Fiercely Independent
Eric has a proven record of working across the aisle, collaborating with conflicting groups and standing up against entrenched and intractable interests.
Eric has been a leader in protecting Poestenkill residents due the PFOA contamination in our community. He was the only elected official (federal, state, county or local) to host a public meeting in the weeks after the contamination became public in early 2021, and start demanding answers.
He hosted this event, on his own, bringing together nationally recognized experts, local advocates and brought enough attention to force the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to the table.
Fighting for Poestenkill
Eric stood alone as a leader in fighting for the people of Poestenkill, urging the Poestenkill Town Board to take a proactive role and standing up to New York State leaders. Eric proposed the Town of Poestenkill pay for water tests and demand answers from the NYSDEC. Eric has been critical of what he has said is the NYDEC's reluctant investigation and unwillingness to work seriously to find the source of PFOA contamination in town.
Protecting Tax Payers
When a proposal for Poestenkill to construct and maintain a county-wide dog shelter at the Waste Management Transfer Station was proposed Eric asked questions about a business plan, projected costs and potential liabilities. Despite not getting clear or comprehensive answers to important questions, including how the Town Board would protect Poestenkill tax payers from ultimately footing the bill for other towns, the Poestenkill Town Board voted 4-1 to approve the shelter. Once again, Eric stood up for Poestenkill tax payers and stood alone among local elected officials, voting against the measure.
More than a dozen Poestenkill residents took action, circulating a petition to force a town-wide vote on the proposed dog shelter. This group secured nearly 300 signatures of residents who wanted Eric's questions answered. This vote would have given all the residents in Poestenkill the final say on whether to move forward with the proposed dog shelter. Facing this opposition, the Town Board quickly shelved the proposed dog shelter.
Standing Alone
In 2022, the Poestenkill Town Board voted 4-1 to pass a zoning law that allowed for commercial lumber processing to begin in an area directly next to a neighborhood. Eric voted against this measure.
Eric stood clear and alone in his objection to this law. He argued it would have a negative impact on tax paying residents, who bought their home knowing this type of heavy lumbering was not allowed in the area. By passing this law the Town Board made this type of business allowable, over clear and sustained objections by the property owners, who have been negatively impacted.
After this ill-advised law was passed, the Town of Poestenkill was sued. After months of legal costs to the town, a judge ruled in favor of the Poestenkill resident who brought the lawsuit. The Town Board voted to approve a $225,000 settlement for infringing on the rights of a town resident.