Take a look at the link to the Sunday TU story on Halfmoon. It is particularly interesting as it relates to the consequences of an outdated Ethics Code. And it's a wonderful vignette as to "how things work" in municipal politics:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Public-face-in-private-deals-4723342.php
And here's the link to the TU Ethics story:
http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/GOP-Charity-begins-at-home-with-Democratic-4730350.php
And there's an important Editorial in the TU today which touches on disclosure and why it is important for public officials. Here's the link:
http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/questions-dog-a-justice/25753/
I submit that an ethics law would not deter someone bent on this type of behavior
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest that an Ethics Standard would enable the voters to decide which people to keep out of reach of the public purse. This guy took steps to keep his name out of the public eye, so he knew what he was doing was wrong. But there was no requirement on the books demanding his disclosure of what was wrong. If the disclosure were there, it's likely that he wouldn't have gotten away with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rick, for stepping up and telling the "uninformed" what is going on in Town Hall. Bloggers read TU section D, pg 1, 8/14/13.
ReplyDeleteGinny thinks this Town is so great and yet she moves out to a Rep Town-No Greenbush (Lower taxes?). I really think the Reps should pound the high taxes in East Greenbush during their campaign.
The Dems will blame Langley. Then, Langley should blame the 2-Rep=3-Dems Town Board.
Dear 8:44 AM:
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to let the "uninformed" know that Keith Langley proposed a TAX INCREASE for the 2013 BUDGET and then voted for it. (Rick Matters was the only one who voted against this).
The "uninformed" should also know Keith Langley has told Ch. 13 he plans to RAISE TAXES AGAIN in his 2014 BUDGET.
It will be difficult for the Chris DeFruscio lead Reps to "pound" the TAX issue when their standard bearer, Keith Langley, has been the one "pounding" the residents of EG for these higher taxes.
Does the editorial in the Times Union remind you of anyone or any family in EG? Please read it, section F, page 1, date Aug 15.
ReplyDeleteMost of all, I liked the last sentence, which is, "If you're running an ethical government, it shouldn't have to be a secret".
Please excuse the punctuation.
There's a link at the top of the page to today's TU Editorial. Here it is again:
Deletehttp://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/questions-dog-a-justice/25753/
Speaking of Ethics and Disclosure ... Would anyone know the name of Supervisor Langley's appointment to the East Greenbush Ethics Board?
ReplyDeleteIt is highly probable that if all of town board member Sue Mangold's conflicts of interest were made public, along with her financial interests in Hart LLC, she would have to resign.
ReplyDeleteThis is the specific objection to the proposed ethics code that resulted in Ginny O'Brien reversing her original support for financial disclosure. She can lie all she wants to some reporter from the T-U. That's the simple and real fact of the matter.
No one knows exactly how many legal entities make up Hart LLC. Last time a serious check was attempted some 12 to 14 separate legal entities were identified in the state's records.
Ms. Mangold's multiple and overlapping conflicts of interest are not merely limited to the town hiring her niece or her brother's engineering business. Not by a long shot.
No one resents the Hart family from running their businesses successfully. The problems occur when Ms. Mangold, as she so frequently does, refuses to recuse and abstain on family business matters before the town.
Phil Malone's mother and brother work for the town. As do a number of his personal friends as a result of recent patronage appointments. Phil sometimes abstains and sometimes does not.
The proposed ethics code would make all these conflicts of interest more transparent and clearer so that elected officials could do the right thing - for a change.
Has Supervisor Langley made his appointment to the Ethics Board?
ReplyDeleteI think Supervisor Langley should re-appoint Jack Conway to the Ethics Board. Who could be opposed to that?
ReplyDeleteWord on the street is that Jack has been told that he is to be a Democrat first, and Ethical second.
DeleteJack can speak for himself, but from the looks of things, MOM is going to ram through a watered-down Ethics Code which suits their needs. I doubt that Jack would want to serve on a Board having to deal with that.
DeleteAug 15 1:31 PM This is so well written and explained. It should go in the T U Letters to the editor.
ReplyDeleteMary Ann, I hope you are reading this blog.
There is a Corellis in the DPW, the Supervisors secretary is a Corellis and her husband got the contract to do some drainage work for the town. Howmdoes this go unnoticed? Or since it isn't the Dems, it doesn't matter
ReplyDeleteDear Sir/Madam: We don't know who is related to who or whether certain transactions should be disclosed because we don't have the structure in place which lays the requirements out publicly for everybody. That's exactly why we need the proposed Code. So the playing field is level and fair for everyone and there can be no backroom, wink and nod deals. Those rules supposed to be there to protect the taxpayer. Funny thing is that the Majority appeared to be deeply offended that the Code would infringe on their "rights" somehow. When it comes to the "public interest," the interest of the public servant takes second place. In East Greenbush, that principle has been stood on its head for a long time.
