Welcome to the Voice of Schodack Blog!
Here's the latest!
I'm glad to see the blog is getting warmed up again!
We have an election coming up in the fall and residents need to be informed on critical issues that affect us. So if anyone has information about town issues and how our new town supervisor is doing,please feel free to enlighten us!
To get detailed information on Schodack financials check out the 2 links below;
Note to all Schodack residents:
We know everyone is busy but if at all possible, PLEASE attend Town Board & Planning Board Meetings. What can really make a difference is a good turnout at these meetings because it will show that residents are concerned and watching so let's pack the town hall!
If they only see a few people at a meeting, it sends the message that we don't care and they will continue to disregard us!
We remain committed to continue our fight for fair elections & responsive leadership in Schodack. With your continuing support we can do it!
The Schodack Republican Party has chosen NOT to run Secor as their candidate for supervisor. This is a direct result of her very close election against a write-in candidate and shows what motivated voters can do, we will have a fair & open election this year because of you!
So feel free to post your thoughts & opinions here and let your voice be heard!
Note; While we encourage you to post your comments, we reserve the right to delete posts that contain vulgarity, offensive comments or personal attacks.
The Voice of Schodack blog was created to give all Schodack residents the ability to voice their concerns about issues that affect them. Our website at http://www.voiceofschodack.com/ will be updated in the next few months for the upcoming election which should be very interesting!
We know everyone is busy but if at all possible, PLEASE attend Town Board & Planning Board Meetings. What can really make a difference is a good turnout at these meetings because it will show that residents are concerned and watching so let's pack the town hall!
If they only see a few people at a meeting, it sends the message that we don't care and they will continue to disregard us!
We remain committed to continue our fight for fair elections & responsive leadership in Schodack. With your continuing support we can do it!
The Schodack Republican Party has chosen NOT to run Secor as their candidate for supervisor. This is a direct result of her very close election against a write-in candidate and shows what motivated voters can do, we will have a fair & open election this year because of you!
So feel free to post your thoughts & opinions here and let your voice be heard!
Note; While we encourage you to post your comments, we reserve the right to delete posts that contain vulgarity, offensive comments or personal attacks.
The Voice of Schodack blog was created to give all Schodack residents the ability to voice their concerns about issues that affect them. Our website at http://www.voiceofschodack.com/ will be updated in the next few months for the upcoming election which should be very interesting!
1,313 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 601 – 800 of 1313 Newer› Newest»WOW !!!! What a shock opening up the tax bill. It might not be as bad except they claim that it hasn't been reaised in 30 years...guess what ?? There were reassessments in Schodack Landing and in other parts of the town in 2000 and now this !!!! Is it just me or does anyone else wonder why there is plenty of room in the Taj Mahal for the police while we are supporting a building less than a mile away to house the police ??? Why can't the police go to the Taj and we sell that whole corner on 150 and 9 as a package.?? The old town hall is getting wrecked slowly by abandonment and by SWAT practice by the police. I'm afraid that the new tax hikes is going to sink the school budget out of sheer desparation and frustration. Where else can residents have any say at all ??? It is interesting that the most literature about the tax hike came from the school district trying to step back from the reason for the hike. Why doesn't the District sell the property in Brookview, the old school previously occupied by BOCES ? It has been empty since 2004. We need some relief somewhere !!! There just seems to be no fiscal conservatism anymore.
On another point, why doesn't the police use or contract with, the Castleton Fish and GAme Club for their firing range ??? It is isolated and has ranges both indoor and out. If they need a combat range, why not build it down there and use that facility. It would support gun safety and not ruin another area off Route 9. On that note, Who are the police negotiating with in that area ? Is it with a town official or a member of one of the many Boards?? Maybe a little conflict?? So much behind the scenes activity in this Town...no wonder people are fed up as was indicated by the latest election...
WOW !!!! What a shock opening up the tax bill. It might not be as bad except they claim that it hasn't been reaised in 30 years...guess what ?? There were reassessments in Schodack Landing and in other parts of the town in 2000 and now this !!!! Is it just me or does anyone else wonder why there is plenty of room in the Taj Mahal for the police while we are supporting a building less than a mile away to house the police ??? Why can't the police go to the Taj and we sell that whole corner on 150 and 9 as a package.?? The old town hall is getting wrecked slowly by abandonment and by SWAT practice by the police. I'm afraid that the new tax hikes is going to sink the school budget out of sheer desparation and frustration. Where else can residents have any say at all ??? It is interesting that the most literature about the tax hike came from the school district trying to step back from the reason for the hike. Why doesn't the District sell the property in Brookview, the old school previously occupied by BOCES ? It has been empty since 2004. We need some relief somewhere !!! There just seems to be no fiscal conservatism anymore.
On another point, why doesn't the police use or contract with, the Castleton Fish and GAme Club for their firing range ??? It is isolated and has ranges both indoor and out. If they need a combat range, why not build it down there and use that facility. It would support gun safety and not ruin another area off Route 9. On that note, Who are the police negotiating with in that area ? Is it with a town official or a member of one of the many Boards?? Maybe a little conflict?? So much behind the scenes activity in this Town...no wonder people are fed up as was indicated by the latest election...
WOW !!!! What a shock opening up the tax bill. It might not be as bad except they claim that it hasn't been reaised in 30 years...guess what ?? There were reassessments in Schodack Landing and in other parts of the town in 2000 and now this !!!! Is it just me or does anyone else wonder why there is plenty of room in the Taj Mahal for the police while we are supporting a building less than a mile away to house the police ??? Why can't the police go to the Taj and we sell that whole corner on 150 and 9 as a package.?? The old town hall is getting wrecked slowly by abandonment and by SWAT practice by the police. I'm afraid that the new tax hike is going to sink the school budget out of sheer desparation and frustration. Where else can residents have any say at all ??? It is interesting that the most literature about the tax hike came from the school district trying to step back from the reason for the hike. Why doesn't the District sell the property in Brookview, the old school previously occupied by BOCES ? It has been empty since 2004. We need some relief somewhere !!! There just seems to be no fiscal conservatism anymore.
On another point, why doesn't the police use or contract with, the Castleton Fish and GAme Club for their firing range ??? It is isolated and has ranges both indoor and out. If they need a combat range, why not build it down there and use that facility. It would support gun safety and not ruin another area off Route 9. On that note, Who are the police negotiating with in that area ? Is it with a town official or a member of one of the many Boards?? Maybe a little conflict?? So much behind the scenes activity in this Town...no wonder people are fed up as was indicated by the latest election...
Anyone else find that they can't view comparables on the AIS as the instruction sheet with the new assessment said we could?
As of a few days ago, I couldn't open the assessments either. I really don't want to spend the time going to the Castleton Library and trying to find a parking spot. Wonder if this is a minor glich in the program or if, as usual in Schodack, information of this kind needs to be difficult to obtain.
I was able to negotiate the site last night but it's not easy. You can't use the "back" button, you have to use the tabs to go back where you started. Also when doing comparables, you have to adjust for number of bed/bath rooms and put in a mile range. Then use the numbers on the bottom to check up and down your street. It would have been nice to have some instructions from the Town but providing helpful information is not something we have come to expect. I went to one of the workshops. It was informative as far as how the process worked and I recommend everyone go if you can get into one whether it is in Schodack or one of the other towns.
Good luck. BTW who's moving?
There is a new poll about how the re-assessment will affect your taxes on the Voice of Schodack website so go to www.voiceofschodack.com and vote!
Well Gov. Spitzer, aka; "The Luv Gov" finally resigned over his solicitation of $5,000/hr prostitutes! It didn't take him long to crash & burn after being elected!
Beth Secor is going to be joining the "Luv Gov" from what I hear. I am in the legal profession; I have posted out here a couple times, and read it a lot to keep up on our corrupt Town Supervisor. I have heard some serious information through the grape vine that I feel needs to be passed on to the people of this town. The case filed against Secor and Nugent isn't going to make them look good.
I believe it was said out here a while about using that case to go after Beth. Might be a lot to that from what I hear. I also hear that a lot of people will end up in trouble from this case. A lot of damaging evidence was presented and right off the bat Tim Nugent filed false charges against the person who filed the case, and that person was an ex-client of his. Any self respecting lawyer knows you don’t file charges against clients, be it ex clients or current. It is unethical.
Last thing I heard about it is that Secor and Nugent are to be deposed in that case and their side has set no date for this. Now... if I were sure I was going to win, being a lawyer myself, I would have this over with.
This is something for the leaders of this blog and the residents to think about. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. Right now the scuttlebutt is they are dragging their feet. Something Nugent and Secor are good at.
As for Elliot Spitzer... what a fool! I am a Democrat, and I can't believe this man! He made his career going after this type of “business”... and got into it himself. He is getting what he deserves from my point of view. He has made serious problems for the Democratic party from these actions.
The Planning Board meets Monday (the 17th) and there is still no agenda available (it's Thursday afternoon). Is this typical?
Thanks for the new poll, VOS! And thanks for giving Schodack residents a forum for discussion.
It's 6:38 the night of the Town meeting and the agenda still isn't posted. What the hell does the Town have a website for if they can't even post the agenda?
I just read the last post about the law suit against Secor and Nugent. I would like to add a little inside information. I am an SBA member, and they aren't just dragging their feet for no reason.
Nugent and Secor are trying to force "that person" into handing over his business so they can get out of their mess with no admission of guilt.
In doing this they have been making sure no one will do business with him. All the members of the SBA have been told not to as well as them slandering him. That is over 100 members being given the word.
I can not be a part of this sleazy despicable way they do things. They think they have a right to push us all around, and get their way. They have been on his back for over five years now, and will not take no for an answer.
That man has children, and they don't care, they will starve them out to get their way. Their thought is that he will give in to save his kids. Basically Nugent is using those kids as a club. Joe Bruno and Kathy Jemino know they are doing this and do nothing to stop them. Says a lot about Joe Bruno.
It doesn't help that the lawyers are helping them drag their feet hoping they will make that man run out of money and not be able to survive. I don't get that logic, but Nugent is an idiot anyway. The guy has survived all this time and they have been told the partners in the company as well as others will not let him fall to them.
They were also told to settle this mess a number of times by higher up politicians, and their idea of settling is going back and fighting with him third party. Secor is desperate folks, she knows if she is found guilty of all of this, you people will be after her.
I feel that this "inside information" is needed. There is something nasty going on in this town, worse then anyone realizes and it needs to be stopped. The SBA owns this town...... Everyone needs to see that. This is what they do to people who stand in their way. Even over the backs of children if they have to.
I do know there is a time limit on the depositions from the court. Secor hopes to take that man out before that date expires. It's all on them now. If they don't get their side deposed by then, they lose this case. The last post was right, there are no dates set to have Secor and Nugent Deposed. They are trying to avoid that at all costs.
Apparently the only people that have access to the AIS info are the town employees using the town network. Those of us outside town governement are forced to do our research the "old-fashioned" way - by going to one of the sites and looking at the printed records. Isn't this actually the 21st. century? We can do everyting from filing our income taxes to banking to reading newspapaers from around the world, but we can't see the tax roles that are supposed to be availble. I wonder what it cost the town to participate in the AIS?
Also, in regard to the taxes up vs. taxes down ratio - does anyone know any figures on what the net projected total increase is for the entire town?
Regarding the recent re-assessment, it was not something that "had" to be done. It was done for the sole purpose of increasing the tax base which will generate more money in taxes for the town.
If I understand it correctly, here is a typical hypothetical scenario;
Your current property is assessed at $50,000 and the current rate per thousand is $10.00.
So 50 X 10 = $500.
Now after re-assessment your property is assessed at $150,000.
So now 150 X 10 = $1,500, a $1,000 tax increase!
Yes, some will get a decrease initially but it will disappear in a few years due to the annual tax increases in the budget.
Now what do you think Secor is going to do with all this new found wealth?
One sure bet is she will continue to give exhorbitant pay increases, hire more unnecessary "assistants" for various town dept's. and create new positions as well!
And what will we get?
We get to pay for it all!
There are numerous blank lines, unfinished sentences, and vague statements in the reccent town agenda.
Here's some examples:
"2008-134)Third Bond Resolution (this one for Water)" WHAT?
"2008-140)Authorize payment of $_______ annually for..." HOW MUCH?
"2008->>>)Authorize the Comptroller's recommendation to direct the Town Supervisor to pay the claims #08-345 to 08-____ on Abstract No. 03-08, in the amount of $___________, including the claims paid since the previous Town Board meeting." FILL IN THE BLANKS!
Why can't we get correct information, which is a matter of public record? What are these meetings for, the public? Or, private trades between Town "insiders" with lots of buddies? Seems like they don't want the average Schodack guy to know what's going on.
BETH: please explain. Oh, that's right, she never does.
You hit the nail on the head! They don't want us to know what is going on. That way they can push their own agendas through without any opposition from residents.
The coming election will be more important than the last, we can finish what was started with the last election and vote Secor and her cronies out of office and elect a supervisor, board members, etc. who will be responsive to the voices of taxpayers rather than ignoring us like they currently do.
There was a lot of oppostion to the Pond View development at the Planning Board meeting last night. Someone commented to the Board, "You are ruining Schodack." The Board did not respond.
There were also some people(most from from East Greenbush, 1 from Schodack) who wanted the development.
The developers would like to build for senior (defined as 55+) but, they do not have to guarantee that the housing is for older people.
Miller Road residents could be looking at a huge rental community 35 feet from their property lines.
Do you live in a rural area? Do you have fields near your home you enjoy? Woods in your backyard?
Take photos of that...today.
How is the traffic on your street? Take a photo if heavy trucks illegally use your road.
Do you know where your property lines are? Mark them each year.
Have flooding? Take photos each spring.
Have strange right-of-ways? Find the old deeds.
Get online, and read the town code.
Why do you have to do these things? Because when the open fields and woods around your home are sold to developers, you will have a few minutes at a Planning Board meeting to defend your right to your property. You have to do the research -- the town WILL NOT help you.
The Planning Board responds only to "proof."
While developers have thousands of dollars to spend on lawyers and surveyors, and sometimes years to plan projects, you may only have a few days to get ready to a hearing that will affect you and the value of your home -- forever.
Brought to you by "been there, done that."
Why are there E. Greenbush residents at a Schodack Planning Board meeting supporting a project in Schodack? It should not concern them and they should not be at Schodack meetings.
The more I think about it, the more it looks like there may be plans to merge East Greenbush & Schodack. Nugent is from East Greenbush isn't he? If we want to maintain our independence, we should be very wary.
I have read comments on here about all the problems with the truck traffic around Exit 12 on Route 9 and nearby truck related businesses. I was going south on 9 Friday morning about 11:45am to get on east 90 at Exit 12 and when coming up to the intersection watched as not one but TWO tractor trailers went through the stop signs as they got off the east bound exit and pulled out in front of 4 cars going in two different directs. One was was a yellow JR Hunt truck who got pissed when I repeatedly honked at him as he blocked four lanes of traffic turning left to go south on Route 9. The other truck went south on 9 and only blocked two lanes of traffic. I don't travel that way often, does this happen all the time? Where the hell is the State Police? If this happens that often it's a wonder no one has been killed.
A note about the East Greenbush "supporters" - they wanted to move to Schodack for quiet. One person did not like to hear people living upstairs from her, and wanted single-story rental housing.
Ok -- 2 points.
Miller Road people have to listen to bulldozers for YEARS so she can get peace and quiet. How nice.
Second - one-story rental housing WASTES SPACE. Rental housing has little chance of being improved or remodeled, unlike purchased, free-standing housing that new families move into and fix up. "Homeowner pride" makes for good neighborhoods, of old and young alike.
The place will become "low-rent" or be bulldozed in 20 years as it falls apart.
Let's use land wisely in Schodack!
Responses to comments above:
1) Trucks blocking Rt. 9 near Exit 12: I usually see a trucker try to pull in, and then suddenly have to stop, blocking Rt. 9 because some pedestrian walks across the gas station or a small truck is turning around at the pumps. It is dangerous.
Beth Secor, however, would like to continue adding to truck stops there.
2) We should charge all East Greenbush residents who speak at Schodack Planning meetings a fee, just like we pay East Greenbush a fee for the library.
Heck, let's take it off the library tab.
At the very least, why are Schodack residents told by Peter Goold "you've spoken twice now," when we have to listen to East Greenbush folks?
And note: they will NEVER pay Schodack taxes, since they want to move into rental housing.
Beth was seen congratulating the developers after the talk. Guess we know where she plans to retire.
This blog should be renamed the
"Home of Negativity" as the last 30or so posts all have negative thoughts about any possible new development in the town. No to Crown, no to Pond View, too much traffic here, too many trucks there, take photos of your fields as they will be vanishing soon - Wow! What a bunch of naysayers.
I talk to other town residents every day and I hear people tell me how they hope Crown gets approved as they are a good company and are getting no tax incentives to come to Schodack. I hear others who think the Pond View development for over age 55 adults would be a great idea for those who don't want to maintain a home any longer but would like to continue to live in Schodack.
Then I read the posts on this blog and "woe is me" there will be noise and dust on Miller Rd while these homes are built. I'm convinced the people who post these negative thoughts are definitely the vocal minority.
No matter who the supervisor is -- your anti development stance will never be the majority in Schodack. Growth will continue, albeit at a snails pace, but we will grow while dragging you along kicking and screaming.
to the last post about us being anti-development
That is not the issue here. The issue is that this town spoke last election and because Beth Secor and Tim Nugent ignored our voices it is time to take them away.
Development is fine, but she does all she can to keep the people's opinion out of it. The only ones kicking and screaming around here are what's left of the Secor support system. Kicking and screaming because they don't have drones for residents and the town is up in arms.
Planned development is a good thing. But how many gas stations will it take before enough is enough? Our good ol president George W. Bush is in with the oil companies and look at the price of fuel! They were actually the main supporters of his campaign.
Not to mention how she hides facts from us so we can't actually see what is going on in this town. It is also funny, but all the residents I talk to want her out and someone to come in and elevate taxes. Maybe those people you talk to want the crown deal and so on in hopes it will bring taxes down and no other reason.
That won't happen; spendthrift Secor will raise them anyway so she can give more raises to herself and her buddies. After all, if she gets her pension from the town she wants to be sure she is getting over 30k a year for sitting on her behind from a part time job.
In response to the "vocal minority" comment:
Kindly encourage all of your friends who support the Pond View project and Crown to come to Planning Board meetings. We'd love to hear from them.
So far, only 1 Schodack resident spoke in support of Pond View -- the rest (about 2) were non-residents. The vast majority of the comments were concerned, tax-paying resident property owners asking about issues related to lighting, drainage, and property values.
Protecting property rights is a tradition in Anglo-American law dating back to the 1700s.
I'm sorry you find this principle upsetting.
I'm sure all of us tax-payers in Schodack would love to hear from your friends, as well.
Ask yourself this question;
What are you getting for the exhorbitant taxes your paying?
The answer is obvious, not much!
All the "improvements" such as sewers, water, etc. that Secor brags about are paid for by increased taxes! Once these taxes are in place, you will always pay them and they will continue to go up!
Regarding development, why is there still no master plan?
All projects are approved on an individual basis. I would be willing to bet that there is a lot of money paid to the town for a project to be approved, I wonder what happens to all that money?
Regarding the lack of a master plan. To quote the Chairman of the Planning Board Peter Goold at the PB meeting held 3/3 in response to a questions about a questionable project "You know ma'am we don't plan these things, we address them as they come up". That just about says it all regarding Schodack's development planning.
Peter Goold's comment is telling, if that's the attitude of the Planning Board, Schodack is in trouble!
I was reading this blog thinking to my self what a bunch of citizens who care, but what i see here is nothing but a bunch of bitchers and lazy freaking people who have too much time on their hands. Apparently they are also prejudice and think they have the say to who moves to town and what their salaries should be and were they live. As a resident of East Greenbush and thinking of moving possibly to Schodack and on a fixed income I believe I do Have the right to speak in favor of such housing.Heck Schodack Center believes they are part of East Greenbush anyway listen to adds for business they mostly state they are in East Greenbush. Most people in Schodack seem decent but this group WOW......
"SCHODACK--An informational workshop concerning construction of the dam at Nassau Lake will be held Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at the town hall, reports Supervisor Beth Secor."
Check the on-line Independent for more.
In response to 10:13 p.m.
If you're on a fixed income, you're better off not moving to Schodack as you would probably not be able to afford the rapidly increasing cost of living the tax and spend crowd at the town hall (and school district) have levied on the taxpayers of this town. With that in mind, we have every right to b---- and complain.
Of course, you might be part of this particular crowd and this post is your defense of the Secor administration's spending habits.
