John Buckley is the only incumbent New Castle Councilman who is running for re-election. He is a Democratic candidate and is running for one of two council seats that are available. This interview was edited for formatting:
Patch: Tell me about yourself?
Buckley: Well, my name is John Buckley, I have a wonderful wife and two boys who are both enrolled in Horace Greeley High School. I work at Douglas Elliman as an Associate Broker selling real estate in New Castle. I love this Town and am proud to be able to serve the residents and work to improve our community.
Patch: Why should people vote for you next month? [This interview was done in October]
Buckley: I am open, honest and hard working. I work in Town and am lucky to be in a position to hear what residents and merchants are saying everyday. I am able to answer resident concerns and follow through with an immediate response.
Patch: Where do you stand on the Chappaqua Crossing retail plan? Since you are the only incumbent who is running for re-election, do you anticipate, as of this interview, voting in favor or against the rezoning, findings statement and master plan change?
Buckley: I do NOT think our community needs retail at Chappaqua Crossing.
Patch: You voted against granting Conifer Realty's special permit for its affordable housing proposal. Would you vote in favor of repealing the special permit? Would you support a planned Article 78 lawsuit from local opposition to stop it?
Buckley: I did vote "against" the Conifer project. I would need to see the petition before I answer the question of supporting the Article 78. My position on the project has not changed.
Patch: You have been in many volunteer capacities locally, including as a volunteer firefighter and Rotary Club member. Have you applied lessons from each position to your other volunteer roles?
Buckley: Everything I have done in Town (i.e. coaching boys basketball, baseball, soccer; being a volunteer fireman with the Chappaqua Volunteer Fire Department, President and member of the Rotary Club of Chappaqua, President and member of the Town's Solid Waste Advisory Board, "Community Day" Chairperson to serving in my elected office) has taught me to approach every issue with an open mind.
Patch: From what I have read, the town board's practice has been to interview volunteer board applicants in executive sessions, which are closed to the public. For example, I understand that was a contentious topic in a recent New Castle NOW story about the lack of a planning board appointee. In contrast, Mount Kisco's Village Board of Trustees does interviews in what are essentially ad-hoc work sessions, before regular meetings and before they're recorded. Would you support adopting that model, or do you feel the current model is superior?
Buckley: I believe Board selection is best tended to in executive session.
Patch: What changes would you like to see for downtown Chappaqua and downtown Millwood if you are elected?
Buckley: I would love to see greater business in each of our hamlets. To accomplish this our hamlets must have business development to attract (a magnet) people who would then enjoy what each business community has to offer.
Patch: The town board is currently considering participation in a multi-municipal property revaluation effort. Would you support having New Castle participate? Buckley: Before saying whether I would consider having New Castle participate in a multi-municipal property revaluation, I'd like to see the results of the bids that are expected back shortly identifying the cost. It would be nice to have a revaluation, but at what price? I need to weigh out the options, again working in the best interest of the residents who have elected me.
Patch: What is your position on the potential acquisition of the Twin Oaks Swim and Tennis Club property? If you support the town buying it, what use would you like to see on it?
Buckley: To answer whether I am in favor of the Town purchasing Twin Oaks Swim and Tennis Club, it depends on the what the price is given the condition of the property and the Town's vision for its use. The Town would use the parcel for recreation. We are continuing to evaluate the inspection reports and the cost to bring the parcel into working order.
Patch: What is your position on The Spa at New Castle, which is the proposed mix of condos, hotel rooms, spa and restaurant for the former Legionaries of Christ site off of Route 128?
Buckley: We are just starting the review process. I would like to see documentation supporting the size of the development being proposed (septic capacity).
Patch: Do you support extending Westchester County's sewer district to downtown Millwood? If so, what measures would you take to persuade county officials and lawmakers to approve it?
Buckley: First, I'd like to see the funding in place to finish the plan to bring sewers to the Yeshiva, Random Farms and Riverwoods. This question has lingered too long. We are hopefully close to seeing the plan become a reality. We need these sewers, Millwood needs these sewers! We must logically address these questions of health and safety with the County.
Patch: What do you think of the town board's current relationship with the Chappaqua school board, as well as the school boards of its other overlapping school districts? What changes, if any, would you like to see for relations?
Buckley: The relationship with the School Board is important in addressing many of the issues that confront the Town. We must work together to solve these problems. The residents have elected both Boards. We must step-up to these problems as a team. It's time we have joint meetings on a regular basis in an open forum to discuss what can and should be done.
Patch: Do you anticipate a time in the next two years when the town board may to vote to override the property tax levy cap?
Buckley: Oh if I could read the future. This is a troubling question. If you look at the figures and see what increases every single year (i.e. insurance, pensions, cost of everything) and weigh it against the bare bones we operate on, it's not easy for the Town Board. Hopefully, we will see an upswing in revenue that allows us to balance the budget. Maybe Albany and Washington will understand that what they mandate the residents of New Castle now pay for only results higher taxes on the local level. This is the problem. I must say in all my years as an elected official in New Castle, we have continued to fight to keep costs down while maintaining our Triple A Bond rating.
Patch: What do you think of the master plan update process as it's arranged now? What changes, if there are any, would you make to it?
Buckley: We are only starting out to update our Master Plan. What do I think of how it's arranged? We are inviting all the residents of Town to participate. What changes do I want to make? I'd like to start the process with an open mind looking to what each of us wants its community to be. It's a rare opportunity to plan for a better tomorrow.
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