It looked a lot like the political equivalent of a St. Valentine's Day Massacre on town government. The results of last evening’s town board meeting make it clear that there is neither an effort to understand issues before they vote or concern about the damage they do to the community. It’s also clear that no one gives a dam about perceived conflicts of interest.
Case in point, Councilman Spain cast two votes last evening to appoint both his brother and sister to the IDA and Comprehensive Plan Committee respectively. Archie and Edith would be proud! Better yet, his brother is the Chairman of the Democratic Party and now holds court on the IDA which dispenses thousands of dollars annually to loan applicants. Send those contributions IDA applicants. The Democratic Commitee is open for business! And our thanks to that mystery Transition Team that pulled the town board's strings on the appointments.
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Comprehensive Plan Detoured until next election
The new Board appointed the Comprehensive Plan Committee all over again and dissolved the prior committee. Trouble is, Councilman Spain, the new committee’s chairman, who barely attended a few meetings of the Committee over the past two years, mistakenly thought he was appointing 6 of the current members to the new committee. He was unaware that 3 of those he thought were on the committee were unilaterally and illegally appointed by the Supervisor in violation of Town Law. When asked if he was aware of this, he was not and when asked to provide assurance that this board would not allow the Supervisor to make unilateral appointment to the new committee as he tried to do with the prior committee, the new majority sat quietly refusing to answer.
So now with $52,000 spent finishing the Comprehensive Plan, we have a new committee formed with virtually none of the institutional knowledge that went into the two year process of developing the plan. Translation, Spain and the new majority are destroying the work done on behalf of the community for the past two years and throwing away a $52,000 investment by taxpayers, most likely to help out some of those developers brother Jeff Spain collects contributions from without reporting them to the Board of Elections.
Wos Returns to the Payroll
Conservative Committee Person Judith Wos was rehired by a 4-1 vote despite the fact she has filed a notice of claim against the town over her dismissal two years ago. You’d think they would have the brains to make her sign a release on her claim as a condition of appointment. Maybe Mike in the Building Department can find those bills that were rumored never processed and give them back to her for completion?
The new Board appointed the Comprehensive Plan Committee all over again and dissolved the prior committee. Trouble is, Councilman Spain, the new committee’s chairman, who barely attended a few meetings of the Committee over the past two years, mistakenly thought he was appointing 6 of the current members to the new committee. He was unaware that 3 of those he thought were on the committee were unilaterally and illegally appointed by the Supervisor in violation of Town Law. When asked if he was aware of this, he was not and when asked to provide assurance that this board would not allow the Supervisor to make unilateral appointment to the new committee as he tried to do with the prior committee, the new majority sat quietly refusing to answer.
So now with $52,000 spent finishing the Comprehensive Plan, we have a new committee formed with virtually none of the institutional knowledge that went into the two year process of developing the plan. Translation, Spain and the new majority are destroying the work done on behalf of the community for the past two years and throwing away a $52,000 investment by taxpayers, most likely to help out some of those developers brother Jeff Spain collects contributions from without reporting them to the Board of Elections.
Wos Returns to the Payroll
Conservative Committee Person Judith Wos was rehired by a 4-1 vote despite the fact she has filed a notice of claim against the town over her dismissal two years ago. You’d think they would have the brains to make her sign a release on her claim as a condition of appointment. Maybe Mike in the Building Department can find those bills that were rumored never processed and give them back to her for completion?
What happened Ernie?
Ernie Kern loved to insist that he had left "politics" behind once he was elected. Mark Evers used to right along with the logic. Of Course he was referring to Dan Ashley, then Chair of the Democratic Party . He loved to slam board appointments as political and unnecessary. Last night all that was forgotten as the Councilman voted time and again to make politicasl appointments for his new masters. From members of the Conservative Commitee, (Judith Wos) to members of the Democratic Committee, Vice Chair Ed Cassino, Chairman Spain, Ernie showed that hypocrisy is alive and well.
Rescinding the Capital Improvement Plan
By a 4-1 vote the new board rescinded the CIP. Vegas odds makers are currently at even money that none of the 4 voting to rescind have ever read the document they voted to rescind anymore than they cared or knew that Evers had appointed a bunch of political hacks to the CPC last year without legal authority. (Ernie Kern is at 1 for 3 on this bet.)
One for the Road
Rescinding the Capital Improvement Plan
By a 4-1 vote the new board rescinded the CIP. Vegas odds makers are currently at even money that none of the 4 voting to rescind have ever read the document they voted to rescind anymore than they cared or knew that Evers had appointed a bunch of political hacks to the CPC last year without legal authority. (Ernie Kern is at 1 for 3 on this bet.)
One for the Road
One resident asked that alcohol not be consumed by board members prior to meetings. Ernie thought the request was directed at him. Come on Ernie, you know better than that! Just don’t light any matches up there and no one will get hurt.
2 comments:
How about a little Comprehensive plan history...isn't this not the first Comprehensive Plan to be disregarded?
Wasn't it the Tazbir Administration that threw out a Master Plan naming the next interesection toward Rensselaer for Commercial use and the 4/43 intersection as coportate/office use. I believe many people worked very hard on this plan.
A comprehensive plan could have avoided all of the disputes between the town and the Village of Defreestville.
Again, had Michaels atteneded the December 2007 board meeting to vote on the plan, he would have been the third vote, passing the plan.
For this site and the wealth of information provided to have any integrity, you should not leave details like this out. Being fair and calling a spade a spade is how one earns respect rather than being known for being slanted in sharing information.
Ok, it's clear you have a problem with Michaels. But let's be fair. People miss meetings from time to time because of illness, conflicts with jobs, family matters etc.His attendance record is as good if not better than anyone else on the board.
The real reason the Plan was not passed in 2007 is that Evers ignored the law and refused to call the Special Meeting called for the following day by the Board.
It should also be clear that even if that meeting had been held and the Plan passed, Evers and his majority were brazen enought to have simply rescinded it.
This Board has to be retired and then the Plan will be passed and the new zoning constructed and implemented.
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