Supervisor's Updates
Latest Update: 25 Mar 08
Workshop to Discuss Nassau Lake Dam Construction Set For March 27th
The Town Board will host an informational workshop concerning construction of the dam at Nassau Lake. The project, now underway, will be explained at the workshop on Thursday, March 27th at 7 p.m. All interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting which will be held at the Schodack Town Hall.
Secor stated, "The Town Board is pleased to host this forum so that representatives of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and General Electric may report on the status of this important project. The improvement of the dam is vital to Nassau Lake and the health, safety and quality of life of residents in that area. We look forward to its completion."
Lewis Streeter, Project Manager for General Electric, and Joan Gerhardt, also from General Electric will update Board members on the design prepared by General Electric and timetable to construct the dam at Nassau Lake. Michael Komoroske of the Division of Environmental Remediation of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will also update participants relative to the Department's recent issuance of the renewal permit to proceed.
This workshop will allow all interested parties an opportunity to learn more about the court ordered plan to replace the Nassau Lake Dam so as to effectively contain the PCB laden sediment. The Nassau Lake Dam is located at the southern end of Nassau Lake in the Towns of Nassau and Schodack.
For the past several years, Supervisor Secor has facilitated meetings with representatives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Health and the New York State Attorney General's office so that local officials, Rensselaer County legislators, the Nassau Lake Association, members of the group UNCAGED, and residents may be well informed regarding both the on and off-site remediation of pollution that has leached from the now closed Dewey Loeffel Landfill located on Mead Road in the Town of Nassau.
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I'm happy to let you know that you can now read anything you need to know about Schodack's Code (the Town's laws) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the convenience of your home or office. It's part of our effort to provide more transparency in town government for our residents. We've made E-Code available to achieve that. E-Code is a solution produced by General Code which provides a compilation of all the local laws of the Town of Schodack, including the Zoning Code.
As the Town Code is supplemented with new or amended local laws, the copies on E-Code are updated or replaced, so the online version will reflect the most up-to-date version of Schodack's Code. It is easy to search the Code by key word.
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Winter months are always a busy time for all Town departments. The challenges of snow and ice have kept the Highway personnel attending to our roadways and driving safety. We are optimistic spring is just around the corner!!
As the Town's representative, I was privileged to attend fire company banquets and installation of officers. Our volunteer firefighters make Schodack a special place to live. Their sacrifice of time and caring assures us of a safe community and that these vital services are affordable. Please support our fire companies in all they do!
The Town Board adopted proclamations to recognize the accomplishments of Gary VanValkenburgh who served on the Schodack Cause and Origin team for 27 years. Gary's dedication and contributions as a Fire Investigator was celebrated at the East Schodack Fire Company banquet.
We also applauded the Castleton Public Library's recent designation as first runner up for "Best Small Library in America." This small library, supported by the Town, has fine programs for the young and young-at-heart and serves our community with pride. Congratulations to Mrs. Miller and her staff!
You are invited to attend an Open House at the new Highway Garage on Friday, April 11th from 2 to 6 p.m. or on Saturday, April 12th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please take a few minutes to stop by for your tour of the new facility at 3776 US Route 20. Ken Holmes, Highway Superintendent, has demonstrated how the new garage saves tax dollars and improves our environment. We are very proud of the facility and hope to see YOU at the Open House.
The Town Board was unanimous in their conviction to reassess all properties equitably, a process which had not been completed for almost 30 years. I encourage you to speak with representatives of GAR Associates, the real estate consulting firm, if you have questions about the information contained in your preliminary assessment and/or inventory. All property owners will receive their tentative assessment on or about May 1st and will have the option to formally grieve the assessed value on May 27th.
Just A Reminder - the resolutions adopted at meetings of the Town Board are posted here on the website. You are encouraged to visit use this site as a reference tool for your town government. You may now instantly access the Town Code, including Zoning, by clicking on the E-Code link in the left column.
If you have questions, suggestions or comments, I'd like to hear them -- as usual, face-to-face, by email, telephone or postal mail.
Calendar: Items from civic and public service groups for the Town Calendar can now be submitted direct to the webmaster by email.
Website Is your Schodack business listed? Check out the INFOlinks listing of Schodack-based business and then submit your "business card-style" information to Supervisor Secor. We support business in Schodack and provide residents with listings of local firms. If you own a business in Schodack and the immediate area, send me your name, your business name and address and contact numbers, and we will post it on our page of business listings. If you have your own site, let me know and we will provide a link so that everyone can find you.
Regarding "Regarding the lack of a master plan. To quote the Chairman of the Planning Board Peter Goold at the PB meeting held 3/3 in response to a questions about a questionable project "You know ma'am we don't plan these things, we address them as they come up". That just about says it all regarding Schodack's development planning."
So why isn't it called a Reaction Board? Some of its members certainly appear to be reactionaries.
It was great, as always, to read Beth Secor's cheerful notice in the paper (posted above). Life in Schodack is grand, just grand, when you survey the town from the top floor of a 400-ton concrete citadel.
She can't hear the screaming.
Anyway, a question for VOS readers, please. She wrote, "All property owners will receive their tentative assessment on or about May 1st and will have the option to formally grieve the assessed value on May 27th."
So does this mean the value posted in the notice we got at the beginning of March can go up yet higher? Thanks for your reply.
The only people who have the right to speak at Schodack Town Board & Planning Board meetings are the excessively taxed residents of Schodack! People from outside of Schodack should not even be allowed into Schodack meetings, they should go to their own town meetings.
Regarding the debate over "out-of-towners" speaking at Town of Schodack meetings:
I wrote the original post noting that the majority of pro-Pond View speakers were from East Greenbush.
I do think, in a democracy, all citizens should speak. However, NYS town government is a mixture of "one man, one vote" and property owners bearing the tax burden.
We will have conflict no matter how you slice it.
Should people with fancy houses and high taxes get two votes? What about people who own 100s of acres, that is taxed at a low rate, but sold for millions? Should renters not be allowed to vote? You can see the problem here.
However, I am concerned about the following:
1) the E. Greenbush people did not disclose their addresses nor their connection to the developers (whom they met with after the meeting).
2) Town of Schodack taxpayers are paying for the forum so that they may speak.
3) Even if these folks moved into the town (and, we would of course welcome them), it is important to note that they would not pay property taxes.
4) E. Greenbush charges Schodack residents (and this seems fair to me) for library use.
5) It does seem fundamentally selfish to wish for a "quiet country place in Schodack" as a renter, when the people in the area (who pay taxes) will have to put up with their road and neighborhood being torn up for several years.
This is not about Schodack people being "unwelcoming" -- it is about a fundamental problem with planning, taxes, and democracy in our community.
(I did not respond to the 10:13 comment since it appeared to have written by an unsupervised child.)
There is no problem, everyone has the right to voice their concerns at town meetings in the town they live in.
Own or rent doesn't matter, as long as they are a "resident".
PAUL REVERE RIDES AGAIN
Listen people of Schodack and listen well,
Time’s a wasting and everything’s going to hell.
You were warned once before, five months ago,
When we all went, to vote at the polls.
Your choice was taken away then, as it is again now,
Just look at those assessments and you’ll yell….” WOW”!
My question of the day for you and everyone,
But first think, what was the lesson, from those months ago, you should’ve learned?
We the people of Schodack should have complete control,
Over all and any decisions, while our so called officials are to do, what they are told!
So far, it’s looking, like we are their slaves,
Bowing down and doing, whatever they say!
AMERICA the beautiful, along with NEW YORK for liberty, along with SCHODACK for just friendly country living, the fortune card holds destruction, for all three!
DEMOCRACY my friend is slowly dying and time is running out for you and me.
With everything going haywire, from taxes, gas prices, health care, loss of jobs, social security, immigration and the continuing Iraqi war,
From our uncaring president, to our naughty ex-governor, to heaven knows what our own town employs, nobody seems to give a ‘damn’, anymore!
Wake up people and you will see, why Paul Revere had to ride through the night for the cause of the free,
Rebellion was then, as it should be now, so rebel, retake and return our legacy back to how things use to be!!!
666/777
the re-assessment was not a beth secor idea or just in schodack. it also took place in sand lake and east greenbush. i have many properties in all three town. some went up some went down. it is a tax rebalance........not a tax increase. stop all your whinning !
I must disagree with the post above which says the re-assessment is simply a "re-balance" of taxes.
If a resident's assessment goes up, the result is a tax increase!
If all Schodack residents would go to www.voiceofschodack.com and vot e in the re-assessment poll we would have a better idea of what percentage of residents taxes will go up or down. That will show whether it's a "re-balance or not.
Start an email campaign to get people to vote in the poll!
In theory, it is a tax re-balance and perhaps it is. But the result is those who have lived in town a long time end up paying more in taxes to support the newer homes built over the past 10 years. The recent development results in more demand for services and higher costs (budgets). More highway taxes to plow all the new roads in developments, more buses to cover new roads, bigger schools, water, sewer, and on and on. Add to that a Town Board who loves new buildings (a Town Hall 1/3 empty and huge highway garage way over budget) and taxes for long time residents go way up. So yes, those who have lived here for decades who never wanted all these services to begin with get to pay for them anyway via the re-assesment. Those who have built more recently creating more demand for services see a decrease in their assesment resulting is lower taxes then they were paying up until now. So "fair" assesment is a relative term. The age of your home will probably determine if the reassesment hurt or helped you. Those of us who have lived here many years are getting hurt through no fault of our own. Not only are we dealing with more traffic, not so friendly neighbors, boom boxes in cars, and less peace and quite, we also get to pay more to "enjoy" our new neighbors. Sorry, but we don't find re-assessment fair at all.
There's nothing wrong with reassessments at full value, and then taking a % as taxes. No one is debating that. It probably does make for a more streamlined system. And yes, we know it has happened in several towns.
The question to answer: what is the total amount of taxes taken in with this new study vs. the old system? Could that be obtained via a FOIL request?
I'm betting it's gone up.
PS: Love the "best of the blog" feature on your main page!
Again, the Reaction Board (otherwise known as the Planning Board) tried to plan ahead for sewers in Schodack...
...and then gave up.
The Developer saved $250,000, and the Board decided that future residents can pay for the sewer installation in the future. Hmmm... seems like it's rather expensive to dig up driveways and lawns, but, hey! Why worry?
Schodack: where a failure to plan, once again, is planning to fail.
The taxes the County, Town, School collects isn't related to the assessed value, it depends on the budget. If the budget for the Town for example is 1 million, the government unit is not going to collect any more then that. What properties assessed value determines is what percentage of the total taxes to be collected (1 million in this example) that a piece of property gets to pay. If your assesment goes up, you pay a larger percentage of that fixed budget. If your assesment goes down, you pay a smaller percentage of the budget. Either way no more over all taxes are collected as the budget is still fixed at one million (in this example). The principle problem is the Town spends to much money and through re-assesment, older homes that haven't been reassessed for many years are now going to pay a larger percentage of the total tax bill. Those that can't afford it, have to sell to those who can. Make no mistake, we will loose long time residents as a result of reassessment. Many of them have to be wondering why in the world they voted for Beth. We wonder too.
Regarding the above post on total % of the budget: yes, that is correct. The FOIL request would be to compare the two (assuming a fixed budget), but since the budget has gone up every year, it would require retroactive calculations.
Bottom line: reassessments are pretty handy in financing a ballooning Town government. Benjamin Franklin was right: death and taxes are the only sure things in life. It's just too bad Beth Secor does not use the latter responsibly.
Just do a google search on "tax re-assessment" read some of the articles, one I read tells about the potential abuses of re-assessment which results in an increase in taxes, how ironic!
WHERE HAVE ALL THE RESIDENTS GONE
...OUT OF NEW YORK!
Yes, my fellow townspeople. This damn town, or let me say, the people, who run it, or let me restate that even, RUIN it. Boy it makes my blood boil. How stupid do we have to be, to realize, what one hell of a mess, our town is in. Matter of fact, the whole state of New York is in!!!
All, anyone of the officials can come up with is how much more to TAX the people, to solve the problems, which they have created, for the most part! Be it, the state, county or town! All you have to do is...THINK...DUH! These problems could be solved, if they would just cut out all of this useless spending. Tighten their belts, like everybody else has to. Quit giving raises, we, JOHN Q. PUBLIC don't get raises. OOPS, we do get some mighty hefty raises, in our "TAXES", of course. Quit taking the easy way out, for once!!!
Make a move and a big one at that, get the Hell out of that SEFCU building and move into something more affordable and logical. You guys don't deserve or need anything, that extravagant. You should be made to live within your means, like we have to. Yea, and the same thing goes, for the "new town garage". It looks better, than some of our own homes!!! For heaven sakes and praise the lord people, what in the samhill are you folks thinking? It's suppose to be a garage, not a big fancy showplace!
I am hearing more and more residents talking about not being able to afford living here in New York anymore and probably having to sell and move down SOUTH! WHY? Because of you...our officials! Why then don't you guys move and get the "HELL OUT OF DODGE", as the old saying goes.
Enough is enough! The hell with all of these taxes. Just look at the schools. The nerve of these guys, to even think of presenting school budgets, at a time like this, with these "full
assessments" coming at us. It's like an insult to injury! You should definitely tighten your belts!!!
SHAME ...SHAME...SHAME on all of you guys. By the way, money doesn't grow on trees, like you officials must think; by george,
I don't even have leaves growing on any of mine!
Better put on your "thinking cap", before the people "sock" it to you and I don't mean playing footsy, either!
STOP!THINK!LISTEN!
Time's running out and so is the patience of us...the residents of
New York!!!
I agree with the above post but unfortunately there is no going back now that the damage has been done.
The Secor administration's poor planning has increased the Town debt by $10,000,000!
They manipulated the acquisition of the SEFCU building as a "lease" to eliminate a public referendum, then after sinking close to a million dollars into the building, then they pushed for the "purchase". It was a con job from the beginning and an insult to the taxpayers!
Please remember things like the above for the next election, we can finish what we started last Nov. and remove Secor from office! We must make sure other candidates are allowed to be on the ballot. The last election showed that there is support for change and with good strategic planning we will prevail!
One of the comments Beth Secor made about Ray Lemka was "I look forward to meeting with Town residents to set the record straight as a result of Mr. Lemka's campaign of fear and distortion." You can find the article in the 18 Dec 2007 Independent.
I guess "gracious in victory" is not one of her mottoes.
I've noticed Mr. Lemka attends Town meetings and he attends planning meetings. He asks questions to help residents clarify situations. Beth Secor attends meetings she is paid to attend, and answers questions with "we don't have that information" etc.
Which one do you think is the true
public servant? Which one do you think promotes "distortion"?
Next election, think wisely Schodack...think wisely.
One of the big problems in Schodack is that our Town officials don't know the difference between politics and governing.
They had that problem in the USSR too.
Happy Tax Day, everyone. With the new town assessments, it feels like everyday it tax day.
If North Greenbush is having such problems, does anyone know when the State Comptroller will be auditing Schodack and its various water and sewer districts. It is usually good to have them looking over any town's shoulder.
State: North Greenbush ignored overruns
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer Times Union
Last updated: 2:36 p.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2008
NORTH GREENBUSH -- A new state comptroller's audit slams the town government for providing little oversight on a water district project that is expected to be more than $800,000 over budget.
The audit, released Tuesday by the state Comptroller division of local government and school accountability, said costs on the $7.1 million project to bring water to District 14 began to exceed what was approved in 2005, but the costs were never conveyed to the Town Board, nor did the Town Board inquire about project updates.
From the beginning of the water project in 2003, town officials didn't properly plan and manage the construction project and there was little if any coordination between the Board, town comptroller's office or the building department in monitoring the project's budget, the audit states.
``Unfortunately, this project was mismanaged almost from the beginning,'' state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in a written statement.
Costs began to stretch past the $7.1 million mark when there was additional rock excavation, difficulties in obtaining property easements and a wetter than normal season that required additional backfill. The additional costs were allegedly discussed with the former town comptroller in 2005, but there was no indiciation the Town Board was ever advised or approved the additional costs.
The changeover that resulted from a new supervisor, several town board members and a new comptroller in January 2006, in addition to the resignation of the comptroller in September 2006, made town officials unsure of their legal duties and responsibilities over authorizing expenditures, the audit says.
Deas anyone know why the Planning Board agenda is not available? The meeting is today....and of this morning no agenda is posted.
I, too, would like to know what is going on with tonight's Planning Board meeting? Isn't the Planning Bd better at posting their agenda, than the Town Bd?
With nothing is posted, it has to make you wonder is something important is going on and if they may be trying to sneak something by us.
JUST VOTE NO!!!
You know, I am so damn tired of all of these unnecessary taxes!
What's that old saying...no not the one about the two things in life, that are certain, which are taxes and death. Mind you, Mr. & Mrs. SCHODACK, we are slowly dying from this tax epidemic! Instead of being a rural town, we'll soon be a "Ghost Town"! Who will even be able, to live here anymore! Now, who wants that...NOBODY!
How about the quote, I'm sure most of you can remember, from history class..."NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!" Yep, we seem to have the above all twisted, for
some reason. We have way too much TAXATION, without any really true REPRESENTATION! It is so visibly
clear, that our officials do what they damn well want to, without any regard, to what we SCHODACK want them to! I say, something's mighty "rotten" here in Schodack and it's way past time, we start to clean "house"!!!
Another big "head-ache", that's coming our way next is the "school budget"! Please, for my sake, your sake and for petesakes, VOTE
that sucker...down! Enough is enough. They need to feel the pinch, like we do. They need to tighten their belts and do without, like we do!!! No kid needs a "silver-spoon" education, at the cost of me, you or pete losing our homes to, something, that they have had in the family, for a long time! Hey, what's the use of bringing home a silver coated report card, if you don't even have a place, to sleep at anymore!!! I'ld like to keep my home, how about YOU???
It's been a YES...YES...YES town, for way too long. Time for a change and a big change at that!!!
JUST VOTE NO!!!
You know, I am so damn tired of all of these unnecessary taxes!
What's that old saying...no not the one about the two things in life, that are certain, which are taxes and death. Mind you, Mr. & Mrs. SCHODACK, we are slowly dying from this tax epidemic! Instead of being a rural town, we'll soon be a "Ghost Town"! Who will even be able, to live here anymore! Now, who wants that...NOBODY!
How about the quote, I'm sure most of you can remember, from history class..."NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!" Yep, we seem to have the above all twisted, for
some reason. We have way too much TAXATION, without any really true REPRESENTATION! It is so visibly
clear, that our officials do what they damn well want to, without any regard, to what we SCHODACK want them to! I say, something's mighty "rotten" here in Schodack and it's way past time, we start to clean "house"!!!
Another big "head-ache", that's coming our way next is the "school budget"! Please, for my sake, your sake and for petesakes, VOTE
that sucker...down! Enough is enough. They need to feel the pinch, like we do. They need to tighten their belts and do without, like we do!!! No kid needs a "silver-spoon" education, at the cost of me, you or pete losing our homes to, something, that they have had in the family, for a long time! Hey, what's the use of bringing home a silver coated report card, if you don't even have a place, to sleep at anymore!!! I'ld like to keep my home, how about YOU???
It's been a YES...YES...YES town, for way too long. Time for a change and a big change at that!!!
Your tax frustrations are shared by many of us but the reality is it will not stop until the next election. Then we can finish the job we started and stop this insanity by voting out the supervisor and whatever board members are up for election. Only then can we begin to build a town gov't that is responsive to the needs of the taxpayers instead of subverting their will!
Regarding school taxes, this is just the beginning. The true cost of the new elementary school have yet to be revealed. All the oops, "we didn't think of that" will drive the cost up more and more which will cause school taxes to spiral out of control!
It's ironic with all the re-assessment concerns, only 26 people have bothered to vote in the poll on the Voice of Schodack website, sad isn't it?
November 09 is not far away!
Regarding the lack of planning in Schodack...
If you want to see what can happen to your town, just take a look at North Greenbush. You'll see signs for "shopping coming soon" at the corner of 4 & 43. Yet, North Greenbush has NO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, the developer has no site planning approval for the east side of the intersection and began development on the west side before they ever had building approval.
These developers come into small towns with deep pockets and do what they like to destroy your town.
To save your town and send a message to developers BOYCOT THE VANRENSSELAER SQUARE MALL coming to Rts. 4 & 43 in North Greenbush. Tell all your friends and family. You will be next. The power is in the people...you saw that at your last election.
OK -- so now the planning board has an agenda posted. (Several days late, mind you....)...and it's for the April 7th meeting.
Huh?
Apparently, Nadine Fuda is unaware of the passage of time. Next time, let's all call her the Planning office, every half hour to remind her of the correct date until an agenda is posted.
