Merry Christmas

Remember those serving overseas and their families, as well as those who serve here - police, fire, ambulance, doctors and nurses and may not be with loved ones.

 

And the winner is ...

I submit that East Greenbush actually won the Casino Siting Decision, not because the City of Schenectady was selected, but because the issue activated and energized many Town residents to become involved.

Going back a few years, I was shocked to see that I was the only member of the public at the 2009 Budget Hearing.  That Budget called for a $1.1 million tax increase (+16.1%) spread across all funds.  I honestly don’t think the Board Members were aware of the combined magnitude of the increases as, to a person, they appeared stunned when I disclosed it (none of the current Board Members were on that Board). 

Back to the present - there have been people coming to Town Board Meetings over the past eight months who may never have been in Town Hall before – at least not for Town Board Meetings!  Speaking out on numerous issues and concerns – not just the casino. 

Hopefully this high level of interest and involvement will continue – Town governance will be the better for it.  Vox populi!

Witness this past Wednesday (12/17/14) - townsfolk actually challenged the Board, not only on the proposed Sewer Rate increases, but for voting on those increases the same night as the Public Hearing, arguing that the Board Members had already made up their minds and nothing the public could say would sway them.  The proposed Sewer Rates (and Water Rates) were defeated (at the 12/11/14 Pre-Board Meeting, Councilpersons Mangold and Matters expressed reluctance to adopt them now).  Good stuff! 

The Sewer and Water Rate questions have been turned over to the Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee for review and recommendation.  CFAC is also charged with developing internal controls.  More good stuff!

Tom Grant (the Elder) frequently reminds us that transparent process is important – so true!

Wednesday evening a gentleman showed me a quote that I’d posted online a few years back.  He was so taken by it that he’d actually stored it in his cell phone!  The quote was President Lincoln speaking in Albany on his way to his inauguration:

“Citizens may swear allegiance to one party or the other and believe with all their might that they are right, but once an election is passed, and until the next election, they should be one people.”

We should now become “one people” with unified eyes on East Greenbush and its future.

 

Pete Stenson

Proposed 2015 Sewer Fee Increases

I respectfully offer the following questions/comments concerning the Proposed 2015 Sewer Fee Increases: 

Proposed 2015 Sewer Fee Increases

 

The 2013 AUD (page 36) shows that, as of 12/31/13, the combined Sewer Funds had:

• $1,629,656 in Cash (65% of 2015’s Combined Sewer Operating Budgets of $2,513,895).
• $1,247,520 is Due From Other Funds (50% of 2015’s combined Sewer Operating Budgets).

The 2015 Budget (page 20) shows no change in the combined Sewer Funds’ Fund Balance expected for 12/31/14 (admittedly, the value of the Fund Balance components may change).

Questions:

• Given the above, are the proposed Fee increases needed?
• What is the value of the proposed Fee increases?
• What is the effective date of increase for the 18 residential users in Hampton Manor that are on meters (charged the same as for users in the General Sewer District), February or July?
• Is the assumption that the existing multi-family units having in excess of three (3) or more units refers to those not separately metered, correct?  Note that “in excess of three (3) or more units” is redundant.

EFC Debt Service

The 2015 Sewer Budgets are in balance, i.e., revenues = appropriations, and reportedly include funds sufficient to cover the $60,000 in new EFC Debt Service payments.

Although I dislike tax or fee increases as much as anyone and realize there are likely some “tail” revenue increases in 2016 due to the effective dates of the proposed 2015 fee increases, I am more concerned about the  impending additional EFC Debt Service payments needed in 2016 and 2017, $120,000 and $420,000, respectively, than the proposed 2015 structure.

The 2015 combined Sewer Revenues total $2,513,895 and would have to increase by:

• 4.8% in 2016 ($120,000 / $2,513,895 = 4.77%); and
• Another 16.7% in 2017 ($420,000 / $2,513,895 = 16.71%); for total increases of
• 21.5% over the two years ($540,000 / $2,513,895 = 21.48%).

