Our friend Dwight left a pair of shoes which need filling. His contributions to civic life in East Greenbush cannot be duplicated, but they can be pursued. We’ll try to do the best we can. This is particularly important because our local Ethics issues still remain unresolved. They’ve been stuck in the mud for over six months after yeoman’s service by a hard-working Ethics Board appointed by the Town Board. For the “definitive history” of the struggle read Ray Mooney’s Post and the Comments on this link:
Bottom line, in my view, is that this is just not the time for “watering–down” ethics standards for the convenience of current or future public officers. It is becoming uncomfortably obvious that this “watering-down” is the agenda behind the precipitous halt to the promulgation of a new Ethics Code for East Greenbush. I believe that Ms. O’Brien said as much at the last Town Board Meeting. To bad we don’t have a tape from Nate Hans, but I think the comment was to the effect that if standards are too high, citizens would be reluctant to run for office. I think you can also read that there would be “difficulties” for some current Board members too.
There’s a parallel concern expressed in today’s Times Union on the OpEd Page. Take a look at this article related to the State’s new Public Integrity Reform Act:
Those who want to dilute ethical standards for “convenience” or other personal issues, and those who still want to conceal the work of the East Greenbush Ethics board are simply on the wrong side of history.
And yes, we’ve named this Blog after the label taped to Ray Mooney’s back by our own Board Member Malone. It’s fitting. We’re going to be commenting on Establishment behavior and performance.
(We’ll be straightening up appearance and formatting issues as we go along.)
Just want to make clear that Ray Mooney is not doing this blog. He's welcome at any time to do a guest post or comment. By the way....guest posts are welcome. Just sent a comment for moderation with contact information.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone on the current board believes "if the standards were too high people would be reluctant to run for office" than that pretty much says it all about the current Board. God forbid we, the taxpayers and residents of EG, want our town run by people with high ethical standards. In my world, when money is involved one has to REQUIRE high standards by those entrusted with the funds. If those holding office do not hold themselves to high standards than WE HAVE to hold them to the highest ethical standards which means we need a Code of Ethics that is void of any "loopholes".
ReplyDeleteHow can the stewards of over $3 million (tax dollars) be opposed to high ethical standards for those serving the people who pay those taxes? It's shameful what this Board Majority is doing. If they had high ethical standards they would not fight a strong Code of Ethics.
ReplyDeletetired of the EG Nonsense.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Why would they want to be held to high standards. They have none ethically and plan not to have any in the future.. It is the typical same ol same ol at Town Hall.
It is covering all basis.. to let them have free reign on the town.
So this is really just a name change for the blog then, right?
ReplyDeleteWell, the colors are the same, most of the issues and perspectives on improvement of Town government are the same - but Dwight is not writing it. He's welcome, when he's willing and feels so led, to make a contribution at any time.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'll change the colors/format.
BTW, Anonynmous sent a comment congratulating Ray for his new blog, which was not posted. Ray is not moderating this blog either. He has, however, loaned his nick-name to the blog - probably for a fee yet to be negotiated.
Keep up the good work Ray and good luck. I am looking forward to more posts.
ReplyDeleteI am honored to be recognized by Mr. Johnson as a gadfly. And I think his maintaining the work done by Dwight Jenkins is invaluable to our town.
ReplyDeleteGoogle gadfly and please read the Wiki definition. That's the definition I like to think is more applicable.
The effort to get our Town Board to acknowledge the work done by their very own Ethics Board continues. I have provided Don with an update which he is welcome to post.
All the members of our Town Board have e-mail addresses posted on the town's web site. Write them or blog here but please express yourself on ethics.
The following is the text of the e-mail referred to above sent today by Ray Mooney to the Supervisor and the Town Board. (The "emphasis added" portion are the clauses in quotes. I couldn't figure out a way to bold them.)
