To the Editor:

With election season upon us, I feel the need to express my concerns about the financial health of the Village of Potsdam, which is why I support Eleanor Hopke for village trustee.

The village has struggled for decades to balance its municipal responsibilities against minimal revenues. With over 70 percent of its properties tax-exempt, cost overruns on the construction of the west hydro plant, and aging infrastructure problems, the village is now designated by the NYS Comptroller’s Office as susceptible to fiscal stress.

Lately, the high profile issue has been problems with the hydroelectric plants. On this issue alone, the village could face $1.2 million in repairs to the older plant with no return for up to 15 years or more. However, the wastewater plant is also in need of significant upgrades with renovations expected to cost $10.7 million.

With these potential outlays and lack of meaningful fund balances, the village is not well positioned for unforeseen calamities should any of our aging infrastructure fail or need significant work.

Recently, concerns were raised regarding the floodwall on Fall Island near Evans & White’s. There were major water line breaks last winter highlighting infrastructure defects; and this past summer, the Village moved forward with a costly plan for the crosstown canal – a feature of the Village’s storm water management that failed in 2010 flooding dozens of homes in the Clinton, Waverly, and Broad Street area.

As a first-term trustee, Eleanor Hopke has learned first-hand about these challenges, which have been years in the making. She recognized the need to save money, from consolidating the town/village courts, to eliminating village-paid health care for incoming trustees, to supporting changes in the way the recreation program is funded.

Although other candidates may talk about creating jobs or returning the village to where it was, these comments reflect a misunderstanding of the role of village trustee. Creating jobs is a laudable goal, and there is a Community and Economic Development Director overseen by the village board. But the most significant (and challenging) job of the board is to provide municipal services as cost effectively as possible. In that area alone, our village government has their hands full.

Eleanor Hopke will bring experience and knowledge to all these issues and deserves a second term. I encourage everyone to vote for her on the Sense in Government/Independent line on Nov. 3.

Tom French

Potsdam