All other things being equal and absent any savings due to potential Sewer Debt refinancing, in order to meet these future EFC Debt Service requirements, either:

• Sewer Taxes would have to increase by a total of 44.2% over 2016 and 2017 ($540,000 / $1,221,912 = 44.19%).
• Alternatively, other Sewer Revenues would have to increase by a total of 41.8% over 2016 and 2017 ($540,000 / $1,291,983 = 41.80%)
• Or some combination thereof.

Taxes vs. Fees

I’ve long favored taxes over fees for the simple fact that the Federal and State Governments subsidize local taxes for those who itemize deductions.

I also prefer that taxes support Capital Projects and fees support Operating Expenses.

Furthermore, taxes are due January 31 while user fees are billed and paid throughout the year. 

• The Town can earn more in interest on the tax payments than the fee payments;
• Taxes ensure that the cash to pay the Debt Service is available when needed, the sporadic fee payments do not.

Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee Review

I respectfully suggest that action on 2015 Sewer Fees be deferred until the Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee has the opportunity to review and develop recommendations on both the proposed 2015 Sewer Fee increases and the approach to be used to support the impending additional EFC Debt Service payments needed in 2016 and 2017, $120,000 and $420,000, respectively.

 

Sincerely,

Peter Stenson

SCHENECTADY IT IS !

So the siting commission has made their intentions public.  East Greenbush and Rensselaer lost out to the City of Schenectady.   

So this naturally begs the obvious question,   what does Keith Langley do now ?  How will he ever solve the Towns financial mess without the easy money promised by the Casino developers?

Will Keith Langley be able to effectively do his duties as the Towns Chief  Financial Officer. Does he have the ability to do so efficiently ?

The Town Board meets Tonight .  This is shaping up to be one heck of a Town Board meeting !

The Ethics Board

"Ed Gilbert is the embodiment of everything that's wrong with East Greenbush right now, and the fact that he's the Chairman of the Ethics Board is too much to bear. Gilbert's implantation on the EB is Langley's way of showing his disdain for the board. Just something else to add to the list of reasons why we won't vote to re-elect Keith (Mr. Miserable) Langley."

The above was a post on the Gadfly.   Many feel exactly the same way.

The Ethics Board was designed to enforce the rules of conduct that employees of East Greenbush must follow.

With  Keith Langley appointing Ed Gilbert to the chairman post, he basically rendered it useless and it has become pretty much a joke.

Your thoughts on the Ethics Board are important.   It is said Langley is obsessed with reading the blogs , so  if your  thoughts are kept to the point and they are relevant,  we'll post them !

With tomorrow being the day the siting Board announces the plan for the Casino site, this will take a back seat temporarily, but it is important none the less .

HAPPY 12/13/14

Its a pleasure to post something not political.   We hope all  enjoy a blessed and peaceful Holiday Season !

CoNSERNS-U Charity Event

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. 

On November 29, we’re asking residents to "Shop Small" at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. When we all shop small, it will be huge.  http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/

Thanksgiving Greetings



A Tree Grew in East Greenbush



Talks;

 

I FOILed the Document that Commissioner Corellis presented to the Town Board at the 11/19/14 Board Meeting.  Following is that letter along with an undated but old photo showing the road much closer to tree and house.

 

Pete Stenson

 





Undated but old photo showing the road much closer to tree and house.

 

EGDC Holiday Cheers Event

Notice of Special Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the East Greenbush Town Board will be convening on Tuesday November 18, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. at the East Greenbush Town Hall 225 Columbia Turnpike Rensselaer, NY 12144 for the purpose of reviewing the audit work performed by Wojeski and Toski.

Citizen's Fiscal Advisory Committee Meeting

The Citizen's Fiscal Advisory Committee will be holding meetings on November 17, 2014 7:00 PM at the East Greenbush Town Library

I've sent my comments on the 2015 Tentative Budget to the Supervisor and Councilperson with a copy to Comptroller Phillips and Town Clerk Kennedy. 