ReplyDeleteFrom: Raymond Mooney
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 3:06 PM
To: 'klangley@eastgreenbush.org'; 'Rick Matters'; 'GINNY O'BRIEN'; 'Sue Mangold'; 'PHIL MALONE'
Cc: 'Jack Conway'
Subject: Ethics
I want to offer you the following quote from Executive Deputy Attorney General Martin Mack:
“…ethics questions are often murkier. Ethics Boards are intended to provide oversight and guidance on those questions.” (emphasis added). Clearly the AG’s office sees Ethics Boards as having an important place in municipal governance in NYS.
The East Greenbush Town Board is presently in the position of rejecting the very first ethics recommendation put before the Town Board. I urge you to re-consider that position and schedule the public hearing on the revised ethics code as recommended to you by the Ethics Board.
To do otherwise will result in additional practical problems when the AG’s office makes public the results of the recent survey the Town responded to with our 1974 nonexistent Code, Ethics, 1974 Town Law No. 1.
To do otherwise will also result in on- going tension and controversy between the Board, its very own Ethics Board and interested citizens.
Lastly, there will be lingering political questions that will potentially affect the 2013 election cycle.
One final and related point…
I have sent Supervisor Langley a certified letter requesting the full and complete version of the draft ethics code. I sent this correspondence in the context of his role as the FOIL Appeals Officer. If I do not receive the requested document within the thirty (30) day time limit I am, with this note, informing the full Town Board that I will immediately file an Article 78 complaint. I would prefer to avoid that step.
Sincerely,
Ray Mooney
In that case thanks for creating the new blog Don. Best of luck in creating interesting reading for us.
ReplyDeleteWhere does Martin Mack's statement end and Ray Mooney's begin?
ReplyDeleteAs I understand the e-mail and the quotation marks, Martin Mack's statement reads as follows:
ReplyDelete“…ethics questions are often murkier. Ethics Boards are intended to provide oversight and guidance on those questions.”
Sorry to be so slow in getting back with the clarification. We had a wonderful day in Manhattan looking at some of the Dead Sea Scrolls and enjoying dinner in the West Village. (AMTRAK was on time both ways.)
I was informed yesterday that the East Greenbush WIKI has been taken down by its manager, Nate Hans. This is a PROFOUND loss to the community. The WIKI had material of interest to East Greenbush citizens. Everything from the Stipend evidence to data on overtime which Nate gathered and the series of audit reports. Much of this material was gathered over a period of several years, and first appeared on the Story of East Greenbush, put on the WEB a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt whatsoever that the absence of this material is a matter of significant joy to certain segments of Town government. It certainly was an embarrassment.
My hope is to re-establish the database. Everything exists on paper. We just have to digitize again for the benefit of the taxpayer.
Wait a minute! WHO ARE YOU, EAST GREENBUSH GADFLY? How do we know that anything you are writing is credible? How do we know that you know what you are talking about OR that you're not just some masked super hero wannabe? How do we know that you are plugged-in, in any sense of the word, to town business? You could be just some lonely guy or gal who hasn't left your house in 20 years. You could also stir up a hornets nest of trouble and you can't even be held accountable. How convenient for you! This is nonsense. IDENTIFY YOURSELF OR SIGN OFF. At least people like Ann, Mike, Dwight, Ray and Don, among others, had the COURAGE to OWN what they said!
ReplyDeleteGolly Gee Wiz!!!! Sounds like you are describing East Greenbush Talks, for goodness sake.
ReplyDeleteI think it's obvious from the comments above. But just to honor your request.....Don Johnson's the name.
But I hasten to add that the effort is shared by any and all who want to see Town government activities improve. As Dwight said some time back, our activities have made some changes in government behavior simply by turning on the lights and making known what is going on. Things that used to be explained as "prescedent" (the way we always did things) are now referred to in the past tense.
Posting Ray Mooney's activities related to the Ethics question shines a bright light on the real mischief being perpetrated on the citizens of the Town by the current Board majority. There is just no reason, which can stand the light of day, for the foot-dragging on the Ethics Code.
Dwight was also working on another issue before he stopped blogging. You will remember that he exposed the matter of e-coli in the Town Park. (But maybe that isn't "past tense" yet.) The other issue is the "poop" the Town has been dumping in the Hudson, not taking effective steps to halt it and continuing the very development which exacerbates the problem. Just got his FOILs on the matter. Film at 11:00 on that one, so stay tuned.
