Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Supervisor's Annual Report - Executive Summary


The full report will be up on the Town website this afternoon.
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

            In our campaign last year we made a promise that the Town Supervisor would issue an Annual Report to the people of the Town as part of our plan for increased transparency.  This report fulfills that promise.

Human Resources
*        Town employees hired exclusively on merit.
*        Created full time position of Human Resources Manager.
*        Made conditional job offers to two police officers.
*        Appointed a full time dispatcher, code enforcement officer and assistant building inspector.
*        Appointed a new Assessor.
*        Assigned two police officers to the Detectives Office.
*        Hired two new employees in the Department of Public Works.
*        Developed comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention and Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination Policies and trained all Town staff on the new policies.
*        Approved organizational chart and staffing plan for the Department of Public Works.

Information Technology
*        Replaced network servers, purchased 12 computers (6 for Town Hall, 6 for Police Department) and a Point of Sale computer for the Town Clerk.
*        Contracted to redesign and update Town website.
*        Contracted to index and reconsolidate Town Code and add eCode 360 to the website.
*        Implemented structured cabling installation in Town Hall.

 Town Finances
*        Maintained positive fund balances in our General, Highway, Sewer and General Water Funds. 
*        Completed NYS-OSC audit of the Justice Court.
*        Had an independent audit by UHY, LLC of 2015 financial statement.
Began single-purpose audit of 2013 Capital Project by UHY, LLC.
*        2017 budget includes 1.47% tax increase, repayment of interfund borrowing and independent accounting of Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) fees.
*        Received $2,589,000 in grant funding.
*        Reduced reliance on consultants, including a 22% drop in spending on engineering consultants.

 Town Board
*        Changes in public meetings: moved pre-board meetings to evenings, added public comment to pre-board meetings, restored question-and-answer format to board meetings, tightened requirement for Financial Impact Statement in resolutions, tightened rules for late submission of agenda items for board meetings.
*        Raised sewer rates by 69% in General Sewer District, 50% in Hampton Manor Sewer District, and 35% in 3rd Avenue and Couse Sewer Districts. Renegotiated industrial discharge permit with Garelick Farms for a 35% increase in fees.
*        Passed a revised and strengthened Code of Ethics.
*        Successfully negotiated new labor contracts with the three unions that represent Town employees - East Greenbush Police Officers Union, Local 1951, of Security and Law Enforcement Employees, Council 82, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (term: January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2018); CSEA Local 1000 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Town of East Greenbush Unit #8257, Rensselaer County Local 842 (term: January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2018); The East Greenbush Emergency Communications Association, Local 3708, Council 82 AFSCME, AFL-CIO (term: January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2019).
*        Worked with Hampton Manor community to improve the quality of drinking water: held two public meetings, surveyed attitudes and preferences, and evaluated the Hudson Avenue water tanks.
*        Demonstrated support for important causes, raised awareness of issues such as breast cancer, domestic violence and childhood cancer, and opposed the Pilgrim Pipeline and Kinder Morgan’s Northeast Energy Direct (NED) pipeline.
*        Implemented an Honor a Veteran program.

Departments
*        Saw a sharp reduction in lost commercial value in tax certiorari cases.
*        Improvements to Hampton Manor Park: new playground equipment; Clean the Park Event; replaced the gazebo; sponsored a mural painted by students; controlled the goose population.
*        Successful summer camp with increased attendance for the 3rd straight year.
*        Expanded programs for seniors.
*        Successful Music in the Park and Town Festival programs.
*        Established a process for handling planning applications in a fair and equitable manner.  
*        Increased reliance on in-house staff and the Planning Board as advisors to the Town Board on development issues, increased the quantity of technical meetings on projects and reduced reliance on consultants.
*        Revived the Luther Road sidewalk project.
*        Issued an RFP for engineering services and selected eight firms based on specialty.
*        Formed a GEIS Committee to oversee accounting, policy and project selection.
*        Developed the outline of a Rapid Action Plan for Columbia Turnpike.
*        Facilitated the demolition of the Weathervane building.
*        Replaced the heating system in the Police Department.
*        Replaced the Ridge Road 800 MHZ radio antenna system.
*        Required the Police Chief to seek accreditation under the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
*        Removed the underground fuel tank at the Highway Garage.
*        Doubled the paving budget.
*        Entered cooperative agreements with Rensselaer County for snow and ice removal, and East Greenbush Central School District to help pave the Little League/Softball parking lot on Gilligan Road.
*        Declared a local state of emergency after sinkholes developed on Hydor Drive and used trenchless technology to repair the entire storm water system on the street.

Wastewater Treatment Plant
*        Issued $1.6 million in bonds and notes to finance the final phase of the plant upgrade.
*        Reached substantial completion of the upgrade to the plant itself.
*        Bid and awarded a contract to Wm Keller & Sons for $1,237,000 to complete the Outfall Piping phase of the WWTP project.
*        Closed on long-term financing for $15.6 million with the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation.

Appendices
This report also includes six appendices:

Appendix 1                 Justice Court Audit Response Letter
Appendix 2                 Fund Balance Analysis
Appendix 3                 Cost to the Town of Engineering Consultants in 2015 and 2016
Appendix 4                 Development Projects Under Review
Appendix 5                 Town of East Greenbush Vehicle Inventory
Appendix 6                 2016 Paving List

272 comments:

  1. Rivers Casino brought in 3 million dollars in revenues during their first week of operations. East Greenbush could have bought a lot of needed equipment with that money.

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  2. I believe that credible studies have shown that for every dollar that a casino brings in, it costs the municipality three dollars.

    https://www.facebook.com/casinosjustthefacts/

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    1. Why were the county political leaders lobbying so hard, and pressuring our town officials to support the Casino to come to East Greenbush? I recall receiving an advertisement mailer sent to my home with Kathy Jimino's endorsement on it. She described that if the Casino were to come to EG it would promote prosperity and countless jobs for our residents. It seems the news coverage on the Rivers Casino has been very positive for the city of Schenectady.

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    2. Come on ....
      Schenectady is a city and we are a TOWN...
      You think 3 million dollars is something for a casino that cost what???? That was given all kinds of tax breaks by the state and county?
      You think that OUR RESIDENTS would have gotten the jobs????
      We need to be and stay less gullible and less manipulated by politicians and big business.

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  3. EG First SupportersMarch 10, 2017 at 10:12 PM

    Not to change the subject but had dinner with friends tonight and heard that one of our EG1st town board members is trying to get support from RensCo Repubs to run for the county legislature this year. I voted for this man for a FOUR year term, not a two year term, to do the huge amount of work that's needed to right our township. Now, it looks like the nothing short of miraculous, hard won EG1st majority is at risk for breaking up after only two years. How much work will he be doing with the Supervisor and Councilperson Tierney when he's off running another campaign this year? To get elected to the TB, he helped to demonize the major party officials for destroying EG and he took an oath to help right the wrongs. Now he's chasing RensCo repubs for their blessing? If he leaves at half-time to go play for another team, I will NEVER vote for him again and that's a promise!

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    1. NEWS FLASH!! and this isn't fake news. Grants and Matters were both at a REPUBLICAN COUNTY LEGISLATURE FUND RAISER this week both competing for the open slot on the County Leg. coming up this year. So much for character. # DECEITFUL and CORRUPT !!!

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    2. Being at the fundraiser isn't an issue, but I see the point of 10:12's and voting for someone to carry out their entire term. Mary Ann is done this year, so her or Rick running for county is not an issue either. The bigger question, who is running to join EG1st? Maybe we should start a social media vote on who the town would like to run! Not a bad idea?

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    3. Is EG1st running candidates this year? I haven't heard anything about it. I can only say they better run two people just to be on the safe side. We need to keep the EG1st majority going strong.

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  4. If Grant can do at the County what he's been able to accomplish in East Greenbush, with Conway and Tierney, I'm with him. The County could use some of the Conway, Tierney, Grant, EG First mojo in the Legislature.

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    1. 10/23 Wouldn't you prefer that the Conway, Tierney, Grant "mojo" remain right here in EG? Their victory was nothing short of miraculous, a real coup! But now you're willing to see it dissolve so one of them can defect to the county legislature? Think about it.

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    2. 8:24, I've thought about it. I'd like to give them a shot to see what they can do at the county. EG1st doesn't have to dissolve. They can always run two other candidates for Town Board this year.

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    3. Why does the "importing" of the EG1st spirit to the County require the threatening of hard won majority on the Town Board. I smell a rat. Wouldn't be surprised that the County Rep machine "brain" is trying to re-capture EG for the Reps. I'd say it's much healthier for both the Town and the County to have an independent majority in EG as opposed to the alternative. The previous Dem and Rep Town Boards rolled over for the County. Without the hard-won majority here, the puppets will return. EG1st in the County Legislature wouldn't call a shot at all. The whole thing reminds me of the Trump/Putin dance.

