Evers Does it Again!

Another week and another town board special meeting. Mark Evers can’t seem to call enough meetings for Casale Excavating’s pay checks. That’s a far different approach than his lawless disregard for a meeting duly called by two elected board members last December which he simply ignored. Mark Evers was never one to let laws get in his way.

So Wednesday night there will be another special meeting called by Evers in an effort to pay more money to Casale Excavating without the State Comptroller’s approval or guidance from an audit he and Ernie Kern voted against last year. Of course Evers will say he supports the audit he voted against and is apparently willing to pay out the last leverage the town has against the potential overpayments of $730,000 paid to the contractor which runs the local Conservative Party.

The retainage is 2.5% of the money paid to the contractor and is held back in escrow until the job is complete. So far about 7 million has been paid our, well above the stipulated bid of 6.4 million and nearly all of the excess paid without a change order authorizing the payment. The record shows that Building Department staff authorized the additional claims without informing the town board they were approving payments over the bid. Each time the then majority of the town board attempted to put new supervision in that department, Evers managed to fire them.

His only base of support are the employees who are largely responsible for administering the mess in Water District 14. They have managed to unionize themselves and supervise themselves without outside board appointed management to keep an eye on them and our money.

So what happens if the town board votes to return the retainage before the State Comptroller rules on the propriety of the overpayments? Simply put, the town will have given away its only leverage to recover funds which the Comptroller will offer an opinion as to whether that money was legally expended

Evers appears driven to find a way to pay Casale BEFORE that report is issued in the coming month of February. He is determined NOT to ask the Comptroller for guidance before calling such a meeting. And the contractor likely feels betrayed by Evers total incompetence in dealing with a serious financial issue. After all, the contractor took over the Conservative Party, endorsed the entire winning slate on this board and can’t seem to get paid. Evers screwed up a public vote to get him more money, still awaiting a court decision and has done nothing to resolve the mess.

So meeting number three to vote on giving the retainage funds to the contractor without the findings of the State Comptroller. Nice move Mr. Evers. One that shows the depth of your thought and concern for law

Here's the notice from the town web site:
The Town Board of the Town of North Greenbush will be having a Special Meeting on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 6pm at the Town offices, 2 Douglas Street, Wynantskill, NY 12198.
Purpose to vote on resolution proposed by Supervisor Evers to return retainage to Casale Excavating.