DeleteDear 7:21
ReplyDeleteThis is clearly NOT a partisn politics issue. The Ethics Board was comprised of 5 members appointed by each member of the town board.
Chairperson Jack Conway, by the way, was Ginny O'Brien's personal appointment.
Ethics is most definitely not a partisan politics matter. NYS has seen outrageously corrupt politicians from both major political parties. Ethics, openness, honesty, transparency need to apply equally - and simply because that is what is in the best interest of EVERY taxpayer.
The majority of O'Brien, Mangold and Malone have reduced the ethics code to a partisan issue because of Sue Mangold's stunning, multiple conflicts of interest and because both O'Brien and Malone have turned hiring for jobs into their own little family circle.
If you have not ready done so I urge you to read Jack Conway's letter of resignation from the Ethics Board. It provides deep and meaningful insights into the ethics code process and why we, the taxpayers, remain stuck with a majority that refuses to conduct themselves ethically.
Matter and Langley are doing the right thing in bringing the ethics code to a vote. If they have no issues with the ethics code why do O'Brien, Mangold and Malone? Can you explain that or suggest some legitimate reasons?
Everyone ready for yet another let down by Mangold, O'Brien, Malone.
ReplyDelete( M.O.M.) is getting ready to roll out their watered down ethics code during a public hearing at 6:00pm on September 18.
It's great to see that Matters and Langley have forced ethics to the forefront and support the original version as developed by the ethics board.
It's sad that Mangold, O'Brien and Malone can't accept a meaningful ethics code to protect us from them.
Thankfully O'Brien will be leaving this year. Unfortunately they want to replace her with another member of the all so powerful Hart family.
Don.. Please do not post. FYI Langley has repeatedly asked Jack to engage and occupy his vacancy on the ethics board. He has twice turned Keith down using politics as an excuse. Keith feels ethics is the foundation toward creating a responsible government for our town. He is trying to build from the ground up yet you keep allowing your blog to criticize him, as opposed to showing him a little support. No need for any response or your rationalization. You have already done enough damage toward positive change in our town.
ReplyDeleteSorry Charlie.....You can't make an anonymous statement like that and have it go unchallenged. This Blog is not keeping Mr. Langley from building anything. He has the power to propose Resolutions which indicate a plan or a program. He has the statutory power to propose the initial budget each year which would indicate a plan or a program and governmental policy. He has the authority to call for a complete attic to basement audit by OSC.
DeleteThe Board agenda for the next meeting indicates that the Town is going to be paying Wojeski and Toski some additional big bucks to put the financial records of the Town in reasonable enough shape so that audits can be done on the last three years. Instead of trying to "make nice," Mr. Langley should start to "kick ass and take names" as we used to say.
You talk about unethical. Ginny O' Brien shouldn't even be voting on anything for our town. She is packing her bags and leaving. She should do just that pack her bags and leave. She has already done enough. She should take McCabe, Malone, Mangold with her. Lets hope she doesn't get herself involved in North Greenbush politics or they to will be soon making the list of most likely towns to go bankrupt also. Mangold should frame that article about East Greenbush and present it to Ginny O'Brien as a testament to her Legacy while serving on the East Greenbush town board. The sooner you leave the better.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 9:28:
ReplyDeleteI served on the Board of Ethics for two years under the current Town Board. I helped draft a good Code of Ethics, wrote a detailed letter of resignation, and have written and spoken about ethics issues in detail since I resigned. Supervisor Langley's attempt to appoint me to the Board of Ethics was a political maneuver that ignored and insulted the careful rationale I had for resigning in the first place. Nothing has changed and there is no chance the current Board will pass the Code we drafted so what value would my reappointment have other than to use me as a stage prop for the republican election effort?
I'm sure that at some point I have disappointed or pissed off every person who writes on the blogs, attends meetings or holds office in East Greenbush but I have always held my own counsel and have not allowed myself to be co-opted or compromised by either political faction, neither of whom has served this town well in my opinion. Keith Langley and the republicans have a good record on ethics and have all the material they need to make this an effective campaign issue, especially in light of the fact that the democratic majority is planning another farcical attempt to pass a Code of 'Ethics.' All of my feelings and beliefs are part of the public record and nothing would be served by reappointing me except to use me as a show pony for the campaign.
