MATTHEW WEBSTER FOR GLENS FALLS
Ward 3 Common Council Representative
Advocating
Common Sense
for Local Government
As a fourth generation, lifelong resident of Glens Falls, Matthew appreciates and understands the quality of life that has made Hometown USA such a desirable place to raise a family. Whether it was while he was attending college in Buffalo or just traveling far and wide, Matthew has never found another place as special as Glens Falls.
It’s his desire to keep Glens Falls moving forward while maintaing its unique charm that has always motivated him to give back to the community, and this time he is asking for your vote to grant him the privilege of representing the the people of Ward 3 on the Common Council.
Why I’m Running
As a lifelong resident of Glens Falls, I now feel compelled to step off the sidelines and ask for the privilege of giving back to the city that raised me. Through my position as a partner in a local business, the experience of rebuilding an abandoned house in the city, and talking to my friends and neighbors, one thing is clear: Glens Falls needs common sense governance to move forward. I’m in the process of starting a family right here in Glens Falls and I want to keep this a desirable place for others to do the same.
If elected, I will stay laser-focused on providing the core services that make this Hometown USA while simultaneously ensuring none of your money is wasted. We need sober minded, fiscally conservative leadership to address aging infrastructure and return to a city government that serves you, the People, and that’s what I have to offer.
City Government: The Basics
While the Common Council has sometimes veered off course in the past, Glens Falls shines brightest when the city government sticks to providing the core services that comprise the backbone of its excellence. In the coming years, this means the following must be addressed in the most fiscally responsible ways:
Building and Codes, Planning and Zoning
In the business of land surveying, I often find myself consulting with and representing local residents and those seeking to make use of their land in various ways. We work in municipalities all over New York and Vermont, working on projects ranging from massive conservation efforts to industrial development. This has allowed me to see what works and what does not, and right now it feels like a lot does not work in Glens Falls. Zoning regulations have become onerous and unevenly enfoced, building permits take months to obtain, and some residents of the city feel as though they are being ruled by a heavy handed homeowners’ association.
I’ll bring my experience and knowledge to the table so Glens Falls can adopt all the best practices from the region. Departments like Building and Codes or Planning and Zoning work best when they accomplish their core mission of serving the people rather than working against them. We need to streamline our processes for obtaining permits while reviewing our regulations to eliminate unnecessary paperwork.
Glens Falls must send a message that we are open for business, while carefully protecting the character that defines its historic and beautiful buildings.
Water and Sewer
It’s no secret that Glens Falls’ water and sewer lines are as old as the city itself. While some upgrades have been made in recent years, and the DPW has done a heoric job of maintaining what we have, many residents (myself included) suffer from severe staining as a result of sediment and deterioration in brick or clay pipes that still feed our houses. I even have to used filtered water for my dog (pictured) or else his bowl turns orange. Our city leaders must develop a comprehensive plan for the repair and replacement of water lines before it becomes an even more enormous burden to us as taxpayers.
On the wastewater side of things, Glens Falls is the regional hub that hosts, pays for, and maintains a large water treatment plant. As neighboring municipalities expand their sewer districts, we allow them to connect at pre-negotiated rates to offset the cost of processing their waste. At times this has been beneficial because Glens Falls has always had the capacity, but now that the plant is in dire need of upgrades we must be realistic and responsible in our negotiations. A switchgear failure at the plant just last year cost the city money that we did not have to spend, reminding us all that we need to take steps to avoid such things in the future by planning and replacing before emergencies inflate costs.
Roads, Sidewalks, and Infrastructure
Projects like Webster Avenue are an excellent example of an area where city government can, and must, do better. Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were wasted on studies before a plan was even presented, and that plan was overwhelmingly rejected by the residents most affected. A boondoggle of a project then stretched out for months on end, only to end with everyone being less than satisfied with questionable quality.
Pictured are fire hydrants as they remained upon completion of the project. While those overseeing the project were concerned with making parking unreasonably difficult for residents of Webster Ave, it is apparent that little oversight was given to even ensuring the quality controls necessary to implement the approved plan. These hydrants were left dangerously low and would, at a minimum, delay the fire department in making a connection in the event of an emergency.
Glens Falls needs leadership that approaches major projects with feedback from the residents most affected, adopts a plan that provides the maximum benefit for the People of the city, and sees everything through to the end to ensure quality installations that will not prematurely burden taxpayers to repair subpar work long after the contractor is gone.
Parks and Recreation
Our parks are an integral part of what city government offers to keep quality of life high in Glens Falls and our recreation department is key to attracting families with young children. I myself learned to swim from lessons at Haviland’s Cove and learned to play soccer through the Rec League. Programs like these must be responsibly supported in every way, along with organizations like the Crandall Park Beautification Committee. The volunteers who offer their time and expertise must know that city government has their back and appreciates their efforts.