One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Thursday's Town Board Meeting is an agenda to reverse any progress that was made during the past two years. Much of that progress came despite Mark Evers and Ernie Kern who turned their back on their campaign promises and endorsements.

A peak at this agenda shows a potential return to politics as usual with two political appointments worthy of Boss Tweed. A Utilities Laborer, translation, a likely gift to the Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party. A Utilities Clerk, a likely political gift to those defeated in 2005 in the form of one Judith Wos who sued the town after being booted from town hall and lost. We say likely because this open government board refuses to name the persons to be appointed on their agendas or list the board sponsor as they are supposed to.

Then there's Evers and Kern's greatest betrayal and incompetence. They are appointing members to the Comprehensive Plan Committee whose work is complete after two years of hard work and despite Evers endless efforts at obstruction. Some $52,000 in taxpayer funds were spent to produce a document that was created from the input of every interested stake holding group in the town. From developers to, emergency services, educators to citizens, all had their say and their concerns were heard in over 30 meetings, the vast majority of which were not attended by any of the current Town Board members. The continued delay in adopting the plan means the town cannot begin to lobby Congressman McNulty who has considerable clout for funding the I-90 Connector which is endorsed in the plan. McNulty will retire this year and with him our clout in Congress.

Yet Evers and his new Chairman Al Spain are not satisfied with the result and have refused to adopt it after Evers violated the law by refusing to convene a town board meeting in December as required by the call of two Board members. Had that meeting been convened, the Plan would have been adopted by a 3-2 vote.

So now, the Evers majority wants new members? To do what? Change it for some very special interest that did not get their way with the community at large? Time will tell.

We are also greeted by another resolution to return money to Casale Excavating prior to the State Comptroller's Audit on Water District 14 which should be in hand this month. Frankly there comes a point when one wishes that Evers returns the money and runs the risk of a State Audit which is sure to criticize his total lack of management and oversight of the contract.

And let's not forget Evers plan to reverse his 2005 campaign pledge to restore the Police Commission to the town. This Commission was the one agency that quietly delivered good things to the town. They were successful in securing a Special Prosecutor to investigate the former town attorney who removed records from town offices illegally. They guided the police department's newly achieved accreditation and yes, they urged the State Comptroller to investigate and audit Water District 14, a sin that Evers and his Conservative allies in the company can't forgive.

And of course, a resolution to reverse the Capital Improvement Plan and open yet another can of worms on behalf of developers who want to run the town once again. Reversing this will relieve the developer at 4 and 43 from paying a share of remediation fees. These folks by the way, donated to Mark Evers, Lou Desso and Al Spain. They likely donated to Al Spain's Committee but he won't disclose his financial reports.

Be sure and come to this donnybrook. It says a great deal about the new board majority and what they really represent.

February 14, 200

AGENDA ITEMS:

1) RESOLUTION REFERRAL OF REQUEST TO REZONE FROM RS & AR ZONING DISTRICT TO A PDD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR VACANT LAND LOCATED AT 261 WINTER ST EXT

2) RESOLUTION REFERRAL OF REQUEST FOR BOGATO LLC TO REZONE
1 HERBERT DRIVE FROM RS TO PBD

3) RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE

4) RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE IDA

5) RESOLUTION APPOINTING A UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEMBER

6) RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CONTRACT WITH ROEMER WALLENS AND MINEAUX

7) RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CONTRACT WITH RENSSELAER COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

8) RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CONTRACT WITH WILLIAM ROEHR D/B/A THE GRANT WRITERS

9) RESOLUTION TO APPOINT A P/T UTILITIES CLERK

10) RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH THE NORTH
GREENBUSH AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

11) RESOLUTION TO RESCIND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

12) RESOLUTION TO REFUND RETAINAGE WITHHELD FROM CASALE EXCAVATING, INC

13) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE CURRENT NYS IRS MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATE

14) RESOLUTION APPOINTING A TOWN COMPTROLLER

15) RESOLUTION APPROVING PURCHASE OF POLICE VEHICLES

16) RESOLUTION APPROVING PURCHASE OF POLICE DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERAS

17) RESOLUTION RESCINDING THE RESOLUTION CREATING THE POLICE COMMISSION

18) RESOLUTION APPPOINTING A P/T LABORER

19) RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2007 ADDENDUM WITH UNIFIED SERVICES TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMPLIANCE CHECKS

20) RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2008 CONTRACT WITH UNIFIED SERVICES TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMPLIANCE CHECKS

21) RESOLUTION TO APPOINT CO-CHAIRPERSONS TO THE CELEBRATIONS/EVENTS COMMITTEE

22) RESOLUTION APPOINTING PLANNING BOARD ENGINEER

23) RESOLUTION TO APPROVE HUMANE SOCIETY CONTRACT