Following is the text of that letter. 

Pete Stenson

 

* * * * * * *



I respectfully offer the following questions/comments concerning the 2015 Preliminary Budget.  I also wish to incorporate by reference herein my previous correspondence concerning the 2015 Tentative Budget.

 

I consider the failure to fund 1990.4 – Contingency (Contingency) in the amount of $110,000 not prudent.  Nor is the use of Other - Reserves/Debt Reduction 962 - Provision for Other Uses (Reserves) to fund the Contingency account.  The purpose of a Contingency account is to accommodate unforeseen events and needs.  The Reserves account was created to pay down the inter-fund borrowing.  .

I quote from the NYS Office of the State Comptroller’s Citizens’ Guide to Local Budgets:

 

Deficits, Surpluses, and Fund Balances

 

Budgets are meant to balance revenues and expenditures, so that the local government is able to provide needed services with the resources available. However, the reality is that budgets will rarely work out precisely as planned, leading to operating deficits (when expenditures exceed revenues) or operating surpluses (when revenues exceed expenditures.) As long as these deficits or surpluses are minor or intermittent, they do not constitute a material problem for a local government and should not be cause for concern. It is when there is a persistent pattern of larger surpluses or deficits that there should be concern about the budgeting practices of the government.

 

 

• “All Funds” 9010.8 - State Retirement is less than 2012 Actual, 2013 Actual, and 2014 Adopted.

• “All Funds” 9089.8 - Health Ins Buyout-Longevity exceeds 2012 Actual, 2013 Actual and 2014 Adopted.

• Comptroller Phillips mentioned at the 10/23/14 Special Town Board Meeting that the WWTP payments would be $60,000 in 2015, $180,000 in 2016 and $600,000 in 2017.  The 2015 Preliminary Budget estimates combined Sewer revenues of $2,513,895.  The WWTP payments represent nearly 24 percent of this amount, absent refinancing of existing Sewer debt.  Is it prudent to wait until the payments actually hit the expense side of the budget?

• What is the fiscal impacts of the Dispatcher agreement?  How are the Police and CSEA negotiations progressing?  Any idea of their fiscal impacts yet? 



Election Day

Notice of Public Hearing 2015 Preliminary Budget

The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush will be holding a Public Hearing on the 2015 Preliminary Budget on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 225 Columbia Turnpike.  The 2015 Preliminary Budget can be viewed at the Town Clerk’s Office or on the Town's website.

Reminder

2015 Tentative Budget

I've sent my comments on the 2015 Tentative Budget to the Supervisor and Councilperson with a copy to Comptroller Phillips and Town Clerk Kennedy. 

Following are some of my comments/observations/concerns. 

Pete Stenson

* * * * * * *

·         It appears that the wrong 2014 Budget file may have been used:

o   The 2014 Adopted Budget Column is erroneous in that the $110,000 in 1990.4 – Contingency (page 6) is not included in Expense calculations … Total General Fund CE should be $1,245,538 and Total General Fund Expense should be $8,042,372.  This is likely a formula error.

o   Similarly, the 1990.4 – Contingency in the amount of $110,000 is not included in Expense calculations.  Total Expense should be $8,184,511.  Again, this is likely a formula error.

·         Numerous YTD 9/30/14 Actual Revenues and Expenses exceed those included in the respective 2015 Tentative Budget Accounts, raising concern about the latter estimates.

·         “All-Funds” Personal Service (excluding Ambulance District) increases by about $74,000. 

o   Various accounts appear to include funding for many of the positions eliminated at the 1/2/14 Organizational Meeting.  Is funding for these positions included in or excluded from the 2015 Tentative Budget?  If included, is it by oversight or will the positions be filled now that a year has lapsed?

o   Similarly, funding for positions created and raises for existing positions implemented at the 1/2/14 Organizational Meeting appear to be missing from the impacted accounts.

