To the Editor:

I, Richard Risley, am a candidate for Town of Webb Supervisor and will appear at the bottom of the ballot on the “Have a Voice” independent line.

It is with pleasure that I have served two 4-year terms as your Town Councilman—terms that have encompassed 12 years of important Town of Webb issues.

Among those were ongoing concerns such as the TOBIE path, which includes the Eagle Bay Welcome Center; the East Side sewer pump station; Lock & Dam; and the navigation dock replacements.

Also the replacement of the North Street Pavilion and the Health Center roof.

As your Supervisor, I will improve local heath care, as the current model does not meet community needs.

The current staff is great, as are the doctors.

But today’s climate calls for improvement.

More than one hospital entity has shown interest in managing our Health Center.

The final decision will be based on you, the community, and thankfully our local doctors are committed to assist.

Personally, I would like to allow additional hours of operation, along with part-time specialists that include a dermatologist. Dr. Martin is certainly missed.

Our facility needs to accept ALL insurances for payment, including self-pay.

We can do this.

Hospitals are better able to operate at a loss locally, while recouping costs elsewhere—MRIs, CT scans, operations, etc.

Our loss amounts to more than $400,000 per year, locally, without any way to recoup.

It’s time to hand this operation over to an outfit that can provide needed services at a profit, and relieve the local taxpayer.

It can be done.

I hope to correct this lingering problem as your next Supervisor.

On a related note, we need to create a TOWN-WIDE DISASTER PLAN.

We NEED this.

Such a plan would encompass the School’s disaster plan— including school shootings— Herkimer County’s disaster plan, as well as a new partnership with Town of Webb Police and Fire Departments.

Each entity needs a plan and, overall, we need a partnership. One hand must know what the other hand is doing in any number of disaster scenarios. Absolutely.

If road closures occurred, how would we handle medical emergencies? Which agencies would take charge?

A plan needs to be drawn up now, not when a disaster actually happens.

I have an understanding of our town’s needs. I have ideas. And I am the only candidate with Town Board experience.

Please consider voting for me for Town of Webb Supervisor on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th.

Thank you,

Richard Risley, Candidate for Town of Webb Supervisor