Meet the Candidate: Barbara Carr

Barbara carr – Sleepy Hollow – Incumbent Trustee

Barbara Carr has been living in the Webber Park area of Sleepy Hollow for 11 years. She owns a software development company that specializes in business management solutions for advertising agencies. Prior to coming to the village she lived in Manhattan. Carr went to school in Omaha, Nebraska to become a registered nurse. She is finishing her first term in office and is looking for a second.

1) Name some of your proudest accomplishments in office.

I'm on the finance committee and have been for the entire two years. We've kept the taxes considerably lower than the prior administration. Last year it was 1.5 percent. We're in the budget process again and we're trying to keep the budget low. That is what we're working on. Also, along with fellow trustee Karin Wompa, we've begun to revitalize and reconstitute the Environmental Advisory Committee. Their work has been important for the village.

2) Can you name any mistakes that have been made over the past two years, or things you would do differently? 

Mistakes? I don't think so. We've been very deliberate about all of our actions. We've had public hearing after public hearing on issues, on traffic, about GM and about the enacting of leaf blower laws. I can't think of one. We've been very deliberate in all of our actions. 

3) What do you think of the opposition's view that Village government is not open enough to the people and it's hard to get involved?

I'm not sure where they are coming from on that. We've taken the village board work sessions out to different areas in the community. The board meetings are always open to people to attend and they are on the website. There have been 600 or more volunteers for village events like the 10k, the Sprint Triathlon and Halloween. The two Manor associations send out information as well, so I'm not sure what hasn't been explained well enough.

4) Do you think there have been mistakes in the GM process or that it could be gone about in a different way?

I know some people said that we didn't answer them, but public hearings are that, for any resident to speak their opinion about something. They are not for us to then say something and reply. That is not how, structurally, they work. We spent an entire work session taking the points people had raised and replying to them in great detail. So I don't know how it could be any more open. This whole process is binders and binders full of stuff, boxes full. Anyone who wants to read it can. Which is what I did myself. I know that is very possible and doable.

5) Do you think it is a liability to continue with hearings against suspended Sleepy Hollow Police Detective Jose Quinoy?

One of the former Chiefs of Police brought charges and it is our responsibility legally, to have a hearing. So, that is what we're in the middle of doing now. We said we would make ourselves available for the hearing, but it's up to counsel to work that out.

6) Can you name some state mandates that unfairly affect the budget of the village? 

The state has big problems of their own and they are going to have to work that out. I don't really have a comment beyond that. 

7) Downtown revitalization has been a big issue. What is your take on  how will this affect the Spanish-speaking population of the inner village?

That question has been raised to us over the last few years. We told them it is not our intention to have people leave. We're interested in having vital, successful businesses. There is no reason to want anything other than successful businesses. It's where they live, it's what they do, they are succeeding. There is nothing we're doing that will remove any businesses.

8) If reelected what would you consider to be your two-year agenda?

The most important thing is moving forward with GM and seeing how we can do that. Paramount is water, getting agreements and finding a way to build additional water capacity for the village. Those are the biggest issues.

I think the other thing that will happen over the next two years is more action with the Environmental Advisory Committee. There will be more initiatives they take on, which I think is good for all of us. It adds to the health of the community.

9) How do you feel about shared services? Do you approve of the proposed plan to consolidate the Parks and Recreation departments of the two villages and the school district under the leadership of TUFSD? 

We committed to be fiscally responsible and it is our responsibility to look at any legal way that could keep the same services, and/or provide better services, and reduce the cost of those services. We feel that responsibility based on our commitment to the voters of Sleepy Hollow.

We just recently received the report. With GM going, we haven't had a focus on it. We'll be reviewing it and having discussions and public hearings to decide if it is the right thing to do. That is the next thing coming up very shortly.

10) Are there any final comments or issues you think are important that you would like to share with our readers?

There have been discussions and questions as to why we've had four Police Chiefs in the past two years. When we came into office two years ago, there was an active investigation by the FBI focused at the police department. The chief at the time, we felt he needed to go because he was the leader during the time this investigation began. We needed someone to step up for an interim period who would not continue as chief. Then we were extremely fortunate to bring in Chief Kapica to bring stability to the department. His other assignment was to make recommendations on who his replacement should be. So on February 1, we brought in Chief Greg Camp. It's not like it was done willy nilly, there was a clear objective.