 Good evening and welcome. We are here continuing our coverage of town meeting 2019 and we have tonight for you Two candidates for the Winniskey City Council seat It's a two-year seat that has been vacated by Christine lot who is running for mayor of Winniskey So there is one year left and Michael Myers and Cory Mack are running for this seat And they are here this evening to answer questions and also to take your calls If you have any questions for them, we would love to hear them at eight six two three nine six six So welcome to both of you. Thank you very much. We're gonna start with Cory Cory Mack if you could give us your opening statement Why are you running for Winniskey City Council and what qualifies you for the position? Sure. Thank you Well, thank you for hosting the Forum tonight. I appreciate you know the opportunity to come together and talk with Mike about this So I have been a resident of Winniskey for ten years now And what originally drew me to Winniskey is you know, not only is it close to Burlington and a You know a walkable nice nice nice town It is also a place that I felt that I could get involved and you know basically since I got to Winniskey and became involved I Started going into different seats that I could try to try to you know participate in the community So you know originally that was working for the GMTA board back in 2009 and then Going towards the environmental board and I've been on the Public Works Commission now for a couple of years So I've had a lot of experience working towards You know becoming more involved in the government and when I saw that there was a bunch of open seats this year There was like a call from the council like let's let's get some people to step up And I really took that opportunity so I really do appreciate the The ability of Winniskey to to make your mark on the town to be involved to to really Participate so that's that's why I'm running and you know my my last couple of years on the Public Works Commission has been a really a good experience working with the existing the council as Into the policies to to really see what's what's going on in the city and you know just trying to continue continue the Momentum that's been built up so far. Do you mind giving us 15 seconds on your professional? Sure. Yes. I am a transportation consulting engineer. I work in downtown Burlington and I've been doing that for 13 years now so a professional licensed engineer. Yeah, all right. Thank you so much Michael Myers tell us why you're running and what qualifies you for the position of city council in Winniskey. Well, thanks for having me As a city appointee Winniskey pool rebuild community member I've been involved in the last several years and Being down at City Hall. I kind of sparked my interest of city government I've been wanting to serve my committee or my committee my community for a while now This community has enriched my life by giving me lifelong skills I've lived in Winniskey nearly four decades From riding my bikes in the streets to being a business owner. I run my electrical business out of Winniskey and I'm just proud to be a productive citizen for that for that city You know, I've been educated through the Paris of San Francis Xavier school and I belong to San Francis Xavier church and graduate from Winniskey High School I'm running for the residents of Winniskey and For the young and not so young. I believe I can be a bridge between the new residents and the lifelong residents And to do the best by by them all I believe I can be an asset for the community and for the council All right, tell us what the top three issues you care about are that you want to work on Well, as I mentioned before I've been on the the pool rebuild committee for the last several years We've been last two years. We started out in I think 2016 And then the the pool committee disbanded and we formed the Winniskey Meyers Memorial Foundation To help raise money for the pool. So I'll see that the council is going to be all different I felt that was my duty to to step up and run for city council Just to make sure the projects that have been voted on are seen through to the end The roads and infrastructure have been a key point of when I'm out door-to-door talking to my neighbors and residents of Winniskey This is something I'd like to work on. I know Christine we're running for her vacated seat and she's part of the public works department as a liaison And I'd like the volunteer to fill her seat in that position so I can stay updated on the roads and infrastructure I mean as you know, we had two water main breaks on Main Street a few weeks ago Not only did the students of Winniskey High School miss a couple days of school, but there's there's been a lot of traffic issues And lastly, I like to stay on I'd like to get elected for the city council So the projects that we have started currently we can finish and not add any more endeavors upon the taxpayers right now I think we're I think trying to keep taxes down is very important for the city That that's it very good. Thank you so much. Cory Mack tell us that your top three priorities Yeah, so the top three priorities I'd say that I've been working towards our Or that I'd like to work towards is you know continuing the current initiatives I know that there's been a lot of work put forward from the current council and all the staff members on the existing plans and projects underway and each one of those has undergone a very rigorous public process and you know, I want to maintain that consistency and that momentum to make sure that you know, those continue going forward I've been on the Public Works Commission also So I do have a pretty good understanding about the city's infrastructure I think that you know continuing our investments in that is really important You know, not only the water and wastewater infrastructure like the Hickok Water main replacement that's on the ballot, but You know the the head had treatment wastewater treatment facility being Invested in but also the Main Street project like that. So that's an infrastructure project at the very at the very end of it and That kind of all leads into the third thing is affordability within the community also I think that We're investing all this money and we need to make sure that you know We're not just going to be paying that on the backs of our current residents We need to make sure that that's going to spur