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    4. Gadfly- I don't completely disagree with you. I'd like to see reform at both the Town and County. In the absence of a Town Board EG1st ticket this year, the candidates selected by the Reps and the Dems will be important. If the candidates come from the same old, same old, connected families, that would be a negative. If however, the Reps and the Dems were smart enough to select Town Board candidates in the mode of Conway, Tierney and Grant, that would be a very positive thing. I can think of at least two, or maybe, three potential candidates from each party, who courageously supported EG1st in 2015, who would do a fine and ethical job on the Town Board.

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    5. Not Trump/Putin. More like Sanders/Clinton.

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    6. 11:42 p.m. It's nice to be optimistic but we're not likely to get the caliber of candidates you mentioned with Langley, DeFruscio and Gilbert running the Repub committee in EG. One of the candidates this year will be Trent Tibbitts again and we all know whose son-in-law he is. Nothing has changed except that the old guards are seeing an opportunity to gain some ground this year, especially if EG1st doesn't run candidates.

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  5. Interesting read:

    http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Revenues-drop-again-at-Rivers-Casino-in-11009724.php

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  6. A note about the Rivers Casino - the Times Union reported today that revenues have fallen for the last 2 weeks - it has yet to reach the 4.28 million weekly average figure that was projected - but that projection was for the year 2019.Gross revenues were 2.79 million in the week ending March 12. Saratoga-Casino for the week ending March 11 saw a drop in revenue to 2.7 million - falling 3.3 per cent from the previous week.
    Well - you can say they will do better in the summer - or Rivers will do better when it is completely finished, etc., but SaveEastGreenbush knew this would be the trend and saved East Greenbush from what will eventually happen to Rivers and Saratoga. They will continue to lose money and attract crime. Read the comments posted after this article on Times Union's website.

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  7. I see there is a possibility that we have another "ship jumper" in the tradition of Mike Cristo and Phil Danaher. How sad. I thought the example of 3,000 citizens to clean house and straighten out a mismanaged municipality could be a shining light to surrounding municipalities. But I may be proved wrong.
    Hundreds of citizens spent thousands of their hard-earned money (My husband and I being 2 of them) - not to mention hundreds of hours of sweat equity to turn this Town around and get rid of the corruption. We succeeded. We voted for THREE PEOPLE for a FOUR YEAR TERM. That was the understanding.
    Now that may change. There may be three vacancies for Town Council this year. There could be a 180-turn-around in the Town Government. All because of someone's desire to climb higher in the Republican party. The Republicans are already in the majority at the county level. This one person, if elected, will make no difference at all. And our Town will be dumped on again.
    If this comes to be - I urge every single person who helped East Greenbush First candidates get elected NOT vote for this person. How disappointing.

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  8. My voting practice has always been to cast my vote for the best candidate on the ballot regardless of her or his political affiliation. I'm not comfortable with making a final decision to vote or not vote for a particular candidate for any office eight months before election day.

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  9. "Suzanne" is dead on correct, folks. Two vacancies on the EG town board this year and potentially another one next year means that EG1st could lose their hard one majority, especially if the remaining four board members next year can't come to consensus about who to appoint to fill the vacancy. Plus, how utterly hypocritical that EG 1st ran on ridding our town of corrupt major party influence but now one of them has thrown his hat in the ring to be selected by the GOP to run for the legislature. Oh, how happy that would make the opposition to see EG1st dissolve in only the second year of their four year term. It's heartbreaking. EG1st simply must honor their four year commitment to the residents of East Greenbush. Otherwise, the glory days are over.

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  10. I'd like to see at least two of the East Greenbush Firsters on the County Legislature. That would be a good thing for the people of East Greenbush as well as the County. Just think, no more surprises like a Casino being imposed on East Greenbush. It's time to bring East Greenbush First to the County level.

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  11. EG1st is not a politicial party nor ever pretended to be. They were 3 individuals with 3 different political ideologies, they never hid that. If you were a surgeon at a small hospital and were given an opportunity to work at a large scale hospital, does it make you a bad person for leaving the small hospital? Maybe a bad analogy, but it's not like any of the candidates bashed specific parties, they did however state they wanted to clean up the old school political machines running this town into the ground. Our county needs fixing too, if a candidate was good enough for your town, why not the county?

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  12. 11:01 The town of East Greenbush staged a major coup in 2015 and TOOK the town from the hands of decades of corrupt-minded, irresponsible administrations who only cared about fleecing the town for all it was worth. That's no small feat and hundreds of people made major contributions to them to get them there. If the bigger hospital you spoke of had a glut of doctors then perhaps the more ethical thing to do is to stick with the job at the smaller hospital. Bottom line is that this is a disappointing turn of events that leaves Jack and Tina high and dry. Not cool, Tom. Not cool.

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  13. 7:54 I'm an East Greenbush supporter and I support Tom if he decides to go for the county legislature, he'd make a positive contribution. Are you trying to tell us there are no other like minded candidates willing to run for the Town Board? Is so, I strongly disagree. I believe there are many qualified people in East Greenbush who would be willing to run this year who would do just as good a job as Jack, Tina and Tom have done. Let's encourage them to participate.

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  14. @7:54 AM, I'm sure at least two out of the hundreds of people who made major contributions are willing to run for Town Board and that's very cool.

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  15. Agreed! Let's get the band back together. Elect Two new Eg1st candidates for the TB and Tom for county leg. That's the ticket.

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  16. All of these crazy analogies for why it is ok for someone to jump ship and run for the county post are plain silly and miss the point. The County legislature has been Republican since God was a corporal. Another Republican with an "East Greenbush 1st" attitude does nothing, adds nothing to the mix. In addition, I doubt the person even had that attitude to begin with - if that individual can so easily leave a commitment that everyone though was four years. Remember how hard we worked to get the Casino out of our Town? The fund-raisers, the picnics, the barbeque? We came together and actually fought the big guy and won. Remember how hard we worked to get Tina, Tom and Jack elected? We flyered, we walked miles, we raised money, we laughed and cried together. We worked damn hard. And now we will be betrayed if one of those people lets us down for what gain? Not the Town's gain, that is for sure. This is an important turning point my friends. Support East Greenbush the Town - Say no to anyone who cares more about POLITICS than the people.

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  17. 9:28, We all live in both the Town of East Greenbush and the County of Rensselaer. IMHO It is very important at this turning point to elect people with an East Greenbush 1st Attitude to both the Town Board and the County Legislature. It's clear to me that the County Legislature at the present time does not have a person with an East Greenbush attitude in its ranks. I also believe one person can make a difference. While I respect your opinion, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

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  18. Bottom line.....what's going on here behind the scenes is that the old machines are threatened by the presence of a successful independent (from them) government in EG. Crist and CDef are desperate to wound EG1st and get the old ways back. It's like Putin wooing Trump to weaken NATO so he can have his way in the Ukraine and elsewhere.

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    1. 9:50am You hit the nail right on the head. Don't be fooled by these people and Tom should be ashamed of himself.

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    2. How is EG1st wounded? they will actually be stronger. They choose two Town Board candidates from their hundreds (actually, thousands) of supporters and after election day they have the majority of the Town Board and maybe two on the County Leg.

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  19. Crist and CDef are determined to derail Eg1st.
    #Buyer Buyer !!!

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  20. CDef? Really? He's the gift to Eg1st that keeps on giving.

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    1. Actually, now that the secret is out, EG1st has been weakened by it already. I seriously doubt Tom will be chosen to run for a county seat because the sheer resentment that he left EG1st would be too great. The county's chief head hunter wants a sure thing, not a maybe this will work. Besides, they did enough damage just by not turning Tom away. In a few days time, this post has exploded with controversy over this potential candidate. Crist, Langley, Gilbert and CDeF (yes, they're all still here) are masters at causing trouble and they're laughing themselves sick over the trouble this is causing within EG1st and the town. So, shame on them!

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    2. 12:41. Tom's the candidate. They've run the numbers.

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    3. What "numbers" 2:01? Do you really think that everyone who voted for Tom the last time will vote for him again? I know I won't and I'm pretty sure "Suzanne" won't either. Plus, one e-mail blast from Captain Jack and your guy could very well be SOL.

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  21. The Town will not be stronger with 2 vacancies coming up and a possible third if the ship jumper wins. It is obvious that Pete Stenson has been working furiously since the election to get the Democrats back up to speed. Now we have Rich Crist and DeFrucio working the Republican side. Put your effort where you can do the most good people. Don't be fooled by a wolf in sheep's clothing, whomever that may be. Think what the County has done for us - FedEx, Almost a Casino, etc. More of the same will come, believe me. One person does nothing. We already know that from our past experience.

