Apel's Motto: Speak Shortly and Carry a Pleasant Schtick

New Mayor George Apel has already made good on two campaign promises.

He's spending a lot of time in the office and he's been anything but long-winded.

He admits, of course that at 76 and long retired from Pratt & Whitney, his situation certainly makes that possible.

"But that's why I talked about it in the campaign," Apel said in a recent interview.

He also jokes about having "the shortest mayoral oath ever." It was a two sentence, to-the-point statement he wants to transcend to the bigger picture.

"I am a great admirer of Lincoln," Apel said. "And he certainly did that at Gettysburg. I know we had a fairly abbreviated agenda at the first Town Council meeting, but I think I have made it clear that we will all have opportunities for honest debate."

Apel is quick with the gavel to call a meeting to order and likes to keep conversations moving. He also made it a point to personally welcome each member of the Democratic majority (his Republicans hold a 7-5 advantage on the Town Council) to the first meeting.

"It's very important to relieve tension," Apel said. 

When asked what his biggest challenge will be, Apel is quick to answer "taxes." This year, property taxes are down an average of $15 town-wide.

"It's going to be tough, but we will try to keep taxes down as much as possible," he said.

Apel was the chief negotiator for the Board of Education until he was elected mayor in November and knows there will be no magical federal jobs grant like the $1.2 million that went to the teachers a couple of years ago when the police contract is up at the end of this fiscal year.

The cops are currently working on a one-year extension.

Five smaller unions will also be seeking new collective bargaining agreements in the next fiscal year.

"it will be a fairly active year," he said.

For now, though, Apel will be leading Vernon through the holiday period while its residents are still cleaning up from an October snowstorm.

And he will keep his speeches short, starting with  the annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday.

"Brevity is a lost art," Apel said. "I pride myself on  being brief."

Oh yes. There's on other thing.

"I want to have fun in this office," he said.

Even in those negotiating sessions?

"It's my way of promoting teamwork," he said. "We are all in this to make the town a better place."