Williams Points to Work as Town Planner in Supervisor’s Run
In a unique position, Rich Williams has never run for public office before, but has more than two decades of town governmental experience to point to for a record.
The longtime Patterson resident—he is 10th generation in town—served on the town planning board for almost a decade, and then was named town planner in 1999. A Brewster High School graduate, Williams has seen a lot of changes in town throughout his life and wants to continue to shape Patterson if elected Supervisor.
“The one issue that I’ve heard this year, repeatedly, that we’re all aware of is the taxes,” Williams said. “It’s just the way we’ve done business for years that we know we need to change and I hope I’m given the opportunity moving forward to make some on those changes.”
While commercial growth is important to balance out property taxes, the town should still maintain a rural feel, Williams said. In order to do so, businesses should be placed in appropriate and strategic locations so it doesn’t visually impact residential neighborhoods, which could result in rezoning within those guidelines. Finding businesses that won’t pollute with lights, noise, or even harmful chemicals, he added, is important.
Williams would like to craft an economic development strategy, something the town currently doesn’t have. Marketing to businesses that focus on tourism and recreation would be wise, he said, adding those businesses could branch off of Thunder Ridge Ski Resort.
Outside of business growth, Williams would like to make town hall more open and accessible for residents.
Additionally, emergency planning is also critical, Williams noted, and the town should start doing training and drills, as well as securing the resources needed in case of a disaster.
In Putnam Lake, Williams has heard from residents that have trouble disposing yard waste so he wants to possibly find a place in town for that waste to be dropped off. As for the some 350 families that aren’t part of the Park District on the western side of town or the Putnam Lake, he wants to get them ushered into one of the district so they can have more recreational opportunities.
“It’s an issue that’s been around for 25 years that I’ve seen here that nobody has tried to address,” Williams said.
Some of the achievements Williams can point to as town planner is spearheading the comprehensive plan that hadn’t been updated since 1976. He’s also developed numerous other plans and codes like storm water, emergency, and zoning. Additionally, he’s applied for and landed more than $10 million in grants and other funding sources.
The courthouse, a contentious project, Williams argued was good for the town in the long run, making revenue. With Williams’ watchful eye, the project actually cost less than 200,000 from the original bid. And when moving town hall across from Front Street, Williams said the town needed an “anchor” for that part of town, something his Republican primary opponent was against.
When evaluating how the town board has performed, Williams said he believes it’s a great group of residents that aren’t “beholden to any special interest.” Working with the town board consistently, Williams said he could reach consensus with other board members.
“I want to see it continue on a good path where we can somehow reduce our tax burden, maintain our rural character and still have shopping opportunities,” he said. “I believe I have the experience and the ability to do that.”