investment along the Main Street corridor We need to consider impact fees so that when new developments come in and really take advantage of this beautiful Main Street that we're building that It is That the the developers are going to be paying for for this great space that we've built for them So do you I'm just interrupting you because of the time But do you support the city budget as it's proposed and tell us what your position on the ballot questions? Yeah So the city budget absolutely. I know the city staff and city Council has spent a lot of work putting going into these budgets and I know that they are first tasked with doing the level budget But there has been some existing deficit not deficit, but debt debt load that has been added on to the to the budgets. So the city budget as presented Is a realistic budget with those debt expenses? So yeah, I would I know that they spent a lot of time making that all work out the two ballot initiatives being Hickok a water replacement and The pool no, it's not the pool is it I've been a key. I've been a key rush. Thank you. You're welcome Have an acu garage So yeah, I would support both of those also I think that Hickok it's you know overdue to be replacing our water water lines it's Paid for by the rate the water and sewer funds and the abnaki garage is an important investment in our downtown to make sure that it can stay viable and You know have have the needed parking and also it's revenue neutral in that the Spaces will provide the The income to to construct and maintain it into the future. So I think that it's a good investment for for the town And you know, we've been working with the designer of that to make sure that it's a parking garage for the future as well So, you know, if there's ever a time when it's no longer going to be a parking garage It's actually built to you know, potentially be reused And what about the rooms in the tax proposal? Do you support that change? Yeah, so I think that it's the The restaurants and everybody downtown have been kind of in the the retail industry has been consulted with that and from what I can Tell they're on board. So if they're okay with it, then I would say you know and go for it All right, very good. Michael. Tell us your position on the city budget. It's slated between the The property taxes and the water taxes a house with about $250,000 of value would be paying a taxpayer about $170 more a year. So do you support and given your concerns about affordability? You support that budget. I do I do support the budget Excuse me. I think the the two capital projects that we have on that are slated to start the pool It started to I think break ground in May so to speak and I believe it's going out to bed in the next couple weeks From what I've been told The Main Street project. I think when you have a hundred-year-old infrastructure underneath the streets Example I mentioned earlier was the main water mains up by the high school I think it's I think it's important for the town to to do to do its due diligence on issues like this Not only does when you start replacing infrastructure It's lasted a hundred years. So Technology's better now. It's gonna last even longer The the That's the budget supports the two projects as well, which is saying something that's and I think the local tax option that the voters are asked to be voted on is a No brainer in my mind It's it's for everyone who visits Winooski businesses they're gonna be asked to you know, they're gonna be asked to pay a little extra and It's estimated that $277,000 will be brought in yearly for that option tax, which will be raised to help out the capital investments I think that's a huge thing and I support that hundred percent. I think it's very very important The Hickok and Abinacke bond ballot issues Those are bond issues that will not affect the taxpayers Which I think is key because as you know taxes in Winooski are they're pretty high and for average people It's you know, it's sometimes working a couple extra hours the forage taxes But again Hickok infrastructure over a hundred years old I think it's a very important project and the Abinacke parking garage is Something that's needed downtown Winooski. There's very The parking is an issue down there as you know If you go visit downtown, it's sometimes you're walking a couple blocks to get to where you want to go So Let me just ask you about your view of the mix of economic development in Winooski. Are you satisfied with that mix? Do you think the city should be pursuing some different avenues? well My take on that is I believe in economic growth is a key for survival and strength of a community As long as we keep the taxes down and we can find Bonds that will will not affect the taxpayers. I think that's that's a no-brainer as well Like I said going after certain bonds that don't affect the taxpayers is the road I would go down I'm running I'm running for city council so I can pursue these policies and also policies that have worked in the past And to stay away from the ones I haven't What would be an example of one that hadn't? the one I'm you know what I I'm not I really don't know to be honest with you I've been talking to some of the folks that have been pounding the pavement and There is this is why I want to be a counselor. I want to get more involved in the everyday operations of a policies like this And I don't know It doesn't mean I can't find the answer. It doesn't mean I'm not going to roll my sleeves up and get in the trenches to find these answers I Just know from talking to people that I've talked to on the road that these are some of the things that they want to see I understand. Thank you so much. Cory tell us about your view of the economic mix So I think that we've done a really good job of Creating a vibrant downtown. I remember growing up in the area Just what what they used to be there with the higher ground in the parking lot and just seeing the change in the last You know 20 years has been pretty incredible. There's been a lot of focus on the downtown in the last, you know, 20 years And you know this abnaki garage and the proposed hotel That's the last undeveloped lot in our downtown. And so I think that really Expands or offers us an opportunity to start thinking about other areas. We've been so focused on this downtown now so I think that We'll really have the opportunity now to to focus our efforts and our attentions not not