There's a couple of guys over on the Talks blog that are taking shots at Don and I. They don't use their names. I wonder how many meetings they attend and what they participate in.
ReplyDeleteI think asking questions of political figures is a citizen responsibility in a democracy.
Here's some questions guys:
How much money did our town spend on the early retirement option and how much have we saved?
How much money did our town spend on the solar project and how much have we saved? What is the projected payback?
How much money has our spent in fines for sewage discharges into the Hudson River?
Why won't the Town Board pass the ethics code recommended to it by its very own Ethics Board?
Why was the last AUD not filed by our town?
What is our current credit rating by S&P and Moodys?
If you don't know do you realize most of the reason why is because our town officials actively seek to hide that information from citizens?
Don't care? That's okay but please don't take shots at those of us who do care.
last time they had a public meeting on the ethics, three people showed. there has to be more pressing things the board has to work on.what is the problem the minority is looking for ???
ReplyDeleteAnonymous@ 9:47......Just a modest observation - The Town Board really has no work at all to do on this issue. Over a year ago the Town Board appointed an Ethics Board and tasked it to draft an updated Local Law to replace the Ethics Law which dates from 1974. The appointment of that Ethics Board was the Town Board's very first compliance with the provisions of that 1974 Law.
ReplyDeleteThe Ethics Board, from all appearances, worked very hard over several months. It is my understanding that they produced a document which reflects in substantial measure the ethics standards outlined in the model code promulgated by the NYS Association of Towns and also the standards outlined in NYS law.
The Ethics Board had at it's disposal the services of the Town Attorney as well as an additional attorney retained specifically to provide advice to the Ethics Board.
The only rational conclusion which can be drawn from the stalling on the passage of the recommendation of the Ethics Board is that the Town Board majority is "working" on modifications to generally accepted ethics standards. Ms. O'Brien's comment at the last Board meeting should give us something to worry about. Ethics Codes should never be seen as recruitment tools for potential candidates. Ethics Codes exist to protect the public from the misuse of the discretionary power which comes with public office.
We're going to have something soon on the "Poop in the Hudson." Seems that the TU editorial today addressed a combination of storm run off and sewage from Troy, Rensselaer City and County. EG apparently has pure poop running into the Hudson and has not really done anything about it since 2000, and has continued to approve additional development overloading the sewage processing capabilities. Gonna be fun finding out who knew. Board? Planning Board?
ReplyDeleteThe more we learn about this Town, the more DISGUSTING it (the Town) gets. Literally DISGUSTING.
ReplyDeleteThe Honorable Mr. Gadfly, thank you for hosting this blog. The voice of concerned citizens continue to have their voice heard. I am aware of another blog that seeks only to discredit and personally attack the good citizens of this town, who exercise their constitutional right to hold their elected officials accountable. Funny, an earlier poster said, "identify yourself or sign off", as if you should subject yourself to the whim of someone who is lurking in the shadows.
ReplyDeleteI know you to be an intelligent gadfly, and it appears your attackers are unwilling or unable to discuss the issues you state on a more intellectual level.
To Mr. Prays I say, fare thee well. I will sorely miss you.
To those who do not believe themselves to be a political gadfly, I believe you do our town a disservice.
Just one more comment before I finish. Without an adoption of a strong ethics code, we will continue to have a weak (leadership) town board.
According to Mrs O'Brien then from the above post. She wants us to believe that crap. WE are not fools. What she doesn't want the good people of this town to catch on to is that is the motive for her position. She has everything to gain and nothing to loose unless this ethics code follows through.
ReplyDeleteNo weak leadership board. A board that has a hold on this town with their back door deals and the ability to hold this town hostage to the truth.
ReplyDeleteO'Brien, Mangold and Malone count on two things - ignorance and apathy.
ReplyDeleteFew people understand what is going on in our town and even fewer seem to care.
That ignorance and apathy enables the miss management, the malfeasance, the bad decisions, the lies and the deliberate hiding of the truth and a whole host of other practices that are part and parcel of how O'Brien, Mangold and Malone operate.
