Michael Nochimson
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Question 5: If you are elected to the Council, what will be your top 3 legislative priorities and what will stand in the way of you making them happen? Be specific, and tell voters what your initiatives will cost.
If re-elected to the Council, my focus will be to continue to ensure Verona is engaged in responsible budgeting, that anticipates future costs and achieves efficiencies through shared services. My goal is to make sure the tax dollars we spend on critical infrastructure projects, recreational programs for our youth and seniors, and our buildings and equipment are priced competitively and captures efficiencies. The Top 3 legislative priorities with approximate costs are:
1) Emergency Services – investing in and reserving for fire house ($3million), fire truck ($800,000) and new ambulance ($350,000).
2) Infrastructure Services – sewer line modernization program. With nearly 40 miles of underground sewer lines it is important that we develop an action plan to address this growing challenge. Proactively planning for this expensive project can possibly produce opportunities to partner with regional utility companies to offset costs and improve services.
3) Downtown revitalization – by reserving $40,000 a year we can enhance the experience of downtown Verona encouraging residents to spend time down town, shop Verona and dine Verona. A small amphitheater in our beautiful town square, improved garbage receptacles, and daily cleanliness of the avenue will promote a more vibrant, relevant downtown that enhances the quality of life for our residents. It will also make Verona a more attractive place to start and expand a business. We will all benefit from an improved downtown experience.
All three legislative priorities require a strong vision, smart approaches to problem solving, and a firm understanding of business and government. Working in a collaborative manner, I am certain that we can deliver a responsible budget that maintains our safety and security of our residents, invests in our downtown business district, and modernizes vital services to our community, while preserving the character and quality of our town. We all benefit from sound investment in our Verona community.