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    1. And, also, Suzanne, comparatively speaking, who needs Tom Grant more, the town of EG or the county legislature? Well, I think that's a no brainer! If Tom stays, we have EG1st for two more years while successors are groomed to take their place. We've come too far to turn back now. Tom, if you're reading, please don't go. We need you right here in y/our home town.

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    2. What's wrong with Pete Stenson working to get the Democrats up to speed if they select qualified, ethical, and hard working candidates?

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    3. There is nothing wrong with it - but the spectre of the Hart-Davis-Maney control center is a hard one to chase away. Of course - I see Davis has started a new company in Lake George - making party tiki-boats, can you believe that? And rumor has it that some of the other past patroons have started the move to Saratoga as well. I know Pete is a good guy. But he did appear to give credibility to some of McCabe and company's artful dodging. What I would like to see is many of my friends who are democrats show up at the meetings and participate in the Democratic party's choices and policy decisions. The Democratic Party needs new blood to help Pete rid the Dems of stink of the old regime. He can't do it alone.

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    4. It looks like Pete has new blood already. The turnout at the committee meetings is increasing.

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  22. A word about Phil Danaher. Should he decide to run for County Judge - just remember what he didn't do for East Greenbush. First - a ship jumper. Then, as attorney for the planning board - under his watch allowed somehow - don't know how - to let Thompson Hill go from a single-family plat - to a bunch of duplexes or something worse. Go back and do your research - somehow - no hearings were held etc. etc. Not to mention the A-number one issue we dealt with - THE CASINO - Danaher supported the casino remember that. You may say this has nothing to do with his skills and what kind of judge he would be. Judges at this level are supported by the party not necessarily for their judicial skills but nominations are sometimes given to good soldiers who have supported the Party's wishes and not the will of the people. Remember that.

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    1. Funny how the ship-jumper is running for the other ship-jumpers leg seat. How apropos!

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  23. The only problem with Pete is that he never met a tax increase he didn't like. As for the turnout at the committee meetings increasing, they are starting to smell blood in the water, so they are coming out. Prior to all this talk about EG1st breaking up, Pete was the equivalent of the Maytag repair man.

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  24. Tom going to Republican events should be viewed as treason like. His willingness to join with that group, if accepted would include sharing all the Eg1st campaign strategies that endless hours were devoted that lead Eg1st to victory. This act of betrayal is so utterly offensive to me that I would encourage, and hope that all Eg1st supporters not show support for this disloyal conduct. He has lost my confidence and future vote by the mere thought of his actions.

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  25. Please. Eg1st campaign strategies? As a strong supporter of JTT I can tell you what the Eg1st campaign strategies were. Jack, Tina and Tom ran an open and transparent campaign that welcomed everyone, regardless of political or non-political affiliation. Their campaign was the most open campaign in the history of East Greenbush. As far as I know, we still live in the USA. Jack, Tina and Tom are entitled to go to any events they want to. In fact, last night I saw them at the Sean Strong event at 5 Guys.
    JTT still have my complete confidence and support.

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  26. I think people are taking this way out of proportion, EG1st never denied their party affiliations. They didn't run the campaign based on the idea they wanted to abolish the party system. They wanted to abolish the old party machines, the same old party big shots (of EG) that ran our town into the whole. That is what they campaigned against with regards to parties. All of them are entitled to run, as do other towns. Unfortunately the elections just happened to run in the middle of Tom's term, not his fault.

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  27. These last 2 comments are way off. There was much more to strategy than what 10:21 above listed. As to the 12:10 comment - nobody said we wanted to abolish the 2 party system. What we wanted was to drive out the corruption - and that's what happened. What you seem to forget is that there were a huge group of people that got these guys elected. If not for our hard work - Tom might never have been elected in the first place. The work is not yet done. It will take another 2 years to continue the turn-around. Yes, this is the good old USA where constituents get stepped on left and right. However - where is the loyalty? To use this
    last election as a stepping stone to the County is a huge slap in the face to those of us who put you where you are Tom. I will tell you right now that if you decide to play the selfish card - you will not win. And don't bother to keep posting the self-serving statements. Jumping ship will only hurt East Greenbush and help your so-called political career. For years you sat in the back of the room. Why didn't you run as a Republican back then? I seem to remember at one time you belonged to the Working Familiess' Party and that didn't get you anyplace then either. It took the EastGreenbush 1st movement to get you elected. How sad. What an opportunist. No one would have believed it.

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  28. What we have here is a very ambitious individual who sees an opportunity to leap frog from a $10K a year p/t job to a $20K a year p/t job but it may not end there. Watch out for him to return in 2019 to challenge Supervisor Conway for his $70K a year job. Hey, why not? After all, this is America, right? Well, yes, this is America but Americans don't like to be left high and dry by self-serving politicians who sold them a bill of goods for their vote and then walked out on them at half-time. No doubt that the county head hunter knows exactly what he's doing to the EG1st majority and I bet he's feeling very powerful right now, like King Kong powerful. The sad thing is that Tom is allowing it to happen even at the expense of their powerful majority, which is doing so much good, and the expense of the people who got him where he is today.

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  29. This is so infuriating. My family and I are some of the suckers who contributed time and hundreds of our hard earned dollars to get JTT elected...and now this nonsense? This EG family now feels like fools. To anyone else who feels snookered, please join me in calling Rensselaer County Legislature Aide Richard Crist at his county office to tell him we will not vote for any member of the EG1st majority who leaves his Town Board seat in the middle of his term to run for the Rensselaer County Legislature. Maybe that will get his attention. Very disappointed.

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  30. EG First Supporters Unite!March 24, 2017 at 6:57 AM

    The phone # for the Rensselaer county legislative offices is 270-2880. Call Richard Crist today and tell him that you voted for Jack, Tina and Tom as a TEAM to save East Greenbush and that you will not vote to break up EG1st in our town. Tell him to leave our EG1st town board majority alone! Call today! The future of our town depends on it.

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    1. Is this for real? The EG First supporters lose credibility if you act like this. Go back and think about what you posted during the casino fiasco. We all wanted to turn over the Town and County. But now when you might have a chance to put someone trusted in the County you cry that he must stay at the Town? That makes no sense and seems like a four year sentence rather than term. Get a candidate or run yourself. Come one.

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  31. EG First Supporters Unite!March 24, 2017 at 9:28 AM

    8:34 a.m. This town has been through hell and back with McCabe and Langley like administrations for decades that have sucked our town dry and raised taxes through the roof for little or nothing to show for it. Columbia Turnpike still looks like a photograph from the 1970s. Finally, we get three people elected (yes, for four years) who actually take their responsibility seriously and care about the town and that is worth its weight in gold. A "sentance?" Mr. Grant ASKED to be elected for that four year term and it's an HONOR not a sentance to serve those of us who gave him what HE asked for. Now to attempt to leave mid-term without giving a second thought to the commitment he made to the town is outrageously selfish and just plain insulting to those of us who invested in the EG1st majority with money and time. I am making my call today and urging my family and friends to do the same. Good day.

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    1. Before you make your call, maybe you should talk with Tom.

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    2. No need. He made a commitment. He needs to honor it. He's clearly trying to trade UP but it's unconscionable.

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    3. WoW, talking with Tom about this would be like asking a fox standing there with your chicken in his mouth if he has seen your chicken.

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  32. Come on everyone, the only reason Tom Grant jumped on the Eg1st coat tails was because the Republican Party showed him the door. That man is as phony as Monopoly money. He is trying to sell the powers to be at the county that he will bring all the Eg1st votes with him on Election Day. #What a disgrace !

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  33. I'm in no mood to waste time listening to Tom explain why he's bolting from us. I really don't care why. This isn't about Tom anyway, it's about the commitment he made to Jack, Tina, and those of us who voted for him to get EG to the point of thriving instead of just surviving. They campaigned together on an ambitious agenda of taking back our town. After the casino nightmare it was obvious that we could no longer sustain the caliber of individuals from the major political parties who were running year after year. The town deteriorated to no bond rating, for example, and we have all that sewage treatment plant debt that many of us will be paying for for the rest of our lives. We NEEDED good responsible people to take over and that's what we got when we elected Jack, Tina and Tom. Now Tom wants to walk away but one leg member out of 19 legislators in Rens. Cty is NOT going to make a difference in EG. However, Tom staying in his town board seat is our BEST chance for positive growth and change in EG. No one can dispute that.