They require all paperwork be filed 10 days ahead of time...so there is no excuse.
The laziness and incompetence of these town employees is sickening.
And we pay them more and more each year.
The total disregard for the residents by the current administration is nothing new and we are the only ones that can bring meaningful change by continuing what we started with the last election and voting out the current administration. We all need to remember all the ways we have been violated by the current regime. Nov, 09 will be our time!
Event Announcement - Schodack, NY
What does a future without cheap oil mean for towns like ours?
Join us for "Planning for the Long Emergency" a presentation by author James Howard Kunstler. This event will be start at 7:00 pm on Weds, May 28th, and be held in the auditorium of Maple Hill High School. Q&A will follow. The evening is organized by the Schodack Area Land Trust and the Schodack Planning & Development Associations. Free and open to the public.
Please share this announcement. And please register for this event by sending an e-mail to Schodacks_Future@yahoo.com
(put May 28 in the subject line) or call Christine or Steve at 732-1213. Thanks!
For more on the Schodack Planning & Development Association, visit our blog www.schodacksfuture.blogspot.com.
About James Howard Kunstler, who lives in Saratoga Springs: His non-fiction book, The Long Emergency, published by the Atlantic Monthly Press in 2005, is about the challenges posed by the coming permanent global oil crisis, climate change, and other "converging catastrophes of the 21st Century."
World Made by Hand is his latest work, a novel of the Long Emergency set in upstate New York in the not distant future, published by The Atlantic Monthly Press. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page, where he has written on environmental and economic issues.
Mr. Kunstler says he wrote his book The Geography of Nowhere, "Because I believe a lot of people share my feelings about the tragic landscape of highway strips, parking lots, housing tracts, mega-malls, junked cities, and ravaged countryside that makes up the everyday environment where most Americans live and work."
Home From Nowhere was a continuation of that discussion with an emphasis on the remedies. A portion of it appeared as the cover story in the September 1996 Atlantic Monthly.
His next book in the series, The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition, published by Simon & Schuster / Free Press, is a look a wide-ranging look at cities here and abroad, an inquiry into what makes them great (or miserable), and in particular what America is going to do with it's mutilated cities.
Mr. Kunstler was born in New York City in 1948. He moved to the Long Island suburbs in 1954 and returned to the city in 1957 where he spent most of his childhood. He graduated from the State Univerity of New York, Brockport campus, worked as a reporter and feature writer for a number of newspapers, and finally as a staff writer for Rolling Stone Magazine. In 1975, he dropped out to write books on a full-time basis. He has no formal training in architecture or the related design fields.
He has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT, RPI, the University of Virginia and many other colleges, and he has appeared before many professional organizations such as the AIA , the APA., and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For more on Mr. Kunstler, visit his website: www.kunstler.com
For more on the Schodack Planning & Development Association, visit our blog: www.schodacksfuture.blogspot.com
Please make this site go from newest to oldest.
I can report that attendance at Town Board meetings has been waning. It doesn't help, and it may be deliberate that the Town website has been absolutely terrible at posting Town and other Board Agendas. Even today, this is what is on the Town Website:
Town Board 2008 Meeting Dates
Notice: Estoppel Notice Increased Spending Limit, Schodack Landing Sewer District #8
WHEN AVAILABLE, Draft Agenda for Town Board April 27 Meeting
Note that it is not even the correct date and last night’s agenda is still not posted! Don't they proof their own line of communication to the public?
Yesterday, was obviously the 24th not the 27th. No wonder, so few citizens came. If I had not checked with others, I might have assumed there was no meeting, too.
Everyone, Please to make it known to each and every Board member, to the Town Clerk, to the Town Supervisor, and anyone else who will listen, that you want to be able to go to the Town Website to see the Agendas for all meetings, at least 5 to 7 days ahead of the meeting date.
Last night, it was made known the Town Board members can access a printed agenda and pertinent documents on the Friday before the Thursday Meeting. At that point, the Agenda should be closed. By Saturday, Monday morning at the very latest, it should be posted to the Public. To do any less, does not allow for adequate contemplation and discussion of the issues and legislation among the community and between us and our elected "representatives".
By the time of the Board Meeting, each citizen and each Board Member must have adequate time to dialogue, exchange ideas, and gain input from each other. This is what reduces bad legislation and errors.
Putting the agenda up on the Web, allows for this in a far better way than any other means. Please contact the members of all the Town Boards, contact all the Town Officers, tell them we deserve this time to review their legislation.
VOS, please post this request for all, to make this point known to our Town Government. It will not happen nor get any better, unless we scream about and keep screaming about it, until they make it right. To less, is to diminish our need to know.
You can get to the newest comments by scrolling down the main page to where you see the number of comments, just below to the right you will see "Oldest, Newer, Newest". Just click on "Newest" and it will bring up the most current comments.
Regarding the late, incorrect, or never-posted notices for Town and Planning Board meetings: why are these notices habitually late, incorrect, or for the wrong date? One recent Town agenda had dozens of "blank" lines in it.
The last Planning Board notice was NEVER posted -- and then an incorrect one was posted (3 weeks out-of-date) and now, finally, the "agenda" is up for a meeting that took place a week ago.
We need to ask -- on record-- if Beth Secor thinks her Town employees' time would be better spent answering the phone and faxing agendas (which they refuse to do anyway), or, have the Town's Webmaster take 20 seconds and post the correct information?
Of course, our Town being run by Spend-thrift Beth, she'd have to think real long and hard about that one....
The inability to post meeting agendas, etc. is a direct reflection on Secor's poor management skills. She obviously has been doing her job as this is an ongoing issue.
Secor said she was going to "set the record straight" after the last election, as far as I know, she hasn't done anything to do that which brings her credibility into question.
Mark my words, you won't hear from Secor until election time. Then she will toot her horn about all she's done to "move forward", which is a joke!
Nov. 09 will be our chance to make a positive change in Town gov't. If we don't, Secor and her cronies will be laughing at us for another 2 yrs!
First, we got the Town Hall without voter consent...now Beth has even alienated some of her own Town Board...
"Secor does it the way she wants"
By KRISTIN SHAW 04/29/2008
SCHODACK--Two Town Board members took Supervisor Beth Secor to task last week for submitting an application for a family resource center without public input or Town Board approval."
I really don't have enought information to determine if this is a good thing for Schodack or not (nor apparently, does anyone else in Schodack). But, like the recent Schodack Valley Fire Hall purchase, and the Town Hall move, Beth and her cronies see no need to inform the public for issues which TAXPAYERS will be liable for.
Is an improved fire hall a good thing? Yes -- but why the high price tag? No public answer was EVER given to taxpaying residents of the district.
Was the old Town Hall in bad shape? Yes -- but no public details were EVER given for us voters to consider.
Is child care a good thing? Yes -- but we need to know where is it (no one seems to know except Beth), how this impacts other private child-care providers, and what the tax burden will be.
Any who dare criticize their actions -- they will just characterize as nay-sayers who are against fire fighters, poor suffering town employees, little children, and the like.
Actually, no...but we do despise the laziness, corruption, and ineptitude of Beth and friends.
Beth Secor and her friends have no grasp of the basic elements of public office.
They need to go.
This is but another example of Secor's disregard for following rules, etc. Submitting a grant application without holding the required quorum is gross negligence of her sworn duties as supervisor!
I agree, she must go and Nov. 09 is the time!
You know what -- I'm going be fair here. The Planning Department DID get the agenda up (today's Wednesday) for next Monday's meeting. That's fair and reasonable for us taxpayers. Thanks for posting it in a timely manner.
The last several week have been a disgrace with several late and incorrect notices -- but good work this time!
Please keep this up.
PS: Thanks VOS! You helped them get the message.
BUDGET VOTE
AGAIN!
For yourself, myself and for heck
everybody's self, please do us all
a big favor, for once and vote a
BIG NO NO NO
on the upcoming SCHOOL BUDGET in
May!!! Enough is enough and now
is the time to start things off in
the "right direction", for once and
keep it going, so we can dig
ourselves out of this hell of a
mess, our officials starting at the
very top of our government, to all
of the lower levels have gotten us
into.
Heads up, for the F.R.A.!!!
Weren't we supposed to get our real tax bill by now, not just the estimate? How are we supposed to challenge our assesment in a week or so if we don't know what our actual tax bill will be based on the new assesment? I'm one of the the ones whose assesment went up but all I have is an estimate on what my new tax bill will be. I know it won't go down, with Beth it never goes down but will it be? Seems like a fair question.
BUDGET TIME...AGAIN!!!
Hey, good folks of Schodack...yep, it's that time of year! The "all famous...SCHODACK SCHOOL BUDGET!!!"
It's time for a change and a big one at that. It must be that the ones, who vote YES have alot of $$Cents$$, while the ones of us, who vote NO have alot of sense!!!
I can't understand, why they have "Our Kids" doing, what they call this MANDARIN-CHINESE DISTANCE LEARNING CLASS, when alot of them still don"t even have our good old AMERICAN ENGLISH down. Maybe they know something, that we don't know, like CHINA taking over AMERICA, in the future. It's possible, when you see how our country's going downhill and I mean, fast.
Add to the Chinese language, more counseling services, a new student information management system, new upgrades, two tuitions, along with any raises in salaries and paying any increases for healthcare.
So, do you get these increases paid for you, or do you "have to pay for them, out of your own pocket!" I think we have carried the teachers' raises and benefits, long enough...let them do for themselves, just like we have to!
What about another two buses? After purchasing 3-4 buses every year, we should have enough, by now, to have our own "fleet". Then comes money for all of this construction. When will it ever end!
NOW!!! Please start now, by voting NO...NO...NO, on Tuesday, May 20, 2008!!!
Thanks, from one with alot of SENSE and not much $$CENTS$$, thanks to these ungodly people,
who call themselves, our officials. They have drained us dry and still want more!!!
N...new
O...opportunity
Amen to your thoughts about the upcoming school budget. It's about time the tax and spend crowd in this town developed an eye for restraint and my husband and I intend to vote no for the entire package.
A NO vote on the school budget should have been done before this over-priced building project got the green light.As for Chinese-the little SOB's are going to rule the indusrial world so our kids should know how to talk to their bosses. Just remember- SCSD is great about making us think we are jipping the kids with NO votes. In actuality, we are saying YES to HUGE pensions which are out of control.
The public school system has been taken over by the unions. Over the last several decades we have dumped billions of dollars into the education system and still hear that we need to do more! As soon as the unions smell money, they start whining about how they need more money & better benefits to retain good teachers so your kids will "learn more". Which could not be further from the truth! Teachers right out of college start at approx. 35 to 40 thousand dollars a year. Within 5 yrs. they are making $60,000 with excellent benefits and a retirement system that you won't find anywhere in the private sector. If your a principal, they make $100,000 plus!
Oh, lets not forget that they get additional money for doing things like "coaching", etc.
Now consider that they only work 180 days a year, so for their "annual" salary they actually only work half a year and they complain about all the "stress" they have, yea right!
Voting on the school budget is an exercise in frustration. Vote it down and the first things they eliminate is sports, music, etc. They know parent's don't want that, so they vote for it the next time and the unions get their way!
Life is good when your living off the taxpayers!
It was good to see Ms. Gable's column back in the Independent. It is great to know that Nepal is worse than Schodack as far as garbage goes -- fascinating info.
Even while doing a good deed for her community Ms. Gable is thinking of ways to stop business' from coming to Schodack. The next time a fast food establishment with a drive thru window comes before the planning board we must go fight it on the grounds that people will throw the wrappers out their car windows. I am adding that to my anti growth list Elizabeth -- thank you so much.
Keep up the good work!
It's easy to criticize the many posts here....too negative, overly critical, "anti-growth" and "anti-firehall." VOS bloggers must "hate" business, volunteer firefighters, children, school teachers, and the like.
However, that's a simplistic response to the very complex issues that are bought up on this board.
Finding solutions for business growth, school budgets, fire company land acquisitions, and fair politics are not easy, yes-or-no answers.
Sadly, we as Schodack residents are given little but "spin" from our fair leader, Beth Secor.
And, sadly, the schools play a similar game. Music programs are held hostage when people ask for reasonable budget trimming. The Schodack Valley FD acted if the very idea of volunteering was under siege when legitimate questions were asked about an expensive, and ill-defined land purchase.
Let's all respect each other...when taxpayers ask legitimate questions about spending, be it school, Town, or Fire Hall, our community leaders are obligated to give fair, honest, and complete answers.
It was this sort of disrespect of the people that led to the American Revolution. At the heart of the motto "no taxation without representation" lies a cry for honesty.
And the elected Town Government needs to remember...revolutions DO happen. One happened last November at the ballot box.
Half Schodack is not pleased with the half-truths our current leaders put out. They'd do well to sit up and take notice.
In response to the above post, VOS Bloggers are "Town of Schodack taxpayers" who have been lied to and manipulated by their elected officials. Major decisions that affect taxpayers are made "under the radar" to avoid any input from them.
Schodack residents have plenty to be negative about but the last election showed that they have the power of the vote to make a positive change in Schodack leader ship. We need to be prepared for the next election so Schodack residents can vote for the candidate of their choice in a fair and open election instead of trying to keep any opposition off the ballot.
Election 09 will be our time!
Hey Planning Department...where's the agenda? There's a meeting Monday...and where are the minutes from the last few months?
If all paperwork is "due 10 days ahead of time" why can't you take 20 seconds and post the agendas?
Just in time for the school budget vote on Tuesday, I see that school officials are having a short open house and offering tours of the elementary school tomorrow so all interested persons will have the opportunity to view the progress of this huge expense. Timing is everything for the tax and spend crowd. The school district, like the town and state, is out of control with its spending and needs to undergo a reality check. Maybe Tues. is the day......by the way, I have 2 grandchildren in the school system.
Why not Schodack and Nassau, too? Aren't we breathing air, drinking water, eating fish, game, and local meat and produce?
Gordon wants toxin talks By BOB GREEN of the Independent 05/15/2008
KINDERHOOK--Assemblyman Tim Gordon (I-108th) has invited Lafarge Cement to meet with residents of four communities in the path of emissions from the company's Ravena plant near the west bank of the Hudson River.
The plant is now known to be the source of "one quarter of the mercury in the state," according to Mr. Gordon.
"I am asking Lafarge to meet face to face. Members of the community need to be able to stand up and ask questions," he said at the May 12 Town of Kinderhook monthly meeting.
In a letter dated the same day, the assemblyman notified Lafarge of upcoming meeting dates in Kinderhook (June 9), Stuyvesant (June 12), New Lebanon (June 9) and Chatham (June 19). All those towns are in Mr. Gordon's district, as is the plant, which is adjacent to a 3,000-acre limestone mine.
He chose Kinderhook for his announcement because it has the highest population in Columbia County, and that makes it a key place for company officials to explain "what is being done to solve the current emissions problems," he said.
"Last month Lafarge agreed to conduct tests to determine how much toxic metal comes in and out of their plant. That was the right thing to do," said Mr. Gordon. "Now it is time to recognize that the public needs to be a part of this process. I strongly urge Lafarge to meet with residents to hear their concerns and provide them with some peace of mind."
In response to questions from Deputy Supervisor Debbie Johnson about just what type of meeting he had in mind, given usual monthly agendas, Assemblyman Gordon said that was flexible. "Maybe questions could be submitted in advance," he suggested.
The announcement by Lafarge of a new testing work plan, negotiated with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, followed publication of the most recent federal Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), which lists the plant's 2006 mercury emissions at 400 pounds. That volume makes the Lafarge plant the state's leading single source of airborne mercury. The report is produced by the Environmental Protection Agency and covers emissions, on- and offsite waste disposal, and water discharges.
Mercury interferes with development of children and fetuses. It is toxic in the tiniest doses and becomes concentrated as it rises up the food chain, especially through fish. Assemblyman Gordon says aggressive reduction targets must be set soon. "We need to cut in half, and half again," he said, reminding the board, "Prevailing winds travel this way."
He confirmed that, according to his information, the company's work plan has commenced, and that testing of input materials under the latest protocols is underway, with smokestack testing still to come. There is much at stake in the results, as both federal and state officials are seeking guidelines to set limits.
After a decade of pressure by states and environmental and public health groups, the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced recently that it plans to regulate mercury pollution at the 100 largest cement kilns by September 2009. State officials are currently negotiating a renewal of the Ravena plant's permit, which expired in 2006. Mercury will be included in the agreement leading to the permit, and environmentalists are pushing for the same 90% reduction by 2015 that is now required of power plants in the state.
Local governments in the county have started to act on the issues of mercury and pollution monitoring. In March, Stuyvesant town officials wrote to DEC to "respectfully ask that DEC provide monitoring of this situation and take steps to help Lafarge achieve better emissions standards while continuing to operate at this location."
Following Assemblyman Gordon, the Kinderhook Town Board heard a report from Ed Simonsen, the town's representative on the county Environmental Management Council. He said the group had asked the county Board of Supervisors to request air quality monitoring by DEC. The commission's next meeting, set for June 2, will feature a presentation about monitoring by DEC representative Ron Spencer.
Mr. Simonsen expects Lafarge to remain on the county council's agenda for now. "New, environmentally minded members" are "moving the council in a new direction" he said. "We too are trying to stay on top of this issue."
Assemblyman Gordon previously contacted DEC with his concerns about the latest emissions data. In a letter to DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis in March, he wrote that emissions must be reduced "as low as scientifically possible."
But there is debate as to what that level might be. A controversial decision by DEC to permit the burning of old tires, called tire derived fuel (TDF), at the Ravena plant disappointed opponents. While no tires have yet been burned, the issues raised at the time are still in contention.
Stuyvesant resident Ned DePew, who has kept air pollution on his town's agenda, gave oral testimony at 2005 DEC hearings on the TDF application, and also represented a group called Citizens for Clean Air of the Upper Hudson Valley at an Albany news conference regarding the Toxic Release Inventory data.
In an email response to questions, he said the plant's emissions should be judged "by a public health standard, which uses the level of harm to public health" in setting thresholds, as opposed to industrial standards, which now apply.
The plant is required to use "reasonably available control technology," defined in the permit as "the lowest emission limit that a specific source is capable of meeting by application of control technology that is reasonably available, considering technological and economic feasibility."
Mr. Depew says that standard leaves the public unprotected. "This allows companies to continue to emit deadly toxins if there is no available control technology to eliminate them," he said.
Like Assemblyman Gordon, Mr. Depew is alarmed at the lack of action.
"The Upper Hudson Valley is one of a relatively small number of places in the country where air quality had continued to deteriorate over the last decade, despite general improvement due to enforcement of the Clean Air Act. As an 'at-risk' region, we need to pay very close attention to our air quality" he said.
©The Independent 2008
Everyone, get on them!!! Contact the Town Board members, Planning Board, Town Supervisor, Town Clerk and anyone else who needs to be spoken to. Tell them we need completed agendas published on line, at least 5 days ahead of any meetings. This is getting ridiculous. Won't any of them take responsibility for getting this done and getting necessary information to the public, to Schodack Voters and Citizens, on time?????
MAY 20, 2008 (TUESDAY)
SCHODACK SCHOOL BUDGET
Please vote NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!
It's about time, that we, the people take things back over!
Enough is enough. How dare these school officials use our kids, like an escape goat, whenever they want their D--- Budget approved.
They have to wake up and smell the roses. We, the people of Schodack are not made of money, like they must think, we are.
Matter of fact, we should start saying NO, to alot of things, more and more. The only thing, that all of these officials seem to know is how to raise things. This is the way, all of them do, from high up, to further down the ladder.
So please, join me, on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, for a NO Vote and maybe, just maybe, we can get things back on track!!!
P.S. This memo is approved by me, a parent, with kids in school. They need to "learn", the value of a dollar!
Why has there been a chronic lack of posted agendas? There was ONE and only one improvement a few weeks ago. So....why the backsliding again?
Here are some of the salaries...just so we know what we are paying some folks who can't even take 20 seconds to post something on the web (and, yes...it's not that hard, folks).
Beth: $56,666.80
Beth's Secretary:$35,600
(yes...the one with the 39% salary hike)
Town Clerk $51,362.22
Deputy Town Clerk $39,306.27
Deputy Town Clerk $30,144.30
(Not one, but 2 with nice big raises, 20% and 33% a piece)
Records Management $ 2,300.00
(UP 57%)
Director of Zoning & Planning/Zoning
Enforcement Officer $42,500.00
Secretary to Director of Planning/Zoning $26,500.00
(BOTH are new/recent promotions and postions...but no agendas from these ladies....)
This is almost $300,000 A YEAR in salaries...and we can't even get agendas posted?
Welcome to Schodack...where spending more gets you less.
