Halfmoon and East Greenbush

Take a look at the link to the Sunday TU story on Halfmoon.  It is particularly interesting as it relates to the consequences of an outdated Ethics Code.  And it's a wonderful vignette as to "how things work" in municipal politics:

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Public-face-in-private-deals-4723342.php

And here's the link to the TU Ethics story:

 http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/GOP-Charity-begins-at-home-with-Democratic-4730350.php

And there's an important Editorial in the TU today which touches on disclosure and why it is important for public officials.  Here's the link:

  http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/questions-dog-a-justice/25753/

Let's see the Plan!!

 I just got the anonymous "comment" below, and without the permission of the sender, I've decided to make it a new Post.  It captures the political dilemma in our Town.  The minority has an opportunity to move the Town forward with an aggressive agenda to reform what needs to be reformed in our Town.  But we haven't heard a thing about what the minority would do with a majority.  Give us a reason to vote for you!!  

It's only a rumor, but I've heard that the Republican Chair has instructed his candidates NOT to address issues.  I hope that this is not the case.  We need to hear candidates on issues.  The absence of "content" from a candidate should demonstrate inability to serve the public in responsible office.   I have no idea what "instructions" have been given to the Democratic candidates.

This blog space is open to ANY candidate to publish his/her position(s) on policy issues facing the Town. 

------  The East Greenbush Gadfly

"Supervisor Langley blames voters for not giving him a majority on the town board. It is an excuse with some minor merit.

But where the excuse falls short is that Supervisor Langley does not now, and never has yet, told voters why they should give majority control of the town board.

If he had even an ounce of leadership and some vision for our town I am more than confident voters would sign up and give him the majority that would eliminate his excuses.

But when all he chooses to offer are excuses voters are, very understandably, not sure what they would be voting for.

Here's a news flash Mr. Supervisor...registered Democrats are more numerous than any other political party. If you do not share and demonstrate an ability to lead and take our town someplace new and better those more numerous Democrats will see to it that the candidates that might give you a majority never hold office.

The choice is truly yours BUT you simply must provide leadership, vision and a financial plan for our town."

"Git in the truck....."

Funny thing happened this last week.  We got an invitation to the Republican Fund Raiser at Melvin Roads in June.  This is especially amazing in the context of the explicit instructions to “keep away from the reformers” which went out from “Republican Headquarters” after the last election.  And even more amazing after the “pow-wow” requesting that Mooney, Jenkins and I stop any potential criticism and wait for the roll out of the new Supervisor’s “plan.” 

Well we’ve been waiting.  We've seen a lot of missed opportunities.  We’ve seen the missed opportunity to present a “no tax increase” budget – requiring the majority to raise taxes if they wanted to fund their pork and patronage.  Nothing yet on the long recommended financial recovery plan.  Of course, this would require some hard decisions about the workforce, and that strikes at the heart of the majority’s re-election machine.  No movement to recoup the illegal stipends, longevity and sickleave payments as recommended by the OSC in its recent audit.  (This recovery would cover one and a half times the amount of the last general and highway funds tax increase.) We deserve a vote, and it would provide the opportunity to see if the majority would vote against the public interest.  And of course, both the majority and the minority are enjoying the recently introduced policy of prohibiting questions of the Board at Board meetings. 

I have a feeling that the reform efforts of citizens, which did institute some changes in the way governing is done around here, is just as distasteful to the minority (at least some) as it is to the majority.  That’s the only thing that would explain the reluctance to keep the pressure on the majority and fashion a policy agenda on which to run in the next election.  The inability of the minority to function as a minority leads to the conclusion that the minority is just a “mini-majority” waiting its turn at the trough. 

Public policy is being made riding around in the truck.  East Greenbush DEMands (which just might read “REPmands”) is asserting that Google is planting viruses at my direction to certain visitors to this Blog.  And Mr. Breig is being blamed for the state of the financial records before his tenure.  Welcome to Wonderland, Alice. 

