Declaration of Candidacy for Membership, the Saltaire Board of Trustees

Frank Wolf

        Apart from the preservation of the beach itself, the most important challenge facing Saltaire is how to preserve its essential character at the same time that it adapts itself appropriately to the changing interests, tastes, and concerns of its citizens and the challenges posed by the sea and the natural wetland environments of Fire Island.

What are the essential characteristics that I would hope to preserve?

Aesthetics - a second-home village of charming wooden walks arched by greenery with a minimum of motorized vehicles; a low density of population; a continued preponderance of modest understated houses which blend into the unique beach environment in which they are set; a strong sense of community which leaves room for those with varying tastes and interests and which is premised on the assumption that Saltaire should remain a village of beach houses and open land which is friendly, open, and safe for children and adults of all ages; and a simple, uncommercialized and quiet place without group rentals which does not seek to replicate all the conveniences, and distractions of mainland life.
Informality - Free of the social class stratification which characterizes other Long Island second-home communities, Saltaire should remain a place where bare feet, shorts and a tee shirt are de rigueur, and where people of multiple backgrounds feel free to join in the social life of the Village to the extent they wish.
The Beach - Our most precious asset is the clean and glorious ocean and bay beaches which protect all our property and constitute the single most important recreational asset for walkers, runners, swimmers, boaters, surfers, fishers, and those who simply love the water.

Where do I stand on the issues which have been debated in recent years in Saltaire?

Mosquitoes - I hate them. I think we should do everything we can which is ecologically responsible to reduce their presence and the health risks they can pose Deer - I personally love seeing them roam through Saltaire. Nonetheless, we do need to be concerned about their numbers and to let those who wish to garden fence off reasonable portions of their property.
Personal Water Craft, Super Power Boats, and Seaplanes - Saltaire should continue to prohibit their presence in the waters adjacent to Saltaire
Barbecueing - While I don't personally miss the option of barbecueing, and would prefer that the ban on barbecues should continue, I think that this is an issue on which majority rule should prevail with one vote per household. I do believe it would be possible to craft a regulation which would allow barbecueing in a safe way, and I think the Board should hold a referendum on this issue every five years, and abide by the outcome of the referendum for the upcoming five year period. So long as the ban on barbecueing remains in effect, I believe Security should enforce the restriction by issuing citations for those who violate the ban.
Navy Walk - I oppose building through Navy Walk or any other walk where a majority of the residents oppose such a step. Rather, I believe the Village should develop more flexible fire fighting and emergency service equipment such that we increase our capacity to deal with fires when they arise. Furthermore, I believe we should be much more aggressive about fire prevention, especially the prevention of electrically generated fires. We should pursue improved surge-free service from LIPA, and develop a multi-year plan for burying electrical and telephone wires village wide.
Zoning and Development - The preservation of Saltaire's physical and social character depends on continued vigorous enforcement of the Saltaire code to discourage a proliferation of houses, and to control what development does take place.
DEC/Fire Island National Seashore/Robert Moses State Park issues - I believe the Village should continue to pursue its litigation challenging the DEC's declaration of substantial portions of the Village as salt- and fresh-water wetlands. I believe that the Village should work with the Seashore to reduce the vehicular traffic passing along the Saltaire beach and into the Village, and should lobby for an extension to homeowners without FINS permits of the opportunity to park overnight off-season in Parking Lot #5 of Robert Moses State Park.
Driving Permits - I believe the Village should not increase beyond the current limit of 12 the number of year-round families to whom are issued permits to operate motor vehicles in Saltaire, nor should the Village take any other steps to encourage growth in the number of year-round residents in the Village.
Saltaire's Flood Mitigation Plan -- The current Mayor and Board of Trustees have served the Village well in their development of the plan which may result in some funding to assist the Village and its residents to take steps by which the damage from floods can be reduced. I would be inclined to support variances which would permit older structures not in compliance with current National Flood Insurance guidelines with respect to the distance between the bottom floor and the floodplain, i.e., to elevate such structures except where such a step would impose a hardship on neighboring property owners.

Why am I running for the Board of Trustees?

        I am not running against anyone. In fact, I believe we have been very well served by the Mayor and the current members of the Board of Trustees. All but one of the current members of the Board have served for multiple terms. While this continuity provides many advantages, I also believe it is useful to have new members periodically. From time to time, I do think the Board has left some issues unaddressed for too long, though I recognize that not all problems need fixing. I might be somewhat more inclined than others to make a decision and implement it.
        I believe we are well served by the Village Administrator and those working in the Village office, by the Volunteer Fire Department, and by the Village employees. Nonetheless, I think it important that there be procedures to assure that the will of the voters of Saltaire as expressed by the Board of Trustees is followed, even where members of the Village administration would prefer another decision.
         Finally, I'm running because I deeply value Saltaire and the role it plays in my life. I very much want to keep it as it is for future generations of my own family and for those who will come after us.

What experience would I bring to the Board?

        Saltaire is filled with extraordinarily talented and accomplished people. There are lots of people who would be terrific Trustees, if they were interested. I am interested, and when I commit to doing something, I follow through. Nonetheless, I would not claim that my experience uniquely qualifies me to be a member of the Board. Below I give you the basic facts about my connection to Saltaire and my professional and volunteer life.

Saltaire - rented 1977-1983; bought my house in 1983
Education: BA, Williams College; BA, Oxford; Ph.D. Columbia University
Current Position: Dean, Continuing Education and Special Programs, Columbia University (responsible for 50 full-time employees and over 400 part-time faculty; a school enrolling in excess of 5,500 students per year; revenues of $23 million and operating budget of $12 million/year)

Volunteer Experience:

1960-62. Recreation Volunteer, Berkshire Farm School for Boys, a residential facility for minors convicted of violent crimes -- ran a stamp club, visiting every two weeks from September to May 1960-62.
Volunteer French teacher, Grades 3-6, in a one-room school house in Hancock, Mass. -- taught once a week from September to May
1969-71. President, Tenants Association of Westgate Apartments, a 400-unit Mitchell-Lama rental building in Manhattan
1981. Solicitor for the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, Morris County, N.J. 1982-3. Member of fund-raising committee for the American Friends of Worcester College, Oxford for the College's first capital campaign
1986-87. Member of the finance committee for the Williams College Class of 1962 Reunion Fund
1990-92. Member, Board of Directors, Columbia Committee for Community Service, a Morningside Heights Charity which raises money for community organizations in the Columbia University neighborhood; Chairman, Appeals Committee, 1991-1992
1988-1996. Crisis Management Partner, Gay Men's Health Crisis. Worked with agency clients afflicted with AIDS; Team Leader responsible for 10-17 other volunteers, 1989-96; Chair, Executive Committee, Team Leaders' Caucus, 1990; 1992-93
1998-99. Member, Saltaire Fire Safety Committee
1999-present. Member, Saltaire Planning Commission