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  34. It's time for Jack Conway to reach out, and find at minimum 2 candidates to run for town board this year that will work with him. It is obvious this current town board is not working together as hoped. Regardless of the final outcome as to whether Tom Grant jumps ship or not, he has already shown where his loyalties have shifted. County influence polluted the last election cycle, and now it's about to happen again if Jack doesn't rally Eg1st. The negative influence the county inflicted upon our town is what lead to my support of Eg1st.

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  35. I agree, the ball is in Jack Conway's court. Another alternative for Jack might be to try to push through two candidates who would support him at the Democratic Caucus.

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  36. Don't be deceived. The people responsible for most of the posts above have an agenda of their own. Mike, Ann, Rick and Maryanne have distinctive writing styles that can be recognized by those who know them. My guess is that the 4 of them have cooked up a plan supporting one from each couple as candidates the Town Board and the County Legislature. If you are influenced by their writings let them know that you support their little cabal but don't join them in striking out at others.
    What the Town really needs is at least 2 good candidates for the Board and at least 4 good candidates for the Legislature. In the spirit of EG1st good candidates should be elected with no regard for party affiliation. I hope to see many qualified people step forward to run for the offices.

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  37. I'm gonna tell you something - 6:48 doesn't know anything. I know the distinctive writing styles of many people and the persons named above are not posting and so far as I can tell - are not involved at all. I know because I have written some of these posts and I am not any of them. But I can tell a Tom or Eileen Grant post when I see one. The botton line is that a whole bunch of East Greenbush people who busted their rumps getting JTT elected are mad as wet hens. Besides - Maryanne is not running this year and Rick is running for Town Board. Mike and Ann are out of politics. There is one seat for the County and that is Tom's for the picking. Tom will be leaving the Town in the lurch - don't be persuaded otherwise. He will be laughing at all of us - suckers we were to give him a dime of our hard-earned money.

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  38. Time will show that the first paragraph of 6:48s post is not true but the second paragraph is spot on correct. The political committees need to take a lesson from the EG1st victory and recruit two, smart, honorable candidates this year for the TB seats. Tom should be held to the commitment TEAM EG FIRST made to the town. The three of them, with all the power they wield, need to forget about self-serving interests and work together for the good of East Greenbush. There is still so much to be done. Their first year on the board, they accomplished a lot, as detailed in their 2016 annual report, but there is so much more to do and they, Jack, Tina AND Tom, are the town's only hope for the next 33 months. At the request of 3/24 @ 6:57 a.m., I made my call yesterday because it felt like the right thing to do. In my view, if the county really cared about EG, they would leave the EG1st majority alone and let them work. I told the person I spoke to that I would not be voting this year to break up the EG1st majority and he thanked me for my call. It was my small way of fighting for the future of East Greenbush.

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    1. Knowing the way the County works, they probably transferred you to the Janitor's office.

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    2. Lol! I hope not but I left my message and I felt good about it. I think the last thing the county wants to provolk is another uprising of the town's folk in East Greenbush. It's like once you've experienced a hurricane, you hope to never experience it again.

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  39. Just exactly who got JTT elected and how did they do it? Is there an EG1st committee of people who will organize again this year to get two more candidates on the town board? As everyone knows, just collecting the petition signatures and fund raising in 2015 was a monumental effort accomplished by dozens of supporters but will that happen again this year or not?

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    1. You should sit down with Jack and have that discussion. Probably not a good idea to provide to much information at this time. Especially with Tom taking off to the county with his copy of the Eg1st playbook.

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    2. Guess the lure of twice the money was irresistible but it always pays more to look both ways before we step off the curb.

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    3. Everything comes at a price. Watch as CDeFs son-in-law Trent becomes Tom Terrific's new mentee. Wonderful.

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  40. Why on earth would anyone trust Tom at this point? I for one am outraged at what this man is contemplating. We worked tirelessly for him, and this is our repayment for the time we devoted away from our families to get him elected?
    I'm also not interested in hearing any more justification for Tom Grant's political ambitions. We worked to get Tom elected to serve the residents of East Greenbush to fulfill a 4 year term.
    We all took money out of our pockets to support him, and now he's taking money out of his pocket to support the opposition at their fund raisers? This is all a sickening nightmare. He's not getting my family's vote, that I can promise you.

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  41. Tom just doesn't deserve a free pass after all we've been through.

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  42. It’s simple for my family and I. We supported Eg1st and if Tom Grant is jumping ship on us to join with the opposition we will NOT support his effort. If you knock on my door i won’t even open it for you. Sorry my friend!!

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  43. It's about even more than how hard we all worked to get him elected. It's about East Greenbush and having a chance to finally get it to where it should be, like the "Year of the Parks," for example. How great is that? For the first time in decades, there are three professional grade, smart, civic-minded people on the town board for a full four year term. A lot of good can be done in that time. To break up the team when two other board members are coming to the end of their terms is more than a little scary for the rest of us. What now?

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    1. Supervisor Conway needs to sit down with Tom Grant and have a serious discussion over the importance of him finishing his term on our Town Board. Finishing what you started is a true example of a professional grade, smart, civic minded person. There are other words reserved for those who would choose to cut, and run. Anon 9:20 you ask "what Now"? Well JTT need to lock arms and stick together, and finish what they started.

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  44. It is unlikely that the decision to run anyone for the county legislature has been made this early in the year but it's apparently true that Tom has thrown his hat in the ring for consideration. For that reason, the time is now to call Richard Crist at the county legislative offices and tell him that you will not be voting to break-up the EG1st team in East Greenbush. The Rensselaer county legislative offices can be reached at 270-2880. We can either passively let this happen to us or speak up now. Our voices defeated a casino and they can defeat this, too!

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  45. What happens to Tom Grant's position on the Town Board when he begins to run for the County Legislature? Is he required to step down while running for another political office?

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    1. 4:49. p.m. No, he is not required to step down while he runs for a seat on the county legislature. If he loses the campaign, he will finish his remaining two years on the town board. If he wins the campaign, his term on the town board will end on 12/31/17; then, in January 2018, the remaining four board members will need three votes to replace him with someone who will serve out the rest of his term. If three votes cannot be had, we could be looking at a four member board until the next election cycle in 2019.

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    2. Nothing changes, remember when Phil Malone was slaughtered in the county race?

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    3. If a sitting Board member were to leave a TB seat the TB could appoint for a one year term that would then be filled by the voters in the 2018 election. The person elected in 2018 would serve a one year term. If the TB does not come to an agreement the seat would be open for one year. The person elected in the 2018 election would serve for one year unless the TB voted to seat the winner early, in which case the elected person would serve in November and or December as the TB saw fit.

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  46. This is really about an utterly humiliated GOP legislative liaison who completely under-rated and under-estimated the power and might of the EG1st movement in 2015 and is now determined to correct his mistake by poaching its members one-by-one until they are no more. He approached his first EG1st town board member with an offer to run but she said no; some people have scruples and honor their commitments. When Tom Terrific heard the Dark Knight was knocking, he apparently decided to seize the opportunity and go for it. Unless EG1st runs two more candidates this year for the town board, they will have come and gone in just two years and the Dark Knight wins. Or does he?

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  47. 12:14AM, The "Dark Knight" aka "Batman" worked to protect "Gotham City" and was a force for good.

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    1. A little surprising that our "Caped Crusader" decided to do business with the self serving "Joker".

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  48. There is no force for good here but a force for change and the change that's wanted is a return to control by political party people, not non-party people who are an affront to the two-party system. What the county is doing is to be expected but for Tom to oblige is nothing but a disheartening disappointment to those of us who made this happen with generous donations of our own time and money, which obviously meant nothing to Mr.Grant, nothing at all.

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  49. While Tom's brain is focusing this year on running another campaign, what will he have left for running the Town? Being in the "majority" means that you get to do the majority of the work but will that work fall on fewer board members while he's is out glad-handing and bellowing "good for you!" and "keep the faith!" We kept the faith, Tom, while you kept a secret... Is this for real?

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  50. It looks like meddling in elections is all the rage in 2017, an outrage that is. Come November, I won't just bypass Tom's name on my ballot, I will bypass the names of his running mates, too, Rob, Leon, and Kelly.

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    1. The County Legislatures rely on the East Greenbush vote to maintain their seats? Rob, Leon, and Kelly better think twice about knocking doors with two timing Tom.

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    2. If the Eg1st folks turn their backs, and don't vote for Tom, the Democrats certainly won't vote for him, and the real Republicans won't vote for him. How the heck can he win? The "Dark Knight" better get his calculator back out, and rethink his math.

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    3. I am 100% with Anon. 6:17. Tom Grant has let us all down for which there is no excuse. I got my whole street to vote for him, a mistake that will not happen again. What a scammer!!!