Hamlet on Hampton Lake

“To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them……”

I’ve been thinking about this Post for a while, but the comment on the previous post from “I Support Langley” has provided the impetus to publish it now.  I think the argument goes something like ---  the stipend, longevity and sickleave money will never be recouped so why spend the legal money to go after it?  Well, here are a few reasons to follow the Comptroller’s recommendation:

First, Mr. Langley doesn’t seem to understand how to use the “power” of being in the minority.  He is in a position to offer a Resolution to recoup the subject funds and have that Resolution defeated by Malone, O’Brien and Mangold – thereby requiring them to take a public stand against the advice of the Comptroller.  Langley has the “cover” of State Law, a strong ethical standard and the authority of the Comptroller of the State of New York, and he’s looking for an “out.”  We deserve a vote!!

Second, it looks to me like the recoupment amount is about one and a half times the amount of the General Fund/Highway Fund tax increase this year.  Successful recoupment could have meant no tax increase in these funds this year.

Third, breaking the law, cutting ethical corners and generally screwing the public will continue until it actually COSTS the perpetrators something.  That’s why our society has a justice system.  Does anybody actually believe that the $14 million in sewer bond revenue is not being eyed by folks who would just love to have a “forgive, forget and move forward” atmosphere present when that money is up for grabs???  When it comes to bad behavior, unless you “nail” it, you “license” it.

Fourth, we already have a lawyer on the Town payroll – salary and benefits.

Fifth, why should the proposition that the money will never be recovered be accepted?  The Comptroller used different language related to the stipends and the longevity/sickleave matters.  I think he said that the longevity/sickleave funds SHOULD be recovered – not just the possibility investigated. 

Well there are a few reasons.  I think the first and the third are the most important.  Being in the minority is NOT to be powerless.  Mr. Langley is in a position to make a very positive reform record and force the majority into a very unseemly public record.  He doesn’t seem to know how to do that.  In this connection, the general screwing of the public will continue until every time it happens, somebody makes it cost something for the perps. 

The Big Picture - By Publius

Reader Publius has submitted the following remarks to the Gadfly Blog.  I think they deserve a Post Thread of their own:

As a reader of all four East Greenbush Blogs I would like to take this opportunity to make a few observations that may be helpful to East Greenbush residents from both sides of the aisle as well as the reformers.

First, there have been several posts about one side or the other being politically motivated by only criticizing their opposing politicians in relationship to inappropriate distribution of public funds. They are often paired with the observation that those who approved the appropriations are not those are currently serving in town government. They are incorrect. The most recent misappropriation of funds to an elected official was proposed and approved by the current Town Board. Resolution 165-2012 presented on November 14, 2012 provided for the $1,000 per year formerly paid to Town Supervisors in the form of “sick leave” payments be changed to regular salary to make the payments come into compliance with the OSC audit. The fact behind the obfuscating language in the resolution was that the audit found such payments to be wrong and our town officials devised a plan to “get around” the audit finding and still get the funding to the Town Supervisor. In this case, a citizen at the Board Meeting pointed out the inconsistency in the thinking surrounding the resolution and, as a result, the Town Attorney subsequently directed the Supervisor to return the $750 already illegally paid as his “sick leave incentive” in 2012.

The citizen in question was criticized in the TU Blog by the Deputy Supervisor who used all the tricks typical of those who discourage public participation in government. He implied that the citizen was unable to understand the situation, he was dismissive, and he alleged political motivation. The fact that the money was repaid and did not reappear in the 2013 budget proves the Deputy Supervisor wrong.

In the big picture, however, this event illustrates that the mechanism and the inclination to hide payments from the public exists in this Town Government! Our town leaders devised this plan during the same time period that they were (or should have been) digesting the audit and developing a plan for corrective action. We cannot continue to elect the ill-prepared and uninformed to public office and expect good government or ethical behavior. We must prevail upon both political parties to nominate candidates who are well prepared, beyond reproach ethically, and able to withstand the fallout that making hard choices brings. The person who appears at your door every year with nominating petitions is your representative in the party of your choice. Contact that person now, before the candidates for the fall are chosen, and ask them to find candidates who are experienced in government, prepared to do the work, and are of high moral and ethical character.

