The LuLac Edition #3635, November 4th, 2017

 WYOMING MAYOR'S RACE

This year there is a pretty good contest going on in Wyoming Borough. Wyoming has been one of the garden spots in this region for many years. For the last 12 years Robert Boyer has been the Mayor. This year he is opposed by Joe Dominick.
Many political observers are saying that this race might be one to watch.
We asked both candidates a series of questions and they kindly responded.
(We start with Bob Boyer because we adhere to the policy that the party at the top of the ticket gets first billing). 

DEMOCRAT

ROBERT BOYER

1. You’ve been Mayor for 12 years, what do you view as your accomplishments?

Council and I tackled our sewer system and roads. Borough sewers in some areas are thought to be nearly a century old. We began a comprehensive review of the sewer system and began repairs. We started on streets that flooded in heavy rains or on streets that had raw sewage backup due to combined system overflows. We then targeted um-ansewered areas (neighborhoods with septic tanks) and continue to move forward. I also worked to obtain a grant to build a new municipal building and purchase new police vehicles. I worked with community projects like helping to get the Wyoming Monument repaired after it was struck by lightning, developing a West Side Holiday Parade, improved our sanitation collection, implemented a curbside bulk-item pickup, provided residents with new recycling containers, and other recreational activities. For several years we had a successful farmer’s market in the park. However, our main farmers retired and the market closed.

2. After three terms people might get incumbent fatigue, does that concern you?

Not at all. Just because someone is an incumbent isn’t grounds to disfavor them. Incumbents bring experience to the table. Inexperienced candidates often use the incumbent spin as a way to deflect their lack of experience that the incumbent has. If an incumbent is doing their duty, voters should retain them.

3. What are the financial challenges of a small town like Wyoming?

There are many. Perhaps the biggest challenge is infrastructure. All around Northeast PA, residents complain about the roads. Part of the problem is our weather in NE Pennsylvania and how it fosters the creation of potholes. For example, in Wyoming our budget is just a little over $1 million dollars. The cost to repair ONE BLOCK of road and sewer is about $80,000. People don’t realize that the cost to repair a typical street is about $240,000. Four handicapped accessible ramps at an intersection can reach over $20,000 in cost. That’s why a town like Wyoming can only afford to pave 3-4 neighborhoods a year. If any candidate tells voters they will get grants to pave all the roads, they simply aren’t telling the truth. Very few grants specifically target paving. The sewer system grants that are available are extremely competitive. We have obtained somewhere near $1.5 million in sewer repair grants. What complicates the grant process even more is that many of these programs require a match by the municipality, often around 30% of the grant award. That is why we implemented a $200/year sewer fee. That revenue helps keep our sewer infrastructure program moving forward. We are often mandated to perform certain tasks (such as separating sewers from storm lines) but without any funding. The Borough, like many others, needs millions of dollars in repairs and upgrades to our sewers and roads. While the upgrades might be 3-4 neighborhoods a year, we are doing more than has ever been done to address the sewers and roads.

4. You undoubtedly have a lot of political connections, is that good or bad for a Mayor?

I’m proud to say that I know a lot of really good people, some are politicians, most aren’t. My service as the Mayor for 12 years in the town I grew up in, went to school, served as a police officer, and a volunteer ambulance attendant has developed solid relationships and friendships. I’ve helped people through some of the worst times of their lives during emergencies. I take my duties as mayor very seriously. When it right down to it, we should all look upon ourselves as neighbors and work together to improve our communities. We’re all in this together.

5. If elected, what do you think you can do to improve the town?

My focus will continue to be on public safety. The primary duty of a Borough Mayor is to supervise the police department. I am a criminal justice professor and have 30 years of police experience. I am also an American Red Cross volunteer first aid and CPR instructor. I have led the Borough through the Blizzard of 2017 and other storm emergencies. I respond day and night to emergency situations with our emergency service units to assist in any way I can. I started serving Wyoming Borough in 1985 as a volunteer emergency medical technician. We are also working on the first phase of an exciting street-scape grant program for Wyoming Avenue from First to Eighth Street, similar to the City of Pittston’s project.

6. Any future political plans? I would be honored to continue service as the mayor of Wyoming.

Beyond that, I haven’t considered other offices.

