By Marlene McTigue
For Capital Region Independent Media
RAVENA — The village board will bid farewell to one of its board members come April. Village Trustee Joe Ganley has opted not to run for a second term in office.
Ganley completed a questionnaire about his decision not to seek re-election.
- How long did you serve?
I served 3.5 years. The election was delayed six months due to COVID-19.
- Why did you decide not to see another term?
I wanted to spend more time and focus on my family.
- What were the biggest challenges you faced as a trustee?
Besides ignorance, arrogance and egos, the biggest challenge we faced was limited resources with a growing list of priorities. The number one priority any locality faces is an aging infrastructure. Historic communities such as Ravena, Coeymans, and New Baltimore are faced with crumbling roads and cracked pipes.
If a municipality has a faulty infrastructure it will ultimately deal with rampant blight. To meet the needs of the residents, businesses and community organizations, continuing to invest in infrastructure is critical.
- What are the positive changes you feel like you made over the course of your tenure?
While there have been many things I am proud of in government service, facilitating the drinking water feasibility study was at the top of my list.
After the incidents in Hoosic Falls, NY, and Flint, MI, clean drinking water was an issue I was concerned with in this community. The volume of industrialized businesses is always a concern for water sources. Through this study and its findings, we confirmed that the source of the water supply for Ravena was clean for consumption.
When I read the results of the study, I was surprised at how relieved I felt! We are fortunate to have such resources.