New supervisor set to keep Forestburgh the same

James Galligan researches town plan

By LISA CUTRONI

FORESTBURGH, NY — After receiving 238 votes in the November elections, James Galligan will follow John “Bill” Sipos as Forestburgh’s town supervisor. Galligan will begin his two-year term on January 1.

After campaigning against Republican opponent, Norbert Rausch, Galligan stands firm on his initial proposal: keep the rural characteristics of Forestburgh intact.

“We don’t want to see a lot of development. We are not looking for that,” Galligan said. Endorsed by both the Democratic and Conservative parties, he pledged to keep what residents wanted in mind.

“[Residents want to see] the town as a rural community with a small population, where everyone knows each other. People know their neighbors and are concerned for them. They want to help them out,” Galligan said.

It was an honest campaign, Galligan said, and it felt good to win. In a close race, with a difference of 58 votes, it appeared as if it could have gone in either direction.

“I was sitting right next to Norbert, at the polls in Forestburgh. Everyone was there—it became very obvious to everyone in the room [who had won],” Galligan said.

Galligan likened the cinching of the race to his door-to-door campaign tactics. “Door-to-door gives you an opportunity to really discuss the issues people have on mind.”

It also gave him a chance to demonstrate his problem solving and networking abilities. “I was able to connect six or seven people with the proper agencies they needed,” Galligan said.

With January only a month away, Galligan is busy preparing.

“I’m pretty familiar with the town. I want to meet with the current supervisor to get a good feel for some of the things we are working on,” Galligan said.

While it seems that everything is in working order, Galligan realizes that challenges loom. His main priority is the comprehensive plan.

“The town has a comprehensive plan that has to pass, and the zoning [regulations] are the real meat of the plan,” Galligan said.

Facing the possibility of increased growth and development, and Forestburgh residents’ requests to keep the town quaint, Galligan understands what a vital part the plan plays.

“The town is ripe for development—and we have to be prepared,” Galligan said.

Forestburgh is a bedroom community and residents want it to remain that way, according to town board member Ken Schultz.

Schultz said that the comprehensive plan’s purpose is not to eliminate all development, but to aid in managing growth. It is the town’s vision statement, a blueprint for what residents want the town to look like and a guide map to achieve it, a challenge that the new supervisor will enviably face.

In the next month, Galligan will meet with the different town committees and supervisors from neighboring towns. “Bill was a really good supervisor—I have some big shoes to fill. I’m sure my administrative experience will help me with that,” Galligan said.