From the list of salaries along with "new" positions shows that Secor's goal is empire building. If she's not voted out, she will continue to add unnecessary positions.
Think about it, The Town Clerk makes almost as much as the supervisor and has not one but two assistants who have a combined salary of $70,000! This shows how spending by this administration is out of control.
And with all the money they make and the assistants they have, they can't even get an agenda out on time! This is just another example of their callous disregard for the you and I, the taxpayers!
Oh yea, Beth said she was going to "set the record straight" after the last election, I haven't heard anything from her, have you? No, instead she went right back to the same old tactics she is known for.
Nov. 09 will be our time!
Hey, I'm already to vote NO, on Tuesday, May 20, 2008! I'm for saving money and my insanity, with these stupid budgets, year after year! What about you? Please jump on the "band-wagon", we have room.
As for Beth S. and all of her co-workers; time's running out. It's ridiculous, all of these unnecessary positions, with these outrageous salaries. Time to impeach, or whatever, to get these freeloaders, off the payroll!!! Just think, why are they getting such big salaries? It seems, like we are paying them to sat on their cans (allias:B----/A----) all day! They can't even get the weekly agenda posted. Now, you tell me...is that what you want in your officials??? Is "this", what we voted them in for!!! They all need to pack up and get the "heck out of Sefcu! Schodack doesn't need your kind, in our town, must let, trying to run our offices!!!!!
Stand up and make your voice heard, by voting...NO on Tuesday, May 20!
Quoting the above post:
"Oh yea, Beth said she was going to "set the record straight" after the last election, I haven't heard anything from her, have you?"
...maybe Beth is going to "set the record straight" after she gets around to posting agendas. ;-)
Regarding Beth's empire building...yes, it's a sure-fire way to increase her vote base.
Ever heard of Tammany Hall? Political machines?
They were hated too...but they made sure they could "squeak by" in elections because they hired more and more people, their buddies, and their second cousins.
People vote to "protect a paycheck." And some people will do almost anything, as shown by the ballot-fixing lawsuit-Dawn Kelly connection. That's pretty disgusting.
Think about it...like a page out of a history books. Our 5th graders, if they read about this, would write an essay about how "wrong" it is to fix an election to keep your job. Sadly, it's pretty recent history here in Schodack.
Beth also gives LOTS of business to excavators, surveyors, and builders....with her "easy come-easy go Planning Board" and numerous re-hab projects in the plush Town Hall. These people will vote for her too.
Some of Beth's projects are OK -- even needed -- but we shouldn't be running into MASSIVE debt to do so.
And, as pointed out, she is doing this to build a secure political base built on debt, nepotism, and cronyism of the worst kind.
SCHODACK SCHOOL BUDGET!!!
Please don't do something as stupid, as voting yes, tomorrow.
Join us, the smart and the NO crowd, by voting a big NO all across the board...like this.....
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!
Now see, don't you feel better and it did'nt hurt a bit, did it!
Just think, by Wednesday, you would have expressed a big relief, in knowing your money is safe from
these crooks, who use our kids, as bait.
It's about time to change Yes to No, after all of these hundreds of years...DON'T YOU THINK!!!
Just checked for the agenda of tonight's Planning Board meeting and it is actually posted as of 4:50 PM the day of the meeting. It could have been posted anytime, since I last checked last week. It is nice to have it. Here it is:
PLANNING BOARD AGENDA - 7:00 p.m., May 19, 2008
Next meeting - June 2, 2008
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVE MINUTES - May 5, 2008
Lot Line Adjustment
Swartz Farm Lot Line 2008-18/R-40/209.-10-17.1
1457 Eleanor Drive
Proposed - Lot Line
SUBDIVISION(s)
Adelphi Manor 2006-36/RA/188.-7-8.111
Jensis Road
Proposed - 3 Lot Subdivision (Changed from 7 Lot subdivision)
7:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING(S)
Pinecrest Estates 2008-11/RA/210.-4-8.122
Robert Kohler
Shufelt Road
Proposed - 5 Lot Subdivision
Thanks for posting the agenda!
Does anyone know why there is this habitual problem getting a simple web page posted? Beth or Nadine ever give a reason? How about Peter Goold?
I see no explanation ever posted on the Town's web site...it'd be good to get some accountability here.
Please post if you know the reason.
OK folks...here it is:
Schodack [School Budget]
Budget $21.6M
Yes 559
No 709
I voted NO.
Board members, if you're reading this...
I am the daughter of 2 teachers. I taught myself. I volunteer to help educational programs.
But I voted NO.
Because...my neighbors have staggering property tax increases....
I voted NO.
Because...spending is out of control in our town.
I voted NO.
Because...my neighbors and I are doing without so we can make ends meet....without big paycheck increases...like some of our Town employees.
I voted NO.
Because...I am not stupid. I know the difference between holding kids "hostage" and looking over a budget carefully to trim extras. The latter does take more time and thought...but that's what we're paying the School Administrators the big bucks for.
I voted NO.
Because...I could not fairly (with a lever) elect the candidate of MY CHOICE last November...
Am I angry? Well, wouldn't you be too?
A few facts and figures:
Schodack was one of only 6 school districts in the entire Capital District to reject a budget.
Schodack's margin -- was the second highest of the entire "reject" votes: 56% of the voters rejected the budget. (Corinth was 59%, the largest margin.)
What does this say?
Schodack voters are pretty fed up, and I don't blame 'em.
While we're on the topic of school....here's a definition:
man·date n.
1. An authoritative command or instruction.
2. A command or an authorization given by a political electorate to its representative.
Schodack voters -- when they can get a LEVER to pull -- sure can give a MANDATE.
And this is directed at you, Beth Secor, and your buddies "Chief" Kelly and your "Secretary" Dawn Kelly. Stop "fixing" our elections with a pack-of-lies lawsuits.
Or, in country-talk...the chickens have come home to roost.
Too bad the little kids will have to do without, since Beth can't keep her spending in check. Hey....we gotta stop the spending somehow, and Beth didn't give us a choice last November.
Because, if we had a LEVER to pull, we sure would have given an even larger MANDATE to get rid of Beth and her crooked buddies.
Schodack resident's voted down the school budget and sent a strong message to school officials, stop the spending and exercise some fiscal restraint! Let's see if they got the message.
The contingency budget is only 1% less than the full budget, that's an insult!
Well, 1% is better than nothing, I guess. Anyway, it's the best we're going to do this year. At least enough people woke up and voted "no" so the original version was defeated. My grandson is in the elementary school and in his class of 17, there are special needs kids. To accomodate the situation, there are no less than 4 teachers/aides (I'm not sure how many of the adults are accredited teachers). I'm quite sure we could do with less adults in a mixed classroom and when the head teacher is out, there's a substitute. This just an example of what I feel is overspending at Schodack. Then there's paying $18,000 for tuition for 2 kids to go to the Tech school. Shouldn't that be treated the same as other kids going to a private school in that the parents should pay, not the taxpayers? Wish we could vote on the town budget!
Regarding the too-late or never agendas...I did find this bit of information....
"2008-031) Appoint Walter Wheeler as Webmaster for salary set forth in the Year 2008 adopted budget."
So we have a Town webmaster with a SALARY?
This is too much...I would almost burst into laughter if it wasn't MY MONEY paying these people.
OK -- so how much does WEBMASTER WHEELER make?
Beth, you've outdone yourself this time, really. The people you manage to hire...amazing.
A MIGHTY BIG THANKS!!!
To everyone of you, in Schodack, who voted NO, to that dumb old unnecessary and very expensive School Budget! What a way to go!!!
The majority spoke and they had to listen, this time didn't they.
Imagine, the nerve of these guys throwing this budget at us, after we got hit head on with these outrageous assessments!
The NO crowd is so proud of you!
Now, we should focus on Beth S. and her so call employees, who are getting big bucks, for doing nothing, from what I am hearing and reading about. The "salaries" and all of those way... way... way too many "positions" are going to need some over-hauling. It seems like it's time to start IMPEACHING & CLEANING HOUSE!!!
Now, that we have the School Budget
on the right track, after too many years, in the waiting, let's get our Town Hall on track!!! All in favor, say..."ride on brother!"
Thanks again, for using your "sense" and keeping your other "$cents!"
Re webmaster salary. Here is a link to the 2008 meeting resolutions that established 2008 salaries. Webmaster isn't listed for some reason. Salaries are always established at one of the December meetings.
http://www.schodack.org/docs/2007res.htm#dec
BD
I checked the link for the salary listing and lo and behold, no mention of a "webmaster" salary!
This is just another example of the gross misconduct that proliferates this administration.
Maybe Donna Conlin, the "Town Clerk" who has not 1 but 2 "deputies" that have a combined salary of $120,000 a yr. why they can't post agendas on time if at all, and enlighten us on the missing salary of the "webmaster" position?
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a response!
Now with the exhorbitant school budget voted down, school officials will say the only things that can be cut are sports, music, art, etc. All the things that will affect students but they will continue to collect their hefty checks!
BUDGET CUTS!!!
In regard to the post, about what cuts to be made, within the school budget. Again you bullies, leave the kids out of this. Take your cuts, with those huge salaries, that you are already getting.
Start paying for your own pensions and health insurance, like everybody else does!
Now, let's see what we can do about this WEB-MASTER salary!!! They keep doing the dumbest things. Might as well burn our tax payers' money, than to come up, with these ridiculous positions!
Ok -- it looks like we've got to figure this out ourselves....
1) The Town has a Webmaster with a salary (2008 resolution).
2) There is no record of his salary in public documents.
3) Agendas, etc. are never posted, incorrectly posted, or are very, very late.
How much does our town "Webmaster" make, and why does he not do his job? And keep in mind, since he has a salary, he also has BENEFITS.
Time for a FOIL request, anyone?
Walter Wheeler is a member of the South Schodack Fire Department.
I'd like to know his academic background in web design, and his salary too.
I have great respect for volunteer firefighters, but not for people who collect my tax dollars and do little-to-nothing for their paycheck.
It's important to note...this situation does NOT reflect on the entire South Schodack FD, since I recognize they are not responsible for Mr. Wheeler's poor work as a webmaster.
However, Mr. Wheeler -- it's time to explain what's going on here. You have not been doing your job. You need to be held accountable, just like all of us, who have to work hard to justify our pay.
And again, I want to state very clearly, this is NOT an attack on the SSFD.
There is something odd going on here with our Webmaster Wheeler.
He retires, then is re-hired?
"2007-114)Accept notice of retirement of Walter Wheeler, Web-master. Last date of work is to be February 27, 2007."
"2007-115)Appoint Walter Wheeler as Web-master effective March 1, pursuant to Year 2007 adopted budget."
Could someone explain? Is he drawing retirement benefits AND a salary? And why do we have a webmaster who does not do his job? There have been consistent problems with getting the agendas posted for several months now.
For the second time in my life, I am REALLY PROUD of the people of Schodack...this is meant to be funny. And this is because I have only been paying keen attention since last fall. (Your performance in the last general election was quite impressive also, btw.)
Given that our school budget was slated to give us the largest percentage tax increase in the three county area that includes Albany, Saratoga and Rensselaer (source Times Union Online), I am more than a little pleased that people came out to vote it down. Indeed, I thought it would pass after witnessing the spectacle and when it didn't it gave me the same feeling of elation as the Giant's superbowl win.
Thank You: You are GREAT, just simply AWESOME. I am so happy that we live here for so many reasons...
My husband and I were moved to go vote, given the increase in taxes we are already facing with the reassessment, aside from the increase for the town and school.
Some observations from the school budget experience:
1. Is it really fair for the vote to be held at the school? I think not; this really stacks the deck in favor of the school/tax hike. The vote should be held in a more neutral location, say our regular poling place, where it isn't completely convenient for those in favor to participate versus those who are not.
2. I don't think it is very reasonable for the school to hold big picnics and parties at the school on the night of the vote. This is equivalent to electioneering (maybe that is spelled incorrectly) = the candidate campaigning at the voting sight and it is illegal in a regular election. Again, this gets the parents to the school to skew the vote. Should you have to go to Beth Secor's house to vote for/against her in the next election?
3. This one really kills me. With a $21 million plus budget up for vote, the "honor system" is used to determine who is able to vote. You've got to be kidding me! Is this a lesson in democracy in action for the children? Surely the Maple Hill School district is able to get a list of eligible voters to track who should be participating. I.e., the list of fine folks like yourself who were just sent a notice of a huge tax increase would do the trick. Obviously, this list could be reproduced at a very low cost.
4. Finally, the contingency budget is far too big. How about a contingency budget with zero increase? If the new budget doesn't pass, live within the last budget that did. This seems much more reasonable to me.
I am not going to comment on the merits - or lack of is probably a better way of putting it - of the school budget at this time, the post would be too long. It arguably already is. Maybe another day. But with spending slated at an astronomical $19k plus per student, well...
Finally, I have been looking at our town budget. I really wonder what the town is spending all this money on? Looks like salaries and sewar districts...what are we getting? For example, we have no: streetlights, sidewalks, public water, garbage pick-up. Where is all this money spent?
I have one issue right now in the town budget that I would like to bring to your attention. In 2007, schodack spent $890,056.57 for police. In 2008, $1,013,049.12 was approved, an increase of more than 10 percent! Do we need this? How does this compare with other towns? Is it reasonable, necessary, legitimate?
Thank you for keeping up this blog for all our benefit. Happy Memorial Day.
What does a future without cheap oil mean for towns like ours?
Free and open to the public.
Join us for "Planning for the Long Emergency" a presentation by author James Howard Kunstler.
This event will be start at 7:00 pm on Weds, May 28th, and be held in the auditorium of Maple Hill High School. Q&A will follow.
The evening is organized by the Schodack Area Land Trust and the Schodack Planning & Development Associations.
Please share this announcement end a copied version of it on to others who it may interest.
Please register for this event by sending an e-mail to Schodacks_Future@yahoo.com
(put May 28 in the subject line) or call Christine or Steve at 732-1213. Thank you!
For more on the Schodack Planning & Development Association, visit their blog at www.schodacksfuture.blogspot.com.
About James Howard Kunstler, who lives in Saratoga Springs: His non-fiction book, The Long Emergency, published by the Atlantic Monthly Press in 2005, is about the challenges posed by the coming permanent global oil crisis, climate change, and other "converging catastrophes of the 21st Century."
World Made by Hand is his latest work, a novel of the Long Emergency set in upstate New York in the not distant future, published by The Atlantic Monthly Press. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times Sunday Magazine and Op-Ed page, where he has written on environmental and economic issues.
Mr. Kunstler says he wrote his book The Geography of Nowhere, "Because I believe a lot of people share my feelings about the tragic landscape of highway strips, parking lots, housing tracts, mega-malls, junked cities, and ravaged countryside that makes up the everyday environment where most Americans live and work." Home From Nowhere was a continuation of that discussion with an emphasis on the remedies. A portion of it appeared as the cover story in the September 1996 Atlantic Monthly. His next book in the series, The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition, published by Simon & Schuster / Free Press, is a look a wide-ranging look at cities here and abroad, an inquiry into what makes them great (or miserable), and in particular what America is going to do with it's mutilated cities.
Mr. Kunstler was born in New York City in 1948. He moved to the Long Island suburbs in 1954 and returned to the city in 1957 where he spent most of his childhood. He graduated from the State Univerity of New York, Brockport campus, worked as a reporter and feature writer for a number of newspapers, and finally as a staff writer for Rolling Stone Magazine. In 1975, he dropped out to write books on a full-time basis. He has no formal training in architecture or the related design fields. He has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT, RPI, the University of Virginia and many other colleges, and he has appeared before many professional organizations such as the AIA , the APA., and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For more on Mr. Kunstler, visit his website: www.kunstler.com
The above post raises many thoughtful points.
Elections in Schodack have not been entirely fair.
1) Our general election featured a nepotism-fueled lawsuit, so that we had no choice but to use the write-in method.
2) An election to determine a major purchase for the Schodack Valley FD was scarcely publicized (with a 3 hour window of opportunity to vote). Yet, somehow, the phone banks were worked to ensure FD "supporters" knew to come, while the FD neglected to post a notice on their very own sign. Phone calls asking for information were left unanswered.
3) School votes by location and timing favor those with the greatest interest in ensuring a budget is passed (teachers, parents).
Another point -- despite an exponential increase in staff, our Town neglects to use the low-cost (and environmentally friendly) website to post information on meetings.
We have a Webmaster with an unknown salary (and benefits?), yet, no reason is given for the late, incorrect, or never-posted agendas and minutes.
Reminder - event at Maple Hill High School tonight - May 28th
Planning for the Long Emergency - an evening with James Howard Kunstler
Nationally-recognized author James Howard Kunstler will visit Schodack for an evening discussing how towns like ours may be shaped by an end to cheap oil and expected climate change.
Date and time: 7:00 pm on Weds, May 28th
Location: Auditorium of Maple Hill High School, Maple Hill Road, Schodack. (directions appear below)
Program: Mr. Kunstler will give a presentation, followed by a Q&A session. Blackwood & Brouwer Booksellers of Kinderhook will have copies of Mr. Kunstler's books for sale.
Mr. Kunstler has been writing about sprawl and town design for more than 10 years, and his latest non-fiction book "Planning for the Long Emergency" delves into the potential crisis in world fossil fuel demand and climate change. His newest novel explores the future of an upstate NY town in this context. (A brief biography is available below).
The evening is organized by the Schodack Area Land Trust and the Schodack Planning & Development Association.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged by sending an e-mail to Schodacks_Future@yahoo.com.
Here's a report from the Times Union on Kunstler's appearance on the Colbert Report.
A crude conversation
First published: Sunday, May 11, 2008
Anyone concerned about rising gas prices couldn't have been by James Kunstler's appearance on The Colbert Report, the joke news show on Comedy Central.
Kunstler is the Saratoga Springs author initially made famous for his criticism of modern design and faceless suburbia. Lately, he has been warning that suburbia -- along with life as we know it -- is doomed by dwindling oil supplies.
On the show, Kunstler, unlike some guests, understood that the program is supposed to be funny, and he played along. But he made his points, suggesting that American icons such as Disney World, Wal-Mart and the interstate highway system are unsustainable because of the energy usage they require.
Colbert, of course, pretended to be flabbergasted.
"What oil dilemma?" he asked. "I go to the gas station, I pay money, they put gas in my car. What's the dilemma? Kunstler's reply: "You're probably one of those people who thinks the world has a creamy nougat center of oil. But it doesn't."
Elections in Schodack are like those in 3rd World Countries. Not a semblance of fairness. They are used to facilitate entrenched local interests without regard to their impact on the whole tax paying population of Schodack.
To gain some equity, maybe we could get the UN and Jimmy Carter to come in and monitor our elections.
I have yet to learn the actual vote in Schodack Valley Fire District. That vote seemed especilly rigged, hidden, and unfair. What were the results? Why is it so hard to find what happened in that vote?
Shouldn't such results be posted on the Town Website within hours of their being counted?
If you would, please explain this:
1) Our general election featured a nepotism-fueled lawsuit, so that we had no choice but to use the write-in method.
Why are you so proud of voting down the school budgey Do you know if it was reasonable? Please, and I ask respectfully please stop the personal attracks. And if you want to point to the private sector please point to Enron, Worldcom, and the oil companies for people who do not rip us off.
Draft as of May 31, 2008; subject to change
PLANNING BOARD AGENDA - 7:00 p.m., June 2, 2008
Next meeting - June 16, 2008
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVE MINUTES - May 5, 2008
Goold Orchard Festival - Directional Signage
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ZBA
Charles Amento Z666-08/R-20/210.3-1-51
23 Lakeside Drive
Proposed - Side yard set back and 10% coverage
Peter VanAlstyne Z667-08/RA/226.-1-3
592 Muitzeskill
Proposed - foundation setback location
SUBDIVISION(s)
Shelly Clarke and Anthony DeFrancesco 2008-19/RA/179.-5-16
Morris Road
Proposed - 4 Lot Subdivision
Pinecrest Estates 2008-11/RA/210.-4-8.122
Robert Kohler
Shufelt Road
Proposed - 5 Lot Subdivision
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Brian Hart 2007-27/HC/178.9-2-2
1525 Columbia Tpke.
Proposed - Motor Vehicle Service
Adelphi Manor 2006-36/RA/188.-7-8.111
Jensis Road
Proposed - 3 Lot Subdivision (Changed from 7 Lot subdivision)
Pursuant to the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Public Law 101-336), the Town of Schodack will provide auxiliary aids or special services for persons with disabilities. Please notify the Town Clerk's Office at 477-7590 so arrangements can be made for requested services.