·         “All-Funds” Employee Benefits (excluding Ambulance District) decrease by $145,037 despite increased All-Funds Personal Service.  Can this be explained?

·         Have the Personal Service, Employee Benefit, CE and Equip Account Allocations been recalculated? 

·         Total Sewer Debt payments increase by roughly $68,000.  I believe the WWTP Project was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014.  Are the debt payments included in the 2015 Tentative Budget? 

·         Is there a 2015 financial impact of the Memorandum of Agreement with the East Greenbush Emergency Communications Union approved at the 10/15/14 Town Board Meeting and if so, is it reflected in the 2015 Tentative Budget?  If so in what amount?

·         How are the Police and CSEA negotiations progressing?  Are provisions made for raises in the 2015 Tentative Budget?

·         2015 Tentative Budget General Water Fund shows a deficit of $47,831.

·         What, if any Fee increases are included in the 2015 Tentative Budget?

·         What, if any, new positions, reorganizations and/or salary increases are included in the 2015 Tentative Budget?

·         What, if any, position eliminations are reflected in the 2015 Tentative Budget?

·         General Fund Account:

o   3020.1 - Emergency Communications PS increases $138,912.

o   3120.1 - Police & Constable PS increases $101,549 over 2014.

o   8160.4 - Refuse/Garbage CE decreases $56,831 from 2014 Adopted.

o   Other - Reserves/Debt Reduction 962 - Provision for Other Uses is split into 3 lines for a total of $177,316.  The purpose should be identified.

o   3005 - State Aid Mtg Tax decreases $125,000 from 2014 Adopted and $765 below 9/30/14 YTD.

 

 

Special Meeting

The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush will be holding a Special Meeting to discuss the 2015 Budget  on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. at the East Greenbush Town Hall, 225 Columbia Turnpike in the Town of East Greenbush, County of Rensselaer and State of New York.

Board of Ethics Meeting

There will be a Board of Ethics Meeting on Thursday, October 16th at 7pm at Town Hall.

Whats next ?

Well, apparently our Supervisor , and we use that term loosely,  has decided to throw Sean Mulvey into the CFAC.

Question:  WHY?

Why place someone you terminated from the financial directors position less than two years ago, into a position that actually  requires some knowledge of finances and budgeting?

Please explain yourself Mr. Langley,  inquiring minds and taxpayers deserve to know !

Ed Gilbert running interference on the Ethics Board and  Sean Mulvey now  planted intentionally on the  CFAC !  Not  good Keith,  not  good at all !

Citizen's Fiscal Advisory Committee Meeting

The Citizen's Fiscal Advisory Committee will be holding meetings on the following dates: October 14, 2014 7:00 PM at the East Greenbush Town Library November 17, 2014 7:00 PM at the East Greenbush Town Library

The Latest from Supervisor Langley

East Greenbush taxes don't go up
Supervisor says cuts in spending, not in services
By Kenneth C. Crowe II
Times Union
Published 9:58 pm, Thursday, October 2, 2014

"This year I am proposing a zero percent tax increase on the residents of East Greenbush," Langley said. "This is being accomplished through conservative estimates on several revenue sources and tighter controls on spending."

The proposed $17,333,504 budget cuts spending by 3.8 percent. A reduction of $693,933 from the current budget of $18,027,437. The proposed budget does not reduce staffing or programs.

"It will not affect any town services or day-to-day operations," Langley said.

"A zero percent tax increase in these continued economic times is responsible and has the town performing a similar belt-tightening as the individuals and families we serve," Langley said.

The general fund tax rate will remain at $2.78 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The town's comprehensive budget also includes the highway fund, sewer, water, fire and ambulance taxes.

"The residents of East Greenbush (should) know we're in much better shape than we think," Councilwoman Mary Ann Matters said.

