MISSION: To discover and share local candidates’ views on environmental issues.
Introduction: SW has initiated a process we call “Green Screen” where we interview candidates for local office — Town Board, Village Board and School Board — and ask them questions related to sustainability that are relevant for that particular election. The Green Screen Committee is composed of community members, some drawn from SW and some from other areas of community involvement, and all with a deep concern for issues of sustainability on the local level, in a sustainable Warwick. We see this process as a service to both the candidates and the Warwick voters.
It is our hope that the Green Screen process will result in stronger candidates getting elected and stronger, “greener” policies being enacted, and we will accomplish these objectives without endorsing specific candidates, which our 501(c)3 status forbids us to do. We will simply accurately relay the candidates thoughts on issues of sustainability.
Green Screen Committee: Bill Greene and Geoff Howard and Christina Thomas.
As many of you are aware, SW’s Green Screen Committee conducts pre-election interviews with candidates running for local office — the Warwick Town, Village and School Boards — and with Town Coucil elections coming on Tuesday, November 4th, we are passing along the summary of our interviews with the 4 candidates.
We hope that you will turn out on November 4th to vote for your choice of candidates to fill the positions on the Town Council.
Geoff Howard, Christina Thomas and Bill Greene
The Sustainable Warwick Green Screen Committee
1) PDR and Transfer Tax - What are your views on the PDR program (Purchase of Development Rights) that has permanently preserved over 5,000 acres of farmland and open space in Warwick?
2) Warwick’s Community Composting Program - The Community Composting Program started in Warwick in the spring of 2023 with initial collections averaging about 20 gallons a week. Now, 30 months later, weekly collections range from 300 to 400 gallons of raw compost, keeping hundreds of pounds of methane out of the atmosphere. Would you support an official Town of Warwick Composting Program which could increase the annual yield many times over? Beyond a simple yes/no, please explain your thinking on this important topic.
Floyd De Angelo — Incumbent
PDR: He was on the original committee created to set up PDR and voted to create the transfer tax. He believes it has transformed Warwick into the most desirable place to live in Orange County. The current law limits the use PDR funds for other purposes beyond the acquisition of farmland and open spaces to 10%. He approves of the bill currently in Albany to increase the other purposes portion to 30%. He suggested funds be used to improve and maintain the parks. Possibly paying for Park department salaries. He also thought the funds could be used to improve storm water management.
Composting: He supports the Supervisor’s initiative to reach out to schools and businesses to improve recycling and composting activities. He would like to see the Town open sites the public to take advantage of composting if this can be done to avoid any unpleasant smells that might be created.
Kevin Shuback — Incumbent
PDR: He is supportive of PDR and believes that, since it is optional, it is the best way to preserve open spaces and avoid overbuilding.
He supports reallocation of PDR funding because there are not many farms interested in their development rights being acquired, Currently 10% of PDR funds can be used for other things. He supports a proposed bill,(currently in Albany) that would allow 30 % of the PDR funds be able to be used for other projects. He suggests that 10% of the funds could be be spent to improve water infrastructure and 20% could be spent for park maintenance.
Composting: He is a turf farmer and he composts vegetable matter from several of his neighboring farms. He thinks that the Town could have a role in promoting composting. However, any location for composting must be carefully chosen to avoid upsetting neighbors by creating smelly areas.
Don Kilcoyne —
PDR: He arrived in Warwick at the same time as PDR was initiated and feels it has successfully preserved the quality of life that drew him to Warwick in the first place. He met someone who has bought and sold several houses in Warwick, so he feels that people sense they can afford the transfer tax. He is concerned that raising the percentage of the PDR fund that can be used for park maintenance may change the program. He feels that the community should be engaged if there are any changes.
Composting: He approves of the Sustainable Warwick FSC program at the Farmers Market, but would like to see it grow bigger. He feels that the town should work to expand a voluntary composting program. He proposed exploring the idea of a fee based weekly composting program. The Town could increase the number of drop off sites for the waste, possibly moving towards using a waste disposal company to pick up bins directly from houses. To help with this program the Town could help educate people about the benefits of composting so they become more supportive.
Dannie Sinisi —
PDR: She is definitely in favor of PDR continuing. She is into cluster housing and likes the idea of building on a footprint, not on a field. Coming from Paramus, she has seen how, without protection, areas can totally change in one generation. Preserving farms should be the first use of PDR funds and if there are funds that cannot be used for this a small percentage could be used for maintenance. She wants to be the person on the Board dedicated to keeping Warwick feeling like Warwick.
Composting: There should be information on the Town and the village websites about where to take compost on a year- round basis. The Town must also educate residents about what can be included in a good composting program. It is possible that the Town could reach out to farms and orchards and encourage them to host year round drop off centers. The Town could choose to host its own composting center.