Trustee Candidate Q&A: Mary Bess Phillips

With the Greenport Village Board election taking place Tuesday -- and three candidates vying for two open seats -- Patch did a Q&A with each candidate. Here, in their own words, they describe their experience, platforms -- and why they believe they are the right candidate to win a trustee seat on the board.

Mary Bess Phillips

Q: Provide a brief bio.

A: I was born, raised and educated on Long Island. I am a wife and mother, currently in the commercial fishing industry with husband Mark Phillips. Past accomplishments: Past board president for Cornell Cooperative of Suffolk County, past chairman for Village Zoning Board of Appeals, past chairman of Historic, and a planning board member. Past board member Long Island Farm Bureau. Currently a Village Trustee.

Q) Can you please give me a brief summation of your platform, and why you chose to run?

A) I chose to run four years ago to deal with the debt issue that was facing us in 2014 as a first goal. The second was  bringing the Village Hall management instrastucture into the 21st century for information and communication to be accessible. Our Village has gone through periods of re-inventing itself. I am asking for your vote to continue the vision of a village with an active downtown, year round. Capital improvement to residential areas with decent sidewalks, roads and lighting, along with projects and policies moving forward that must be fiscally responsible with as much communication as possible to make sound decisions.

Q) What do you think are the biggest issues facing Greenport right now?

The need to continue looking into our financial situation and dealing with debt.   When first elected I was told that the 2014 debt was not a fixable situation. In doing research and asking questions, I was able to push forward the re-funding of the obligation bonds so that we have some breathing space in dealing with the payment that was due in 2014. I was not looking forward to a possible 25 percent tax increase on property taxes in that year. We need to look for sustainable business/industries. Our residential community needs attention for a quality of life that we should expect as a village. Overcrowding by absentee landlords and rental safety issues need to be discussed, but with a great amount of input from the community.

Q) How do you feel about the parking meter discussion?

A) The communicated word from the community, they didn’t want that perception to visitors of the village. But that doesn’t solve the problem parking that spill out into the residential areas at times. I am not in favor of meters, but I do believe that our residents – residential or commercial – need to speak their thoughts at the beginning of the process. On this subject or any other.

Q) What do you think about beer in Mitchell Park? 

A) The question should be, is alcohol consumption an accepted practice to allow in Mitchell Park? The product is available at other properties in the downtown district. The open space of Mitchell Park is there for all to view and enjoy. Event planners should be promoting the village and networking with local business as their suppliers.

Q) What is your stance on health benefits for village board members?

A) My action speaks louder than words.  Have my own company medical insurance coverage.

Q) How do you believe a balance can be maintained between new tourism and business and maintaining the village's history and small-town flavor? On that vein, do you believe outside commercial ventures should be able to utilize the village's fishing docks?

A) The Village Business Improvement District is currently  involved in discussing that very subject. Communication and networking with each other, as residents, commercial enterprise owners and government officials will develop into the re-inventing that the Village does to survive.

Q) What do you think should be done in regard to the lack of reliable public transportation on the North Fork?

A) Currently Suffolk County and the Long Island Railroad are in the Village as public transportation. We need to continue communication to the Suffolk County Legislature that bus routes seven days a week are important to our community.

Q) Do you think crime in the village is a problem and if so, what can be done? 

A) Crime in the village has started to intensify over the winter months. Communication over the past few years has increased with the village government. I am not a law enforcement expert, but we do need to obtain information and guidance from those in the field to help us deal with situations.

Q) Why should voters choose you on Election Night?

A) I want to continue working for you, reviewing the past, to deal with the present, to plan for the future with the same effort of activity, spirit, and dedication that you all have observed during my first term as trustee.