Many of the same issues that have been facing the village for years were again the topic of discussion Tuesday evening.

The four village board hopefuls came together in a League of Women Voters sponsored Candidate's Night to answer questions from village residents who will select two members of the board of trustees later this month.

The event drew a larger than normal crowd on a snowy March night to hear incumbents Madalyn Cimino and Milo Stewart, Jr. and challengers Jeffrey Katz and Paul Kuhn express their views.

All four candidates, both those born and raised in Cooperstown and those who have moved here, professed their deep love for the community and Otsego Lake during their opening statements.

"It's wonderful to raise my family and keep my roots in the town I grew up in," said Stewart.

The first question from the audience came from young Josh Pearlman, who asked about a state grant for the parks and whether the youth of the community should be consulted about how the money will be spent.

Jeff Katz commented that village officials should talk to kids about what they want.

"If I stand for anything, it is getting everyone's ideas," he said.

Stewart, the chairman of the parks board, said he would like to establish a youth forum to find out what the kids want.

"It's up to the youth who will use the area to have input," said Madalyn Cimino.

Paul Kuhn added that he feels strongly that the youth of the community should have a place they can get together so they don't have to stand out in Pioneer Park.

One theme which cropped up often during the evening was the belief Cooperstown often paid more than its fair share or was shortchanged when it came to revenue sharing.

It was a view summed up by Katz, who said he was told by a resident during campaigning that "Cooperstown is one of the most exploited places."

Funding for the village library is one example that was brought up by Hugh MacDougall, who asked how the village could get outlying communities which use the library to help pay for it.

There are a lot of these kinds of issues, said Kuhn, who added that the board needs to look at the legalities of what can be done.

Former mayor Wendell Tripp asked if the candidates would be willing to cut the library hours to demonstrate to other municipalities that the village needs help with funding.

Stewart, Cimino and Kuhn all said they would hate to see the hours curtailed.

"I would rather live with it than cut it to the bare bones," said Kuhn.

Katz, while admitting his willingness to cut hours was not a popular stance, said it was one of the tools the village had to apply pressure.

"There are things the village could play hardball with," he said. "It's like the sales tax. No one is going to give you money if they don't have to."

How to increase the village's share of the sale tax revenue to help offset the costs associated with tourism was discussed at length. All four candidates were in agreement that the village must continue what has become a frustrating battle for additional revenue.

"I want to give the mayor credit for pursuing this. It needs to be resolved," Cimino said. "It's a lot of money and we need to do something.

Kuhn said the village probably generates more sales tax revenue per capita than any other community and should "be getting far, far more than we are."

Katz reiterated his belief that the village must continue to apply pressure on the county for a greater share of the sales tax and suggested waging a public relations battle.

"I keep seeing the headlines: 'Otsego County killing the goose that laid the golden egg,"' he said.

Charles Bateman, Cooperstown's representative on the county board, suggested that the county attorney should meet with the village board to explain how and why the revenue is distributed the way it is so officials would have a better understanding.

Katz was asked by Nancy Potter what he had learned while going to door-to-door to introduce himself to residents.

"I think people do want to get more involved, but I think they're not sure how to get involved," he said.

Katz also said that another recurring comment was that the village seems to decide things on a case-by-case basis rather than setting a firm policy that applies across the board.

Kuhn, who also has been going to door-to-door, said he has heard from many older residents that getting around on village sidewalks is difficult. Problems arise when property owners fail to clear snow and ice, despite the village ordinance, and also the general condition of some of the sidewalks.

Cimino said the village has a list of sidewalks waiting to be replaced, but that it is also a matter of money.

Candidates were asked if anything could be done about the loss of year-around rental housing which now often caters to the Dreams Park. All four were sympathetic to the plight of those residents in need of rental housing, but none of them had a solution.

Wendell Tripp also asked if the candidates would be willing to use tax dollars to support the trolley system if it became necessary in the future.

"If the trolleys are shuttling visitors to the Hall of Fame, perhaps the Hall of Fame needs to contribute," said Katz. "They need to be convinced they are an interested party - that they are part of the solution."

Stewart agreed with Katz and said he would also like to see the trolley system expanded to include more stops that residents might find useful for shopping and healthcare.

Cimino said that before using public funds, she would try and work something out with the county.

While he did not commit to the use of public funds, Kuhn said he didn't know what the village would do without the trolleys.

"It would be chaos," he said.

And it wouldn't have been a Candidate's Night without talk about the perennial parking problems in the village.

Kuhn and the other candidates were hopeful some of those problems would be addressed by the $5 million federal grant for a visitor center and parking lot at the Linden Avenue extension.

Stewart said he believes that it will require a combination of measures to solve the problem and was optimistic that residents would see improvements in the future.

The village election will be held on Tuesday, March 15. The polls will open from noon to 9 p.m.

The last day to register to vote in the election is Friday, March 4. Village residents must register with the county board of elections by that date to cast their ballot. Registration forms are online on the county's website, otsegocounty.com. Forms may be printed, completed and filed at the board of elections office in the basement of the county courthouse on Main Street. For more registration information, call the board of elections at 547-4247.