Price Questions Ethics Of Councilman Spain

Editor's Note:
The following submission comes from North Greenbush Democrats Club Chairman Robert Price.
Ethics of New Town Board Raises Questions

Recently, Troy City Personnel Director Al Spain was elected to the North Greenbush Town Board and began his term on January 1, 2008. At the January 2nd Organizational Meeting, Mr. Spain refused to recuse himself on a vote to appoint Troy City Councilman Henry Bauer to a paid position on the town payroll as a deputy town attorney. Prior to this vote, he was repeatedly warned by Councilman Alan Michaels that such a vote presented a clear conflict of interest given the fact that he is employed by the City of Troy and Councilman Bauer is in effect one of his superiors with authority over his position, salary, budget etc as a city employee.

Despite these warnings, Councilman Spain voted to appoint one of his superiors to a salaried position in the town of North Greenbush and publicly defended this vote as appropriate. I believe this vote represents a clear conflict of interest, not only from the perspective of a City employee using his elected position in another jurisdiction to ingratiate himself with a Councilman who has influence and authority over him and all city employees, but as a North Greenbush elected official using his town office in an inappropriate manner to curry favor with someone possessing influence over his salaried city job. This is analogous to former Councilman Robert Ashe voting to hire the wife of his private sector employer and giving her a large raise.

As a result I asked appropriate officials to review this matter including the Town Ethics Board and to render an advisory opinion as to the propriety of a Councilman voting on matters which could present inappropriate appearances of currying favor with an employer or supervisor and to make that opinion available to the public.

I also strong question the appointment of an attorney with a serious criminal record to represent the town in town court prosecuting cases. Those representing the town in town court should possess unblemished records and represent the town with total credibility. This attorney who resides in Latham, replaced a highly qualified town resident who serve for the past two years in the position with distinction. He was the election law attorney for the Spain Democrats and Casey Republicans who now run things behind the scenes.

The attorney was convicted in Colonie Town Court of various serious criminal charges, lost his drivers license and cannot even drive himself to court to prosecute people. One wonders what Evers, Kern, Desso and Spain were thinking hiring such an individual.

Robert Price

Sympathies Extended to Senator Bruno.

We all extend our heartfelt sympathies to Senator Joeseph Bruno and his family over news of the passing of his wife. God bless.