Resolution 165-2012 was proposed by Mr. Malone and seconded by Ms. O’Brien and passed by a 5-0 vote. Although the amount was small, the idea is flawed and, just like the stipends of old, the wrong minded public official has the potential to do much damage. Beware of the candidates who are endorsed by today’s sitting Town Board.

My second concern is the often used “interfering with the audit”. It is not challenged when it is used and it should be. Concerned citizens who contacted the OSC are exercising their responsibility as citizens in a representative form of government. The employees of the OSC and the town are the employees of the public. It is in very bad form for bloggers to regularly refer to citizen activists as interfering and not be called on it. The audit has unveiled wrongful acts and this disparaging language is one of the tools of those who are actively working against a meaningful corrective action plan. I urge citizens to support those who, like the Gadfly, ask hard questions and support meaningful reform.

Thank you for reading.

Jim Breig Resigns???

I just heard that Jim Breig, the East Greenbush Town Comptroller, has resigned.  If this is true, and I hope it is not, we have lost the last "raft of sanity in a sea of lunacy."  (To quote a friend of mine on the matter.)  This is a real tragedy for the Town.  Jim did his best to de-politicize that job and bring financial competence to that office.  I fear that the Town Comptroller's position will again be politicized.  Just in time for the Sewer contracting. 

Rick Matters' Advertiser Article

When I ran for a seat on the town board back in 2007, I took exception to the condition of commercial property along Columbia Turnpike. As we know, it has not lived up to its potential over the last fifteen years or so due, in no small part, to the shift in developer-interest to the Troy Road commercial strip north of  Couse Corners. I was and remain adamant about the town board taking meaningful, proactive action that would improve the appearance of commercial property in town. The good news is that East Greenbush still remains poised to realize its full potential. Indeed, all that is necessary to put a new face on East Greenbush is a spark to create the initial conditions that will lead to newly developed property as well as the redevelopment of existing property.

Last fall, I proposed to my town-board colleagues an opportunity that, if acted upon, would markedly improve the aesthetic quality of existing and newly developed commercial property in East Greenbush:the establishment of design standards and guidelines for commercial property as part of the town’s zoning law. Such standards and guidelines would address the architecture and configuration of buildings, their orientation on a site relative to street frontage, as well as site-related features such as pedestrian access, parking, signage, and landscaping (keep the “green” in Greenbush). Setting “standards” would ensure that the town would realize a minimum level of visual uniformity to new or rehabilitated

development, while “guidelines” would provide appropriate flexibility to developers so that commercial properties achieve varying degrees of distinction and uniqueness.  

 We’ve all driven around the capital region, and noticed the appeal of other commercial corridors in contrast to those in our own town. A large factor contributing to this contrast is that those communities have taken the steps to establish design standards and guidelines for commercial-property development. Such standards and guidelines have benefitted those communities, and they can benefit ours as well. It’s not that developers aren’t concerned about creating quality development; it simply means that municipalities have to take the lead in establishing a blue print for such development so that developers have direction. 

As a reward to owners of commercial property who would be subject to such standards and guidelines, it may be possible to provide for a limited tax exemption to partially offset their higher compliance costs. Doing so would create a win -win condition for residents and commercial property owners alike: residents enjoy enhanced storefronts in their town, while developers realize a fair incentive to invest in the town. In addition, once such standards take hold among properties in the town, the cumulative effect becomes an asset within the town, drawing still other developers to develop other property based upon the investment of prior developers.  Again, you can see this effect in other commercial areas in the capital region; East Greenbush can be among them as well.

Now, more than ever, is the time to set the stage for a new face on East Greenbush. In the near future, it is likely that many of the physically and functionally obsolete commercial properties along Columbia Turnpike will be overhauled by their owners. When it does occur, East Greenbush can reap all the benefits by simply planning its direction.  Let’s make it happen!

 As always, feel free to contact me with comments and/or questions. I can be reached during the evening at 479-7186 or via e-mail at rkmjr@verizon.net.