forgetting about downtown obviously we want to make sure that stays vibrant but to you know see To to allow the other regions or parts of our town to really develop So, you know, that's that's a main street corridor I think that you know with a form-based code what we've done in all the gateways the form-based code to allow for mixed-use development along these corridors and you kind of densify our Streets entering entering the town is great. I think that Some of the infrastructure that we're going to invest in has the option of you know Incentivizing the growth that we might want So, you know, you know, we want to make sure that our waste water treatment plant is in great shape so that we can You know have breweries in town or something like that or you know, maybe we should be considering having conversations with you know the police department and other You know regulatory agencies about if and when Marijuana sales is up a thing that Winooski is ready to take a retail spot if that's how it's how it works So I think you know, we have a space Coming up in our own capacity to really analyze the economic mix in Winooski And I look forward to being a part of that. So this is the wild card moderator question What about the center of Winooski of the rotary? So, you know, you're a transportation planner. You've both lived in the region for years and years and years What do you think has to happen with that? Big useless piece of real estate right in the middle of the city. Well, I would disagree that it's useless I think that it has a function make waking windows would disagree with you You know, I think that it never really fully realized its potential You know, it was supposed to be like this visual cue to enter from down coming down Colchester Avenue It was a really kind of interesting design But you know that the street lights didn't really work with how it was originally designed and you know I think that I'm overall glad that those are gone. I really resisted that at the time but the the traffic circle down there is is a challenge for Winooski and I noticed just this morning that the rapid flashing beacon crossing is Fallen to it was knocked off and now it's not functioning so like those are the you know our downtown is We're asking a lot of it. I mean, it's you know thousands of cars that go through there every day And it is a vibrant like scene of people walking and eating and having a great time so What can we do with it? I think that we can have it be a public space and you know Try to find a way to like encourage people to use it But also, you know, it's in the middle of a traffic circle So, you know, it's a it's a it's a complex and challenging Question with no simple answer. No, no, no, what about you? Well, I'm not the traffic engineer that Corey is but You know that space is used we have a pumpkin festival every year down there that's very successful a lot of families are out there we have thousands of pumpkins it's a great facility and Kids enjoy it not only do the local businesses enjoy because we all either go eat there or maybe have a pint or two Also waking windows It's one of the centerpieces of waking windows downtown when it was he You know, I think it's gonna have to stay as a park for now, especially with the projects that we have ongoing right now It's a great question. And you know, you're not the only one. I don't and we're not the only ones For sure that don't know what to use for it But I think for the space that's there now and for the traffic that's down there the The events that's thrown downtown in ski. I think they use like utilize that space very well Got it. Okay. Good. That was my that was my Moderator's choice question So let me ask you about this institutional memory and continuity of government operations There's been a big change in the city council and both of you have expressed the this importance of Accomplishing and finishing the projects that were started. Is there anything more you want to say? I mean how to bring the lessons learned from the past into this next Chapter of governance for the city. Yeah, I'll start on that one. Yeah. Well Being from Wanooski, I've I've seen a lot of people come and go. I've seen I've seen some councils that have lasted years and years But I was unaware that the being the leader of Wanooski was a concern for for our fellow citizens I believe that anyone and everyone that runs for city government has Has a collective purpose of making our community stronger safer and engaging In simpler words, we want to make it friendlier as a whole As a counselor, I would promote heavily on city commissions to engage the younger generation to get more involved in to keep city The special city it is it's it's been a very, you know, it's been a great town It's a great city it always has been and I think it will be for the future as well Thank you so much Corey your view on this question. Yeah. Well, so this institutional memory It's as much as it's nice to have people in in the council and leadership for you know a long time It's also great to have fresh people coming in To really give a new perspective and everything so I think that as much as it's a challenge It's also a great opportunity to to really have a new way to look at things I'd say that, you know, I'm a perfect example of How that institutional memory can be like brought forward I've been involved for many years in a number of different Avenues so like being on the Public Works Commission for the last couple of years being on the environmental board you know doing various activities within the community for a while I've been You know active I know I've known a lot of the city staff for quite some time and I've been a part of the development of a lot of these plans so like the form-based code plan I was involved in a lot of those meetings and I think that the way to do to to maintain that kind of continuity is by As Mike was saying You know using those commissions, you know really bringing people on just to get involved and you know keeping people engaged You know, and you know, I think that we could potentially have more youth involvement. So To bring bring people in into and the deciding and keeping them engaged and having them Being more part of the process and that goes for you know, all the communities within within muski Do you have a question for Michael? I? Didn't have one prepared So not not off the top of my head What is there is