JULI SHARRATT
CANDIDATE FOR HARTWICK TOWN SUPERVISOR
COMMUNITY OF RESIDENCE: Hartwick
EDUCATION: B.Sc. in Education from Worcester State College, Summa Cum Laude, double major in education and psychology. Training through Campground Owners’ Associations in planning, budgeting, management, personnel, customer service. Training in several Town government areas: Fiscal Responsibility, Governmental Accounting,Home Rule, Budgeting, Purchasing and Competitive Bidding, Ethics, the Open Meetings Law, Personnel Management, Emergency Management.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 27 years owner/operator of Beaver Valley Campground and Cooperstown Baseball Camp. Counselor at Job Corps and Junior High in Massachusetts. Owned and managed 20 apartments.
COMMUNITY/POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT: Six years as Hartwick Town Councilman. Past chair of the Personnel and Buildings and Grounds Committees. I conceived the Business Advisory and Youth Advocacy Committees and am an active member of both. I am also a member of the Conservation Advisory Committee where I participate in our annual Clean Sweep event and am active in the Town’s Climate Smart Communities initiative. In my hometown in Connecticut, I helped to create and implement their first recycling program, chaired auxiliaries for the Little League, and Fire Department.
FAMILY: Husband Dwaine, operates Beaver Valley with me, Nathan, is an artist in Atlanta; Caley is an Occupational Therapist at ARC Otsego; Jamie is a Speech Therapist at Springbrook; Nicholas is a sophomore in Cooperstown
IN TWO OR THREE SENTENCES, EXPLAIN YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNMENT:
I believe that Government exists to help to keep people safe, to provide a sense of belonging and to contribute to residents’ quality of life and happiness. Safety is sought by providing safe roads and water, fire protection, sidewalks, lighting. Quality of life can be enhanced by libraries, public parks, and community events such as Harvest Fest. Governments should not act as an impediment, should listen to the people, provide complete transparency, fiscal oversight, and accountability.
WHAT ARE THE THREE MAJOR ISSUES THE HARTWICK TOWN BOARD FACES, AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THEM?
First and foremost a lack of Financial Planning. Just because we want something doesn’t mean we can afford it. I will arrange meetings between the Town Board and department heads, the Planning Board, employees and citizens to determine where we are going and how we are going to get there. And then will ensure that each department budget stays within their limits. A lack of Transparency. Every taxpayer has a legal right to see how their money is being spent. Financial information will be available to anyone without a need to FOIL. Executive sessions will be held for legal purposes only. The lack of Committees and the lack of Employee Accountability. I will reinstate the committees and see that all employees are accountable for their time and work product.
WHAT QUALITIES/EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT MAKES YOU THE BETTER CHOICE IN THIS RACE:
Training and competence in finances. Experience and success in business, including supervising employees. Drive and determination, organizational skills, desire and ability to do substantial research before making a decision. I am good-natured and even-tempered and, like the other candidates, I am deeply committed to the community.
IS THERE A STATEMENT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH VOTERS?
Just as in our own households or businesses, we have to plan for future purchases and save for emergencies. I will do all I can to get control of the unplanned spending. Yes, I have been a member of the board for several years, but many times I’ve sat in a frustrating minority. I encourage you to look at my votes during the meetings, visit my website: www.JuliSharratt.com, or contact me at (607) 293-8131. I want to help Hartwick to continue to flourish.
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