Please forward written comments to: Nadine Fuda, Director, Planning & Zoning, Schodack Town Hall,265 Schuurman Road, Castleton, NY 12033-9622, Nadine.fuda@schodack.org Telephone: 518-477-7938, Fax: 518-477-7983
Peter G. Goold, Chairman Denise Mayrer, Vice Chairperson G. Jeffrey Haber Wayne Johnson
Sylvester Kedzierski Paul Puccio John LaVoie Attorney: Tim Nugent, Esq.
Schodack:Planning Board:Draft Agenda for 2 Jun- 2008
Latest Update: 31 May 08
URL: http://www.schodack.org/docs/pb_draft.htm
Anyone want to place any bets as to which day or hour this week that the agenda for the Town Board Meeting on Thursday night at 7pm will be posted??? or not posted at all???
Just a note that the webmaster for the voice of schodack website has been sick for a while. This is why not as much updating has been done lately. Seen him at the hospital last night his surgery went great and all he wants to do is talk Schodack politics. Will be home end of this week with about 4-6 weeks of recovery time which I am sure will be working website.
Thanks
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
There once was a chance to vote,
We really thought, it wouldn't be forced down our throat.
The SCHODACK SCHOOL BUDGET was placed before us,
This time the "NO VOTE" was a must.
Yes, my friends the yes vote always won out,
For the past twenty something years, without a doubt.
We, the NO ones seem to be the only ones with Sense,
While the yes ones must have all of the other $$Cents$$.
How can anyone consider such an approval,
At a time like this, when everything's in such an upheaval.
From the top of our government, way up,
They're really sticking it up our bu--.
And now, with our own local rule,
They're becoming just as selfish and cruel.
We, the people voted that budget down,
A big statement was made...simply NO...we're tired of being pushed around!
So, why in the world, should we have to vote again,
WE won fair and square didn't we, my friend!
In all of those years, in the past,
When the yes vote won out, no other vote or questions were asked!
That is what's wrong today,
We, the people can't voice our say.
The thing, that is really making people wonder,
Why "VOTE", in the first place, if when "YOUR VOTE" wins, it means nothing and is cast under.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say,
Please mark June 17, on your calendar, as an important day.
Whatever you do, don't forget to vote,
Let's once again, voice what we voted the first time, by craming the "NO" vote, back down their throat!
They need to learn, that when we, the people vote all of these NO's,
We mean it, we won it, so get over it and let it go!
In regard to the above post, I guess I will be voting NO! I don't have much $$$$, after all of this ridiculous and out of control spending, our officials from Washington to New York have imposed upon all of us! However, I have plenty of sense to see, what's going on and to voice, as I mentioned...NO NO NO and a final NO, on JUNE 17!!! Please join me and let's do the "right thing", to turn this mess, we are all in, around! I see that the CONTINGENCY BUDGET will still be cheaper, in the long run, than the revised budget! You have the SENSE, so please have the SMARTS, to go and "vote NO"!
VOTE NO
With regard to the article in THE INDEPENDENT, about a re-do of the budget and the effect on Daycare.
This is NOT our problem, it is totally yours!!! We're in enough of a disater, without trying to figure out where and how to pay for "your kids" care. No one was around, when alot of us had our kids. We had to do it on our own
and with our own money. So, as far as I, along with many many other parents are concerned don't have all of these kids, unless "you" are prepared to "daycare", in your own way and your own money!!!
VOTE
JUNE 17
NO
NO
NO
NO
&
NO
NO
NO
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M CONVINCED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND GUESS WHAT........
THE BIG "NO" WORKS FOR ME. THANKS!
Hey, add on another NO voter to the list. I'ld rather be smart and keep my head above water, than be "dumb" and lose more money,
voting yes, on that dam- budget!!!
I'm sick of all of this crap and of all of our officials, from WASHINGTON to N.Y., heck all over God's tarnations.
What's wrong with everybody, these days??? Is it something in the water, something we ate, or maybe it's the air, we breathe. It must be polluted, like all of our officials, from GB to BS.
Here's a definition of nepotism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism
Sadly, making decisions based on this principle seems to be the norm, rather than rare exception in Schodack politics.
I agree with one of the above posts...if we changed the description of our recent election to a "Banana Republic" or "Third-World Nation" we might get funding from the UN to have Jimmy Carter come in and monitor elections.
If our students were reading about what goes on here, but change the time and location to the American colonies before 1776 -- they would write an essay on corruption and the importance of free elections.
That being said, the fact the Beth had to hang on by a hair in a WRITE-IN election...well, it doesn't take a PhD in political science to know what the "will of the people" was.
I wish we knew the official results of the SVFD election too.
I see we get another chance to vote on the school budget -- I wondered how much this re-vote is going to cost?
And if we can afford re-vote for the school, why not the general election? Ray offered to pay half, as I recall.
I guess you get "do-overs" not only on the playground, but also at the ballot box when the powers-that-be are not happy.
Hope the VOS webmaster is better.
How about the official Town webmaster? Is he ill? If so, no personal attack is meant on him, but they do need to get the work done at the Town Hall.
Enjoy this hot summer day, everyone.
Above I posted about the size of the police department budget and no person was able to offer comment...I can't seem to find any hard data online either comparing this to other towns. I think comparing what our town spends/what we get overall to other towns is a good first step in indentifying the issues. This is a logical, straightforward way to provide a meaninful basis for identifying excesses and proposing changes. Bonus: it does appear that the people of schodack respond to the facts of the matter. Any ideas on how best to accomplish this?
Another little mentioned fact about our tax rates - higher taxes than the surrounding towns eat your property value. You not only have the burden of paying relatively higher taxes, in addition your house is relatively less attractive to potential buyers. So the higher tax rates hit you a second time by reducing the value of your house/equity.
For example, I have a friend that recently bought a house in Rensslelaer county. (about a year ago) To paraphrase, "I liked the house and the area and could afford the asking price, but there was just no way I could pay the taxes." He bought a house in Averill Park instead.
Thus, to sell an equivalent house in a competitive market, the asking price in Schodack would have to be lower to compensate for the higher taxes. This is essentially a transfer of your wealth to the town.
REMEMBER JUNE 17 {Tuesday}
Remember to save your WALLET, by casting your NO Vote, on this day!
Remember to save your INSANITY, by
casting your NO Vote, on this day!
Remember to save your HOME, by casting your NO Vote, on this day!
Remember to save your VOTING PRIVILEGE, by casting your NO Vote, on this day!
In other words just vote NO!!!!!!!
Regarding the post about obtaining figures for police expenditures:
You would file a FOIL request through the Town Clerk (Donna Conlin). They are obligated by State and Federal Law to provide you with the information.
http://www.schodack.org/clerk.htm
You will find information on this page on how to file a request.
Regarding the comment about "personal attacks" on this site, please read the First Amendment of the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The comments on this site ask for information about public salaries for Town employees, public agendas, public votes, public budgets, public meetings, etc.
They do not comment on the haircuts of Town employees, their pets, or their hobbies. Those, of course, would be personal attacks.
When someone holds a public position (like our Town Webmaster) they need to be held accountable to the people.
As US citizens, we have a Constitutionally protected right to seek "redress of grievances" from our Government.
I wanted to let everyone know what I received the other day. I got my hands on the depositions of Tim Nugent and Beth Secor from the law suit that has been filed against them. In line with all these posts out here about how this town government is unfair, you should read these depositions. No wonder this town is in the state it is in.
I posted a while ago, I am in the legal profession, and have connections. These connections got me a copy of these documents. When and if this case gets to trial, it is going to be a bloodbath! The lies out of Secor and Nugent’s mouths is staggering.
I see that the original SBA web site is now posted for everyone to see. In these depositions, Nugent says that there were issues with the way the membership database was alphabetized. After looking at the posted site, I don’t see any. Everyone can go to it and brows; It’s posted at http://www.phoenixdesignstudio.com/sba Nugent doesn’t even know how his own business runs in these depositions. There is a lot of “well I see to recall a rumor” and “I don’t remember” and “I don’t know” coming from Nugent.
Secor, well you could have a field day with the garbage she spouted off in these things. She was asked a number of questions and her answers were all focused on trying to make Mr. Cartwright look like he was the guilty one. That goes for both of them. They lied about everything from what I am reading.
At this point, I am researching what will happen if I let these depositions go public. I would like them posted for everyone to see what kind of scum we have leading this town. I know if anyone who is part of the law suit lets them leak, then they will be in trouble, BUT I am not part of the law suit, I am in this county’s legal system, and happen to know some people who got it in their hands. It is humorous reading around the water cooler to say the least. It has gotten to the point where everyone is making quotes from them in the office when we want to pass the buck.
I said it before, this case filed against them, could be what we are all looking for to get this woman and her pals out of our hair. I will be posting again… and I hope to post the whole depositions in their entirety. You will all get a good laugh that is for sure.
I am sorry to learn that the VOS Webmaster was not doing well with his health. Hopefully, he is now on the road to full recovery and will be back maintaining this crucial link for democracy and communication in our community. We really, really need him and this website.
Meanwhile, the town's webmaster continues to be blamed for the lack of posted agendas for the Town Board and, at times, the other Town Boards, like Planning and ZBA. However, how do we know that it is always the town webmaster who is to blame, rather than higher ups, who are to blame. Could the webmaster be a convenient silent scapegoat for the failings above them? Maybe they are paid to be the scapegoat, as much as they are paid to maintain the website.
I have noticed it is much more likely to have a Planning Board agenda posted on time and days ahead of its meetings, than it is to have the Town Board posted on time or at all.
Here it is, 9:30 on the wednesday morning before tomorrow's Thursday 7PM meeting of the Town Board, and once again, no agenda can be found for that meeting on the Town Website.
We are told by Supervisor Secor, that agendas and informational packets are prepared for and ready for the Town Board members by sometime on the the Friday before the Thursday meetings. Wouldn't you think they would be electronically sending the agenda to the webmaster at the same time?
If, indeed, the agenda it made 6 days ahead of time, what can possibly be keeping it from being posted on the website 5or 6 days ahead, too? Or at least by Monday evening before any meeting,if the Town Board needed time to preview it???
Earlier this week, I had occasion to visit the Kinderhook website and attend its Town Board Meeting. They did have their agenda posted ahead of the meeting. I called Kinderhook to check an agenda item and they were very helpful.
I attended their Town Board meeting and was impressed on first look with how much more open and civil it was run, as well as, how democratic it seemed to be to its town folk who spoke with and interacted with its Board.
Comparatively, Schodack Town Board meetings seem stale, somewhat toxic, grudging, an exercise in futility, a farce, a wall against its citizens, and have the warmth of a cold spaghetti noodle. It is nice to see that democracy seems alive and well, and thriving in a neighboring town.
Helpfully, one day in the coming years, Schodack, too, will return to democratic health and community well being.
JUNE 17, 2008 Budget Vote SCHODACK
Please remember to vote.
Save time and money at the same time, by voting NO NO NO !!!
to mike cartwright-keep your babling nonsense off this site-this site is for sain logical normal people. not for your personal attacks. you fought the law and the law won. nice song !
Well, I'm at least glad the Planning Department got this Monday's agenda up (although the link is currently incorrect).
Also -- remember -- Tuesday is the school budget re-vote. I see they cut funding for staffing a rock climbing wall.
Now one would think with a Town Park there are plenty of opportunities for hiking around here, but, hey, I guess Schodack's newest country club is called "Maple Hill HS."
The Independent features an editorial critiquing Schodack's school budget:
"The region and the nation face a rocky economic future, and we're not convinced this budget reflects the times."
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19771532&BRD=248&PAG=461&dept_id=505345&rfi=6
I agree: sometimes making sensible budget cuts means thinking creatively.
Given the massive personal debt crisis in this country, and rising fuel and food prices, aren't we responsible for raising a generation of students who can do a lot with a little, rather than do little with a lot?
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT
It's pretty sad, to have to go and vote on the Schodack school budget again!!!
I read in The Advertiser, how AVERILL PARK graciously accepted the Contingency Budget, that the community "voted down". They should be so lucky to have that type of a "school board".
I'm ashamed of our Schodack school board!!! They're nothing but hungry and crooked vulgars, waking
for us to topple, with these high taxes hitting us, all of the time.
Too bad, they're not as caring!!!
They don't deserve us good people and we certainly don't derserve their kind!!!
Another thing, with this "daycare"
situation. Why in the world should we be responsible for your kids! As mentioned in a previous post, we did for us kids, so bite the bullet and pay the price for your own services, at the Castleton's B/G Club!!!
I see at the figures, the Contingency Budget is still cheaper
in the long run. Don't let them scare you about cutting the students' this and that. That's nothing more, as everybody knows, by now is "their own scare tactic"!!!
Be smart and take back "our vote", by voting no "again", on Tuesday, June 17, 2008!!!
You'll be glad, you did!!!
Regarding the June 14th post “Make your vote count” against the school budget, try using some reason instead of name calling. I too voted against the budget because a message needed to be sent but I also know some of the School Board members. They are pillars of the community and you won’t find more honest dedicated people anywhere. I think most of the Board members do the best they can with the options available to them. Keep in mind that only about 5% of the total budget the local School Board has real control over. The other 95% of the budget goes to pay for State and Federal mandates that they have no control over. I join in your anger about the cost of school budgets and how education programs are paid for but let’s not take it out on honest people who volunteer their time and efforts to work for the community. The “no child left behind” boondoggle and some of the crazy special Ed requirements are why school budgets are so high. Administrative cost is also to blame along with salaries associated with any school. I don’t have a major problem with the salaries teachers make but I do have a problem with the number of days worked. There are too many vacations, holiday’s, conference days etc. for the salaries earned. More class time or lower salaries are in order but I doubt we will see that in my life time.
The Independent editorial points out a very important issue about the Schodack School budget, the proposed cuts of approx. $300,000 is a mere pittance of the $21,000,000 budget! Even more importantly, spending in this budget will rise 7%! How much will that be in actual dollars, we really don't know.
In summary, they made token cuts that don't amount to much and the budget still includes a 7% spending increase over last year!
They did not even cut one of the three new buses out of the budget!
I'm still voting NO! Let them run on the contingency budget for a year, no child will be harmed because of it!
Well, the Schodack school budget passed -- by a margin of 8 votes.
Here's the numbers:
Schodack budget: Yes 617 No 609
Schodack bus proposition: Yes 555 No 661
That's the smallest "win" in the entire Captital District school budget re-vote. And the school bus proposal was voted down by a hefty margin.
I hope the School Board will remember that this is hardly a "mandate to spend" from the people of Schodack.
We have a heavy tax burden in this town with the recent reassessment, rising gas prices that affect rural communities like ours greatly, and of course, rising food prices. And we have an ever-increasing Town debt, with Secor's reckless spending.
I am sure our children will wonder at our actions when they inherit our debt. Quite a legacy to pass on to our children, indeed.
Well, the budget passed by removing a paltry $300,000, however the spending in the original budget will not be affected. I'm glad the proposition for purchasing 3 new buses was voted down, I'm sure it won't affect student grades one bit.
Why don't voters have to show a valid driver's license in order to vote in school budget elections? Anybody from any place could show up and just sign in and vote. Are all school budget elections run like this?
Something new coming to Schodack....
SCHODACK--The Hudson Mo-hawk Recovery Center has proposed a 20-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation house for youths. The rehab would replace the center on First Street in Troy.
A sketch plan was submitted to the planning board by Hart Engineering, during a meeting earlier this month.
Plans call for the building to be located on Route 9, north of Birchen Bend about 1.5 miles from the Routes 9/20 split.
Property owner Donald Hart owns the 38 acres for which the 10,000 square foot rehab is proposed.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19798425&BRD=248&PAG=461&dept_id=462341&rfi=6
There's also an interesting article by Elizabeth Gable.
She finds via a FOIL request that the old Town Hall cost about $550 a month in utilities. The new Town Hall...? About $5,059 a month.
She asks, rightly, "What can we do to mitigate some of the astronomical costs of staying there, which, by the way, are only going to go up, and fast?"
Thank you, Elizabeth Gable, for finding out this information!
With high taxes, high re-assessments, and high gas prices, Ms. Secor's choice to move was an expensive decision that we voters had no choice in making. Living in Schodack sure is getting expensive...of course, it all helps if you get a huge raise.
Oh, that's right, only Beth's Town Hall buddies get those (and remember, we pay for those raises with our tax dollars).
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19798456&BRD=248&PAG=461&dept_id=505345&rfi=6
Hmmm, 38 acres for a 10,000 sq. ft. bldg? That tells me they already have plans for expansion!
Bringing the addicts from downtown Troy to Schodack is not a good idea. Troy has plenty of suitable buildings for this purpose. Schodack residents should strongly oppose this.
Looks like the new town hall is costing about 10 times as much per month for utilities. Funny that Secor was using the "high costs" of maintaining the old town hall as one of the reasons for buying the SEFCU bldg!
Let's not forget the $500,000 in "improvements" that were made to the SEFCU bldg. during the "lease" which residents had no say in. Only after the money was spent did Secor propose "buying the bldg. and allowing input from residents. This is a blatant abuse of authority by Secor and a violation of her oath of office. She has done nothing to deserve continuing in the supervisor position!
Put the addicts on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the new town hall!
If I am not mistaken, this 38 acres comes off of the tax rolls, too, as the Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center is a not-for-profit, right?
Expect this project to get green lighted and fast tracked due to the cast of characters involved.
According to the article, the residents of the re-hab facility will come from all over the state.
They will be high-school age, apparently.
Will they attend Maple Hill HS, or be tutored by Schodack teachers?
The applicant describes the area as wilderness, but to us, this is where our children live, and we bike, walk, and jog.
I don't want to say that that there is "no hope" for addicts, but, it seems that if the residents require in-house treatment, they must have fairly serious addictions, and, as we know, relapse is frequent.
I am not sure if a rural area, a short bike ride from a truck stop and our schools is the best choice for this program.
A hearing is set for August 4. I would like to learn more.
Oh, and isn't there a daycare going in around that area too? Or is that elsewhere on Rt 9?
Somehow, this doesn't seem like very good planning...
That's a good point...I thought that the "motto" of Beth Secor's administration was - bring tax-paying business to Schodack! They can hardly wait to turn Rt 9 into a commercial center, despite residents concerns, and in one case, a lawsuit.
Also, how great is the need for drug addiction services in our area? How does this compare to the need in downtown Troy?
How will the families of these patients get there if they are low income? There is no bus service to that area.
If they stayed in Troy they would have ample public transportation.
An earlier post mentioned that these rehab clients would come from all over the state, that is very unsettling.
If true, clients would be coming from NYC and other large metropolitan areas in the state bringing some of the most unsavory people to Schodack.
This goes much deeper than just Troy, it seems like it is being pushed at the state level. Just the fact that they are buying 38 acres is an indication of plans for a much larger facility in the future.
Remember, this type of project is always sold to residents of the area as "small scale" to gain approval, then once approved they show their true intent. We need to be very diligent on this issue to insure it does not pass!
Here are some quotes from the article:
"We were looking for a better place to relocate these kids; someplace not so urban...One reason we picked Schodack is because of its rural nature. We'd like to put in hiking trails and ball fields and let the kids be kids."
Hmm, but I thought Beth Secor and her Planning people want to turn Schodack into a suburban community: daycare, strip malls, more housing developments, the works.
Seems like Schodack is valued for its rural character only by newcomers. The rest of us, wanting to preserve farmlands and woods -- well, our voices don't count (but they could sure use the tax dollars).
I think it is great that young people who have problems are given a second chance. However, the newspaper article says they have a 45% success rate at the re-hab facility. So, for 20 beds, about 10 or 11 of them will continue to use drugs.
Where will the youths go? I don't think a lot of teenagers will be just satisfied with hiking in the woods all day. Will they walk to the Cumberland farms on Rt 9 for socialization? Or stop by the ice cream stand at 9&20? How will public transportation be provided? Will they attend Maple Hill HS?
If the center is a not-for-profit, then Schodack gains no tax dollars from it. Who pays for the busing, the police, ambulance?
I hope these issues are thought out carefully before approval.