anything that he said this evening that makes you curious? No, in fact, I'd say that you know I think that Mike and I have probably very similar perspectives on on what were our goals for the city are and how we would Go forward with them You know, he seems like you'd be a great candidate. Also, so thank you I think You know as long as we have people willing to step up and Look out for the best interests of the city We're in good hands, and I think that Just being being here tonight. I think it's a testament to both of us So I think we'll be a good job Michael. Do you have a question for Corey? No, I just wanted to thank him for running You know it shows a lot when people start coming out and stepping up for the community It's when new ski has always been a great little place From when I was 10 years old to now. I'm not gonna say my age on public TV, but I'm 44 You know, I just think That people like us do the right thing, you know, if there's accident take It's you got it. You got to help out You got a you got to make your community better place to live for everybody for all neighbors her You know for your children. I'm raising a family here, and I just I want my family to remember when you ski that way That I sort of did I want her to you know I want my daughter to be brought up in a special little city I like calling it town because it's more of a town vibe than the city vibe But I know and just the one thing I want to rebut on on the the leaders is I agree with you that sometimes when you go a long-term council it sometimes gets stale and This is gonna be a whole brand new council So it's kind of exciting but there's a lot going on in the city of Winooski. So People, you know Cory's been involved. So it's it's good that Cory's been involved So, you know, some of the in and outs of the city But I also think that Political compromise needs to be a thing of the council too I think some common sense needs to be back because I think common sense has a lot to do with governing I Believe that you can't just have one voice in government. You have to have opposition views Just so people can expand their minds a little bit and step out of the box instead of being in the same pattern all the time Well, it's one of the questions that we had has to do with what role do you see political compromise? has in Local government in the politics and you know, we see nationally that it that's sometimes hard to come by which Is why we asked so maybe you could say a little something about the role of compromise Do you is that part of your toolkit as a leader? I believe it is I believe That I may have different opinions than other people and makes it makes me human, right? I'm sure Cory has some different opinions than I have And I think fresh ideas is what makes a city government work at at its best Old saying too much are better than one You know, sometimes you get to have another idea to kind of fine-tune this idea that you have over here and I believe that political compromise It's a good tool to use for city government. How about you Cory? What's your view of that and absolutely? I think that you know, I'm very thankful that this isn't like Washington I think You know, whenever we are Meeting to discuss an issue or problem or something I'm gonna come at it first from you know, my professional training as an engineer Which has always been a pretty objective, you know lens I want to like take a look at like the facts and the data and see what what really happens When you're when you're really analyzing it to that level But you know ultimately comes down to you know, I'm also a resident and you know a human and I'm gonna have my own my own opinions and We're gonna have to just you know express those with with the others and with other people and get their opinion and then you know Just make a make a decision based on our You know understanding in our best beliefs and I think that we're all like I was saying earlier We're all you know reasonable good people and we all have when you ski when you ski's best interests in mind and As long as we we can keep that then I don't I don't see why we couldn't be able to come to an agreement that is you know Respects everybody at the at the same time. Do you have closing comments you'd like to make? Yeah, sure. So again, I am you know excited to to to jump into the city council at this time when I was considering doing all this I also Applied to be appointed to the interim councillor. So I'm actually on council right now Just to yeah, you know get get started and really jump right in I think when you see is in a very interesting time and I'm looking forward to to continuing the momentum to really see a lot of these projects through and You know, I I hope that it's It's you know keeps keeps the momentum moving forward and You know have have a Good good council into the future. Thank you Corey Mack awesome Michael Myers your closing comments, please Well, thanks for having me tonight. I think the voters of when you ski have a tough choice Because it does seem like Cory and I have the same kind of perspective But I think when when at day's end that what's best for when it was he's what's best for new ski when you see he's always been a Special place where it it ran it governed itself. We didn't need any outside help so to speak And I kind of want to keep that going I don't I think when you ski can take care of when you ski and Like I said before being raised here. I'm raising a family here I'm excited for the future of when you ski and I think it has a lot of it's an exciting town It's exciting when you ski. There's a lot of hard work and for people that know me They know I can I'll put the time in I'll roll my sleeves up. I'm a I'm a tradesman and I think For what I need to do for when you ski because it's I'd like to repay it back for what it's done for me Very good. Thank you so much. Thank you Niskey is very fortunate to have such enthusiastic people running for the city council Not only for this seat But the other the other seat and we have been speaking this evening with Michael Myers and Cory Mack and they are running for the An Unexpired term it's a two-year seat with one year left So whoever wins this seat will be running again in a year. I believe that would be true So stay tuned here for channel 17s continuing coverage of town meeting 2019 and don't forget to vote on the 5th of March or whoever doesn't win Thanks so much for watching