Advocating For Our Lake

My appreciation for the lakes of New York originated in my childhood, where I spent summer weekends at the Great Sacandaga Reservoir. As I transitioned into young adulthood, this passion intensified through hiking and swimming in the majestic Adirondacks. Currently, my wife and I enjoy kayaking on Ballston Lake, Round Lake, the northwest bay of Lake George, and Loon Lake.

In 2020, during my tenure as Town Supervisor, I made it a priority to investigate why our lake was listed as an impaired body of water by New York State. Was a sewer system truly necessary to rectify its chemical balance? Fortunately, I had the opportunity to attend a county stormwater Zoom meeting led by Blue Neils from Cornell Cooperative Extension. I inquired whether Blue could develop a story map that illustrated our lake's population growth, water quality, and data from the brightener study conducted by Union College. Blue subsequently presented this story map at a well-attended Town Zoom meeting, which empowered residents to make informed decisions prior to the second sewer district referendum. As a result, the measure was passed with strong support from the district, and our lake's water quality has significantly improved in just a few short years.

During my time in office, I have consistently engaged with our lake community. I participated in a boat ride to understand the CSLAP water sampling process and kayaked deep into the outlet to address beaver dams impacting outflow. As Town Supervisor, I collaborated closely with our Highway Department, our Building Department, and Councilman Robert Fendrick to replace our condemned fishing pier. I've also taken part in the Ballston Lake Improvement Association's annual spring cleaning and supported their efforts to improve our outflow with New York State officials.

Looking ahead, we face challenging lake sewer easement issues that will require strong leadership. I also aim to collaborate with the Town of Clifton Park to discuss non-mandated hookups, ensuring full community participation is achieved.