She had praise for there being no tax increase in the budget.

Matters, however, expressed concern that the Town Board still has not received a report on the audit of the town's finances.

Langley said the town's financial records were in such a mess that it is taking time to straighten them out in order to complete a comprehensive report.

He referred to the state comptroller's 2012 audit of the town's financial management that reported the municipality's "accounting records were not accurate."

Matters questioned the length of time it was taking to complete the audit.

"In short, most of us at this table have nothing, certainly not in the way of number or reports, on which to base a decision regarding this budget in the millions of dollars despite repeated requests from the residents, board meeting after board meeting, for this information," Matters said.

She also questioned why the town payroll has not been certified by the Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission since Jan. 2013. Langley said Town Attorney David Gruenberg is working on this issue"

- - - - -

Will Langley be able to hold the line ?    Highly doubt it .    So long as Chris Defruscio has anything whatsoever to do with the operations of East Greenbush,  most of what Langley has predicted  is nothing but political fodder, rife with rhetoric and grand dreams.   

Had Enough ?

Over the past few weeks,  Langley , Defruscio, Gilbert and others left over from the SWF  fraud, have ramped up their continual harassment of  Mary Ann Matters.

Langley and Defruscio have publicly denied knowledge or involvement , which is an absolute joke of a lie.

As far as Deb Dimartino goes, apparently she is so afraid to buck the trend and walk away from Langley and Defruscio, she just simply votes as she's told.    Not good for the resident taxpayers of East Greenbush , not good at all !

So the question that begs asking is this;  do we -< all of us >  allow Langley and Defruscio to continue to walk our tax dollars into theirs and their friends pockets?   Do we go thru another winter with our streets not being plowed or maintained?   Do we allow  Ed Gilbert to masquerade as the Mussolini of the Ethics Committee ?  Lets be honest, he's only there to run interference for Langley and Defruscio.

Do we as taxpayers continue to allow Langley and Defruscio to screw us over on this Casino debacle ?
Lets be clear - whether your for it or against it, you should be openly disgusted with the way this scenario  was/is being handled by our Supervisor.  
Just attempt this simple task.  Make your way down the left hallway @ Town Hall  towards the glass partition. Make sure you stop at Denise Corellis  desk or face the wrath of hell  that is sure to come if you try to walk past.  Ask for a meeting with Langley and see where that gets you... you'll hear him in his office, but there's little or no chance you'll get an audience.

So, this all begs the question, is it time to act as a  Town , speak up against  our openly corrupt  Supervisor and his un-educated advisor, Defruscio.    Rich Crist has wanted control of East Greenbush for years.   We hope he's happy.  Despite his own personal legal woes, he can't possibly be thrilled with the way Defruscio is running  East Greenbush into the ground.    Phil Danaher runs  from questions and controversy, just ask  Jack Conway.   Some leadership huh ?     People were duped into the SWF  , "change and hope"  rhetoric.
There should be no doubt at this point that we were ALL openly screwed over by Chris Defruscio .

Defruscio preached fiscal accountability and  tax savings.....simple  question:  how's that working out  for  you ?

Had enough?   Us too !    Time for all of us to fill the  Town Board meetings and demand  accountability and  at the very least, our financial standings after ALL the audits. Audits that we still know nothing about !

CoNSERNS-U Needs Your Help

The cold weather will be here before we know it and the kids of southern Rensselaer county need coats! We will be accepting BRAND NEW (with tags) coats for kids sizes infant-juniors.  

Last year -- thanks to the generous outpouring of our donors, volunteers and friends , CoNSERNS-U served 162 kids through our New Coats for Kids program.

Also, the pantry shelves need constant re-stocking:

Food Items
Canned stews, soups, vegetables, chili, hash, fruit, fruit juice, cereal, pancake mix, syrup, pasta, sauce, baked beans, flavored rice, instant potatoes, peanut butter, jellies, mac & cheese, etc.

