Marc Galvin (top left), Colin Hayes (top right), Jackie Kelly (bottom left), Scott Monroe (bottom right) (Photos provided)

Marc Galvin

Occupation: Owner and operator of The Bookstore Plus and Blue Line Book Exchange

Position sought: Village trustee

Party: Teamwork

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Why are you running for this position?

I’ve been appointed to many village work groups over the years to help with different initiatives. I’d like to serve as a trustee this next term to contribute my many years of management and people skills to the many projects Lake Placid has in the works: the Main Street redesign, affordable housing projects, Route 86 resurface, to name a few. Open communication during these times is going to be vital to the success of these projects.

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What are your qualifications?

I have management experience at a Fortune 500 business. I’ve also co-owned The Bookstore Plus since 2006 and just started a new wholesale and distribution company. I’ve been on the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism board the past nine years, including serving on the executive board as treasurer the past two years. I am also the current vice president and secretary for the Lake Placid Business Association and have served several terms as president.

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What are your main goals?

To be accessible to residents in the village. Being transparent in communication on anything that is happening at the village level.

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What do you think are the three biggest problems in the village, and how do you propose solving them?

1. Affordable housing: Staying involved with the multiple projects that are in the pipeline, making sure they meet the needs for Lake Placid.

2. Access to the village center: I want to continue the conversation on parking improvements. Revenues from parking go directly into the general fund, reducing village taxes. Adding more parking will improve access to Main Street businesses and decrease taxes with the additional parking revenue. Also working to improve shuttle service.

3. Helping businesses get through the Main Street reconstruction following a challenging time for most with COVID. It will be important to stay in contact with businesses and figure out ways to help on the village level.

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Other comments to voters:

The Bookstore Plus is a hub on Main Street. I enjoy talking to the many residents that support our store. I am easy to find and happy to discuss any concerns Lake Placid residents may have.

I know there will be a learning curve as a new trustee, and I look forward to learning from Peter (Holdereid) and Jason (Leon), who have several years board experience.

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Colin Hayes

Occupation: Grounds maintenance at Lake Placid Lodge

Position sought: Village trustee

Party: A New Vision

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Why are you running for this position?

I’m running for trustee because I feel it’s long overdue that someone with a youthful voice and new vision runs for office. We need our younger voices to be heard, and having one on the board could provide an alleyway for other young voices to want to become involved.

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What are your qualifications?

Well, in all honesty, in terms of much of what typically “qualifies” someone for this, I don’t have much to speak of. However, I do feel as if my background in the community — whether it be volunteering at the Tri-Lakes Relay for Life, hosting a fundraiser for the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital or being a fourth-generation graduate of Lake Placid High School — speaks for itself. I possess a new set of ideas, a fresh look and a new vision that our village could have.

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What are your main goals?

My main goals are to address parking, workforce housing and transparency. Overall, I’d like to be a communicative voice for the community. I feel that our board members should always be willing to speak for hours on end with their constituents, and if I am elected, I will more than happily speak to you for as long as you want or need, and my communication lines will always be open. With parking, we need reform in such ways that we allow our locals to find spots for their jobs on Main Street, without taking away from spots for visitors that are coming and giving their business to our local shops, restaurants and more. Workforce housing is difficult in that the balance between affordable and profitable needs to be very defined. We need our residents to actually be able to live here, but we also need to make sure that we aren’t losing money in the long run.

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What do you think are the three biggest problems in the village, and how do you propose solving them?

I’d say our biggest problems are exactly what I am running on — parking, housing and transparency. Across the spectrum of these issues, we need to find ways to bridge the gap between creating an environment that welcomes tourists and creates business for them, but also recreate a sense of community in our village that has been lost in the recent years. I plan on using all my effort into doing just that, bridging the gap.

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Other comments to voters:

On March 16, we have an opportunity here in the village that can determine the future of our community. A new vision means more than just some kid running for local notoriety — it’s about being able to provide a fresh set of eyes, new ideas and a new perspective to our village doings, but also about providing a method of communication for our young voters in Lake Placid. Many have said that the youth hold the keys to the future. Well, if that’s true, then it’s time we turn those keys and open the doors.