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  51. The irony here is that the county totally misread the EG1ST tea leaves in 2015 when they ignored JTT and considered them to be no threat to them. Dumbfounded they were the next day when JTT overwhelmingly swept the election and took control of the town. The county brain is now about to make the same mistake again only in the reverse. They are now relying on Tom Grant to deliver the votes in EG this November for the GOP slate of legislative candidates but all indications are that people are feeling snookered by Tom who asked for their vote but now plans to jump ship midterm to go work for the county instead. He doesn't seem to get it or care that JTT can only work with both "Ts". These three were hand-picked precisely because of their qualifications to turn around a slowly sinking East Greenbush. With two other board members ending their terms, the Town needs JTT more than ever to stay the course and keep working as a team. If EG1ST plans to run two more candidates this year then so much the better. The bottom line is that we voted for EG1ST, not EG2ND because one of the "Ts" in the team got a better offer.

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  52. Grant proves that no kinda behavior in politics is off limits. JTT was supposed to raise the bar on ethical behavior in office but he's shown that he's no different than any other self-serving politician. I wonder if he gave any thought to this at all before he decided to change course. Keep the faith!

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  53. Look it, people, Grant is moving on and there ain't thing one you can do about it! Stop whining and move on!

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    Replies
    1. Not so fast there Anon. 8:27AM. If Tom Grant moves on he will lose !!!!

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    2. There ain't "thing one" we can do about it?
      Thing 1-Facebook
      Thing 2-Twitter
      Thing 3-Texting
      Thing 4-Email
      Thing 5-blogging
      Thing 6- the Advertiser
      Thing 7-word of mouth.
      That's SEVEN things we can do about it. What say you now?

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    3. However, 11:01, you can't hide behind an Anonymous Blog Post on six out of your seven things.

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  54. Tom Grant is rapidly going down a road to where he will have no appeal to anyone. When the table talk at the local Stewart's Shop is talking negativity about Tom 8 months before an election, that's not saying much about the votes he's being expected to bring to the ballot box. Why should the Republican Party believe in him when his own Eg1st constituent base is already beginning to feel "snookered" by him? Leon Fiacco, Rob Baily, and Kelly Hoffman should think twice before involving themselves with Tom. They might find themselves getting picked off by their Democrat opponents.

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  55. Ok, well now you're all in a pickle. You are clearly mad at Tom, feel betrayed. You don't want to see him succeed at his county run. OK, but then you do realize then the man you feel betrayed by will be still running your town? So, do you want him or don't you? Based on these comments, he has lost your trust. So, by scolding him you are stuck with him.

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    1. OMG! 11:16 don't you get it? We want to be "stuck with him," that's what this is all about. He made a commitment to putting East Greenbush FIRST! He needs to honor that commitment. Get it?

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    2. Oh, trust me, after the 1st 10 comments saying it over and over again I got it. What I'm saying is, you are all showing how angry you are and saying you don't trust him, and I get that standpoint. But by blocking him out of the county, you are accepting the man you no longer trust will remain on the town board. If he is so untrustworthy and a traitor for even running for the County, why would you want him to stay on the town board. It just sound hypocritical if he loses and remains on the board, then what you trust him again? Seems to me, if you lost your trust in someone you wouldn't want him to stick around...therefore, wouldn't you want him to win so he leaves the board? While I get why people feel betrayed, I think many are overreacting. Most legislators started at the town level, they can't do anything about the fact of when the election falls.

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    3. Anon 1:56PM. After the 1st 10 comments you obviously don't get it. There are close to 100 comments here that don't support Tom Grant for County Legislature. Good Luck Tom, you're going to need it. Not with my vote.

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    4. Oh, I can see the sarcasm being lost through text in my original comment. By my comment of "after the first 10 comments...." was sarcastic in that like you said, the same thing was said over and over 100 times, but probably by the same 5 people. What you don't get is the hypocrisy of bashing Tom and saying how you Don't trust him and he's done something so horrible to you all, but yet you're cool with staying on the town board...As if you think you're sticking it to him. I'm sure all of you perfectionists would turn down better job opportunities.... Keep living in your perfect world.

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  56. There is a remedy for this. The East Greenbush Town Board could simply pass a local law, allowing sitting town board members to also serve on the county legislature. I know they do that in North Greenbush. One of our current county legislators, Kelly Hoffman, also serves as a member of the North Greenbush Town Board.

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    1. A recipe for corruption. We already went through that in East Greenbush with Cristo and Danaher.

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    2. Tom would like that. I wonder if he supported the law that prohibits it?

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    3. Tom would like what, a recipe for corruption?

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    4. I like what 2:22 says. That way we keep Tom on the town board no matter if he wins or loses for the county legislature. Isn't that what we all want, to keep Tom on the town board with Jack and Tina?

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    5. That law passed back when Rick McCabe was Supervisor. Maybe the current Town Board should revisit it.

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    6. There's a great platform the Democrats can use to pull the old team back together. Great idea!!

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    7. 3:14 p.m. Would you please explain why it's "a recipe for corruption."

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    8. Oh, good, so we'll repeal the law so that Tom can serve on the town board and the county legislature while he's planning the ultimate campaign for town supervisor. Who needs two part-time jobs for $30K when you can have one full-time job for $70K? Right, Tom?

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    9. This is a great idea. The JTT Eg1st Town Board team stays together. That makes me so very happy.

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    10. Count me in as another vote in favor of keeping the wonderful JTT team on the town board. Let's pass that law ASAP.

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    11. Why not put an end to all this Tom Grant talk, and run Rick Matters for County Legislature.

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    12. 5:41pm, Where in the world is that coming from? We're looking forward to your next post about the top secret Grant-Putin connection.

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    13. Anon 6:22 - Now that's a good one. LMAO

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    14. 6:13 PM, No thank you. If it's between Rick Matters and Tom Grant, I'm voting for Tom Grant.

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    15. Anon 6:13- hahahahahahaha THE Rick Matters hahahahahahha

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    16. Does the county brain really want to have to deal with all this drama in EG? Things have been quiet as can be in EG for 15 months now. Let's keep it that way. Grant isn't the only one who wants to run. There are other qualified contenders who would ensure a drama-free campaign season. Leave Grant where he is and let's get back to the peace and quiet.

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    17. 8:31, Yes, we just read (at 6:13) how Rick Matters wants to run. I'll take Grant over Matters every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Why not leave Rick Matters where HE is? Wherever that may be. The Town of East Greenbush has done just fine without him.

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  57. It's Tom's cavalier attitude about the four-year commitment he made to the town, not his resume of skills and abilities, that is the big disappointment. He ran for town board in a town that desperately needs qualified, professional, experienced people to right a ship that ran aground years ago. He ran as part of a TEAM of people who promised to work together to improve our town. Although it's clear that he has changed his mind and wants to move on, he should not expect the people of EG to help him abandon his post. At this point, no matter what we think of his character, he is one-third of the team we elected to run the town, so if he wants to be let off the hook, he should look elsewhere. Lastly, if you think we're over-reacting now, just wait until Election Day 2017.

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  58. Does anyone know who the Democrats are running for County Legislature?

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  59. When was the last time the GF blog had 116 posts? After reading them tonight, it seems clear that the thought of losing one-third of the EG1ST majority is causing a level of upset and anger that is sure to impact the outcome of the election this November. To Councilman Grant, I have only this to say, people won't remember what you said or did in your lifetime; they will only remember how you made them feel.

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    1. @9:44, Good morning. There is no need to even think of losing one-third of the EG1ST majority once the TB passes the law allowing EG Town Councilors to also serve on the County Leg.

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    2. @9:44PM re your advice how people feel, I think Tom Grant scores very high in that area. He is also my candidate based on what he has accomplished and his leadership abilities.

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    3. 9:44PM - You are using a well known quote from Maya Angelou the famous poet and author. You might want to credit Ms. Angelou who also said "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time". Thank you for bringing her to my attention today.

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  60. 7:26, 8:08 & 8:31 look like they're all written by the same person but it really doesn't matter. The county brain underestimated EG1st supporters before so why not again? It looks like Tom's probably got it, so good luck to him. He's going to need it.

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  61. 12:52: county brain or not, my brain prefers Tom Grant over Rick Matters. Nothing against Rick personally.

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  62. Repealing and replacing the Democrat (McCabe) sponsored local law prohibiting a Town Board member from simultaneously serving on the Town Board and the County Legislature is a great idea. This would allow Councilor Grant to continue to work very closely with Supervisor Conway, and Councilor Tierny. They should make this a top priority without delay.

