Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

Happy New Year!!

Hollie Kennedy and Rick Matters Swearing-In

You are cordially invited to attend the

Swearing-In Ceremony for

Hollie Kennedy

and

Rick Matters

East Greenbush Town Councilors

Monday, January 1, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

East Greenbush Town Hall  

225 Columbia Turnpike

Rensselaer, NY 12144

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2017 Election Results

Following are the local election results as posted by Rensselaer County BOE (pending Absentee Ballots):

County Court Judge (Vote for 1)
Jennifer G. Sober (Dem, GRE, WOR, IND, WEP)	20,421
Philip J. Danaher (Rep, CON, REF)	18,201
Write-in	8
Total	38,630
County Executive (Vote for 1)
Andrea J. Smyth (Dem, WOR, WEP)	18,736
Steven F. McLaughlin (Rep, CON, IND, REF)	19,685
Wayne J. Foy (GRE)	565
Write-in	22
Total	39,008
County Legislator- District 2 (Vote for 4)
Susan Mullen Kalafut (Dem, GRE, WOR, WEP, REF)	4,380
Kathryn T. Shaffer (Dem, GRE, WOR, WEP)	4,160
John M. Hebert (Dem, GRE, WEP)	4,008
G. Todd D'Alleva (Dem, GRE, WOR, WEP)	4,016
Kelly C. Hoffman (Rep, CON, IND, REF)	5,152
Leon B. Fiacco (Rep, CON, WOR, IND)	5,425
Robert W. Bayly (Rep, CON, IND, REF)	4,749
Thomas P. Grant (Rep, CON, IND, REF)	4,549
Write-in	11
Total	36,450
Town Council - East Greenbush (Vote for 2)
Hollie L. Kennedy (Dem, GRE, WOR, WEP)	2,670
Zachary W. Kilmer (Dem, GRE, WOR, WEP)	2,113
Dan Plumley (Rep, CON, IND)	2,078
Rick Matters (Rep, CON, IND)	2,192
Write-in	14
Total	9,06

VOTE "ROW A" ALL THE WAY!!

 

Left click image to enlarge.

The Stories We Could Tell

“The Stories We Could Tell” is a song written by John Sebastian back in the ‘70s.  The same can be said about the NYS Board of Elections Financial Disclosure Reports http://www.elections.ny.gov/CFViewReports.html

For example, the East Greenbush Republican Committee hasn’t filed since January 2017’s $11,406.93 negative balance!  The East Greenbush Democratic Committee is up-to-date - the 2017 32-Day Pre-General Report.   

Furthermore, NYSBOE doesn’t know that EG Town Board candidate Dan Plumley is even running as of 10/11/17 – he’s not registered.  Rick Matters has been filing “No-Activity” reports forever!  East Greenbush Republican Committee isn’t supporting them with that $11K deficit!  Their opponents, Hollie Kennedy and Zack Kilmer have filed a 2017 32-Day Pre-Primary Report as Friends of Kilmer Kennedy. 

NYSBOE doesn’t know that District 2 County Legislature candidates Leon Fiacco or Kelly Hoffman even exist.  Rob Bayly has a campaign account registered with NYSBOE; however, viewers are referred to the Rensselaer Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, which is up-to-date.  Nice way to hide who supports whom, folks!  But at least RRLCC files, unlike the EGRC.  Friends of Tom Grant is up-to-date.  Democratic candidates’ Friends of Susan Kalafut and Friends of Kathryn Shaffer are up-to-date.  Friends of Todd D’Alleva and Friends of John Hebert haven’t filed, but at least they’re registered with NYSBOE. 

The Rensselaer County Republican Committee hasn’t filed since its 2017 July Periodic Report.  The Rensselaer County Democratic Committee is up-to-date. 

Individual County-wide Candidates’ filings are up-to-date.  But what happens to the $34K in the Committee to Elect Chris Meyer’s coffers - Town Justice Campaign???

The questions:  Can those not accountable and transparent in campaign mode be accountable and transparent in office?  Why do some campaigns not file or even exist?  Why the apparent subterfuge?  What are they hiding?  Who are the donors?

Pete Stenson

East Greenbush

Unofficial 2017 Primary Results

Hollie Kennedy & Zack Kilmer Fundraiser

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

2/25/17 EAST GREENBUSH TOWN BOARD MEETING

Following were adopted unanimously.

·         27-2017 Honor Officer Robert K. Snyder, Jr on Retirement.  Congratulations Snapper and thanks! 

