Donald D. Fittipaldi
115 Hawthorne Drive, Camillus
Background Camillus Town Supervisor, 1994-1998; Camillus Town Justice, 1990-1993; President of the Onondaga County Magistrates Association, 1993; Camillus Planning Board Member, 2005 to present. Forty-two year Camillus resident with wife Judy and son Michael Occupation Retired from the New York State Police as Senior Investigator in 1986, spent 20 years as a local Real Estate Broker, taught Criminal Justice Systems and Management at OCC for 5 years and was a Senior Gaming Inspector for the NYSRacing & Wagering Board 1998-2005. Endorsed by Conservatives
Given the current economy and budget crises at the state and county levels, which areas of the budget do you feel the town could cut back to alleviate the pressure on taxpayers? When economies and budgets tank the only solution is to cease unnecessary expenditures. Our suburban community does not need extensive sidewalks or decorative street lighting. We are a town setting, not a village or city. Our Highway Fleet is an example of overkill and the 17.1 percent $600,000 increase in the Highway Budget in 2009 must not be repeated. In what ways do you think the town could consolidate services with villages, neighboring towns or the county to increase efficiency and keep costs down? The Town and Village of Camillus should seek consolidation and become a single provider of government and services. Village taxpayers would see a large immediate savings and the Town would benefit through economies of scale. Putting this off is just that as it will become necessary sooner or later. This would also put both major fire departments under the same umbrella. What recent projects do you feel you would have approached differently than the incumbent and why? I would use Town work forces for only those projects a town government should undertake. I would earmark Onondaga County Community Development money for repairing and maintaining our sewer and water infrastructure as a priority. Due to the increased development there has been a concomitant increase in paved and impervious surfaces. I would devote more resources and promulgate development requirements to mitigate the effects of stormwater and surface water changes. I would research the privatization of our ambulance service, as it was intended to be before the town board bailout at a cost of $2.1 million over the past three years. Privatization would save nearly one-half million dollars a year. In what area is the town most in need of improvement and how would you work to fix that?
In campaigning door to door I have heard many similar concerns voiced by residents. In addition to concerns of taxes and spending, road condition and repair and flooding areas seem to be major complaint topics. A strong feeling that our government does as it pleases behind closed doors and without citizen input and scrutiny also prevails. A more comprehensive, studied and open approach to the administration of government is necessary. We cannot keep throwing money at problems to avoid really thinking them through.