Dear Friends,

First and foremost, it’s been an honor and a privilege to represent you and all of the residents of the Town of Seneca Falls. Together, we have been creating a town that the residents and the taxpayers deserve– a great place to raise a family, live, work, play and invest.

Although we have accomplished many objectives, there are a number of projects that I want to see to the finish line.

With the momentum of this administration, I look forward to continuing to lead our historic town in 2024 toward becoming a healthier, safer, green energy efficient and economically resilient, and vibrant place to call home that will be further enriched by its arts, culture and heritage for future generations.

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Today, the town encompasses roughly 24 sq. miles, including the former Village, thus creating a need over-time for increased staff and services. The Town currently facilitates a $15 million-dollar operating budget which underscores every aspect of our community.

During the last four years, I have worked vigorously in collaboration with our engaged multi-consultant services to secure over $12 million dollars in grant monies for a wide variety of projects throughout our community. These projects include critical infrastructure improvements:

Updating street lighting in the former village to energy efficient LED lighting;

Establishing the Town as a designated NYSERDA Clean Energy 2.0 Community to reduce overall municipal energy costs;

Replacing 3-miles of aging sidewalks through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program to encourage walking and bicycling to school, reducing motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities and reducing transportation’s contribution to air pollution; and

Integration of $20M in upgrades to aging Water Treatment Plant and Sewer Treatment Plant facilities for improved treatment performance, community health and energy efficiency.

GROWING HOUSING & OUR NEIGHBORHOODS

I have been working with various public and private partners to invest in and develop a variety of new housing opportunities in Seneca Falls with the goal of increasing housing options by offering affordable, energy-efficient and sustainable builds. This will benefit first-time buyers, retirees, including those seeking adaptability or age in place house and will perpetuate the cycle of when one dwelling becomes available, a new family is welcomed. As we grow our capacity to house more people, our community will grow stronger and our local economy will reap the benefits.

PROTECTING PROPERTY VALUES & TAXES

Working with the Board, I’ve strived to continually enact upgrades and provide needed services throughout the Town while controlling taxes and it wasn’t always easy, however it was accomplished. With careful planning under my leadership, the Town also executed a property revaluation in 2022 overlooked by previous administrations. According to New York State Dept. of Tax and Finance:

“Municipal-wide reassessments are the best way to ensure that assessments are fair and accurate. After several years without a reassessment, some properties will be over-assessed and some will be under-assessed. This is because some properties will have obviously increased in value, while others may have decreased or stayed the same. Without a reassessment, all of the properties will continue to pay the same amount of taxes.”

It is apparent that reassessments can have real economic impacts. A routinely scheduled revaluation will ensure our property owners see the quantitative benefits of investing in Seneca Falls residential and commercial properties.

GREEN ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY

The Town Board has negotiated a new Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Seneca Meadows Inc. that would ONLY go into effect if the Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) allows Seneca Meadows to fill-in the valley which is within the current landfill footprint. This agreement includes strong requirements for odor control, independent odor complaint reporting, collecting and disposing of the Town’s solid waste at no charge to the taxpayers, (currently the Town pays $296,374.00 per year for this service), no construction vehicles or garbage haulers working for SMI will be allowed to drive in the downtown area, $1 million dollar signing bonus, if and when, the Town signs the HCA; a $2 million dollar bonus when the Town issues the necessary permits for operations, and a projected $10 million dollar annual payment to the Town. The annual payment would allow for such uses as lowering taxes, making necessary upgrades to our aging infrastructure at no cost to the taxpayers, and provide much needed capital for other projects that will benefit the community-at-large.

FINDING BALANCE IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC & FORWARD

The biggest challenge this administration and our community faced was the declaration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on February 3, 2020. With the exception of essential services, we temporarily reduced our workforce by 20%. In response to our Governor’s mandated workforce reduction For the duration of the pandemic, were able to facilitate all Town services and return our valued workforce to employment. Today, we remain Seneca Falls Strong and New York Tough for pulling together during a vulnerable time in our lives and exhibited incredible humanity to others. That is COMMUNITY.

ADVANCING SENECA FALLS

Looking ahead, we will continue to face financial and workforce challenges, like many other communities, as the economy and other variables impact our community and those across the country. When I grew up, Seneca Falls was an over industrialized community. Unfortunately, with minor exceptions, the companies (Sylvania/Philips ECG, Guaranteed Parts, Seneca Knitting Mills, Geb & Souhan, Seneca Machine Shop, etc.) and the taxes generated by those businesses and the employment force have diminished.

Therefore, we have to be smarter, work harder, and be willing to explore all opportunities to keep Seneca Falls vibrant and a great place to live. I will continue to drive responsive decision-making in the spirit of creativity, innovation and resiliency as we move ahead. I will continue to leverage public private partnerships to provide the best services and resources to our community. I’m confident that the team here at the town, which I’m very fortunate to lead, will continue to aggressively carve our path forward.

As your Town Supervisor, I am proud to have established the position of Town Manager to work in partnership with the Town Board.

In August 2022, Dr. Soscia came onboard and as an experienced educator and administrator in his own right, he has been an actively engaged team partner, and visible leader in the day-to-day operations of the Town. It is his position that affords Town-elected officials to provide leadership, develop a vision for the community, determine what services are most needed for its citizens, lobby the state legislature on the community’s behalf, and communicate and forge new relationships with constituents. Among numerous efforts, Dr. Soscia is also leading the ADVANCE Seneca Falls 2040 Comprehensive Plan planning process- the first since 2006, it will guide future boards on how you envision your town.

YOUR VOTE

There are many more accomplishments that I will discuss in the future. This November 7th is Election Day and I believe it will be one of the most important elections for Seneca Falls. As your Town Supervisor, I will continue to engage the constituencies that I am so humbled and privileged to serve and continue to listen, learn and lead on people’s behalf. This election is about advancing Seneca Falls, not about Republicans or Democrats. On November 7th, I am asking for your support to ensure Seneca Falls continues to move forward with the leadership and dedication necessary to preserve, maintain and keep our community the safe and dynamic town it has been my entire life.

VOTE to return Michael J. Ferrara, as your Seneca Falls Town Supervisor on the Conservative Party Line, on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023.

I sincerely appreciate and thank you for the support you have given me over the past four years. If you have a specific question regarding anything I have said, or some other Town matter, you can always contact me directly at (315) 856-0784. Let’s Advance Seneca Falls- Together! Vote for Mike on November 7th.

Thank you,

Michael J. Ferrara, Town Supervisor

Town of Seneca Falls