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  63. What makes you think that Tom would stay on the TB if the Local Law was changed and he could do both jobs? If he decides to run for the county he will have already broken an implied promise. Why would we trust anything else he says? The comments about "forcing" him to stay in his current position are hilarious. That's what he was elected to do - work for the Town for 4 years. Nobody twisted his arm to do it. If he runs - he will be no better than Cristo or Danaher. Actually he will be worse - because of the sweat and money many of us wasted to put him where he is now. He couldn't get elected as a Republican - which is what he is - so he rode on Jack's coattails and used EastGreenbushFirst dollars to get elected. I know he has his own campaign funds. Did he use any of that money to get elected? Don't be fooled. If you vote for him for the County job you will have been duped. Don't do it.

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  64. 2:53pm, Let me get this straight, you say Tom couldn't get elected as a Republican and now you seem to have a problem with him being supported by the Republicans. During the Eg1st campaign Jack, Tina and Tom worked together as a team, they each brought individual strengths to their successful effort and continue to work together on the town board.

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  65. Tom Grant is far from a Republican. He is telling people that he is associated with the Working Family Party. Totally by his choice, and prerogative, but he’s not a real Republican. After all the negativity here about him running for County Legislature on the Republican ticket, he doesn’t seem to have much support. He will probably be received in similar fashion by the Republicans on election day. He is a bad choice as a Republican candidate and likely won’t win. Tom should remain loyal to the folks that got him elected and finish his term on the EG Town Board. If I were Leon Fiacco, Kelly Hoffman, or Rob Baily I certainly wouldn’t want to be surrounded by all the controversy Tom is causing.

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  66. 4:38pm "Opinions vary." ~Dalton

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  67. Could it be that Tom Grant has lost his loyalty to his Eg1st team for reasons we don’t understand? Tom may be keeping more than one secret from us. Obviously this County Courtship must have been going on for sometime to develop to this stage, and certainly brings into question his trustworthiness going forward. Actions generally speak louder than words.

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  68. 7:24. It's got to be tied into a vast right wing conspiracy somehow. I'm still trying to put the pieces together (lol).

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  69. 3:44 - what I said was prior to his victory on the EG1st ticket he couldn't get elected as a Republican. Now they are courting him because they hope he will bring EG1st voters along with him. Not gonna happen Rich Crist or whoever is pulling the strings at the county level. Now if Tom were to run as a Democrat for the County Legislature - he might get a little support.

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    1. Tom's the chameleon. He'll run as a Republican, a Democrat or Bozo the Clown for the right offering.

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    2. Anon.10:06 PM Tom's actions are speaking for themselves. Simply put, Leon Fiacco, Kelly Hoffman and Rob Baily would probably benefit by staying clear of Tom Grant. He has alienated himself with the Eg1st folks, and as for Tom running on the Democrat line, I'm sure all those folks that Tom demonized over the years would welcome him with open arms. At the rate Tom is is going he might want to find a new career path. No vote for Tom or any of his yet to be determined running mates from my family this year. Good luck though.

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    3. Running Tom Grant as a pseudo-Republican seems to be doing little more than garnering more votes for the Democrats who will also be running.
      Thanks!

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    4. It's certainly not a bad thing that Tom is willing to respectfully listen to people from both sides of the political aisle. President Trump himself is now talking about working with Democrats in the Congress.

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  70. Regarding repealing the local law in EG that says you can't hold dual offices, does anyone else see an ethical problem with repealing an entire law for the benefit of just one individual? Grant supporters see repealing the law as the "perfect solution" to keeping him on the TB and quieting the uproar about him leaving but from a business standpoint, it seems highly improper. Laws are made and repealed for the good of society and the community as a whole, certainly not for the benefit of one person who is trying to to have it both ways. I'm not saying that repealing the law shouldn't be looked at;I am saying that it shouldn't be repealed to help out Tom Grant.

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    1. The local law that prohibits holding dual offices was passed by now ousted Dems in an effort to prevent certain members of the county legislature from being returned to office by the people even when the people voted for dual office holders. So, it can and will be argued at a Public Hearing that the original law was passed with petty and personal motives and it should now be repealed for the good of the people and in keeping with with practices modeled in the County and neighboring Towns.
      It will also be interesting to see will speak to this issue (for or against) when they don't have the protection of an anonymous blog.

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    2. I supported EG1st knowing that it was a coalition of people from all political parties who worked together to clean up Town politics. I am also very comfortable to return to my political party now that we have a good government that is open and transparent. JTT have taken the crisis out of our government and I suspect that that while all the EG1st supporters and candidates will come at good government from different angles, we will all still support the best folks running. I don't get the whole betrayal thing. If Tom was good then and is doing a good job now, why would party affiliation matter. The whole idea of EG1t was that party affiliation was less important than good government.

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    3. 2:14. I agree with you. Look how over the last two years JTT have included Debbie Dimartino as a full partner on the Town Board. She's a member of the Republican Party and has done a good job working with Jack, Tina and Tom. Party affiliation doesn't matter if the goal is good government.

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  71. We can only hope and pray that the EG1st moniker was not retired in 2015 and that they are gearing up again to run two more fine candidates this year. Building on 7:24 p.m's post, a fresh, new EG1st team will be needed on Jan 1 whether Tom stays or goes.

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  72. Regarding the restrictions on holding dual office law, I am curious about one thing. Back in 2011 when the law was proposed, I wonder if the Grants spoke on it during the public comment period and if the meeting minutes say if they were for the law or against it. Anyone up for a little research?

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  73. What would you have said if anyone else other than Tom was thinking of holding dual seats? Would you be thinking about repealing the law then? I agree with 8:00 am - we don't repeal laws willy-nilly for the convenience of one person. Why make it easier for Grant? And maybe we don't want a person to hold both jobs at once. And who says even if the law is repealed he would stay with the town anyway? Can you trust anything he says?

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    1. Eg1st needs 2 candidates for 2017 Town Board to make Tom Grant, and his silent partner irrelevant. Jack needs to get to work and find 2 people he can work with. Otherwise this isn't going to end well.

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    2. 9:38 a.m. Jack's probably got his hands full running the town but it's becoming clearer by the day that he's going to need more team spirit this year than what he has now. The problem is that there's not an EG1st committee like with regular political parties, so doing this again is a bit more complicated. It was such an incredibly heavy lift getting three in for four years but now we're back to square one. Life!

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    3. In order to repeal a law there first has to be a public hearing. We can show up to that and comment then.

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    4. Anon.10:39 - To your point, it's a 5 member board that runs the town, and at the rate it's going it's a flip of the coin between the Democrats, or the Republicans who will regain control. Republicans do look to have the edge at this point with Tom jumping ship. Jack is there for almost 3 more years. He better get behind a couple of people that will help him if Eg1st doesn't have the organization, regardless of party affiliation.

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    5. 11:06 it is a five member board, correct, but this new development with Tom may have tossed a huge monkey wrench in the works starting now. How can something like this not change everything? We thought we were set for four, beautiful long years but now we know that we're not set and possibly were never set, not really. I blame the county because taking Tom is really dirty pool but they are convinced that EG First supporters are going to bring Tom and his running mates a truckload of votes. Who knows, maybe they're right.

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  74. Jack - Dem
    Tina - Independent
    Mary Ann - Republican
    Deb DiMartino - Republican
    Tom - Working Families (Republican)

    You all do realize that Republicans already have the majority? How about someone ask Tom instead of all of the speculating whether he's running or not? And then ask yourself if a better job opportunity came up would you take it...yes!

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    1. Anon. 12:00 PM The problem here is, they all have their own agendas, and are working against Jack behind his back. Not Good, not good at all.

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    2. Nice try 1:52 p.m. You need to rouse someone on the dormant Talks blog and post your comment there. You're the infamous "not good, not good at all" guy. They don't "all have their own agendas." Two are finishing out their terms and two are staying put. No one is "working against Jack behind his back." That's just flat-out wrong.

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    3. 12:00 p.m. Jack, Tina and Tom nailed it in 2015. They sent a kick ass enough-is-enough message to the major party slugs who were fleecing our town day and night for their own personal advantage and gain. Then we find out that Tom is going to Republican fund raisers and that he's cozy in bed with the very political party he ran against in 2015 to upseat Republican Keith Langley. But the cherry on the sundae is when he convinces the head county slug that all the EG1st supporters who voted for him in 2015 will vote for him again in 2017. Lol! Fat chance. He's disgustingly hypocritical, outrageous, and too bizarre for words. So glad good people helped Tom Grant defeat those slugs so that he could wind up JOINING THEM! Are we a bunch of suckers or what? Never again.

