Tax
Burden
While everyone is willing to pay their fair share for essential
City services, the strain being placed upon many property owners
is reaching the breaking point, and in some cases has become simply
unbearable. It will take bold, decisive leadership to 1) control
spending and 2) increase the tax base in order to better spread
out the costs of providing City services.
We need to be innovative in looking for alternative ways to create
revenue by using the assets currently at the City’s disposal,
such as tapping the resources available within the Fire Department
to positively generate income. Also, expenditures must be continuously
reviewed to guarantee that the taxpayers’ money is wisely
and efficiently spent, to include a review of staffing levels within
select City Hall departments.
The Mayor must take the leading role in Rutland’s economic
development and revitalization efforts. We must not only appeal
to businesses to locate in Rutland, but we must more importantly
nurture the industry and commercial enterprises that are already
here. I will work closely with the Rutland Redevelopment Authority
(RRA) and the Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) to
ensure that the City enjoys optimal business development and reaps
the benefits in the form of an overall lower tax burden.
Downtown
Revitalization
The downtown is truly the core of Rutland City and immediate steps
must be taken to make it a vibrant and inviting place for visitors,
customers and workers alike. My ideas include: creating upper-story,
middle/upper income housing; establishing a wireless internet “hotspot”
serving the entire downtown; entering into public/private partnerships
to develop both the infamous parking “pit” and the north
end of the plaza; and providing tax stabilization or grants/loans
to businesses that will work to brings jobs and industry to the
City, as well as supporting the initiatives developed through the
work of the Creative Economy’s Downtown Committee. Zamias
impact fees paid to the City and designated for economic development
are both an available and appropriate source of funds that Rutland
City can leverage to ensure some of these ideas become reality.
City
Financial Management
As Mayor, the responsibility of all administration regarding Rutland
City governance will lie with me. As in the business world, the
City’s chief executive must be wholly involved and thoroughly
informed, be willing to accept the duties and responsibilities of
the executive, and regard the oversight associated with the position
as paramount. The best approach to dealing with problems is by making
good decisions and not getting into trouble in the first place.
Rutland needs someone without a learning curve and someone who can
walk into the Mayor’s office and not suffer the trials of
on-the-job-training. The City simply cannot afford to slip further
into crisis as its chief executive officer plays catch-up.
Regional
Recreation Center
The future of the 15 to 20 million dollar Rutland Regional Recreation
Center is currently in the hands of the voters. The taxpayers of
the member-towns will have the opportunity to go to bond for the
Center, located in Rutland Town, within the next several years.
Though the voters have the final say in the project’s approval,
with the City’s high tax burden and current business climate,
I have doubts that now is the right time for this endeavor. I would
recommend that, until the bond question appears on the ballot, Rutland
voters be given the authority to approve or disapprove the $27,000
City portion of the annual planning funds required to go forward,
thus ensuring ongoing citizen support.
BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
Rail Yard
Relocation
The relocation of the rail yard from the center of the City to south
of town should remain a long-term priority. Rutland City, being
landlocked, has very limited real estate on which any industrial/commercial
development can take place. Moving the rail yard south of town would
not only free up developable space in the City, but also increase
the capacity of rail traffic that flows through Vermont, thus helping
resolve the area’s transportation dilemma. Rail yard relocation
would also increase the quality of life for those who live and work
in the immediate area by alleviating the negative impacts of noise,
vibration and street blockages.
Creative
Economy
The City of Rutland must embrace the work of the Creative Economy
project and its four committees: Downtown (open air) Marketplace;
Rutland as an Arts Education Center; Rutland as a Recreation Center;
and “Sustainable Rutland.” This grass roots initiative
will help to create entrepreneurial jobs, expand existing businesses
and attract and keep the young workforce needed to grow the area.
The creative economy is designed to complement, not replace, traditional
types of economic development initiatives such as business recruitment
and marketing and is an important part in the overall revitalization
efforts that the City needs to spearhead.
BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
Gateway
Development/Recovery
The work of the Routes 4 & 7 Committee must continue with the
goal of upgrading and beautifying the major thoroughfares into the
City. But the City should also look to developing the gateways leading
into downtown as well, specifically Strongs Avenue and West Street.
State law has provided for a mechanism to affect this needed development
through the Growth Center legislation passed last year. Rutland
may also want to consider a special tax district, similar to the
one currently in place for our designated downtown center, but aimed
at the downtown gateways with the goal of beginning revitalization
efforts along those highly visible, but neglected, corridors.
Stock Car
Racing
I oppose stock car racing at the Vermont State Fairgrounds as it
is currently proposed. Racing would create a number of nuisances
that would cause harm to both the immediate neighborhood and the
community at large. Weekly Saturday night races over a six-month
period would disrupt the enjoyment of their homes for many who live
in the southern part of Rutland due to issues of noise, dust and
traffic while providing few appreciable benefits to the City. Only
after the Agricultural Society definitively proves that they can
effectively mitigate these problems (by hiring professional sound,
pollution and traffic engineers) to the satisfaction of the neighbors
and community should the City consider coming to the table to discuss
the matter again.
BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
Sprawl
Management
In addition to taking dramatic steps to promote commercial and industrial
development within the City limits , Rutland should also concentrate
on providing disincentives or assessing impact fees on the sprawl
retail/restaurant development that continues to take place in the
vicinity of Routes 7 south and 4 west near the Diamond Run Mall.
Rutland City provides the necessary infrastructure in the form of
water and sewer service to this overdeveloped area, yet the benefit
derived from this growth is far outweighed by the loss of customers
and potential tax base flowing into the City itself. Developers
should be strongly encouraged to build within the city limits, and
only when they’ve exhausted those avenues should we support
their efforts beyond our borders.
Your
City
For too long, entrenched City officials have felt that they were
unaccountable to the taxpayers; policy has been set and deals have
been made outside of public view and without the input of all City
officials. When I’m in the Mayor’s office, the days
of the disenfranchised citizen will stop. I will work openly with
all members of the Board of Aldermen in order to craft policy that
best represents the needs of your City. Transparency will be the
hallmark of my administration. You will find no “good old
boy” network, and Rutland’s citizens and taxpayers will
once again have a real voice in City Hall.
BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
