Minutes a la Spain

One things for sure. There were 9 people present at the CPC meeting held on September 16, 2008. That includes 6 members of the committee itself, a non voting advisor from Rensselaer County Planning and a two spectators. Another thing we know for sure about the events at this meeting is that no quorum of the 16 member committee was present so they could not legally "act" on any resolution or vote of any kind as a public body under the S242a and the Open Meetings Law.

What we don't know from these so called minutes, is what was discussed or whether the members illegally acted to approve anything related to the changes they are proposing to the Land Use Map. We do not know if someone was present and spoke asking for changes and did not sign in because the there is absolutely no record of the discussions which took place, NO RECORD AT ALL, Mr. Spain.

This is one of 4 sets of what might be referred to as "sign in minutes" in which signatures on a single page are the only evidence that a meeting even took place. In fact, there is not one set of minutes that shows a quorum was present when a critical vote took place to change the Land Use Map. That is nothing short if incompetence or arrogance on the part of Chairman Spain and his highly paid no bid consultant who should be well versed on the laws governing CPC's and the requirements of the Open Meetings Law.

Yet Al Spain and his committee apparently want the Town Board to pass their revised Comprehensive Plan and ignore the fact that it was created well outside the requirements of the Open Meetings Law and invite a lawsuit to force the Plan to be devised in full compliance with the statutes governing all public bodies.

Now we know this must be irritating as hell for Al Spain to read on a Monday morning at City Hall. We also know it must be embarrassing knowing your colleagues downtown and here in North Greenbush are learning about the utterly inept manner in which Mr. Spain operated this committee and the damage it will do to his prospective Town Board candidate, Committee Member Kelly Hoffman and Legislative Candidates Lou Desso and Leon Fiacco who seem to think breaking laws is no big deal any more than holding elective office as a convicted felon. (Desso)

But Al, you're wrong. It is a big deal and one which will haunt you and those who condone it.