Shenanigans in Schodack

Here's the text of the Times Union Editorial from Friday the 25th.  What apparently has gone on there has unfortunate parallels to the mischief that took place in East Greenbush related to the casino fiasco.  I can't figure out how the planning/approval process avoided SEQRA.  No environmental impact?  Looks like the only way to stop this kind of abuse of the public is to remove the "perps" from office. 


"Schodack planning officials may or may not have broken any laws, but they certainly broke the public trust when they withheld details about a new development until the last minute, and then rushed through a vote to approve it the same night.

This exercise in cloak-and-dagger governance came complete with a code name, “Project Red.” It might be humorous, if it were not such a case study in official arrogance.

This mysterious development first came to light in May, when the town divulged this much – that a 175,000-square-foot building was proposed near routes 9 and 20, that it would that it would some kind of warehouse/distribution center, and be a round-the-clock operation.

That’s like saying a food and drink establishment of some kind is locating in your neighborhood, and it’ll have music. What are we talking about? A French bistro with a string quartet, or a dance club with a sound system worthy of a concert hall? A family place or something involving pole dancers?

The full details were kept secret under a “confidentiality clause” that Town Supervisor Dennis Dowds was legally binding. It was not until this past Monday that the company’s identity, McLane Foodservices, was revealed – three months after what passed for a public hearing was held.

Clearly, a public hearing on a project that citizens don’t have the full details about is a mockery of open government. The best residents could do was ask generic questions about a generic proposal. Perhaps that’s what the town preferred for a site where previous proposals have failed amid public objections.

More details would have allowed them to ask more specific questions and raise specific issues. The full disclosure that the town refused to provide might have revealed some problems with the town’s review and raised the need for noise, traffic, and environmental studies. Maeve Tooher, attorney for the Birchwood Neighborhood Association, notes that the project is on an aquifer, and that documents show widely different estimates of how many trucks would come and go – ranging from 17 to 75.

But there will be no studies. The firm’s identity and other relevant details only came the same day that the Planning Board cast its vote.

Such shabby treatment of citizens is reminiscent of how things were done in the waning days of the cronyism that was once standard operating procedure in places like Albany, where public boards met at inconvenient times while people were tied up at work and unable to make their voices heard. Where development in the environmentally sensitive Pine Bush was rammed through. Such shenanigans were finally reined in by courts that set the city straight on good government, and by voters who booted politicians who were happy to serve as rubber stamps for well-connected business interests.

Schodack officials would be wise to heed the lessons of that history, or risk a fittingly public embarrassment, in the courtroom or at the polls."

East Greenbush First Reception

The EG1st Announcements.....

EG1st Platform and Resident's Forum

The East Greenbush First team has published its Platform and Plan for governing on their website and it is available at this link:  http://www.eg1st.org/platform

What a refreshing and encouraging approach to candidacy and governing!!  This slate has done their homework and has produced a plan to which they can be held accountable by the people. 

We Need A CLEAN Break!

Some interesting letters in today's Advertiser.  There are three which I want to give wider readership, those by Eileen Grant, Jonathan Shapiro and Tina Tierney.  I'll cut to the chase.  Both of the major parties have had their chance at governing in recent years.  And both have screwed it up - royally.  They've spent most of their time taking care of the common insider population, notwithstanding solid advice from the State Comptroller as to how to begin to fix the disasters which they created.  Not one move in a positive direction.  Now Moody's has dropped the ultimate bomb.  What do you think that might do to debt service on the WWTP?  They've both had their chance, with all kinds of good advice.  What do you think the chances are for improvement if either machine gets a majority again?  Remember, "the past is prologue."  There's just not the will or the "know-how."

Open Government in East Greenbush?

The appearance of Jack Conway's letter in the Advertiser this morning was fortuitous in the context of last night's Town Board meeting.  I think one of the things Jack is getting at is that East Greenbush has no healthy government traditions, rules and mores to which it can turn in crisis or need.  "Institutions" are supposed to help sustain a community.  Our governmental culture has been about tearing up and exploiting "community" for a very long time.  Looks to me like we need to learn some things which have not been a part of the governmental culture for a very long time.

East Greenbush Isn't Broken, It's "Fixed."

Here's Jonathan Shapiro's letter in today's Advertiser.  It's great!!  It raises again some questions which have been repeatedly asked, but not answered by Town officials.  Below the letter, I've included a link to an excellent commentary on the matter from East Greenbush Truth, and a link to the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Board which re-directed the funds to pave Thompson Hill Road.

East Greenbush Isn't Broken, It's "Fixed."

 Although East Greenbush has a Master Plan, it is routinely over ridden for the benefit of a select few developers.  A perfect example of this is the Thompson Way Subdivision (PDD), where Hart and Maney are building the first duplex.  There is a great deal of dispute over whether or not the final development plan even received Planning Board approval.  What there can be no dispute about is the 1/4/13 Memo in which the developer agreed to be responsible for repaving Thompson’s Hill Road for $93,000.

However, on 9/3/13 the town approved a plan to spend over $145,000 to pave it.  No bids were ever solicited and Rifenberg Construction, our Supervisors former employer, was given the contract.  The money used for this, GEIS funds given by FEDEX, was supposed to go for sidewalks and other amenities on Route 4 and Couse Corners.  The stated reason was that the town needed a two day detour for the building of the Mannix Road round about on Route 4, despite the fact that Route 4 is state owned and the town is not responsible.

—WHY DID THE TOWN BOARD SPEND MONEY TO DO SOMETHING THAT THE DEVELOPER ALREADY AGREED TO?

—WHY DID THE BOARD SPEND AN EXTRA $53,000 BEYOND WHAT THE DEVELOPER SAID IT WOULD COST?

—WHY DID THE BOARD  MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT THE REASON  TO PAVE THE ROAD, WHEN THE TOWN HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DETOUR?

—WHY DIDN’T THE BOARD PUT THE PAVING CONTRACT UP FOR BID?

—WHY DID THE TOWN BOARD SPEND MONEY ALREADY EARMARKED FOR OTHER AMENITIES, SIDEWALKS ETC, THAT HAVE YET TO BE BUILT?

THE REASON IS SIMPLE: EAST GREENISH ISN’T BROKEN IT’S FIXED. 

We need a NEW political party in this town

Jonathan Shapiro,  East Greenbush

https://eastgreenbushtruth.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/todays-advertiser-part-1-2/


http://www.eastgreenbush.org/government/town-board/agendas/doc_download/1066-932013-special-meeting-minutes