 Hello and welcome to Channel 17's town-meeting television and another in our 2019 candidate forums. On this show, Williston Select Board candidate Gordon Sainolair vying for a two-year term on the Williston Select Board. It's a pleasure having your company here this evening. If you have a question directly for Gordon, you're welcome to call us at 862-3966. Gordon, your opening statement as to why you're running for the Williston Select Board. Sure. First, Matt, thank you for having me this evening. I wanted to take Channel 17 for hosting this event. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the town of Williston. Again, my name is Gordon Sainolair and I'm running for the two-year seat for Select Board. I'm a lifelong resident of Williston. I'm a product of the Williston Central School system along with a graduate of Champlain Valley Union High School. I graduated from Technical College and Johnson State College. I'm currently a five-sixth classroom teacher at Camelshump Middle School in Richmond, Vermont, and I still manage our family beef farm up on Oak Hill Road in Williston. I've served the town of Williston in many different capacities over the years. I was happy to be selected as a page of the Vermont legislature. I've coached Little League Baseball. I've also coached Williston Central School basketball. Participated in the Fourth of July committee, ran a free throw contest for many, many years. I also ran the scores table at CBU High School for the Boys and Girls Basketball Program, and I'm currently an active member of the Board of Civil Authorities. I'm very excited and motivated to serve the town of Williston. I've heard that statement served a couple of different times this evening and I certainly am proud to do that. I think my history in Williston is to help any neighbor at any time. I'd like to preserve the way of life that I grew up in Williston and hopefully propel that into the future. I'm an active listener. I go by facts and I'm always interested in people's perspectives. And that's why I'm running this year. Very good. A reminder, if you have a question for Gordon, the number to dial is 862-3966. We'll get into our round robin question and answer period here. And Gordon, I want to kind of just start off with the fact that you're running unchallenged for this position. Do you think that speaks more to the fact that people are happy that you are the candidate or is that just the fact that nobody stepped up to run against you? Is there an apathy element here, do you think? I'm very hopeful that people are all happy that I'm running. Like I said, I've been a town resident all my life. My parents were active community members. And I'm just very happy that the town is having this opportunity for me to run. Being unopposed certainly does have me thinking about why someone else maybe wouldn't want the seat. But I offer another fresh perspective. I think the select board currently has done a very nice job. I'm hopeful to educate myself along with the other members to serve the town of Williston. What do you see as the top three issues that are most important to you that are really propelling your candidacy? So first I'm definitely going to start with public safety. I think the Fire and Rescue Police and the Works Department support our town at a very high level. I would work diligently so that these departments have what they need for resources to actually administer those services to those that need it. I realize that keeping that manageable on the town budgets is certainly a challenge. Anybody that has ever needed any of those types of services, especially emergency services, can attest to the importance and the high value of those. My second issue would be definitely property taxes. We still own a large piece of property in Williston and that's always my bottom line on what I'm going to be paying annually for taxes. And I think being the second lowest tax rate in Chittenden County certainly speaks to the current select board on the great job they've done by sharpening their pencil. I certainly would be an advocate to try to keep those at bay. I heard Ted and Terry and McHugh speak about that earlier and I certainly would be on their side to keep property taxes low. Finally, town growth. I think being responsible in planning not only where but when we do that growth is invaluable. I think it's a big piece of the puzzle for our town and the longevity of where we're going. I certainly want to take careful consideration to what the town's going to look like in 10 or 20 years. Gordon, continuing here on this public safety issue, do you actually support them, the bond issues, for the two new fire trucks for the village? I do. And speaking to the candidates that were here earlier, I think it's vital that the town has the equipment that they need. I heard earlier that it's actually a reduction. I'm educating myself as I go along in this campaign. That we do have what we need for equipment because there certainly could be emergency services that are needed at the ends of the town at the same time. And having those key pieces in place, not only personnel, about equipment is essential. And then to move on, the town budget, are you in support of the fiscal year 2020 budget as it's written now? I am. I think the increase is, I think a little over 3%. And I heard the word inflation. We all look at that as well. And that's a little over 2%. So I think there's a balance there where we need to be fiscally responsible. But we also have to make sure the town's getting the services that they need. And I think that the planning that's been in place has been on the right path thus far. And I'd like to be a part of that direction. You had mentioned growth as one of your key topics that has you running for Select Board. Are you satisfied with the economic development of the town of Williston, particularly in the age of Amazon with the big box stores? What do you see as the future? And what do you think the town should be sort of looking ahead to? Yeah, you know, I think that's one that's always on people's minds. We all shop online from time to time. But I think there's something to be said where people can actually physically go into a store tangibly, you know, physically touch something and shop and browse. You know, I heard a former candidate tonight say, you know, the experience of different things. It's not just about local shops, but you know, restaurants and other activities that the town can offer, I think is really important not only to our young people, but the residents that have lived there for, you know, a long period of time. Do I know what's going to happen? I don't. I don't have a crystal ball. But certainly I think, you know, if we have some open discussion about what's currently in place, what's going to be staying, hopefully, when things do leave, what do we do in that capacity to help support that change? Do you have any ideas in terms of, you know, what the city should be or the town should be offering? I mean, it's, for me, for an outsider perspective, it seems to be a shopping destination rather than a tourist destination. It doesn't seem that