Personal items
Toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, razors,  shaving cream, hand soap, lotion, toilet paper, mouthwash, laundry soap, dish soap, diapers, etc.

Cash donations are always welcome if more convenient.

Thank you.

CoNSERNS-U
50 Herrick St.
Rensselaer, NY  12144
(518) 463-8571

	Hours: Mon - Thu: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Fri: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Public Notice

  

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of East Greenbush will hold a public hearing on September 23, 2014 at the American Legion, 200 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, New York beginning at 7:00 P.M. to consider the following application:  Appeal number #2014-13:  Pursuant to Resolution 109-2014, the Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush has referred this matter to the Zoning Board of Appeals to provide an interpretation of the Comprehensive Zoning Law of the Town of East Greenbush, pursuant to Section 4.2.3 of such law. Capital View Casino & Resort, LLC c/o Saratoga Casino & Raceway of 32 Jefferson Street, Saratoga Springs,  NY 12866 has filed an application seeking a Planned Development District for a non-residential project on Thompson Hill Road, East Greenbush, NY, an approximately 152 acre parcel in an area currently Zoned R-B.  The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush has requested that the Zoning Board of Appeals provide an interpretation as to whether the lands contemplated for the Planned Development District are appropriate for the uses being proposed in the application for a Planned Development District pursuant to Section 2.9.4 (D) of the Comprehensive Zoning Law of the Town of East Greenbush.  Therefore, an Interpretation is requested for the property located on Thompson Hill Road, East Greenbush, NY. Tax Map #’s 144-4-31, 144-4-41.1, 144-4-41.2, 144-4-41.2/1 and 145-1-1.1 Any interested party may comment in person at the hearing.  Written comment may be submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of East Greenbush, 225 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, New York 12144 at any time prior to the hearing.  BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS DATED SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 TOM CALAMARAS, ACTING CHAIRMAN ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ACTION CALL THE EAST GREENBUSH ZONING DEPARTMENT AT 694-4011.

Board of Ethics Meeting

There will be a Board of Ethics meeting Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:00 P.M. at Town Hall.

Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee Meeting - UPDATE

The CFAC has been re-activated. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 15th at 7:00pm in the Town Hall Court Room.

**UPDATE**

CFAC Meeting Location Change: The Monday, September 15th at 7:00pm has been relocated to Meeting Room A of the East Greenbush Library.

Is Langley OUT OF CONTROL ?

The following is the most recent from the Times Union.   It appears that the  SWF is falling apart at the seams .

"Mary Ann Matters changed her mind. She was for the proposed East Greenbush casino — before she was against it.

That doesn't seem like such a big deal. The $300 million project, after all, was foisted on town officials without much warning. The deal sounded good to Matters at first, but the Town Board member later began to question the details.

Fair enough. Our opinions aren't set in stone, right? And many of us have mixed feelings on casinos.

But some in East Greenbush are acting as though Matters committed the betrayal of the century. She's being blasted — and threatened — in a blog created to criticize her. And she's being blackballed by the town's political establishment, she says.

"It's been really tough," Matters told me. "I've been completely ostracized. The supervisor doesn't speak to me, and I'm totally out of the loop on town business."

Ostensibly, Matters is part of a three-member Republican majority on the five-member board, along with Supervisor Keith Langley and Town Board member Deb DiMartino. But Matters no longer considers herself part of the group.

"I'm so opposed to the way this supervisor is conducting himself in the job that I've split from the majority," Matters said. "I see myself as the lone conservative on the board."

Her issue with Langley? Secrecy.

Hmm. There might be something to that.

You'll remember that East Greenbush officials — Matters included — sneakily voted to approve the casino without providing notice to residents, including those living near the proposed site on Thompson Hill Road.

It was a last-minute add to the meeting agenda, though Langley was aware of the project weeks earlier. (The board later held a public hearing and endorsed a site-specific casino proposal.)

