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Bio
Gordon has owned a home on Shelter Island for over 40 years and has been a full-time resident for 20 years. He was an entrepreneur who built a successful specialty construction products and consulting business from scratch. He is experienced in all aspects of financial management, having dealt with complex accounting contracts, negotiations, and legal issues. His financial, negotiating and consensus building skills are essential for the Town at this time. He is an avid sailor both on the water and on ice (when there is ice). He has been married for over 50 years, has one son, two granddaughters and a faithful black lab. When not sailing, Gordon enjoys exploring the National and State Parks in his motorhome.
Experience
Gordon is a natural leader. For one, he was elected to the Town Board last year. He was also the President of the Hay Beach Homeowners Association, and Co- President of the Shelter Island Association, which represents all 11 neighborhood associations. In 2016 he was appointed Chairperson of the Town’s Community Preservation Fund Advisory Board (CPF). Under his leadership the Town has preserved over 55 acres of undeveloped land for water recharge and habitat restoration.
Campaign Phone
(917)991-1269
Our town's current plan is over 30 years old. After a failed effort, work on a new plan was begun 5 years ago. Unfortunately, after all the hard work the volunteeer Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee did, and all the enthusiastic community input, the Task Force did not even provide an updated draft this year. As Supervisor, I will resurrect the plan, seek community consensus, and have a much-needed comprehensive environmental study done. Such a study was done with the 1994 plan and is recommended by NYS. This review will ultimately save us money. My goal is to have a Comprehensive plan adopted during my first year in office.
Climate change is real. The Town needs to follow the lead of the ferry companies in taking action to address sea-level rise and increasingly common extreme weather events. The Town engineer has performed an assessment survey to identify the most at-risk areas. I will make sure our emergency services have the resources to respond to extreme weather events. To reduce the impact on the Town budget, we need to apply for any available grants. In addition, we must both preserve and restore wetlands to attenuate tidal flows and reduce the effect of storm surge. We also must protect near shore areas from overdevelopment and ban docks that negatively affect shorelines and neighbors' properties.
I believe that homeowners should be given priority for septic grants. Nevertheless, assuming there are sufficient Water Quality Improvement Project funds available, existing local businesses should be considered for grants, particularly businesses that generate significant septic waste and/or are situated in environmentally sensitive areas. Under state law, however, these grants cannot be used for new or expanding businesses. To date, barely 70 homeowners have taken advantage of the generous state, county, and town grants. It is very important for many more residents to install I/As if we are to safeguard our drinking water and preserve our creeks and bays.
We need to encourage year-round businesses that provide services and employ our residents. As Supervisor, one of my priorities will be to revitalize the Center and explore the option of mixed-use development. We need to make sure that development serves the Island community as a whole, not just developers. I will continue to support our school and that includes creating affordable housing options designed for families, as well as others. By keeping and attracting young families we will produce graduates inclined to stay or return to to the Island to work in or start businesses. Finally, I will manage tighter budgets, promote greater efficiency and even-handed enforcement of the Town Code, all of which will encourage economic development.