The heat and utility cost for the new Town hall as described in Ms. Gable’s column are enlightening though hardly surprising. Many of us were aware of the high cost to provide HVAC service, general maintenance, and grounds keeping to the site long before Beth and her board sucked us into paying for this boondoggle. Many of us who went to TB meetings questioned her at length regarding how much more it was going to cost for operation and maintenance of the SEFCU building. She stated it wouldn’t cost any more then maintaining the old building. She lied, not a big surprise there either. In addition to the high utilities cost there is also the cost required to maintain the elevator, the diesel generator, the fire suppressions system for the little computer room which probably isn’t even needed, more involved plumbing system for a multistoried building (still 1/3 empty), maintenance on the HVAC system, plus all the upgrades the Town paid for to the tune of over a half million dollars. All these cost were predictable and known. Anyone who read a local paper when the Natoli administration looked into the building knew of the high costs even at the old energy cost rates (imagine what they going to be next year). That and Angie, our Park manager/water department head used to be the head mechanic for SEFCU for that building and he knew of all the issues with it. Hell, a lot of us knew but Beth claimed she knew better in spite of many of us trying to convince her otherwise. Now we have this huge drain on our taxes to pay for over the next who knows how many years. We’re still waiting for that big sale of the old town building/property two years after we were told it would be sold quickly. Remember that was gong to offset the purchase and remodeling expense. Another Beth prediction down the tubes.
Did we need a different facility to serve as Town hall? Yes, we probably did but it would have been smarter to build an appropriate size energy efficient building on land we already owned. Not move into someone else’s mistake (as a 29 year member of SEFCU I’ve watched their Real Property unit make a bunch of mistakes. Why do you think they moved out just to build a new branch a mile down the road just a year later!!!!!) Not only are we paying exorbitant cost for Beth’s new castle, we took a valuable piece of property off the tax roles. As they say in the Guinness commercial – BRILLENT!
It's 3:45 the afternoon of tonights meeting and there is no agenda posted. Big surprise. Wonder if the Town Board members got a copy yet or will they see it for the first time at 7PM?
Just visited the Town Website at 5:36 pm on the night of the June 26th meeting. Posted was as follows:
Town Board Latest Update: 18 June 08
WHEN AVAILABLE, Draft Agenda for Town Board Meeting, June 26
So, once again, the citizens have no webpage notice of what the Town Board will be up to for its hearing(s) and meeting, tonight.
The last meeting was a mess. If anyone reading this gets water from the Village of Castleton, you better be watching your wallets. A move by the Town to activate Water District 7 would be from that new Town Water District to assume those 188 households, outside of the village, who now get village water.
How much will this cost you? Maybe, $10,000 over the course of a twenty year period. Why? You had better stay on top of this effort to find out. They noticed a hearing on it for two weeks, ago. However, a technical error kept the hearing from happening. If it had, this would be in motion.
This would affect Castleton water customers in the village, since they would lose those customers outside the village who pay much more than they do, to support the Castleton Water System.
For the 188 households outside the village, a lot will change. You are likely to be hit with substantial fees and brought into baring the burden of supporting areas of town which now have poor water pressure or quality.
You need to be watching this, over the next few weeks. Or, you may find it is a done deal without input from you.
Hmmm, no agenda again, but I'll bet they make sure all those fat paychecks they get are always done on time!
It's 11:05 pm and there still is no agenda on the website. Maybe they forgot there was a meeting tonight.... Maybe we saved some money!
Why do we have a Town Webmaster with a salary if our town website is slowly, incorrectly, or never updated?
What is the Town's Webmaster's salary? It was not included with the annual salary report, although his name is listed in the various town resolutions.
Also -- have you read some of the minutes? The Planning Board's minutes are rife with mispellings, and there is scarcely a sentence with the correct use of a verb. They even get Ray Lemka's name wrong!
Looks like I'll have to give the Planning Department one of my "Ray Lemka for Supervisor" signs to remind them.
Maybe to some, poorly-written minutes are not important in the larger scheme of things, but why are my taxes raised to pay Nadine Fuda and her assistant for poor-quality, inaccurate work?
I don't like seeing my tax dollars used for sloppy work.
Zimbabwe had an election today that reminded me of Schodack's last election, the dictatorial administration of Robert Mugabe kept all opponents off the ballot so Mugabe could run unopposed!
REGARD TO: ZIMBABWE ELECTION
After reading the blog, on the above election, it really does sound like what we have! I say down with them all, from the top of
Washington to Schodack! We're being all taken for a ride, on the road to "destruction"! It's a total disgrace. Our "forefathers" must be rolling over in their graves! I would say "GOD HELP US", but it's getting to where you can't even use that three letter word anymore and you know what...
I'm about ready to use alot of these four letter words!!!
It ain't gonna be so nice!!!
VLAD
Here's a little gem from a recent Town Board meeting:
"2008-252)Authorize Supervisor Secor to execute a change to the list price of the Real Estate Listing Agreement with Prudential Realty for the sale of town-owned property located at 1777 Columbia Turnpike, Schodack, New York, reducing said list price to $1,100,000."
Hmmm... I thought that land was supposed to sell really, really fast, and pay for the new Town Hall?
I too was sad to note the similarities between the election in Zimbabwe and our botched, corrupted election process in Schodack.
I wonder what the founders of our country would think of our situation here? Pretty sad, isn't it.
However, on a good note, at least we have freedom of speech.
I imiagine Beth Secor and some of her Town Hall buddies don't appreciate that some of us like to keep an eye on the comings and goings over there.
But a well-watched government is a well-run government.
Enjoy the fireflies, fireworks, and all that makes the 4th of July special, everyone. Here's to Freedom of Speech in Schodack!
Who would want the old town hall, they didn't maintain it when they were in it and the longer it is empty the worse it will get!
MAKE YOUR MOVE
In regard to the blog about the "Old Town Hall", Beth and all of those clowns should be forced back to that one place, from which they came...the "OLD TOWN HALL"!
They have lied so much, they wouldn't know the truth of what's what, even if it bit them on their butts!!! IMPEACHMENT is sounding very appealing, right now, so what's the hold up, people of Schodack...time to clean house!!!
It's about time for a real revolution...don't you people think? All the way from top government to the very bottom. If it doesn't happen soon, we might as well kiss AMERICA, SCHODACK and everything good-bye!
Just think, just in time for the FOURTH OF JULY!!!
REVOLUTIONARY DESCENDENT
I've posted some comments wanting to know why Planning Board and Town Board agendas are late, incorrect, or never even posted.
I've also wondered why we have Town Webmaster. I don't know the Town webmaster, and again, nothing was meant as a personal attack on him. What was meant was a complaint that we have another of Beth Secor's "new" positions, and what's to show for it?
I realize that Nadine Fuda, Beth Secor, or Beth's secretary are the ones possibly to blame. Maybe they never send the information to the webmaster.
I don't know.
What I do know, however, is that we have a LOT of NEW salaried positions, and we get worse service. And when those agendas DO show up, they are full of errors and even blank lines!
I'd like Beth Secor to take some responsibility. If the Town webmaster would like to post here, and explain why there have been these chronic problems, I think we'd all appreciate the explanation.
A word of advice to Beth: tell the truth, and you'd be surprised, people are usually very understanding. What we don't like: lies, lies, and more lies.
Read the Declaration of Independence -- they called them "grievances" back in that day.
Happy 4th of July!
Even though Secor only won the last election against a "write in" candidate by approx. 20 votes, she continues to thumb her nose at Schodack residents! This blatant disregard for us should be a wake up call and she should be voted out at the next election by alot more than 20 votes!
RE: UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTIES AT
HOME AND OTHER PLACES
In THE INDEPENDENT today, there was an article about this and a new law, that the Schodack Town Board
passed concerning it.
I can see where they are coming from, now let me tell them, where I'm coming from.
I'm not crazy about all of these young people drinking, heck not even the rest of us, the older ones drinking excessively!
What, I really have a problem with is giving the police or anybody else, that much power. The right to be able to invade the privacy of our "Own Property and Homes", if Joe Blow calls in! Who knows, maybe he has it in for his neighbors and this new law will give him, just the right edge, he needs to cause trouble. We, Americans are slowly losing our freedom of alot of things, lately. This is a "WAKE UP CALL", people!!! I don't remember being asked for my thoughts or vote, on this important issue!!! Were you? WHY NOT???
There was notice of a public hearing on the Town's website and probably in the The Record (like anyone reads it). Public would have been allowed to comment at the hearing and comments put on the record. However, if the Board had already made up its mind, comments would be ignored as they usually are. Anyway, yes you were asked for your opinion and comments. You just have to attend the public hearing or send a letter to enter into the public record.
Schodack residents -- Crown is back!
Here's a summary of a recent planning board meeting:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19844251&BRD=248&PAG=461&dept_id=462341&rfi=6
Here's a quote:
"Mr. Puccio said he has seen problems with trucks on Route 9 since the Pilot gas station opened.
"Trucks pull out and block three lanes of traffic, sometimes four," he said. "Traffic then comes to a grinding halt. I never realized how significant the number of trucks would be. Add the trucks from the Hannaford warehouse and A. Duie Pyle and what will this project mean for that area?"
I agree-- even if Schodack residents are not neighbors to that area (and this project will certainly affect those that are), those of us who travel that area of RT 9 will be affected.
It's good to see Mr. Puccio is aware of the frequent traffic problems there.
Also, even though there is a good line of sight in that area, as those of us who go that way know, we often have to slam on the brakes as a trailer comes to a sudden stop, because of something happening in the too-short parking area of Pilot.
Keep an eye on the Planning Board meetings this summer -- lots is happening to our community.
In regard to the blog:
LOTS IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITY
It certainly is and for the very worst!!! SCHODACK is slowly
being destroyed.
I hope all of you, who are responsible for the downfall of Schodack are "proud" of yourselves
now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everybody's talking about having to move!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Planning Board has posted an agenda: tonight is a site plan for Crown Enterprises.
Here's the agenda (and it sure is helpful to have it posted, thank you!):
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVE MINUTES - July 7, 2008
LOT-LINE ADJUSTMENT
Hydor Hills/ Kenneth McKeen 2008-22/RA/190.-5-25.7
Co. Rt. 7
Proposed - Lot Line
SUBDIVISION(s)
Shelly Clarke and Anthony DeFrancesco 2008-19/RA/179.-5-16
Morris Road
Proposed - 3 Lot Subdivision
SITE PLAN(s)
Crown Enterprises 24-2003/HC,RA/210.-7-43-50, 55, 56
Kids Lane/Route 9
Proposed- Truck Terminal
(Final Environmental Impact Statement)
Mayz Development/ Family Dollar Stor 2007-34/HC/211.-2-11
3528 US 20
Proposed- Request a modification of parking
Well, I was very disturbed to read the Times Union this morning regarding the terrible accident between a propane truck and 18-wheeler just by exit 12.
With prayers for the speedy recovery of all injured parties, and those that do rescue work.
I also hope that Beth Secor, the Planning Board and Nadine Fuda take notice: that area of Rt 9 has become very dangerous indeed. The mix of residential traffic, commuters, commercial traffic, and over-sized rigs is dangerous.
If anything, traffic control measures need to be implemented. Loading it up with yet more truck terminals is not the answer.
Yeah, let's let Crown go forward and add more tractor trailers to the mix.... Note the offending driver was trying to get to a fuel station most likely Pilot where there have been many many reports of traffic problems involving trucks.
Crash closes part of Route 9
A tractor-trailer and a propane truck collide, shutting a section of highway for hours
By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer
First published: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
SCHODACK A section of state Route 9 was closed for nearly six hours Monday when the driver of a tractor-trailer tried to make an illegal turn on Route 9 and collided with a truck carrying 2,600 gallons of propane, police said.
The force of the impact caused the propane truck to flip onto its side, briefly trapping the driver inside. He was taken to an area hospital where his condition was not immediately available late Monday.
Schodack police said the incident occurred about 4:15 p.m., when Carlos J. Victoria, 42, of Huntington, Calif., exited I-90 East in the tractor-trailer and turned right onto Route 9. He drove about 100 yards before realizing he should have taken a left on Route 9 to reach his destination, a gas station, police said.
Victoria was traveling north in the far right lane and tried to do a U-turn, police said, but didn't see the propane truck, driven by Warren A. Groat, 47, of Valatie, also traveling north in the next lane over. Police said Groat swerved to miss the tractor-trailer but smashed into the cab and flipped the propane truck.
``It's not legal but it would be possible to do a U-turn on this road,'' Schodack Police Chief Bernhard Peter said. ``Just not when a car is coming.''
Groat had to be extracted from the propane truck and was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital, police said. Police said Victoria was uninjured and was cited for a log book infraction, an illegal U-turn and failure to yield when entering a roadway.
The road was closed until 10 p.m. while police determined how
to remove the propane truck without causing a leak or an explosion. A crane was eventually brought in to lift the truck onto its wheels before it was removed from the scene on a flatbed truck.
The accident, which occurred near the I-90 interchange, forced the closure of I-90 eastbound ramps and the westbound off-ramp at Route 9 in the town of Schodack but did not interupt traffic flow on the Thruway. Drivers on Route 9, however, had to find alternate routes.
``We were dealing with 2,600 gallons of propane,'' Peter said. ``It can be volatile and flammable at times. We considered removing the propane before moving the truck but when you use hoses, there is always some leakage, and we didn't want that.''
David Filkins can be reached at 454-5456 or by e-mail at dfilkins@timesunion.com.
Can we get a grip and realize the truck accident was caused by an extremely stupid person driving a truck. No more, no less.
That area was designed to accomodate large vehicles. I guess any future passenger vehicle accidents that occur on that stretch of highway should call for making it a single lane road with a 40 mph speed limit so as to reduce even further the chance of any accidents. The only thing Beth Secor needs to do is get more business in that area of town so that we're not chased from our homes by town and school taxes.
During a recent trip, I stopped at a truck stop similar to Pilot in another state to get gas and something to eat. While chatting with the guy that worked there, he mentioned all the "activity" that goes on at night there, like women being dropped off at the truck stop to "service" the truck drivers. I was shocked by his candor and asked if it happened at other places, he said it did and other truck stops were much worse!
Now I don't know if any of this "activity" is taking place at the Pilot on Rt. 9, but just the thought of this type of illegal & immoral activity going on at other truck stops has to make you wonder if it's happening here.
Also, if you think more business will lower taxes, I'll believe it when I see it.
In fact, I think Secor would use it as an excuse to increase taxes!
QUOTE: "Can we get a grip and realize the truck accident was caused by an extremely stupid person driving a truck. No more, no less."
I wonder what one person's life is worth to you?
I wonder what the risk of a massive propane explosion is worth to you?
There are other ways to reduce costs -- like not having a multi-million dollar Taj Mahal Town Hall -- that don't put the lives and well-being of our community at risk.
Seems like pretty simple math to me.
I was wondering how long until the accident was posted here as a reason for no truck stop. I imagine you never use propane...no grilling on the 4th of July?
You never get gas at Pilot?...considering it is the cheapest in the area.
You live off a major interstate & expect no trucks? I bet if you moved next to a golf course you would expect no balls on your lawn.
move to chatham not between 2 major exits
& yes, I do live off exit 12...I'm not a big fan of the traffic in the morning but I love living 13 minutes from downtown Albany...& soon all the people who keeping moving North will realize that & god forbid build more house with more and more traffic...
I would bet if the businesses on route 9 were allowed to have directional signs pointing truckers in the correct direction, Monday's accident wouldn't have happened. I also bet that the folks on Lape Road don't like signs either.Just as a helpful hint-did you know Lape Road runs into Route 20. You really don't need to be on Route 9 at all.
Oh, here we go with "how much is a life worth to you?" argument. Again, get a grip, for God sakes. You really should consider moving if you don't like the truck traffic. That's what most normal people would do. Not expect all truck traffic to disappear from a major highway interchange. By the way, although my chances of survival are much less in an accident between my car and a truck, I'd still rather deal with a highway full of truckers than a highway full of grannies who have forgotten which pedal is the brake and which is the gas. To wit that terrible accident on the Exit 9 ramp of I-90 the other day where granny accellerated into the turn instead of braking, and tragically took the life of a 49 year old woman waiting at the light. Granny was going so fast that she tore the guide rail right off its supports, which then struck the other car, throwing it across the road some 30 feet. This sad case is only one of many that I personally know of, and that we read about all the time. More than truck/car collisions. A dear friend lost a leg and nearly his life when another granny (who should not have been driving) decided to make a left turn into his path while he was on his motorcycle. I agree that there are other businesses that could operate at the Crowne location just as well, and that it doesn't have to be a truck terminal, but for pete's sake, stop the knee jerk reactions. And can the Advertiser please report this issue in an objective fashion? An opinion or comment from the opposite viewpoint would be nice.
Our prayers go out to Mr. Groat and his family. What a tragedy, which could have been averted through better planning.
From the Independent:
The two vehicles collided, crushing the cab of the Freightliner and causing the propane truck to roll over.
Mr. Groat was taken by Castleton Ambulance to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he is being treated for a skull fracture, broken ribs and internal injuries, according to Police Chief Bernhard Peter.
"We were on the scene for six hours," Chief Peter told The Independent. "It was a real mess."
I hope our Town's planning board takes note. Safety needs to come before profits.
Thank you,
a concerned Schodack resident
The people in this town are the blind led by the sighted into any agenda that they choose to take. There is a few of us that are not impressed by the meddlings of legislative liason Rich Crist and his assault on the political system of this country, A democracy of the people by the people and for the people. When was the last time a local politician called you personally and asked for an opinion or direction to take on an issue??? I was called by Julius Van Ort as were many others on local issues. What happened to those guys, back when it was "nice" to live here.. Remenber, the only way changes are made is when you get in your representative's face and let them know your opinion. If that doesn't work, It's the little lever in the booth, your american duty!!!!
Monday, August 4th Planning Board will be discussing the health treatment/drug rehab center for teenagers on Rt 9.
(And, thank you Schodack Webmaster, it is very helpful to have these agendas out a few days early.)
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVE MINUTES - July 21, 2008
LOT-LINE ADJUSTMENT
Henay Burns 2008-23/PD-3/189.-10-16
1861 RT. 9
Proposed - Lot Line
SUBDIVISION(s)
Hydor Hills/ Kenneth McKeen 2008-22/RA/190.-5-25.7
Co. Rt. 7
Proposed - 2 Lot Subdivision
SITE PLAN(s)/SPECIAL PERMITS
Spinney at Pond View 72-2005/R-40/178.-4-2.1
Pond View Road
Proposed - Adult Community
PUBLIC HEARINGS
SITE PLANS/SPECIAL PERMITS
Hudson Mohawk Recovery Center 2008-20/PD3/200.-9-6.12/32.1
US Route 9 , 2008-25B/PD-3/200.-9-6.12/32.1
Proposed - 20 Bed Health Treatment Facility
SUBDIVISION(s)
Hart Subdivision 2008-24/PD-3/200.-9-6.12/32.1
US Rt. 9
Proposed - 3 Lot Subdivision
I see our secretive Town Board had another "special" meeting (see below) held on a Friday or Monday afternoon that was probably noticed by sticking up a piece of paper on the bullitin board a few hours before the meetng in the Town Palace. Again it involves what I thought was our past Town Attorney or Attorney for the Town depending on where she was living month to month (Schodack, Delmar, Florida, wherever) Lois Phillips. How much you want to bet she is one of those contracted attorneys that the AG has been investigating that happens to show up on the Town payroll so she's eligible to collect from the State retirement system? Like her husband who was dismissed from State Service two or three times. If you have been around Town long, Lois was involved with several of these last moment Friday meetings that no one knew about so they could attend. Nothing ever changes. I wonder how Ms. Phillip's represents the Town when she lives in Florida.
July 28, 2008
2008-302)
WHEREAS, the law firm of Hiscock & Barclay has provided legal service to the Town of Schodack for a period of more than four years, and
WHEREAS, Hiscock and Barclay currently represents the Town as special counsel on several matters which are currently at a critical stage, and
WHEREAS, the substitution of new counsel in those matters would create problems in continuity in the event the Town hired new counsel, and
WHEREAS, Hiscock & Barclay has also indicated its intention to represent EPCOR Power Castleton LLC (hereinafter referred to as "EPCOR") in a tax certiorari proceeding against the Town of Schodack for the Castleton Generating Plant it owns and operates located at 1902 River Road (SBL No. 198.12-1-3.2), creating a clear conflict of interest for the firm, and
WHEREAS, Hiscock & Barclay has requested a waiver of said conflict of interest, permitting it to continue to perform legal work for the Town while representing EPCOR in an action against the Town,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Supervisor is authorized to execute a Qualified Waiver of said conflict of interest dated July 28, 2008 for the period ending October 31, 2008.
Schodack:Adopted Resolutions 24 and 28 July 08
Latest Update: 31 July 08
URL: http://www.schodack.org/docs/adoptedBd.htm
Regarding the "conflict of interest" waiver:
Secor benefits from the press's neglect of our area -- that's how she gets away with it. It used to be that cities were the place for corruption -- no, it's formerly rural areas like Schodack. Since there's no tradition of political or press oversight here, Secor can get away with nonsense like this.
Since our local papers won't investigate, it's up to us, Schodack residents, to keep making ourselves heard.
"They want to make me go to rehab I said no, no, no."