I try not to take these blog posts personally but your characterization of my actions as "using politics as an excuse" is insulting, particularly from someone who supports a republican minority that has failed to propose a financial recovery plan or administrative reform plan or debt reduction plan always using the 'we are only a minority' chant to defend their inaction. Talk about using politics as an excuse. Their campaign motto should be "Give us a majority and we'll think of something.'
Unlike many people I have no agenda other than to contribute something to the community in which I live. I don't have my hand out, I'm not running or asking for anything from anyone. I don't need or want anything from anyone in this town. I don't need or make excuses and I won't surrender my independence or be toyed with by either faction.
Dear Gadfly,
DeleteBack on August 1st, the Gadfly posted that he had been assured by Ms. Matters that she planned to run an "issue based campaign." Would you know if she has identified these issues? I haven't seen or heard of anything yet, but it could be because I don't get out and about as much as I used to. I will be voting on Primary Day AND Election Day... G*d willing.
I have been placing a lot of hope on Ms. Matters' "issue based campaign" promise to you. I hope she intends to follow up with this. I am painfully aware that the GOP Chairman, Chris DeFruscio, does not support an issue based campaign for his hand picked candidates and I think that is a major tactical error on his part.
Fortunately, I am a registered voter of a so called "minor" party so I will be looking closely at the positions, or lack of positions, of the candidates when I cast my vote on Primary Day.
I hope Ms. Matters intends to publicize her issue positions, if she has any, prior to September 10th so I am able to make a well-informed vote.
Aug 17 1:12 PM I would like to echo your words. Mary Ann, pay attention to your husband and you can't go wrong. He has YOUR best interests at heart, of that I am sure.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with 1:12 PM. Mary Ann, Please don't listen to Chris DeFruscio, he is NOT looking out for your best interests, following his advice will only hurt your reputation and the reputation of your husband.
ReplyDeleteBad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
ReplyDeleteAdopting a strong ethics code as originally drafted by the ethics board is essential now more than ever. With the two Democrat town board candidates running this year having families with widespread business involvement in the town of East Greenbush, ethical conflicts could be a regular occurrence if they were to win these seats. It would also put an end to the unethical behavior of Phil Malone having his immediate family members working for the town and Ginny O'Brien defiantly condoning her husband working for the town in the tax accessor's office. This unethical behavior must be regulated
ReplyDeleteby law. Mangold, O'Brien, Malone don't want a strong ethics code because it attacks the core of their unethical actions. Oh, Jack respectfully so as not to insult you, get off your hands and help. Politics is the very thing we all want to see cleaned up in this town. As adults sometimes we have to do things we don't always like to do.
It's pretty clear from the looks of Wednesday's agenda that Malone, Mangold and O'Brien intend to dump a dumbed-down Ethics Code on the citizens of East Greenbush. One drafted in their own personal interest, rather than in the interest of the community. What a legacy for Ginny O'Brien after all the years she has served on the Town Board and County Legislature. It's a real shame. Another Ginny's Law to remember? Really a shame!!!
ReplyDeleteOne concrete pledge (the first of several, I hope) that the Republican candidates for Town Board can make is that they will join Keith Langley in rescinding the the Mangold, Malone and O'Brien self-serving Ethics Code and adopt the Ethics Code drafted by the Ethics Board. That would be a great starter for an issue-based campaign.
Rumor has it Jack Conway was told by Rick McCabe to back off on the Ethics code and work with the majority to soften up a new version that the Republicans can't refute during the campaign this year.
DeleteIf it looks like a duck, quacks like duck, generally it's a .....!
Insulted, my ass.
Anonymous 8:39:
ReplyDeleteYou got me! But it wasn't Rick McCabe that made me do it, it was the Easter Bunny. He called and said he was holding Dora the Explorer hostage and if I didn't help the democrats the little Latina girl is gonna get it. Since I don't mess with imaginary rabbits I ran right over to democratic headquarters and begged to let me help them right a really shitty Code of Ethics. They agreed, we quickly scribbled out a new Code in crayon and Dora is now safely home with her family in cloud cuckoo land. If you see her, tell her I said 'Nepotism is Good.'
Jack,
ReplyDeleteThat was some funny stuff!
Thank you for your honesty and your hard work. My only thing I would say to you, is that I would love to see you enter the race for Town Board, maybe not this year but in the future. I know it is easy for me to say sitting here in my home, but it would be an honor knowing that a man of your caliber was running. A man not willing to give up on his ethics.
I'm not sure if there is an honest politician left out there????