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    4. 12 p.m. Regarding the "speculating" about whether Tom's running or not, at a recent public event, Tom Grant was seen at a table sitting elbow to elbow with Rich Crist and Phil Danaher. So much for speculating. He's their boy now. Why don't you ask Tom about that.

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    5. Anon. 3:23 PM. Your Eg1st ship jumper seems to have a lot to say when he is with his new friends. If you want to be in denial thats your choice, but don't try to silence the truth. Things are definitely not very sincere behind the scenes.

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    6. (5:19) Oh! No! Say it isn't so! Sitting with Rich Crist and Phil Danaher. What's next for Tom Grant? Having a conversation with Pete Stenson and Toni Murphy? Give us a break. You are ridiculous.

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    7. Anon. 3:23 PM. Do you actually believe Tom Grant's induction into the "County Good Old Boys Club” includes future support for Supervisor Jack Conway? I have a bridge for sale if you do. Let’s not forget about Rick Matters unwavering desire to be accepted as a “County Clubber” as well. With Tina and Tom tighter than two coats of paint, you can draw your own conclusions there, but it’s all starting to smell pretty bad. As for DiMartino, she’s probably counting the days for it to be over, as she should be. Let’s not forget about Mary Ann who's only interest was to lobby acceptance for her Husband with the “ County Good Old Boys Club” for a County Leg. run. Isn’t anyone paying attention here?

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    8. 7:27- Let me get this new one straight. Are you now saying that the entire TB, except for Deb DiMartino, who you insult by saying she is simply counting down her days, is actively working against Jack Conway? Perhaps you should start attending Town Board meetings or start stopping by Town Hall. What you'll see is a high functioning, professional Town Board who's major focus is on working for the people of our town. How sad it must be for you to think otherwise. I feel very sorry for you.

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  75. Mary Ann Matters is registered Independent. The only majority is EG First.

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  76. @4:05 - I don't care if Langley is a Tory or a Wig, I was unable to support him because he headed a government that was poorly managed and ineffective. He then ran for office and received a remarkable defeat. He is not a worthy candidate for our town especially considering the accomplishments of EG1st.
    If Eg1st comes forward with candidates, I will certainly consider them favorably and if they don't, I will pick the best from among those who choose to run.
    If I see Jack, Tina or Tom on the ballot for any office on any ticket, each one of them will receive my highest consideration.

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  77. How "high functioning" will Tom be this year for our town while he's running for the county legislature? Attempt to change the subject all you want, folks, but Tom Grant USED EG1st to get elected. His campaign material said "the choice for change" but how is he to "change the course of politics in our town" if he isn't HERE? His campaign literature said,"we are candidates who care DEEPLY about our community, and who are TAKING ON THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN." Now he is jumping ship to join the same two-party system that he said is "fundamentally broken." The ad goes on to say that "East Greenbush First will offer residents a NEW form of leadership and a new way to govern our town with an independent campaign aimed at putting East Greenbush taxpayers FIRST." Bunk! All bunk! It's called BAIT & SWITCH, folks. Tom baited us with his line of bunk, now he's switching to a REAL political party and all the "brokenness" that goes with it, and that guy who said he cares DEEPLY about our community has no problem at all with leaving it behind, saying thanks for the votes, EG1sters. See you again in November!

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  78. Tom Grant has fooled a number of folks in our town. The sad reality about Tom is his only true capability has been one of "MASS DECEPTION". Tom Grant walked this town spreading vile in his 2015 campaign against the two major political party's. He ranted about massive corruption stemming back to the Rick McCabe administration, to accusing Keith Langley for being connected to a corrupt County Government that was trying to force an unwanted casino on EG., that by the way, was never coming here to begin with. Now Tom Grant is deceiving Jack Conway, and the Eg1st supporters who ushered Tom Grant to victory on our Town Board only 18 months ago. Tom Grant has no substance and lacks character. He has now decided join forces with those whom he carelessly ridiculed in 2015 and expects Eg1st supporters and the Republican Party to support him to run for County Legislature. Tom Grant is once again proving himself to be the MASTER OF DECEPTION, and deserves no support from any voter in our town, regardless of party affiliation. Say NO on Election Day this year. Tom Grant is all about himself, and could care less about the Town of East Greenbush.

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    1. 8:13am. I am so sorry. It must be so very hard being you. It seems clear by the tone of your remarks about Tom that you were deeply injured by the EG1st victory and that your perceived injury has continued to fester during the eighteen months since the November, 2015 election. I will add my hopes for your eventual emotional recovery to my daily prayers. Until then, please try to take good care of yourself the best you can.

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    2. 8:13 AM So now the casino was "never coming here to begin with." Good grief!

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  79. thanks for the review of the great campaign material. Are you jealous that JTT got in and were successful executing their agenda? Could it be that Tom Grant wants to continue the good work on a larger scale? Is it possible that a good candidate could carry on the great government set up by JTT?

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  80. 9:01 No it's not possible. The 19 member county legislature does not NEED Tom Grant to conduct the business of the county but Jack and Tina NEED him to fulfill the campaign promises of EG1st. We are just now coming to realize, however, that EG1st was never going to work because Tom Terrific is nothing but a PR guy, a pitch man with his own agenda who deceived people into believing that they should elect him because "the two-party system is fundamentally broken," and now he is leaving us for the two-party system (huh?) But at the grassroots level, what about the commitment he made to Jack and Tina? Does that count for nothing? Is it okay to dissolve their partnership in the middle of their term because he got a better offer? The answer is NO.

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  81. I supported EG First and I'll do it again but Tom Grant is an imposter. Our town government has been doing great and as long as Jack is sitting at the office in town hall it will keep doing great.

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  82. @9:48, As a strong advocate of the Two party system, I respectfully disagree, with the exception of one point. I agree with you that during the Langley administration, there was a complete breakdown in the two party system in East Greenbush, which resulted in an ineffective and inefficient government in East Greenbush. Jack, Tina and Tom have demonstrated, with the help of Deb DiMartino, that the EG1st government does indeed have the capacity to work on a collegial basis. Please reread the Executive Summary of The Supervisor's Report for details.
    It's a matter of little dispute that, at this point in time, the way to effect positive change at the county level is through the traditional two party system.
    I read earlier that the Town Board has the option to enact a law which would allow its members also serve on the County Legislature. I'll need to think about that a little longer, but at first blush, it seems to me such a hybrid approach could very well serve to benefit the Town of East Greenbush.
    It is my understanding that Town of North Greenbush uses such an approach. I will do some further research on this.

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  83. In short, the two party system in EG was broken. Jack, Tina and Tom recognized this and created their own political party. Thanks to the hard work and good example of Jack, Tina, Tom and now, Deb, the two party system in EG will be required to rebuild itself by running professional candidates for Town Board. Let's see who the Democrats and the Republicans select to run.

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  84. Correction: it seems to you such a hybrid approach could very well serve to benefit Tom Grant. Laws are not changed to benefit one person.  I hope your "further research" reveals that.

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    1. 11:12, I just scrolled back to what 10:35 wrote. It still reads: "I'll need to think about that a little longer, but at first blush, it seems to me such a hybrid approach could very well serve to benefit the Town of East Greenbush." 10:35 didn't mention Tom Grant. You did. No correction needed on 10:35's end.

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  85. Jack, Tina and TOm did not create their own political party. EG1st was not a political party, but rather a ballot line. JTT never argued they were against the party system nor against their own parties. They were against the broken two party system in our town that was run by the same group of families and friends. They never denied their own party affiliation. Many of you are creating drama and making this much worse than it is. So much speculation, didn't we see enough conspiracy theories over the last year to last a lifetime? Or, was last year fun and we want to continue the drama locally?!

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  86. Everyone keeps either missing or avoiding the point, which is that the hard won EG1st majority consists of Jack, Tina AND TOM. Without Tom, the historic EG1st majority ceases to exist and all the money that was spent and work that was done (work, not fun) to get them elected was for nothing. It's a betrayal on several levels: #1 Tom is abandoning Jack and Tina, #2 Tom is abandoning their entire platform for what they promised to do for the town, the platform that got them elected, and #3, Tom is abandoning the people who bought what he was selling but are now about to be sold short. To add insult to injury, he then pitched to the county that the same people he is abandoning will vote for him again and amazingly the county bought it lock, stock and barrel. To just up and walk away from the greatest event in EG history shows a level of callousness, selfishness and disregard for Jack, Tina, and the residents, that can't be believed. The EG1ST victory wasn't just another election, it was an event in the history of the town that will never be forgotten. The least Tom could have done was ridden that glorious wave to shore out of respect for the sheer size and power of it. Instead, he's jumped of the surf board and is swimming off in a different direction. Sad.

