that the word “trust” has to be incorporated back into the title of trustee; that is, trust to act in the best interests of the village. I believe that this is not being done well.
In April, the village court was abolished as a cost-cutting measure; while laudable on its face, this is a department that costs less than 1 percent of the 2016-17 budget. Twenty-six percent of the voters signed a petition to get this on the ballot for June 21 so that we could make that decision.
In March, the board changed the code so that Dunkin’ Donuts could operate a drive-thru on Second Street, despite multiple protests, despite the county’s warnings, and at variance with our own “Comprehensive 2025” plan.
The budget itself has highly unusual and questionable variances, and requires a thorough scrutiny.
These are not being handled “in the best interest of the village;” why else the petition?
Why are you the best candidate?
I have had a varied career, including commercial sales and professional-level customer service; they both require listening and solutions that are not necessarily typical. The legal field in family law is not much different, and will serve us well with me as a trustee.
I have always been dedicated to serving others, whether it be a customer, the law client, or in this case, my fellow villagers.
What are the major issues facing the village and what will you do to address them?
Clearly, our number one issue is the overwhelming thru-traffic. The proposed Meyer Manor 135-unit apartment complex on Tulip Street can only make matters worse. In the past, I worked with County Legislator Judy Tassone and the DOT to modify the Heid’s Corners intersection to reduce the number of collisions there. Increased coordination with the state DOT and the county is required, and I want to spearhead that, along with the planning board.
That same thru-traffic contributes to the erosion of the feeling of Liverpool being a village. I want to explore what other villages have tried in order to retain their village atmosphere under similar circumstances. We have substantial “unallocated funds” that can be used for this purpose.
The board of trustees must be proactive in keeping voters aware of substantial changes. Facebook, villageofliverpool.org and the e-newsletter are excellent tools for the internet-savvy, but we should consider mailing a poll on major issues, which would be at a nominal cost.