Great, just what we need to ease the tax burden in this town - a not for profit day care center, and a not for profit rehab for juvies. Ray Lemka is on the money with his comments in the Indy today, but will anyone listen? For those NIMBY's who oppose any "commercial" development in that area of town, well, here you go. Have a rehab center for troubled youth in your backyard, instead. You get what you deserve. Won't bother me, it's too far away for my house to be broken into by these kids when they decide to split rehab and explore the neighborhood. Put a sign on your door that reads: "No prescription meds in this house." That might prevent them from kicking your back door in. Might not. Mr. Hathaway makes the place sound like a girl scout camp. No, there won't be any problems, none at all. I've long since given up any hope that this town government is capable of bringing in much needed commercial development. So, this is what we get.
The Town wants to go on another almost 2 million dollar spending spree to build up the well field. From the wording, it would appear all tax payer will pay, not just those who get water. Lucky us.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of Schodack, Rensselaer County, New York will meet in the Schodack Town Hall, 265 Schuurman Road, Castleton, N.Y. 12033 on August 14, 2008 at 7:30 PM for the purpose of holding a public hearing pursuant to Town Law Section 202-b to receive comments concerning the increase and construction of Major Water Facilities at the Town Well Field and related site improvements to serve parcels within existing water districts, including but not limited to water districts 2A, 2B, 4, 5, 8 and 9, future water districts and other future users and to create a Town water supply to provide excess water capacity.
The improvements proposed to be constructed consist of development and construction of a New Town Well Supply consisting of two production wells, a permanent pump station and water treatment facility at the Town's Well Field located on NYS Route 150 and related site improvements to supply potable water from the Town of Schodack's Well Field to parcels within existing Schodack water districts and other future users. The cost of construction of the New Town Well Supply is estimated to be in an amount not to exceed $1,750,000. The proposed method of financing to be employed is the issuance of serial bonds and/or Bond Anticipation Notes issued in anticipation thereof. Such bonds and notes are anticipated to be issued in accordance with the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund program.
The Water Improvements are further described in the map, plan, and report dated April 2005, amended July 22, 2008, prepared by J. Kenneth Fraser and Associates, as Engineers for the Town of Schodack (the "Town Engineers"), a copy of which was duly filed with the office of the Schodack Town Clerk and is available for public inspection.
The public may also submit written comments regarding said projects to the Schodack Town Board for the inclusion in the record, at the following address: Office of the Town Clerk, Schodack Town Hall, P.O. Box 436, East Schodack, N.Y. 12063.
DATED IN Schodack, NY
July 25, 2008
TOWN CLERK
Donna L. Conlin, RMC
Schodack Town Clerk
Schodack Town Hall
P.O. Box 436
East Schodack, NY 12063
Phone 518-477-7590 ext. 300
Fax 518-477-2439
e-mail: donna.conlin@schodack.org
Verbatim Board Resolution:
2008-293) Authorize Town Clerk to publish notice of public hearing to be held at the Schodack Town Hall, 265 Schuurman Road, Castleton, N.Y. 12033 on August 14, 2008 at 7:30 PM pursuant to Town Law Section 202-b to receive comments concerning the increase and construction of Major Water Facilities at the Town Well Field and related site improvements to serve parcels within existing water districts, including but not limited to water districts 2A, 2B, 4, 5, 8 and 9, future water districts and other future users and to create a Town water supply to provide excess water capacity.
The improvements proposed to be constructed consist of development and construction of a New Town Well Supply consisting of two production wells, a permanent pump station and water treatment facility at the Town's Well Field located on NYS Route 150 and related site improvements to supply potable water from the Town of Schodack's Well Field to parcels within existing Schodack water districts and other future users. The cost of construction of the New Town Well Supply is estimated to be in an amount not to exceed $1,750,000. The proposed method of financing to be employed is the issuance of serial bonds and/or Bond Anticipation Notes issued in anticipation thereof. Such bonds and notes are anticipated to be issued in accordance with the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund program.
The Water Improvements are further described in the map, plan, and report dated April 2005, amended July 22, 2008, prepared by J. Kenneth Fraser and Associates, as Engineers for the Town of Schodack (the "Town Engineers"), a copy of which was duly filed with the office of the Schodack Town Clerk and is available for public inspection. on August 14, 2008 pursuant to Town Law Section 202-b concerning major water facilities and town well field improvements as described in the Map, Plan and Report prepared by J. Kenneth Fraser and Associates entitled, "Town of Schodack, Rensselaer County Proposed Water System Improvements, Existing Water District 2A and Proposed Water District 8," dated April 2005, as amended on July 22, 2008.
Schodack:Public Notice:Aug14
Latest Update: 7 Aug 08
Crown versus the Water Supply of Schodack: Remember the Independent news article entitled "Water, trucks don't mix" By: KRISTIN SHAW from last December? If you don't, you can find it on the main/homepage of the Voice of Schodack website.
Have you followed how the Crown Truck proposal has followed along its course in its merry own way? Where is this at, right now? Well Crown presented its very own for hire Environmental Review to the Planning Bd, last month, while many of us vacationed, hopefully, in drier parts of the land.
Did you know that as far as the Town Board, Planning Bd, and ZBA are concerned this is practically a done deal. Is the fix in?, as they say.
Well for those of you, who are wondering if you should care, did you know that practically all of the town's water, wells, and private wells draw from a unique aquifer/natural underground reservoir, which is located under special parts of Schodack. How does this reservoir stay full, while we all continue to tap it? It has vital. but few recharge areas, where the earth is particularly situated and porous, so that rain and run-off waters, and stream waters can slowly seep down to refill it. As the water seeps thru, it is filtered and purified enough for us to drink it straight.
What do you think might happen when you pave over one or many of these recharge areas? Well it stops the process of natural recharging.
What if you pave it over, but allow storm sewers to carry run-off to adjacent recharge areas or into underground holding areas to seep down. Well if the run off is contaminated with oils, toxic fluids, noxious substances, etc., can some of those nasty things make their way into the aquifer? Or, will some or all of it be initially filtered by the soil? This would depend a lot upon what the fluids are and what they contain and how thick the overlaying soil was in this particularly porous and thin place.
What if you put a humongous Crown size truck depot over one of the most important and sensitive and thinnest soiled recharge areas? What if motor oil, gas, diesel fuel, brake fluid, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, and whatever fluids and particles that are carried upon the hundreds of trucks which will go in and out of the depot are added to the mix?
Will fluid lines never break? Will cargos never spill? Will accidents in the facility and upon Rt. 9 never happen? Well, some of this happens with what is already there, doesn't it? Look at the recent accident between the propane truck and the tractor trailer, which was U-turning, to make its way back to the Pilot. That could have been very bad, but luck was with us, that time.
Would it make sense for the Town Government to spend millions upon millions of home and property owners’ monies, as well as town tax monies to invest in developing this water source for use by Schodack and adjacent towns? Would it make sense for the town to urge some of us and force others of us to invest in and pay debt service upon miles and miles and miles of water transmission lines, plus be drilling wells to supply those lines, and installing necessary pumping equipment and all that? Don't some sewer systems proposed, under construction, and working use this same water to function?
Now, please explain to me, how it makes sense for other arms of our Town Government to seem to be stewarding the Crown Proposal for their Depot thru our Town Planning Board and ZBA? If there is any risk involved to our water supply, why would these Boards allow, let alone facilitate the installation of Crown’s Truck Depot over a thin, sensitive, vulnerable recharge area? Would they even allow Crown to pave over it and cut off its natural migration of water to the reservoir? Not to mention, allow geometrically increasing and expediting the opportunities for that very drinking water to become tainted, bad tasting, and even fully poisoned from use? What would our entire water infrastructure be worth if that happened?
Zilch, NaDa, nothing, fo’getta bout it! Will we still be paying for all this water supply structure for the next 30 years, or so? Ya better believe it! It may not be drinkable, not be useable, but we will still be paying for it.
Might the Town become liable for damages to private wells, equipment ruined by toxic water in businesses and homes, might the Schodack be sued and sued and sued for permitting Crown to circumnavigate the Town’s Aquifer Protection law? Might they be sued for harming people’s health and well being? Would all of us citizens and taxpayers become liable for those costs? I would like to know? Is our jeopardy doubled, tripled, quadrupled? Inquiring minds should want to know! Do you know the cost, or if an aquifer can be fixed, once it is tainted? Would even Bill Gates have enough money to attempt that fool's effort to fix something so broken and impossible to get back?
Please, someone, explain how it makes sense to invest so much, in what is truly Schodack’s most unique and valuable asset, our natural aquifer, and then allow it to be put at risk, with little if any reward for that risk? How much will or could Crown pay in taxes or bring-in in business (mostly to out of town owned Pilot) to off set the risk of allowing them to site, where they choose to site, over this thin aquifer recharge area? Why are their dark forces within our Town Government, who want Crown to get all the approvals they need, and the sooner the better? Hmmm, what is in it for them? Ya gotta wonder?
Now, this very Thursday, the Town Board is having a meeting and a Hearing. Of course they still don’t have an agenda for it posted, (WHEN AVAILABLE, Draft Agenda for Town Board 14 August Meeting) 20 hours before the meeting is set to begin, upon the Town Website. However, they do have the Hearing notice posted (http://www.schodack.org/) with the particulars of the bill 2008-293 (yes they have passed 292 measures, already, this year. How many did you follow?), which is the Bond they are seeking to float for $1.75 million more in investment in “the increase and construction of Major Water Facilities at the Town Well Field and related site improvements to serve parcels within existing water districts.” So, they think it is a good idea to invest another couple million dollars into this system, while on-the-other-hand they allow the other Town Boards to comprise the integrity of the very asset they are investing in? Hmmm, are you beginning to see why many of us, don’t get this?
What kind of contorted reasoning is determining the future of Schodack, the future of our water, the health and futures of our children, and of our property values? How valuable would our properties be, without a safe clean water supply? What businesses will be looking to locate in Schodack, if they must carry in all the water they need to use?
Do you recall the Watergate era quote that said, “Follow the money”? Boy, I wish there was someone to do that for us, in a case like this.
Don’t you think you better look into this for yourselves? Just maybe you might go to a few meetings for awhile to help us sort this one out. You can start by showing up tomorrow night at the 7PM at Town Hall for the Town Meeting and Hearing. Try going to the Independent newspaper’s website and searching Crown Truck, or going to the local libraries to read the past year’s articles and letters on this debacle. See for yourselves how this just doesn’t make sense.
This Crown truck depot dwarfs Hannaford's trucking operation.
See the quote, below, from a memorandum on this concern.Please spread the word to your fellows, as best you can to come to tomorrow's Town Board meeting and Hearing.
"Crown Enterprises’ truck terminal would alter the character of the neighborhood, making this part of town a warehouse district. The neighborhood currently includes a mix of uses: several residential streets (Lape, Graw, Irish Hill, Woodward Roads) where homeowners and their families enjoy the rural character of the town, a couple of very old farmhouses are located on Route 9, and several highway-commercial businesses are also located on Route 9. None of the existing businesses are of a scale to be compared with the proposed truck terminal. Crown Enterprises’ terminal, with 131 truck doors and parking for 300 vehicles, dwarfs the nearby Hannaford center, which has only 40 truck bays. Crown Enterprises’ terminal, if constructed, would be a tipping point for this part of town, turning it into a warehouse and trucking district. Several homeowners in the neighborhood have sold their property because the project would destroy the rural character that drew them to Schodack years ago."
I hope you will make the time to come, be at this Hearing to make yourself heard on these concerns.
The Town Board must be questioned on such matters, before it is too late. Very soon, it will be too late.
once again, 9.5 hrs til Town Board meets, but still no agenda for the meeting on the website. WHEN AVAILABLE, Draft Agenda for Town Board 14 August Meeting, is what is tells us.There is a notice for tonight's hearing, which is appears in the Aug 11 post, above on the VOS blog. I haven't compared them to see if any changes were made to that notice.
They are looking to commit us to another couple million in debt and spending. As these things go, what starts off as 2 mil can end up becoming 4. Remember the Town Garage? Are these the same engineers who were behind the garage debacle, J. Kenneth Fraser and Associates? They have held a whole bunch of contracts during the Secor regime. It will be interesting to see who may go to their employ, once they are kicked out of Town Gov't. Who do you think may end up working for them at a nice salary?
Pilot seems to be the best place around to get fuel, with the best
local price! I'm in and out everyday with no problems! As to the trucks bring them on! keep ringing up that sales tax!!! Can we get a total collected for the year? As for the accidents, send the boys down and do some traffic and commercail vehicle enforcemnet! More $$$ in the bank!
As for the hookers lets get them to pay some taxes or book em and confiscate there loot! Do you see the bottom line here? Any way you look at it there's more $$ to make for everybody! Ok time to go...hope they build a super market down there too!
If you live down slope for Rt 9, once Crown Enterprises paves it over with a facility with 3 times as many truck bays, as Hannaford, will you be flooding like Rensselaer did? Who will you be pointing your finger at for responsibility?
Rensselaer mayor blames development for flooding
Homes and business must be inspected before National Grid restores service
By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer from the TU
Last updated: 10:53 a.m., Tuesday, August 12, 2008
RENSSELAER -- Mayor Dan Dwyer blamed rapid development in East Greenbush and North Greenbush for adding to the storm runoff that spilled into tributaries of the Hudson River Monday and flooded low-lying sections of the city.
"There is a lot of growth going on up there. It's more than can be handled," Dwyer said at a news conference this morning where he assessed damage from a storm that left more than 30 flood victims looking for help from the Red Cross.
Dwyer said development at the University at Albany's East Campus on the edge of neighboring East Greenbush and new shopping centers in that town and North Greenbush are sending more run-off into the system. He told reporters that the state should build a retaining pond at the East Campus to keep some of the water from pouring into his city, which lies between East Greenbush and North Greenbush and the Hudson River.
Meanwhile, some residents are being allowed back in to assess damage, but inspections must be done before National Grid can restore power to 27 homes and two business that were flooded Monday.
The severe flooding that swamped low-lying sections of the city Monday forced 33 people to visit an emergency shelter and damaged 37 homes, officials said.
As of early this morning, damage was found to homes on nine different city streets, officials said.
Flood waters rose as a torrential storm hit Rensselaer Monday afternoon. It was jut the latest heavy storm to hit the area since June. So far more than 14 inches of rain have been dropped on the area.
The city will remain in a state of emergency into today, Dwyer said.
Six streets were closed Monday evening and firefighters used a boat and a jet ski to search homes after heavy rain left more than five feet of water in some parts of the city. Amtrak service also was closed between the city and Hudson for a few hours Monday afternoon because of flooding on the tracks.
Dwyer said at least 16 homes in the city were evacuated and the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York had set up a shelter in City Hall. Dozens of residents made their way to the shelter Monday evening for food and water.
The flooding began to subside Monday evening and Dwyer said the six closed streets Broadway, Willow, Sixth, Lawrence, East and South could be opened Tuesday morning once they are inspected.
Widespread hail and flooding was reported Monday throughout the region.
Check back throughout the day for updates on the storm and its aftermath.
Check out the store going in on rt20 oppisite Napa...dollar store I heard. Looks great hope its a success. About time there's more businesses opening! what else is being built? Whats with the old 9-20 dinner? wow they wacked the heck outr of it?
My thoughts and my appeal.
On this Monday Aug 18, it has been learned that the Planning Board, once again, has the Crown Enterprises Truck Depot proposal upon its Agenda. This meeting begins promptly at 7pm. It is in the Town Hall meeting room on the corner of 265 Schuurman Rd. and Rt 9 & 20, across from the Schodack Plaza. Please attend this meeting. Below, I will do my best to explain this situation and why.
Normally, the Planning Board agendas do get posted online, well ahead of its meetings, much better and more frequently than the Town Board. This time, with this hot issue, when it is known that there will be opposition, “coincidentally,” there is, yet, nothing posted.
I do not think most in Schodack realize the potential for harm that may come, if Crown is allowed to build this humongous facility. By comparison, the Hannaford warehouse has 40 truck bays. Crown will have over a hundred. Crown will be a depot, not a warehouse. A depot acts as a turnover point of cargo from one truck to another on daily basis. Cargos are constantly coming and quickly going off one truck and onto another. Every bay may see a cargo exchange or more within every day. It is designed for hundreds of trucks to come and go to and through it, hourly and daily.
With hundreds of trucks and hundreds of cargoes, you can do the multiplying to see that it represents: tens of thousands of trucks and cargos per year. What are the cargoes? It has been asked, but the owners of Crown provided no answer. Is it liquids, chemicals, oils, pesticides, powders, possibly toxic, none of this has been clarified? If this is all being moved around, as fast as can be, will it spill, pour, break, seep, or even explode? We just don’t know.
With all these trucks, will there be maintenance on site? Will fuel lines ever break? How about hydraulic fluids and transmission fluids, will they ever leak? What above motor oils? Fumes? Noise?
What is the potential that our town, village, and private well water supplies could be compromised by any normal or abnormal or accidental or purposeful activities? Ironically, Crown has chosen what is called a recharge area for our common underground water reservoir, often called an aquifer, to locate itself upon. This raises a tremendous number of concerns. I will mention only a couple here.
First, aquifers work (have water), only when they can be recharged. They rely upon areas were the soil above is permeable for this recharge to happen. The more permeable the soil is in any location, the faster and quicker liquids, and occasionally other things, can make its way thru to the common supply of water, which lies, below. The thinner this permeable layer is, depending upon different soil types, the faster this can happen. When you block off recharge areas, such as with large areas of pavement or buildings, the water can no longer follow its natural path thru the soil to recharge/refill what is below. So, that water must go elsewhere, often on the surface to some other exit. Therefore, the natural cycle is disturbed and often stopped.
In some places, like Schodack, the aquifer, which is very unique and very different from a natural water table, can lie vary close to the surface, say less than 10 feet. Schodack’s aquifer is a resource that every community would want to have. But guess what, very few do. Ours is especially close to the surface and easy to access. It doesn’t lie under all of Schodack, but it holds a lot of influence over all the accessible underground water within our town and in nearby towns. Most cities, states, and towns would love to have it. In history, wars have been fought over access to such resources. It is the most valuable asset which our community has. You don’t have to look far to learn how valuable water is becoming. Good water like ours will appreciate yearly in its value to us and others.
The next important thing to know about aquifers is that they can be ruined or spoiled in any number of ways and become worthless or, perhaps, even a liability. What if something was to taint, foul, or poison it? Within our neck of the woods, we have Nassau Lake and the Dewey Loeffel Toxic Waste Site, so we can relate to this sort of matter. What has that on going contamination done to those who live near it. Are those properties more or less valuable with toxins in and around them? What happens when the water under you and moving around you becomes unfit or dangerous? Is the Lake an asset or a liability in its current state? We know that it should add a lot of value, but does not.
We have heard how it came about for that area. Could it happen to us, to our aquifer? One major concern about the spot, which Crown has chosen for its facility, is that it is going to be placed right over both a thin and highly porous portion of ground, which is right on top of a precious recharge area of the Schodack aquifer. It is exceptionally vulnerable.
Above, I raised the possibility that accidents can happen, negligence may happen, too. What happens if something nasty spills and if it is liquid or can be dissolved by or into a liquid. It might even be toxic or poisonous, or simply a petroleum product or by-product. What if that makes its way, maybe even dissolves its way, thru asphalt or flooring, moves to permeable nearby soil, or into storm drains, which are inadequately protected or maintained; or in someway, that I am not mentioning, makes its way thru to the water, below? Hold that thought. Recall some of the storms we have been having, too.
Have you ever had a punctured or broken fuel line in your own asphalt driveway and watched in horror, that not only do you have this broken line with fuel running uncontrollably everywhere, but at the same time, the fuel is eating holes through your pavement? I have experienced this. It happens by surprise and faster than you can do much of anything about it. Fortunately, there was not all that much fuel to flow in my particular line.
Lately, with high fuel costs, we have all been hearing how much fuel these big rigs carry and how it costs so much to fill their hundreds of gallons sized tanks. We, also, may know how caustic certain hydraulic and brake fluids can be compared to ordinary oils, gasoline, and diesel. Trucks can have a lot of these fluids, too.
It is not hard for me to imagine that with so many vehicles and so many possibilities, something will break, spill, leak, seep, or creep onto pavement or floors and be flushed or washed or flow in places where we would rather it would not go. Would we even be told or warned, if this happens.
What if a trucks cargo is 55 gal drums of a pesticide, or industrial solvents or chemicals, or hydraulic fluids, or any of thousands of potentially harmful compounds? Or, maybe the cargo is a mix of relatively harmless liquids or compounds, like chlorine bleach in half of its drums or bottles, and ammonia in the other half of its drums or bottles? Then, somehow the trailer full, or half full, flips and they become all mixed up. I picked these two familiar household items, because I know a little bit about them and you may, too. It could be thousands of any other chemicals, which when they mix, create harm.