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    1. Anon 5:05 PM, Very well put.

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    2. It's barely a part time job.. Let's be real and move on from the over exaggerated drama. A retired man or woman should easily be able to handle 2 meetings a month for the town board while serving on the county. If the man you were so supportive of was good enough to serve on the town board and be the change our town needed, why the hell wouldn't you want him in a position to make real change? Let's be real, there's minimum laws you can affect at the town level, last I checked we were Rensselaer County. That's far from abandoning us!

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  87. The historic East Greenbush First Majority does not have to cease to exist. The Town Board has the ability to pass a law to permit members of the town board to concurrently serve as elected members of the Rensselaer County Legislature.

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    1. Regarding repealing the law in EG that restricts the holding of dual offices, the town board's hands are tied for the rest of the year because of Tom Grant's potential candidacy. If the town board moved to repeal the law this year, it would look like they were repealing it for one person's benefit/gain, the appearance of which would be wholly improper and unethical. Even if the entire town board supported repealing the law, and if Tom recused himself from voting, it can not be done this year if one of its members stands to immediately profit from it. It can, however, be looked at next year.

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  88. Has there been an official announcement about who the EG1st Town Board candidates are?

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  89. There has been a great deal of controversy to the point of resentment over the notion of Councilor Grant's desire to move on, and run for a County seat. That is a decision he alone needs to make going forward. This issue being circulated to change a local law currently on the books prohibiting an East Greenbush Town Board member from serving on the County Legislature simultaneously should reviewed with intense scrutiny. If changing this local law is being considered to accommodate Counselor Grant to potentially hold two political positions it would seem totally inappropriate to even be considered. Eg1st ran on a platform of integrity, and it would be very disappointing to see that compromised by such an act that could very easily be viewed as rigging the system. Hopefully Supervisor Conway weighs this all out very carefully before even beginning such a process.

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  90. Serving on both boards is a massive conflict of interest. If Grant can even think about running for the County I don't want him any where near our town board. If we wanted Rich Crist running our town board we would have elected Langley and his boys. They were crushed for a good reason. This is so disappointing. Tom Grant is a phony.

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    1. Huh? On what authority are you blogging legal opinions? I posted a few days ago about the history of the ban on both boards explaining that it was adopted in an effort that was aimed at two particular people and conceived by a petty, regressive Town Board with the agenda of one-up-manship in a bitter fight; EG1st pledged to end such behavior. The effort to bring our laws back to their original status should be brought to the public.
      If the TB has a public hearing on the issue, I will be very interested in the opinion of the Town Attorney. I expect that the anonymous bloggers will not come forward in a public forum.
      As far as not wanting a citizen to "be anywhere near the Town Board", particularly a person who is an elected official, that is bad government at its worse. Let's all remember that differing opinions make good government.

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  91. County Republican Party leader Rich Crist should put an end to his grand plan of entertaining Tom Grant as a potential candidate for County Legislature. There are plenty of folks to choose from without disrupting the East Greenbush Town Board. Enough is Enough!!

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  92. @ 4/14, 5:05 PM: I have been very impressed with the work of Jack, Tina and Tom. Their accomplishments are incalcuated in law, in practice and in attitude. Their work will never be for nothing, as you assert. JTT’s platform and agenda should be cherished and nutured to live on and not be limited to four short years or to the three founding leaders. Jack, Tina, and Tom are all up to the job of fostering EG1st principels with new board members and other governing bodies. Spreading the best practices is the ultimate route to preserving the inspirational victory of EG1st.
    Words like ”betrayal” and “abandoning” are way off the mark in this discussion. There is no evidience whatsoever that Tom has done or will do either. There is every indication that Tom will continue to operate in a professional and diligent manner to best represent the people who send him to office.
    I have read and considered your post and I am respectfully disagreeing with you. Please do not assume I have missed or avoided the point. I am making the point.

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    1. Anon. 5:05 You said it perfectly and couldn't agree more. Tom Grant is letting us all down, and it really is sad. Those trying to make this ok obviously have an agenda.

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    2. Anon, 10:56 I agree with you. I stand by Jack, Tina and Tom for whatever office they choose to run for.

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  93. Until I hear from the horse's mouth that he is running - I will assume that he isn't. If he does - I won't vote for him. If there is a movement to change the local law to allow one person to hold 2 hats I will lobby against it. As someone mentioned above - that would be a HUGE conflict of interest - as was evidenced by Ginny O'Brien and Phil Danaher as Planning Board attorney. Does anyone remember how Phil came out totally for the casino and even had his office conveniently moved to RT 4 - right off I90? And don't forget that friends - when Phil's name is on the ballot for County Judge. Don't forget.

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    1. Anon !:52 PM FYI, Counselor Grant (AKA horse's mouth ) was asking everyone for their support at Phil Danaher's fund raiser last night. You should email Mr. Grant at his Town Hall email and ask him if he is running.

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    2. 2:25 Tom Grant doesn't know for a fact that he's running for a seat on the county legislature, he only knows that he wants to run. It's also worth noting that he is not the only contender for the race. The public won't know who the candidates are until they're officially announced by the county GOP probably sometime in June. The scuttlebutt is that Tom may be the pick of the litter because of his vote getting potential in East Greenbush. All the talk about Tom "abandoning" and "betraying" EG First is aimed no doubt at pressuring him to withdraw his name from consideration for the leg race and focus, instead, on the work to the EG Town Board.

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    3. Didn't Phil also turn a blind eye to the miraculous appearance of the du-quadplex on Thompson Hill? Oh, by the way, on Phil's facebook page, the first person to congratulate him on his candidacy and wish him good luck is none other than Tom Grant but didn't Tom call for an investigation of that whole affair prior to being elected or am I mistaken?

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  94. 2:25pm. I was there as well. It was a tremendous turnout and a wonderful event. It was great to see such a strong show of support for Phil Danaher.

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    1. The only "strong show of support" that matters is the one on Election Day. It will be interesting to see how Mr. Danaher fares on November 7, 2017.

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  95. Why not repeal the law and let the voters decide if they want to allow someone to hold two offices? I don't want someone making that decision for me. Kelly Hoffman in North Greenbush holds dual office so obviously the voters in that town don't have a problem with it...and she's very popular!

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  96. I agree with 8:41. Repeal the law and let us decide for ourselves if we want to vote for someone to hold two offices. Tom Grant, for example, is retired. He can hold two offices. He has the time. Then we can quiet down about him leaving the town board midterm.

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  97. Jack says he's all about ethics. Ethics is all about conflicts of interest. He would be as big a hypocrite as Grant if he tried to repeal the law. County politicians only care about us at election time. EG First ran against the other parties to get the Rich Crists of the world out of our business. The thought of him having direct influence over our town board through his puppet Tom Grant is nauseating. Grant is obviously for sale. Our town board isn't.

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  98. But thinking about this practically, Tom is still only one person. He is one member of a five member town board and he wants to be one member of a 19 member county legislature. So how does that give him anymore power than he has now? He still has to get majority support for anything he wants to do. In other words, he's not a one man show. As far as the conflict of interest part of it, I think it's in the town's best interest to have a voice for us on the town board and on the county legislature. If I'm wrong about any of this, please explain why.

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    1. Wait a minute here. What happened to our Eg1st 3 member majority? Are you kidding me? This is turning out to be a complete farce. You cant blame the Republicans for not supporting him for Town Board.

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  99. We've had Phil Danaher on the County Legislature. Phil's a good man. Name one advantage we've gained by having Phil in the County Legislature. In fact, name one thing the County has done for the town. The casino? Huge tax break for Fed Ex? Danaher has standing in the republican party and it hasn't helped us at all. They don't even want Grant, they just want to bring EG First voters over to their side. This is a trap. They'll bury Tom he won't be able to help us at all. This is simple. Do you like the way things have changed here or do you want to go back to the way things were. Shame on Tom Grant for putting his ego a head of the town. Shame on us if we let him.
    .

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    1. Anon. 8:59 Lets not forget about the " Really Huge" tax break he gave Regeneron. Thanks Phil for all you've done. The county has no problem giving away our tax base and brag about their accomplishments leaving us high and dry. Tom will fit right in, you know the leaving us high and dry part.

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  100. Gadfly. I get it. There are four or five posters who say over and over that they don't plan to vote for Tom for County Legislature. There are also four or five posters who say over and over that they do plan to vote for Tom for County Legislature.

    Aren't there any other issues that we should be discussing? What about the quality of the Hampton Manor Drinking Water? What about the Continued Foul Odors from the Sewage Treatment Plant? What about the condition of the Hampton Manor Lake? What about all the eyesores along Columbia Turnpike?
    Just sayin.

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