REPUBLICAN

JOSEPH DOMINICK

1. You are running against a three term incumbent, what will you do that he hasn’t?

My opinion is that 12 years as an elected official is a very long time to be in office. I believe the incumbent Mayor has had some achievements but not nearly enough for 12 years in office. If elected I will persuade Council to vote on a reduction in the annual sewer maintenance fee for each household. Wyoming is currently collecting approximately $400,000.00 per year in sewer fees. We do need money to maintain the current sewer system but $400,000.00 per year is excessive. My next focus will be on our parks and recreation areas that are in a state of disrepair. The basketball hoops at the John Jude Bolin Park have holes in the back boards and some of the playground equipment requires a tetanus shot before using. I have already organized and completed my first of many community service projects at the Wyoming Free Library last weekend. I was able to coordinate three local companies to donate their time and materials to renovate the landscaping for the front of the building at no cost to the Wyoming Library. I plan to complete at minimum two community service projects in Wyoming per year whether I win or lose this election. I will also meet with the members of the Wyoming / West Wyoming Little League and help coordinate renovation projects for their baseball fields. Mayor Boyer was very unfair to the little league association by not allowing them to accept donated services for the three baseball fields located on Colonial Drive in Wyoming. I plan to work with all local organizations and give them the tools they need to succeed
My overall plan also includes street paving projects. Our streets are currently a disgrace and the blatant favoritism that exists on when and where a street is paved needs to come to end. My paving plan includes following a similar model to the Forty Fort DPW who has brought the majority of their paving in-house and is currently saving their taxpayers nearly 60% on paving costs. If we follow this model it will result in more roads being paved for less money. We have a very skilled street department staff who I believe is more than capable to bring street paving in-house.
Finally, the speeding and reckless driving problem in Wyoming needs to be brought under control with an increased police presence on our main roads and side streets. Our police department will write more tickets in my first year in office then they have in the last five years combined.
My plans will not happen overnight but if elected Mayor, I will put in the time and effort to achieve these goals and help start the revitalization of Wyoming.


2. A lot of people like your signs, how creative do you think you can get running Wyoming?

I have many creative ideas that will improve the safety and quality of life for our residents at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers. We don’t need to spend a lot of money to begin the revitalization process of Wyoming. I have a tremendous number of supporters who are asking to volunteer their time to start the process of revitalizing Wyoming. My first idea is to establish a traffic and safety committee and also a Fire and Ambulance Committee using volunteers from within our borough. I then plan to immediately re-establish our Wyoming Recreation Board which is currently inactive. I have already received at least five people who would like to serve on the recreation board. Residents that are willing to give back and volunteer their time will be the key to our success.

3. What are your goals and plans if you are successful?

My primary goal is to eliminate the corruption and favoritism that has been going on in Wyoming for many years. In addition, I plan to:
•Work continuously to have our streets paved based on their severity and not based on which elected official lives there.
•Make sure our parks and recreation areas are safe for our children and you will no longer need a tetanus shot to use some of our playground equipment.
•Put pressure on council to restore our in-town ambulance service to Wyoming.
•Continuously apply for any grant that is available to Wyoming that will benefit our community
•Pressure council to not raise your taxes. I will cut all frivolous spending in the borough to avoid a tax increase and use that savings towards our streets and parks.
•Shine a spot light on anything going on in Wyoming that is not 100% legal and ethical and bring everything to the public’s attention.

4. As you campaign hard, and I hear you’re meeting a lot of people, what are borough residents telling you?

The consensus is Mayor Boyer has lost touch with the voters who placed him in office. Some of the residents I have spoken with feel very dejected and upset about the current state of our borough. Many believe there is too much behind the scenes dealings within the current administration. Another hot topic they often bring up is that our borough is currently under an investigation into corruption and bid rigging by the PA State Police Organized Crime division. The majority of people are saddened that Wyoming is being associated with corruption by a select few and they would like to see the dignity that Wyoming once stood for restored.

5. As a newcomer how would you address the financial challenges a small town like Wyoming faces?

I will work with council to run Wyoming Borough in a fiscally responsible manner. I will cut all frivolous spending happening within the borough. I will encourage council to no longer award “No Bid Contracts”. A borough should be run like a business. We can’t spend more than we take in. We will follow a budget for every department going forward.

6. If you win, the first change you’d make in the town?

If elected, my first order of business will be to ask council to vote on performing a forensic audit of all Wyoming Boroughs finances. This audit is necessary to track where our tax dollars have been going. Council should have no reason to not perform an audit but if council should refuse, then I will personally visit every residence in Wyoming and let the people know that their council members are refusing to have our boroughs finances professionally reviewed. We need to get to the bottom of where our tax dollars have been going and I promise the results of this forensic audit will be made public to each and every resident of Wyoming. Improprieties need to be investigated and if found, we need to hold the responsible people accountable for their actions. Elected officials are put in place to represent the people. If they don’t represent our best interests with the highest level of integrity then we have the option to elect someone new. After a forensic audit is completed I plan to tackle streets, parks, and recreation areas one at a time.