·         28-2017 Renew Best-Luther Fire Department Contract. 
·         29-2017 Renew Best-Luther Fire Department Contract for Third Avenue Fire Protection District. 
·         30-2017 2017Summer Camp Fees. 
·         31-2017 Public Sector HR Consultants, LLC (PSHRC) to Provide Administrative and Consultant Services. 
·         32-2017 Public Sector HR Consultants LLC to Update Employee Handbook 
·         33-2017 Amend Chazen Contract for Engineering Services on the WWTP Upgrade Project for Completed Services and Credit for Services. 
·         34-2017 Resignation of Jack W. Geary Jr. as Full-Time Dispatcher and Appoint him Part-time Police Dispatcher. 
·         35-2017 Conditional Job Offer to David J. DeBacco to Provisional Police Dispatcher. 
·         36-2017 Participate in National Joint Powers Alliance Cooperative Purchasing Program. 
·         37-2017 Bids for Pre-Fabricated ADA Compliant Restroom for Town Park. 
·         38-2017 Proposals for Design of Aquatic Spray Feature for Town Park. 
·         39-2017 Accept Supplemental Final EIS for Regeneron’s Mill Creek Project. 
·         40-2017 Issue Serial Bonds Not to Exceed $800,000 Snow Removal Vehicles and Equipment. 
·         41-2017 Solicit Bids for Vehicles and Equipment Funded Capital Equipment Bond. 
·         42-2017 Sign Easement Agreement with WP/CP Columbia Associates, LP. 
·         43-2017 Kevin Hitchcock and Nick Petramale to Attend NYSBOC Training Seminar. 
·         44-2017 Kevin Hitchcock to Attend the Northern Adirondack Code Enforcement Officials Association Education Conference. 
·         45-2017 Corporate Sponsorship Program for Town Park Project. 
·         46-2017 Appoint Kimberly Schultheis Part-Time Clerk in Assessor and Receiver of Taxes Offices. 
·         47-2017 Professional Services Agreement with New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR). 
·         48-2017 Town Board Designation as Lead Agency, Adopt Positive Declaration, Accept Draft EIS and Establish Public Comment Period for the East Greenbush Tech Park. 
·         49-2017 Recognize Reggie Bonner and Ryan Condo For Exemplary Service on February 12, 2017. 
·         50-2017 Repair Gradall XL-3100.

Pete Stenson

East Greenbush

1/18/17 TOWN BOARD MEETING

The following were unanimously adopted except as noted.

• 03&04-2017 Honoring Edward Wallace and Frank Michael on Retirement Congrats & Good Luck.

• 05-2017 Public Hearing on New Best Luther Fire Company Contract 6:40PM on 2/15/17.

• 06-2017 Public Hearing on New with the Best Luther Company Contract for Third Avenue 6:50PM on 2/15/17.

• 07-2017 Agreements for Sewer Services with Individuals/Entities.
• 08-2017 Membership/Fees for NYS Park and Recreation Society.
• 09-2017 Annual Re-Appointment of Part-time Police Dispatchers DiMartino abstaining.
• 10-2017 Reiterating Opposition to Proposed Birchwood Manor- Love Lutheran Church Senior Citizens Housing Project.
• 11-2017 Appoint Roger Johnson Ethics Board Member w/term expiring 12/31/21. Congrats!
• 12&13-2017 Appoint Mary Boisvert and Leighton Cookson Alternate Ethics Board Members w/term expiring 12/31/21. Congrats but alternate’s terms cannot exceed 2 years!
• 14-2017 Raise Pay for EG Police Officers Working Court Sessions.

• 15-2017 Emergency Brook Street Sink Hole Repair.

• 16-2017 Update Amenities Plan.

• 17-2017 Authorize Sale of Real Property to Scott Monuteaux and Stefani Monuteaux.

• 18-2017 Support Ride-Sharing in Upstate New York and Request Accessibility Issues be Addressed for the Disability Community.

• 19-2017 Appoint Ryan M. Condo Motorized Equipment Operator Light (MEOL) Congrats!

• 20-2017 Urge NYSDOT Repave Red Mill Road Between NYS Route 4 and Barracks Road.

• 21-2017 Authorize 2017 STOP-DWI Enforcement Crackdown Agreement with Rensselaer County.

• 22-2017 Acquire Police Vehicle.

• 23-2017 Replace License-Plate Reader.

• 24-2017 Appoint Tyler VanCour-Bryant Part-time Recreation Assistant for Community & Recreation Services Congrats!

• 25-2017 Raise Salaries For Certain Part-Time Clerks Defeated w/Conway, DiMartino & Matters voting “No”.   

Some new 2016 EG1ST-appointed P-T Clerks got raises in January 2017.  Now, older, experienced, longer-serving P-T Tax Collector Clerks earn LESS than these younger, newer ones. A mistake?  A big person admits their mistakes. A bigger person corrects them! Or is it AGE DISCRIMINATION?  Fix it now!

Pete Stenson

East Greenbush

1/3/17 ORGANIATIONAL MEETING & SUPERVISOR CONWAY'S ANNUAL REPORT

All items brought up at the Organizational Meeting were adopted unanimously.  You can find the agenda and Supervisor Conway’s Annual Report at http://eastgreenbush.org/government/town-board/agendas-a-minutes.