Matters says the secrecy extends beyond casino wheeling and dealing. Langley, she claims, doesn't provide any information to anyone he considers a potential opponent.

"The supervisor has Town Hall locked down tight," Matters said. "Unless he wants people to have information, they're not going to have it."

I would love to have Langley's take on all this, but he didn't return my phone calls.

None of this is how town government is supposed to work. Votes shouldn't be taken without public notice — especially for something as momentous as a casino. Elected officials should have access to information they need."

Saturday In the Park - September 15th



East Greenbush Library Vote September 4th

The East Greenbush Library vote is this  Thursday, September 4th.    We vote on the proposed budget of $1,892,489.00  which is a 2% increase over the 2014 budget.  The posted taxpayer burden  per $1000.00 of assessed home value is $0.88.

We also vote for a open trustee position.  Two candidates are running for the open spot.
Kayla O'Hara and Mandy McCord are the EastGreenbush residents running for the open position.

Poles open at  9:00AM and close at 9:00PM.

And the hits just keep coming !

http://m.timesunion.com/local/article/East-Greenbush-councilwoman-attacked-on-casino-5714509.php


That is the link to the Times Union story .  Interesting read to say the least.

Help Rebuild the Onderdonk Park Gazebo

Vandalized gazebo to be restored by East Greenbush

Kenneth C. Crowe I, Times Union By Kenneth C. Crowe II

Published 8:50 pm, Friday, August 8, 2014

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Vandalized-gazebo-to-be-restored-by-East-Greenbush-5677918.php

 

Anyone wishing to volunteer for the project or to donate toward the reconstruction is asked to call the Supervisor's Office at 477-4775.

Note:  This is for informational purposes only.  No comments.

40 Years Ago Today

Town Crew Cleaning Up Private Property?

 

The tree looks to be at least 25 feet back from Route 4, a State Road.

Can anyone explain why a Town crew is apparently cleaning up a tree on what looks to be private property along Route 4, a State Road? 

 

We understand and appreciate removing branches from the traffic lane, but really?

 

Word is that the crew was dispatched to help a private contractor allegedly hired by the Town remove the tree.

Any input would be appreciated.

Channels 10 and 13 reportedly had news crew on the scene.

 

Music in the Park

Apologies ... we copied from an old Supervisor's Report.

Can't find the current year's Music in the Park schedule on the Town's new and improved web site.

Thanks to "Rose July 28, 2014 6:37 AM" ... we have the schedule from Facebook.

Stepping Up By Stepping Down!

Note - This article was submitted to The Advertiser on 7/18/14.

Councilperson Mary Ann Matters surprised those attending the 7/16/14 East Greenbush Town Board Meeting by stepping up to protest (my word, not hers) Deputy Supervisor Ed Gilbert’s serving on the Town’s Ethics Board by stepping down as Liaison to that Board.

When Councilperson Matters was appointed Ethics Board Liaison, I wrote “We applaud this appointment and wish Councilperson Matters the best of luck in this role.”  I am truly sorry to see her step down.

Town Law §42 states “The deputy supervisor shall be appointed by the supervisor to serve at the pleasure of the supervisor”.  Sounds a lot like beholden to one master!

Deputy Supervisor Gilbert was appointed to the Ethics Board, along with four other members, via party line vote at the infamous 8:45AM, March 14th Special Meeting.  Councilperson Matters voted in the affirmative.  This was legal, in that General Municipal Law §808.1 requires that “at least one of whom shall be an elected or appointed officer or employee”. 

Legal, yes.  But was it proper and ethical? 

Many have expressed opposition to the Deputy Supervisor Gilbert’s Ethics Board appointment, citing his uber-partisan behavior and attacks against those with differing opinions (myself included), as you’ve no doubt seen in his articles in previous Advertisers.

 

Also, many at the Board Meeting spoke in support of Ms. Matters’ courageous and noble action, unfortunately, the wrong person stepped down!  I believe Ms. Matters said she’d return as Liaison if he resigns.  One can only hope!