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Jackie Kelly

Occupation: Lake Placid Conference Center manager, New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority

Position sought: Village trustee

Party: Teamwork

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Why are you running for this position?

I have been witnessing the forward momentum of Lake Placid, and it is important to me to be in the village trustee position where I can contribute to the management of this growth. We need board members who recognize the importance of cooperation and teamwork to achieve our goals. A diverse board will provide a global perspective that incorporates the viewpoints of our demographic.

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What are your qualifications?

My professional career has spanned management and support positions in the private and public sector. Currently working for the state of New York, I have a complete understanding of the policies, protocols and ethics that are the framework of the best practices of government management. As a resident of Lake Placid and a member of the Joint Review Board, I have witnessed the substantial transformation of Lake Placid’s landscape. This experience has given me an excellent platform for assessing change. As trustee, I would utilize these skills to steer meaningful discussions and initiate a common purpose.

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What are your main goals?

If elected to the village board, I would ask the board to work in conjunction with the Lake Placid/North Elba Community Development Commission, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and the town of North Elba to develop a long-term vision, mapping a course for sustainable growth for the entire community. Every project and event should be evaluated based on impacts to the community, financial benefits, quality of life and community character. As trustee, I will have the responsibility of weighing the best interests of residents and visitors when making development and community character related decisions. I will encourage all residents to become involved based upon this shared vision.

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What do you think are the three biggest problems in the village, and how do you propose solving them?

Short-term rentals, affordable housing and parking are at the forefront of everyone’s list. We are making headway in all of these areas. I currently sit on an ad-hoc committee that has been tasked with the review of the land use code. A revision of the code, if approved, will impact how we manage short-term rentals. Also in development are two projects that will provide much-needed workforce housing as well as affordable housing along Wesvalley Road. The reconstruction of Main Street will lend itself to future additional parking.

In addition to the above issues, we also need to consider the following concerns:

¯ Employee recruitment and retention: Employees are the single greatest asset for any business. The village is no exception. Sustaining an engaged workforce in a small community is challenging. Every business in our area is pulling from the same labor pool. Providing a competitive compensation package is not enough. The management of village employees needs to include all the tools to be successful, such as personal as well as professional advancement, training, recognition and a safe work environment.

¯ Event fatigue: Prior to the pandemic, the general discussion community wide was in regard to the large-scale events held throughout the year. The infusion of participants of these events alongside our normal tourism has the potential to place additional burdens on the taxpayer and compromise the experiences of our visitor. Having a destination management plan in place that respects the needs of our residents, without compromising our tourism-based economy, will be crucial to the economic stability of Lake Placid.

¯ Mirror Lake watershed: The village needs to be vigilant about the health of our watershed. As recently as November, an algal bloom was discovered in Mirror Lake. Healthy watersheds provide critical services that support economies, the environment and quality of life. The village must continue to support initiatives that reduces or eliminates pollutants entering our waterways.

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Scott Monroe

Occupation: Retired police chief

Position sought: Village trustee

Party: Common Sense

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Why are you running for this position?

Giving back to the community and a more diversified board

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What are your qualifications?

¯ Six years as village police chief, which required me to assemble a yearly budget and have budget meetings with board members

¯ Eight years a village trustee, dealing with all aspects of the internal operations of the village

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What are your main goals?

¯ Continue working with department heads and providing them the necessary tools to keep Lake Placid current.

¯ Keep property taxes flat.

¯ Continue to provide independent opinions and ideas.

¯ Better board transparency with the community.

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What do you think are the three biggest problems in the village, and how do you propose solving them?

1. Property taxes: Need to have reasonable spending and increased revenues by increasing fee schedule that has not changed since 2009 (i.e., meter rates, parking fines ). Gated parking system at big municipal parking lot that would increase revenue and reduce the need for enforcement and less parking summons issued. Establish a fund balance policy.

2. Parking: Gated parking system at the big municipal parking lot, build a parking structure, improve the transportation system.

3. Short-term rentals: They have eroded many areas within the village. I think there needs to be a moratorium on any new permits being issued in residential areas, redistricting of the land use code. Lower the number of days that can be rented in residential areas unless it is a hosted property. If the property is sold, the permit expires.