Getting to Work: Streamlining Town Operations for Taxpayers

By Collin Hayes

Fiscal responsibility isn't just a talking point; it's an action plan. My time on the Planning Board demonstrates that I can deliver tangible results by promoting efficiency and reducing reliance on high-cost consultants.

The Town Budget is a topic on everyone's mind, and rightly so. As your neighbor and a dedicated member of this community, I share your concern for making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely. If elected to the Town Council, I will strive to promote fiscal responsibility and always look out for the best interests of the taxpayer.

The key to fiscal responsibility isn't cutting services; it's about making government work smarter and more efficiently. I want to show you how my professional experience as a Legal Editor and my proven record on the Planning Board will translate directly into saving your taxpayer dollars on the Town Council.

Promoting Efficiency on the Planning Board

When I joined the Planning Board in 2022, both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) were heavily dependent on the Town Engineer. The Engineer was reviewing virtually all applications, drafting resolutions for any of the Boards’ decisions, and attending every meeting just in case a question about the Town Code came up. As you can imagine, the consultant fees we paid were not cheap, and they were often passed on to applicants.

My focus as a member of the Planning Board (and as the Chair since 2024) has been to empower Town staff and Board members to handle routine matters, reserving expensive consultant time for complex issues.

I work closely with our Boards' Secretary to draft resolutions for straightforward projects. My extensive background in searching and reading legal codes and my familiarity with the NY Town Law means we don't need to pay for the Engineer to attend most meetings just to answer code questions. As a result, our Boards no longer rely on the Engineer to review routine applications.

Of course, we still rely on our Engineer and Attorney for technical expertise and for complex projects to ensure we are meticulously following the letter of the law. But I am proud that, through our collaboration with Town staff, our Boards have made the application review process more streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective for both applicants and the Town.

Legal Editing Experience

I plan to carry this exact approach to the Town Council. My experience as drafting, researching, and editing legal documents is a direct asset that can immediately reduce the Town's legal expenditures.

The current system often involves the Town Attorney starting local laws and resolutions from scratch. This is a time-consuming and, therefore, costly process.

My goal is to apply my experience and skills to write first drafts of local laws and resolutions for the Town Council, which can then be sent to our Attorney for his review and revisions. I hope that this more efficient process will save the Town a substantial amount in legal fees.

I already have experience doing this for the Town. When the Planning Board and ZBA saw a rise in applications for short-term rentals (like AirBnBs and VRBOs), we recognized that our existing zoning law was not equipped to handle or regulate this emerging use.

With input from both Boards, I drafted an initial local law for the permitting and regulation of short-term rentals. This draft was then presented to the Town Council and Attorney for their input, and the local law was adopted earlier this year. This is a clear example of how my background in legal research and familiarity with local codes can be used to proactively and affordably address development trends in our Town.

The Bottom Line

Fiscal responsibility isn't just a talking point; it's an action plan. My time on the Planning Board demonstrates that I can deliver tangible results by promoting efficiency and reducing reliance on high-cost consultants.

On the Town Council, I will continue to apply my professional skills to reduce legal and consulting expenses, making sure that your tax dollars are spent thoughtfully and effectively.

I ask for your vote so I can bring this commitment to efficiency to the Town Council.