Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to All!

In the spirit of the season...how about sharing our favorite seasonal or inspirational songs and movies.

For me, the song is...Let There Be Peace on Earth....the words are just beautiful and always make me emotional.  

                                   

As far as holiday movies...Back in the day...when the kids were little...Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas..it was always so much fun snuggling on the couch with hot chocolate and watching it year after year. I actually bought myself a copy of it. Now....ELF....I watch that with my grands....no matter how many time I've seen it...it still cracks me up!

By Margaret - WEDNESDAY, 12/8/10 at 3:51 PM

BUSY EVENING AT TOWN HALL - WEDNESDAY, 12/8/10

Wednesday Evening will be a busy one at Town Hall.  In addition to the 7:00 PM Town Board Meeting, there will be a

• 5:30 PM Public Hearing on the Town taking over all aspects of dog licensing and a
• 6:00 PM Christmas Tree Lighting Event (bring some canned goods for the food drive).

* * * * *

Notice of Public Hearing, wednesday, 12/8/10 - 5:30PM
The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on December 8, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. to hear public input on replacing LL1-2007 "Dog Licensure Law." This change is due to NYS Agriculture and Markets now having municipalities issue all aspects of dog licensing.

* * * * *



Christmas Tree Lighting, wednesday, 12/8/10 - 6:00 PM

The Town of East Greenbush will be hosting a Christmas Tree Lighting Event at the East Greenbush Town Hall on Wed December 8th to begin at 6pm. There will be light refreshments, Christmas Caroling and a special visit from Santa.

Patrons are urged to participate in a canned food donation drive organized by our new town council members, Phil Malone and Sue Mangold. Any and all canned donations will be graciously accepted.

* * * * *

TOWN BOARD MEETING AGENDA, wednesday, 12/8/10 - 7:00 PM

Resolutions and Proposals by Town Board Members:


182-2010 Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion for approval of Meeting Minutes for the regular Town Board Meeting held on November 10, 2010 and the Special Town Board Meetings held on November 18, 2010 and November 23, 2010.

183-2010 Resolution Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Howard L. Goff Middle School of the East Greenbush School District
The East Greenbush Town Board does pause in its deliberations to honor and recognize the role that the Goff Middle School plays in the lifeblood of educating our young people to become active citizens in our community through its many clubs, activities and organizations on its 50th Anniversary.

184-2010 Resolution Scheduling 2011 Organizational Meeting
The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush shall conduct the 2011 Organizational Meeting at 4:00 PM on Monday, January 3, 2011, at the East Greenbush Town Hall.

185-2010 Resolution to Abolish the Town Finance Committee and to Create a Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee
The Committee shall consist of five (5) At-Large Members who shall be qualified voters in the Town and that each member of the Town Board shall be entitled to appoint one (1) At-Large Member to the Committee, with such At-Large Member to serve on such Committee at the pleasure of the appointing Town Board Member.

186-2010 SEQRA Determination – Couse Corners Roundabout
Based on the "Reasons Supporting this Determination" discussed in the attached SEQRA Negative Declaration – Notice of Determination of Non-Significance ("Negative Declaration") the Town Board hereby finds that the Project will not have a significant impact on the environment and authorizes the filing of a Negative Declaration for the Project.

187-2010 Resolution to Maintain Landscaped Island – Couse Corners Roundabout
The Town of East Greenbush will maintain, or will cause to be maintained, the landscaped roundabout and median, to include all maintenance, care and replacement work necessary to keep the roundabout and the median in a neat and attractive appearance.

188-2010 Authorization to Pursue Funding – CDTC Linkage Program
The Town Board hereby authorizes a submission of an application for grant funding to the CDTC Community and Transportation Linkage Program for 2011-2012 for the Development of Design Standards

189-2010 Resolution Adopting Local Law Entitled "Dog Licensure Law"
The Town Board does hereby adopt Local Law #5 of 2010 entitled "Dog Licensure Law".  The purpose of this Local Law is to provide for the licensing and identification of dogs, the control and protection of the dog population and the protection of persons, property, domestic animals and deer from dog attack and damage.

 190-2010 Appointment of Member(s) to the Town Board of Ethics

* * * * *

To The Rescue (Squad)

The NYS Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) audit of the Ambulance District Operations identifies oversight weaknesses concerning the Town and the District and contracted Rescue Squad finances and Length of Service Award Program (a retirement credit system for the volunteers). 

The OSC report contains four, yes, FOUR Recommendations to correct these oversight weaknesses and gives the Town Board 90 days to prepare and submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) that addresses the audit findings and recommendations.  The Recommendations are as follows:

Rescue Squad Contract

1.       The Town should ensure that there are adequate controls in place to ensure the protection of taxpayer moneys that have been collected by the Squad.

2.       Town officials should revise the Squad’s contract to ensure that all Town moneys are turned over to the Town. The Town should then only pay the Squad amounts that are defined by its contract with the Town.

Length of Service Award Program

3.       District officials should develop and implement policies and procedures for the administration and oversight of its LOSAP to supplement the contract currently in place.

4.       The Board should review the points reported as earned by the Squad volunteers and request supporting documentation to substantiate the points earned before submitting the Squad’s annual report to the third-party administrator.

Supervisor McCabe's letter to the OSC acknowledging receipt of the audit states:

“The Town Board is committed to implementing all recommendations outlined in the examination to ensure Tax Payer funds will be utilized appropriately.

The Town will submit to your office, within 90 days, its written Corrective Action Plan (CAP) and will immediately begin the process of addressing the recommendations."

Supervisor McCabe's letter and approach seems quite straightforward to me.  Comptroller Breig identified the CAP as a priority, due to the 90 timeframe, at yesterday's Pre-Town Board meeting.

Pete Stenson

WOW- I'll bet that was a tough lump to swallow !

The latest  offering  from our  former  Town Board member and  current   County  Legislator  makes for some very interesting  reading indeed !

 He states that  he and his  Republican colleagues were faced with a  Catch 22  situation when they attempted  a zero tax increase.   Jeez - No  kidding !!   He  stated  significant services and jobs would be  eliminated to achieve the  lofty  goal -  again -  NO KIDDING !!  Same problem  East Greenbush  faces -  how do we continue to  operate  with no workers , no staff , not even some of the basic  services ?!
Funny -  Mike didn't  vote  for the  0%  tax increase  when it  was proposed to him.

  He reports that the  Republican majority consulted both parties - WOW  , I'll bet that  tasted  like  vomit in your mouth since you never offered the Dems in EGB that opportunity  last year when you  formulated the  2010 budget for  EGB.    No one  wants  higher  taxes  but  we have to do the best we  can -   Damn ,  how  come you and  Taylor arn't  so forgiving  at the  Town level -  you just spin  things  out of  control because it  suits  your  political agenda -  you should practice what you preach .  No one  seems content with the  current economic  climate in the  Nation or  State , but  for you to get up on your  soapbox  and  blame the  current  Town Administration  for  a  2.7%  tax increase as being  irresponsible when you admittedly  can't  control the County Budget  any better is  simply  self serving  and  delusional  dreaming , political spin at its  very best !

 In one posting , you've provided your opposition with  ammunition for the next few months.  While I can appreciate  your  apparent  smack at honesty - your asking for   taxpayers to give you and your  compatriots at the  County level  some  understanding as YOU deal with the  economic  climate of the  nation and state , yet you  poke fun directly at the  current Town administration  for having to deal with EXACTLY the  same  scenario and problems.      Nice try - can't  blame you  ,  but  we're not  buying any today!