there's any mitigating tourist attraction to draw people other than retail. Yeah, I'm going to go back to the open space piece. And I think, you know, the acquisition of, you know, the Catamount Forest is a step in the right direction. You know, we, as I said, currently our family still owns quite a bit of acreage. And we're proud of having that open space. So I think having a plan in place where we can develop some things that are more outdoor activities for people in general, youth and old, that can enjoy that where it's not something where you always have to go to purchase something. And there's now always a fee attached to things. Obviously, that's kind of the world that we live in. But if there are some opportunities that would just get people maybe out into the fresh air, I love technology. But I would also like to advocate to step away once in a while and get out in the environment and enjoy it. Wonderful. As we talk about growth for the town of Williston, of course, infrastructure is a key part of this. Are you happy with what the select board in the town in general is doing to handle infrastructure maintenance costs as well as preparing for any future catastrophic event, like we've seen maybe in Montpiler and in the city of Burlington with water mains breaking, et cetera? Yeah, I think over the course of time, you know, I think the select board has done a good job at looking at that. You know, we have reserve funds in place. You know, I think Ted Anteri and McHugh had mentioned that there is money set aside for if there's a catastrophic event that does happen. You know, I think our local sales tax that we have is also another fund that can be, you know, I think physically responsibly shifted depending on where the need is. I think the town has some very nice foresight of what's going to be needed to be fixed and when. And I think, you know, whether it's paving of roads, whether it's new bike paths so that folks can get out and actually ride a bike and or walk without having to use their own transportation or public transportation, those are key things that I think that would be in place to help with that. The other piece is the development that does happen right now. And I think that, you know, the impact fees that are being having to be paid by new developments, particularly just for specifically infrastructure are key to our development. Very good. We're just a reminder, if you have a question for Gordon, you can dial in and ask that question directly at 862-3966. Gordon, we're going to move on here to a question regarding the opiate epidemic that's impacting so many communities across the country as well as across our great state. Are you comfortable with the effort that the village of the town is making? Do you think that the select board should play a stronger role in trying to combat this scourge and its impact on our communities? I think it's a very worrisome problem and I don't think we're doing enough about it. And I don't think that just adheres to the town of Willis and I think that's in general. You know, I certainly, I'm an educator at heart and I think getting ahead of things in interventions, education around that, but then also when things do happen, what are we going to do with it? I heard partnering with the Howard Center is, I think that's another step in the right direction. It's an epidemic for sure. I don't think people really realize that it's in our backyard and not somewhere in Burlington or another state. I think it has to be recognized and I think we have to get out in front of it. We have to face it head-on. I think a lot of folks have dealt with this at a personal level and that was echoed here earlier tonight by some stories that were shared and I do think it's a crisis and I certainly do think we could do more as a town but certainly just as individuals it's everyone's problem and I don't think we're doing enough. Our final question here before we get to your closing comment here and this is one that's very close to us here at Channel 17. It has to do with funding for public access channels. Later this year the FCC is considering doing away with the rule that requires cable subscribers to pay a franchise fee. That fee actually funds public access channels like Channel 17. Those public access channels employ over 100 people in our great state. Moving forward, do you have an idea or thoughts on the permanent funding for public access programming going forward? You know, I don't. I'm going to be honest. I'm pretty infantile in this campaign. That's something I need to learn a lot more about but I do think that this is a vital piece where we can get out as candidates and you know present our messages to the voters to the town of Williston specifically of what we would do or I would do if I was elected to the board. You know I think having a venue like this this evening to just to spot you know check on some key points that are current issues or upcoming issues is huge and to be able to come to Channel 17 this evening. However it is funded I hope that that is kind of evolves into a way to keep it going because I think it is very precious and getting a message out. Very good. Gordon, Santalera, a pleasure having you on the show this evening. Your 60 second closing comments for your two-year term candidacy for Williston Slackboard. So I just wanted to speak to the residents of Williston and thank you Channel 17 for having me this year this evening. As I said I'm new to this race. I want to serve my town and I heard that word serve earlier this evening and that is something that I think I've done throughout my life in Williston. I'm a lifelong resident. I'm a farmer at heart. I'm an educator as my primary position and I'm an educator at heart as well so that's twofold. I love to work with my hands. I love to work with my brain. That is something that I think really would bring a nice fresh perspective to the Slackboard. I would really like to have the opportunity to really shape the direction of our town not only for policy but for just longevity of our youth. I think they are the future of Williston and I think we lead by example and one of the things that we've done currently on the Slackboard I think is a good job with not only the economics but modeling what good representation, good listeners, not only to facts but other people's perspectives. I appreciate the time and I urge folks to come out and vote on March 5th and I hope I have earned at least you an opportunity to look at me this evening and your vote on that day. Thank you very much for having me. Gordon St. Alleyer thank you so much for joining us this evening. Best of luck in your candidacy. It takes a lot of courage to be willing to put your name on a ballot to face those constituents on election day. A reminder that early voting has begun. You can contact your local town clerk, pick up your ballot, request a ballot, complete it and mail it today. And then a reminder to join us for complete election night coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday March 5th right here on Channel 17. For all of us at town needing television, I'm Matt Kelly. Thank you for watching.