Notable base salary increases compared to the 2016 Organizational Meeting are as follows (some positions may not have had raises in a number of years):  

·         DPW Commissioner +$25,000(+41.7%);

·         Town Assessor +$13,500(+27.0%);

·         ZBA Chairperson +$1,000(+25.0%);

·         Town Services Coordinator +$5,500(+15.1%);

·         Asst. Attorney - ZBA +$1,500(+15.0%);

·         Planning/Zoning Secretary +$4,160(+12.5%);

·         Town Justice Secretary +$3,700(+10.2%);

·         Comptroller +$6,000(+9.2%);

·         Justice of the Peace (2) +$2,000(+6.6%);

·         Police Chief +$5,453(+6.3%);

·         Dog Warden +$640(+5.2%);

·         Planning/Zoning Director +$3,000(+4.8%);

·         Typist to Chief +$1,296(+3.0%);

·         Deputy Town Clerk +$1,000(+2.9%);

·         Town Justice Secretary +$500(+1.6%);

·         Assistant Building Inspector -$2,400(-5.7%); and

·         Code Enforcement Officer -$18,190(-26.1%). 

Two of the Supervisor’s appointees fared quite well:

·         Finance Director +$6,500(+16.0%); and

·         Supervisor's Secretary +$5,000(+15.6%).

One wonders why the Zoning Board Attorney is paid $4,000 less than the Planning Board Attorney and why the latter doubles as the Ethics Board Attorney at an additional $2,500 – any potential conflict. 

Supervisor Conway’s Annual Report is, to my knowledge, unprecedented in East Greenbush and an excellent idea.  The report is an exhaustive accounting of 2016 accomplishments in the areas of Operations, Finances, Town Board, and of the various Departments.   

Very interesting and informative reading despite the few not-so-subtle political statements, e.g. “In our campaign … ”, “In our platform for last year’s campaign … “ as well as the wholesale repetition of EG1ST’s Mission Statement which is attributed to the entire Town Board. 

Pete Stenson

East Greenbush

Merry Christmas to all!

Shop Small Business Saturday

11/16/16 EG Town Board Meeting

The following were unanimously adopted except where noted.

·         212-2016 Authorize Purchase of a Point of Sale System Computer for Town Clerk’s Office

·         213-2016 Extend General Water District to Include 150 Ridge Road, owned by Kamal Swami and Avani Swami

·         214-2016 Local Law #4, Adopting/Ratifying the Land Subdivision Regulations of the Planning Board and Adopting an Amendment Thereto

·         215-2016 Refund of the Filing Fee for Small Claims Assessment Hearing

·         216-2016 Authorize Public Works Personnel Positions

·         217-2016 Agreement with Rensselaer County Concerning Snow and Ice Removal

·         218-2016 Purchasing Clerk to Solicit Bids for High Flow Articulated Compact Loader for Snow and Ice Removal on Sidewalks

·         219-2016 Provisionally Appoint Christopher Ochs Motorized Equipment Operator Heavy (MEOH) in Public Works Congratulations and welcome!

·         220-2016 Adopt Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 Councilor Mary Anne Matters voted “No”. 220-2016 included the following language “with dissenting votes cast by Councilor Matters, duly approved a preliminary budget” on 10/24/16.  I honestly don’t recall a person’s previous vote reflected in the body of a subsequent resolution. Seriously?

·         221-2016 Addition of CDPHP EPO 120 Plan to the Town Policy

·         222-2016 Refer Application for L. Browe Asphalt Services Pavement Batch Plant Planned Development District to Town Planning Board for Review and Recommendation

·         223-2016 Create Assistant Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer and Appoint Nicholas Petramale as Assistant Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer and Part-Time Fire Inspector Congratulations and welcome!

·         224-2016 Conditional Job Offer to Griffin S. Hotaling for Police Officer Congratulations and welcome!

·         225-2016 Honoring Gerald Middleton for Fifty Years of Service to the Best-Luther Fire Department Congratulations and thanks!

·         226-2016 Appoint William Mahan Bingo Inspector Congratulations and welcome back!

·         227-2016 Create Part-Time Operations Consultant and Appoint Terry Sharp to that Position Congratulations and welcome!

 

Pete Stenson

East Greenbush

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

ELECTION REFLECTION

Donald J. Trump has been elected the 45^th President of the United States.  Was his victory due to the polls, pundits, prognosticators or that he tapped into the angst many feel about being forgotten by Washington?  Who could blame them?

Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican) said in late 2010 “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term.”  Too late to stop the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or the Affordable Care Act (2010), but early enough to block any other Obama initiative.  Those feeling the angst weren’t forgotten – they were downright abandoned!

President Elect Trump made a good number of promises and walked back some during his campaign.  Will his tax cuts and program expansions, i.e. the military, be subjected to the same requirement that they be paid for by offsetting program cuts or will they grow the deficit a la the Reagan tax cuts?

Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will not likely support every Trump initiative but they won’t likely fight every one either.  I believe and hope they will support initiatives that are good for America and her people!  Pelosi has already indicated support for an infrastructure program (I assume provided it doesn’t include the “Wall”). 

“Good” is the operative and subjective word.  Political parties generally have the same goals but different approaches to achieving them.  Tax cuts or increased spending to grow a stagnant economy?  Help for the struggling or empowerment?  Fewer or increased regulations?  Critical choices all.

Regardless, we should all insist that the Washington “elite” work together to address the many issues this nation faces.  Their success will be our success!  Or will the masses be abandoned again?

Pete Stenson

East Greenbush

Remember those who served!