Perhaps Councilperson Matters should have publicly called for Mr. Gilbert to resign from the Ethics Board.

I don’t know, but I’d think Councilperson Matters would have discussed her intentions with Supervisor Langley beforehand, giving the Deputy Supervisor the opportunity to do the right thing and resign from the Ethics Board.

Am I correct to assume that Supervisor Langley’s and Deputy Supervisor Gilbert’s loyalties to one another are stronger than their loyalties to the Town, the people of East Greenbush and the Ethics Board?

Again, “the wrong person stepped down!”

Deputy Supervisor Gilbert should resign from the Ethics Board!

Pete Stenson

Ethics Committee Meeting

Please note that there will be an Ethics Committee Meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 7:00pm.

Celebrate Our Independence Today and Everyday!

To read the full text of the Declaration of Independence or to learn more about it, go to
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html

Deputy Dawg Speaks

Capital View Casino A Capital Idea

Posted on June 30, 2014 | By Ed Gilbert

 

http://blog.timesunion.com/eastgreenbush/capital-view-casino-a-capital-idea/5198/

Unbelievable.

Doesn't disclose that he's Deputy Town Supervisor or Chairman of the Ethics Board!!

 

Happy Father's Day

Public Notice: Special Meeting

The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush has scheduled a Special Meeting to be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. at the East Greenbush Town, 225 Columbia Turnpike, to consider a site specific resolution for a casino in the Town of East Greenbush.

By orders of the Town Board
Linda Kennedy, Town Clerk

70 Years Ago

Casino Financial Impact - the Calculations

I stated in Casino Financial Impact that “I've verified by my own independent analysis the County, School, Town, Highway, Bruen and Library estimates using 2014 valuation and tax rate data obtained from the East Greenbush Assessor and the Casino's estimated $250,000,000 valuation”.  Following are my calculations (including the Fire District and Sewer District).  This is NOT a guarantee that the Casino-estimated revenues will actually be received. 

I also comment in Casino Financial Impact:

 

"The figures are called "estimates" for a reason. Actual tax revenue, as I'm sure you know, would be subject to a whole host of influences beyond "our" control, including the Town Board, County Legislature, other Statewide gaming revenues generated, etc., etc. Again, they are called "estimates"."
 

Rensselaer County

Casino Estimate: $1,491,168

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $5.9646720 per $1,000 = $1,491,168

 

Town of East Greenbush

Casino Estimate: $694,878

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $2.7795120 per $1,000 = $694,878

 

East Greenbush School District

Casino Estimate: $5,902,116

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $23.6084640 per $1,000 = $5,902,116

 

Town of East Greenbush, Highway

Casino Estimate: $398,778

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $1.5951100 per $1,000 = $398,778

East Greenbush Library

Casino Estimate: $215,312

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $0.8612490 per $1,000 = $215,312

 

Ambulance District

Casino Estimate: $90,492

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $0.3619670 per $1,000 = $90,492

Fire District

Casino Estimate: $210,294

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $0.8411770 per $1,000 = $210,294

Sewer District

Casino Estimate: $209,129

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $0.8365150 per $1,000 = $209,129

Chargebacks

Casino Estimate: $135,134

Calculation: $250,000,000 x $0.5405360 per $1,000 = $135,134

Water District

Casino Estimate: $543

Calculation: N.A. (based on ‘frontage’ not valuation)

= = = = =

Host Community Annual Share of Gaming Revenues
Town of East Greenbush	$5,700,000
Rensselaer County	$5,700,000
	$11,400,000

The NYS Gaming Commission Board states that 10% of State’s tax revenues will be split between host municipality and host county and estimates the amount for the Capital District to be  $11,416,667.

 

= = = = =

The Estimated $800,000 in Annual Sales Tax and $6,000,000 in One-Time GEIS Fees are anyone's guess as far as I'm concerned.

Pete Stenson