Their interests are strictly limited to protecting family and friends. But it is that voter ignorance and apathy that makes it all work.
Mike Cristo is a despised figure. As is Don Johnson and some others. You know why? Because they exposed what has been going on. No other reason. None. For telling the truth the machine that counts on nepotism and patronage has vilified both these guys and some other people.
Ethics to O'Brien, Mangold and Malone is like sunlight and a cross to a vampire. That's not an exaggeration. How else can you explain the stupid games being played at the expense of the hard working members of our Ethics Board?
Langley's been on the job for 3 months now. How does he feel about the Ethics Code?
ReplyDeleteWill he continue to tolerate juvenile behavior at Board meetings or will he ask the kids to leave?
How about Mr. Matters. Whtt's his position on the Ethics Code?
DeleteI'd just make a couple of points. The Ethics Board submitted its work to the Board in (I believe) September of 2011 and the Board scheduled a hearing. The hearing was cancelled, and the matter disappeared from the "radar" for five or six months. It's fair to ask Keith Langley what he thinks about the work of the Ethics Board, but that question has nothing to do with the timely passing of the Local Law.
ReplyDeleteOn the "juvenile behavior" at the Board meeting, I think it would be fair to say that it was controlled by other members of the audience. I think you may know that there was another "current" flowing at the meeting having to do with the potential introduction of a Resolution which was not on the published agenda. I have a feeling that this eventuality may have heightened some emotions in the room. It was that potential of having the public's business done without appropriate public disclosure which set some teeth on edge.
That undisclosed potentiality, along with the absence of disclosure and accountability on the Ethics issue is very discouraging and frustrating to people who want to see open and accountable government. Some people have forgotten for whom they work.
Don, just to set the facts straight...
ReplyDeleteThe Ethics Board submitted its recommended ethics code to the Town Board in June, 2011. That gave the Town Board members three full months to study the language ahead of the September meeting.
The Town Board members very clearly never read the ethics code.The meeting in September was a mess. mangold, Malone and Liccardi were 20 or so minutes late and no one on the Town Board had the first clue about the purpose for the meeting. It went downhill from there.
Thanks Ray for your clarification of the timeline. In my view, it makes the performance level of the Board majority even worse. Not an "explanation" out there from them that makes any sense in the light of day. The majority should be making a case - if they have one - in the public forum as to why the Ethics Code as recommended is not adequate. All we've seen is stonewalling on the issue. I think we knew early on that this majority would have a difficult time with generally accepted ethical standards for public officers. And the sub-text at the last Board meeting related to the potential unannounced Resolution, is a perfect example of this.
DeleteTo simply sum this all up. The ignorance of the public is what they are banking on.
ReplyDeleteThen they don't have to comment or care.
( then life continues the same ol same ol) as if McCabe never left.
Makes a person wonder about this majority town board. Doesn't it..
My other thought is that, I think we gave too much credit to McCabe when it sure sounds more like O'Brien's doing.
He's gone and she is still standing.. with that lovely smile,and oh so soft voice.
Town taxpayers should be aware that on the Agenda for tomorrow's Board meeting is a resolution scheduling a public hearing in May on the Ethics Code presented to the Board by the Ethics Board. We should be able to see whether Ms. OBrien, Ms. Mangold and Mr. Malone will be able to support the resolution, and perhaps discover the actual content of any opposition they might have to the draft submitted to them by the Ethics Board. I'm quite sure that this meeting is well worth attending.
ReplyDeleteAlso of note is the agreement of the Board at the pre-board meeting to a bifurcation of the public comment period into two elements at the suggestion of the Supervisor. The first will be a comment period related only to matters which are on the agenda. The second, taking place after the resolutions have been dispatched, will be devoted to general public comments. What I'll be watching for is an attempt to adjourn the meeting after the Resolutions and before the general public comment period.
Well we have our meeting when they come up for election again.
ReplyDeleteI am not going to forget this ethics code. If they don't play fair. I am going to remember the dishonesty with the click of my finger.
Mangold, Malone O'Brien.
That is all we can do! They are so sneaky and dishonest ..