Many of you know that when chlorine is mixed with ammonia, it begins to create a poison gas and poison fluid. I think, I have my history right, when I recall that some of the earliest gas warfare weapons used in WW I were made by combining these two common, now pervasive, chemicals.
The point, which I am trying to make, is that we don’t know what can happen, nor what will be going in and out of this facility. It will be set directly over one to the more vulnerable and previously productive recharge areas of our community’s water source.
Especially ironic, is that at the same time that our town is considering allowing an exception to Schodack’s Aquifer Protection Law and to allow Crown numerous exemptions to that Law, so they can build where they want to build, our Town Supervisor and Town Board are aggressively seeking to tap, exploit, export, and share this wonderful water resource, which we have beneath us. It is better than gold in value. Try to drink gold.
Any of us, who happen to be on a Village or Town water line, know what a great utility and asset that is for our home and family. We can drink it, bathe in it, water our food crops with it, and share it with our pets or animals. If you have a business on this clean water source, maybe you use it produce or wash or mix with whatever your make to market. You could even bottle it and sell it. If you farm, you can drill for it or tap it for your livestock, orchards, to water fields of crops, etc. Others of you have private wells. If you happen to be over or near the aquifer, boy, are you fortunate.
Those of us, who don’t have it, would like some kind of access to it. So, the Town of Schodack has gone into the water business, in a very big way, to bring this water to more and more of us. Millions of dollars have been invested and bonds have been sold and more will be sold. We carry a lot of debt to make this water available and to keep it flowing. Its potential is even greater than we can, currently, get around to exploiting.
Now what would happen, if all that wonderful water became worthless, useless, or ruined? Or, worse yet, dangerous, like somewhat, more or less, toxic or poisoned? What would that do to all the equipment, well works, plumbing, appliances, equipment that it runs though, before its flow is stopped? What if this bad water is consumed by children, at home or at their schools, or by the elderly, or the ill? Maybe, it might even make someone, who is otherwise well, become ill or endanger them over time? Who would become liable for damages to persons and to transmission lines and equipment and property watered with it? Who would replace your plumbing or your land, if it was no longer safe to continue to use it?
Would the Town Government be liable? Would Crown Enterprises happily pay costs to remediate all this? How would we seek payment for damages and who would pay them? How insured is the Town of Schodack??? How insured is Crown? Can a tainted aquifer be fixed or fix itself? What do we know about that?
From what I have heard, there is no known means, by which man can fix or repair or make clean, again, an aquifer. That’s the bottom line. You lose it. Plus, all that, which has been invested, into creating all the water districts and all that debt, that is held to build them, becomes loss. You still have the debt obligations, by the way, unless you have somehow insured for this sort of disaster.
So, we end up with millions in investment and debt and nothing of value to pay it off with. This ought to give anyone pause. It sure makes me wonder. I wish these issues would similarly concern the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
So, if we are basing our well being, to some extent our property and productivity upon a clean safe water source, what do we have to gain if Crown is allowed to circumnavigate our Town Law and build on this spot? A few years ago, this all went to court. The Town spent $30, 000 in your tax paid money to defend its self, because it poorly or improperly handled this matter in favor of Crown, back then. Private Schodack citizens dig into their own pockets to the amount of another $17,000 to fight the Crown proposal in court. They won. But, almost 50 grand of our citizen’s money was spent for the Crown cause.
But, undeterred and with alleged friends in Town Government, Crown tweaked the original proposal down a bit in size, by 3O bays or so, and renewed its efforts. So, it has been going a number of rounds to get up to now. Recently, Crown submitted their very own bought and paid for Environmental Impact Statement, which is supposed to address and alleviate all the concerns that anyone raised in prior Planning Board hearings. Were the right questions asked? Were they answered truthfully, directly, and fully? It is up to the Planning Board and ZBA to determine, yes or no, but do they share my or your interests or concerns? If they do, so far, it has been hard to see that.
How has Crown been good for this community, when we are already $50,000, or so, in the hole for its attempts to come here? Will that be made up, in any way, for the average taxpayer in Schodack? Will Crown be seeking various exemptions from the Town and State taxes for ten or twenty years? You know how those programs are supposed to work. How much money will Crown really spend in this town or bring to town on a year to year basis, if it is built, and its truckers fill up their rigs at Pilot and buy and eat at Pilot?
What kind of neighbor has Crown been to the other communities in which they have located depots and how much do they contribute to them in taxes and positive growth and spending?
No, most of us will see little, if any, benefit either in trade or by taxes that Crown may pay. There is this myth that just won’t go away, but which is largely unsupported, that the way to reduce property taxes and school taxes on homes is to develop businesses within the towns, which do not demand anything of the school system and little in town services. Can you list places where this has been achieved in NYS and where this has been maintained to reduce property taxes or even to keep them from going up?
How much will Crown pay in school and property taxes and how will it lower your homes bill? Don’t hold your breath for this fantasy to become real. Do you want to buy a bridge in Brooklyn, too?
So, we allow Crown to circumnavigate our Town Law, which proudly protects the aquifer (it was even cited as a protection for it at the Town Board meeting this week by our Town Supervisor) and what will you the average citizen and taxpayer in Schodack get for it? You will get a risk that you should not have. That is what you will get. It is a terrible, terrible bet to make.
Why put your water source in jeopardy, more than it might currently be? Yeah, accidents can still happen to taint it without Crown, but why up the odds in such a huge way? What is your gain? What is Schodack’s gain?
You can bet and believe that money will be made for a handful of local folks, if Crown is built! If no one was going to make money here on it, it never would have gotten so far the first time it came through. It would not have recycled back, again either, if someone local did not stand to have substantial gain to be made in the building of it. It would not stand a chance in hell, if someone wasn’t getting something, as a consequence, if it is built.
There is a Law against what they are trying to accomplish. It is the Town’s Aquifer Protection Law. However, we have all learned that laws mean little, if there is no one in place, who wants them upheld; and if there if the money and gimmicks to get around them. We have no sheriff in this town looking out for us. No one is truly in place, who wants to really guard our chicken coup. So, the foxes will eat the chickens, unless, those of us here who drink this water and those who are sick and tired of seeing good people lose out to bad ideas, get up and do something that counts.
This is one hell of a bad idea. Going forward with this makes no real sense, when you look at the truth and the whole picture of it. Now, if someone can clearly lay out for me, how this will benefit me, more than put me at risk, I want to, really, listen to that argument. However, since I began to pay attention to this, since I have been asking questions, I have not heard a firm argument of how this does not have great risk for me. I drink that water by the gallon, every day. Neither, have I heard an explanation of how this will help me in any way.
Therefore, I ask you to come to Monday’s meeting and help to sort this out. When they try to answer you, keep asking yourself, “Who is making a lot of money on this?” If it is not you, than you are one of us who may be scr*w*d, if our water supply goes foul, because of it. I hope you will be there. I would not have put some much time into writing this to you, if I did not think you might care. I, also, wrote this because, while I have begun regularly attending Town and Planning meetings, sometimes I am scheduled out of town, and Monday is one of those nights. I need you to be there for me. I need you asking the questions and pressing for complete and accurate answers.
Sincerely, Ken Stokem
P.S.: I have been trying like any ordinary working citizen, who has an otherwise busy and active life, to get the best handle that I can on this particular town concern and quite a few others. To the best of my knowledge, which I have accumulated up to this moment, these are the conclusions, which I am drawing. However, you can see that I have a great many more questions than answers. I don’t claim to know the whole truth and to be without fault. I wish I did, at least in this case, and I wish that were without flaw. I am just trying to get to the bottom of what I see as a no win for Schodack, should Crown achieve its truck depot. I urge others to present their honestly felt arguments on both sides to help us all to sort this out. Unfortunately, I expect someone will, anonymously, rip into me here on this. Maybe, they will have it in them to post their name, too, and they and I can speak about this personally and cordially.
And to the Webmaster, you have my permission to substitute your wording for my use of any language, deemed by you, to be offensive within this submission, but I cannot think of a more accurate word to choose, than the one I used and spelled scr*w*d. I hope the asterix helps adequately to reduce its offense to any, who do not like its usage. Otherwise, please select your own word to replace it, but do not change its intent and, please try to equal its impact. Maybe, S. O. L. which stands for Sh*t Out of Luck, would work. I think S. O. L. is an old army expression.
and I thought the flooding was due to "global warming"...I mean "climate change"
Of course the Mayor is going to deflect blame...half the culverts in renssealer are covered in debris & the other half are above the road or the road pitches away...
the NG plaza has detention ponds
& all developement went through Town and private Engineer approval.
Before the Crown plaza floods out my house the 200 acres of corn will pay the price
I realize this subject is a sore topic. But the people of this town need to know that there has been a court date set for the law suit against Nugent, Secor and the SBA. The date is set for February 9, 2009.
From what we heard through others in our office here in Superior court, this mess isn't going to slip under the rug.
I don't know if I speak for everyone, but I hope this case tanks her but good. She has to go, and I hope the rest of this town is with us on this one.
We will keep everyone posted on any changes in this case.
"If you live down slope for Rt 9, once Crown Enterprises paves it over with a facility with 3 times as many truck bays, as Hannaford, will you be flooding like Rensselaer did? Who will you be pointing your finger at for responsibility?"
Maybe the guy operating the spillway of the dam...
Second look at flood source
Doubt cast on claims that Rensselaer was swamped by water from upstream
By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, August 14, 2008
RENSSELAER -- Torrential rains in the city, not a rush of water from the upstream Quackenderry Creek, appears to have caused Monday's flooding, according to a preliminary review issued Wednesday by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
DEC staff members were out along the creek Tuesday and Wednesday checking how a flood control dam and retention pond about three-quarters of a mile upstream from the Hollow neighborhood had performed during the heavy rainstorm.
"The flood control on the creek did operate as designed. The emergency spillway was not activated. That would seem to indicate that the flooding upstream did not cause the excessive flooding downstream," DEC Region 4 spokesman Rick Georgeson said.
"There was such a massive amount of rain in such a short time, it would indicate that was the source of the flooding," Georgeson said. DEC staff are still investigating, and Wednesday's findings were considered preliminary, he said.
Mayor Dan Dwyer agreed that the rain -- up to 6 inches, according to an estimate from the National Weather Service at Albany -- may be the ultimate source of the flooding.
"That could be very well true. I am waiting for the final engineering report on our side. There was 5.5 and 6 inches of rain. Nothing surprises me any more," Dwyer said.
Because the floodwaters rose quickly Monday, Dwyer and other officials have cited excessive runoff from developments in the towns of North Greenbush and East Greenbush as possible sources for the water. Engineers were sent to the Rensselaer City School District campus Wednesday to check the creek that flows through the school site.
Regardless of whether storm water runoff played a role in the flooding, Rensselaer County is taking no chances. County Executive Kathleen Jimino said she would convene the county Storm Water Management Committee to review the situation.
"When the dust settles, we'll all sit down to review what happened here. Is there something more that we need to do at the municipal level, the county level to strengthen those storm water regulations when developers are putting in houses or businesses?" Jimino said.
Wednesday, residents continued to clean up their homes. The American Red Cross of Northeastern New York said it had helped 76 people in 35 families deal with displacement and damage.
Engineers from the state Emergency Management Office were in the city Wednesday to assess the cost of the damage, said agency spokesman Dennis Michalski. Dwyer said the city is working with the state to arrive at estimates.
City crews also headed to the creek to clean up behind residences at Fifth and Sixth streets at Partition Street, the mayor said. Debris littered the stream and roads nearby. Firefighters used hoses to wash mud out of the streets.
Kenneth C. Crowe II can be reached at 454-5084 or by e-mail at kcrowe@timesunion.com.
Good article Ken; I think you covered all the issues. I'll try to answer a couple of the questions you raised based on answers I got when at public hearings on Crown (round #1) and the Route 9 study presentation put on at a Town Board meeting.
1) What will go through Crown's depot? About anything going to local wholesale/retail stores such as Home Depot, Agway, GE, Wal-Mart, etc. Crown is like consolidator; they bring truck loads of material to a site, break it into smaller deliveries and put it on a different truck. What that means is everything from non-perishable food to industrial solvents will go through the building. All loaded/unload by fast moving fork lifts. As a warehouse manager for many years I can assure accidents happen and items on skids get punctured by forks on pallet trucks. Nature of the business. I'll let everyone draw their on conclusions on if this poses a danger or not.
2) Tax Income - One of the presenters of the latest "Route 9" study a few years back finally gave an answer to me that made sense. If a good commercial business builds in a community (by good he said retail store, office complex, plant like a GE) that the local taxes will generate enough income to cover the cost to support the new business and THOSE WHO MOVE INTO THE TOWN TO WORK IN THE NEW FACILITY. He confirmed what I had believed that for those residents already living here, tax wise, its a wash. No gain, no loss. But that if it is a "good" new commercial property. Warehouses/truck depots don't fall into that category. This isn't going to be anything like Hannaford that is more of a plant then a warehouse. Truck depots are just cement platforms with usually metal frame/siding. Empty shells in other words with an office or two. They are not assessed for much because there is nothing there to assess. Also warehouse/truck terminals can tax emergency services so in all likely hood, Crown will cost residents money not help stabilize tax base. It most assuredly will not reduce taxes. Only not spending like a madwoman will slow down the tax increases we have all experienced the past five years.
Hope this helps.
BD
And another one bites the dust. Truck accidents around exit 12 are becoming a monthly occurance.
From The INDEPEDENT
SCHODACK--The I-90 westbound ramp from southbound Route 9 was closed for nearly 10 hours Monday, August 25 after a tractor-trailer loaded with paper products overturned just before sunset.
South Schodack volunteer firefighters, Schodack Police officers, State Police troopers and state Department of Transportation officials responded.
The driver was transported by Castleton Volunteer Ambulance Service to an unknown hospital. The driver's condition was unknown as of press time.
Crews worked all night to transfer the cargo to another tractor-trailer before Sunnyside Garage crews could set the accident vehicle upright.
The fire department was called back to the scene just after 3a.m. Tuesday to provide fire protection as the trailer was put back on its wheels and towed.
My School taxes jumped $600 dollars thanks to reassesment, thanks Beth. Maybe we should do a pole on VOS with How many years you've lived here and how much did your tax bill just jump. And I have no kids in school. Isn't this special?
Top Stories
Schodack sets 4.71% tax levy increase
By JOE MINISSALE 08/23/2008
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
SCHODACK--The Schodack Central School District set a 4.71% tax levy increase during the Board of Education meeting Thursday, August 21.
Paper truck overturns; I-90 ramp closed Monday night
By JOE MINISSALE from the Independent
08/26/2008 SCHODACK--The I-90 westbound ramp on Route 9 was closed for nearly 10 hours after a tractor-trailer loaded with paper overturned just before sunset Monday, August 25. Driver's condition, identity unknown.
Responding to the scene were South Schodack Volunteer Firefighters, town and State Police officers, and Department of Transportation officials.
The driver was transported by Castleton Volunteer Ambulance Service to an undisclosed hospital, according to Linda Wheeler, South Schodack Volunteer Fire Department.
Officials have not released the driver's condition or identity.
Crews worked all night to transfer the cargo to another truck before Sunnyside Garage workers could set the accident vehicle upright, according to Lt. Wheeler.
The fire department was called back to the scene just after 3a.m. to provide fire protection, she said, as the trailer was put back on its wheels and towed.
It was at Exit 12. The truck driver exited the Pilot truck terminal and when exiting, swerved and his paper load shifted to one side of the truck causing it to over turn.
The driver was fortunate in that he escaped with cuts and bruises.
Just another example of the kind of activity we can expect from these operations on the corridor.
So, small towns and cities don't count with this Bush Administration?
FEMA rapped for denying flood aid to Rensselaer
By KENNETH C. CROWE II, Staff writer
Last updated: 2:24 p.m., Thursday, August 28, 2008
RENSSELAER - City and Rensselaer County officials criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency for saying the city doesn't have enough damage from its Aug. 11 floods to qualify for assistance.
"It looks like Hurricane Katrina isn't the only things FEMA has screwed up," County Legislator Michael Stammel, R-Rensselaer, said.
FEMA identified $3.5 million in damages, which is below the $24 million threshold, local officials said.
"This one-size-fits-all approach is unfair to smaller communities who by nature cannot generate the money needed to recover from the storm without passing significantly more costs onto the homeowners and business owners already suffering from the loss of personal property and damage to their homes and businesses," County Executive Kathleen Jimino said.
"While $3.5 million of damage may not be a lot of money to New York City and other larger cites or municipalities, it seems to be an insurmountable amount for the city of Rensselaer and its taxpayers," Jimino said.
Stammel and Jimino said they would ask federal representatives to investigate the decision.
Jimino said the county would continue to pursue other avenues of disaster relief.
The review of the Crown Truck Depot proposal was moved from the last meeting to the one coming on Sept. 15th. The agenda is below. If you wish to have your say for or against it, or to pose your questions about it, you will want to be at Town Hall at 7:00pm, sharp. These meetings begin on time. Public comment, as you will see in the agenda, which I post, below, takes place at the very beginning of the meeting, so please try to arrive early. The Board itself will review the item later on its agenda, but your say and questions must come at the beginning of the meeting.
DRAFT AS OF Aug 4, 2008; subject to change
PLANNING BOARD AGENDA - 7:00 p.m., Aug 18,, 2008
Next meeting - Sept 15, 2008
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVE MINUTES - Aug 4, 2008
SUBDIVISION(s)
Henay Burns 2008-23/PD-3/189.-10-16
1861 RT. 9
Proposed - Lot Line
SUBDIVISION(s)
Brookview Hollow 2007-12/R-20 RA/177.-8-3, 5, 8, 9
Brookview Rd at Appletree Lane
Proposed - 40 Lot Subdivision
SITE PLAN(s)/SPECIAL PERMITS
Ed McCabe 2008-26/HC/178.9-1-3
Rt. 9 & 20 Columbia Turnpike
Proposed - Out Door Sales Lot
Crown Enterprises 24-2003/HC,RA/210.-7-43-50, 55, 56
Kids Lane/Route 9
Proposed- Truck Terminal
7:30 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING(s)
Hydor Hills/ Kenneth McKeen 22008-22/RA/190.-5-25.7
Co. Rt. 7
Proposed - 2 lot Subdivision
Pursuant to the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Public Law 101-336), the Town of Schodack will provide auxiliary aids or special services for persons with disabilities. Please notify the Town Clerk's Office at 477-7590 so arrangements can be made for requested services.
Please forward written comments to: Nadine Fuda, Director, Planning & Zoning, Schodack Town Hall,265 Schuurman Road, Castleton, NY 12033-9622, Nadine.fuda@schodack.org Telephone: 518-477-7938, Fax: 518-477-7983
Peter G. Goold, Chairman Denise Mayrer, Vice Chairperson G. Jeffrey Haber Wayne Johnson
Sylvester Kedzierski Paul Puccio John LaVoie Attorney: Tim Nugent, Esq.
Schodack:Planning Board:Draft Agenda for 18 Aug 2008
Latest Update: 18 Aug 08
URL: http://www.schodack.org/docs/pb_draft.htm
Look to early posts in August and earlier for back ground on the Crown Truck Depot proposal.
Everything comes full circle (Meaning we're going nowhere). So, here's another gem from our Town government:
"2008-307)
Pursuant to the May 13, 2008 request of the East Greenbush Community Library, authorize Supervisor Secor to inform the East Greenbush Community Library of the Town’s intent to utilize said Library for Town library service for the year 2009 at a cost not to exceed $175,065."
Hmmmm...wasn't this major, pressing, oh-so-overwhelming need to have a town Library one of the major planks of Secor's original bid to regain office?
And her battle cry was "stop paying E. Greenbush for library use?"
And we were supposed to "save money" while having a library and therefore, we just "had" to move to the cement citadel (a.k.a. the new Town Hall?)
So...where's the library, Beth?
And why haven't you accomplished what you promised us you'd do YEARS ago?
Maybe because that platform plank was just smoke-and-mirrors, like pretty much everything else you've promised.
Of course, the higher taxes, employee paid vacations (oops, I mean training), and reckless spending are what you REALLY wanted to do.
I miss Ray Lemka. It's a shame what happened in our Town.
I agree on many points with the last post but please let's not push for a library. You think your taxes are high now, try paying for a library and staff. I'm happy we are paying EG hope we keep it that way. I can't afford any more. Thanks to reassesment, my school tax bill went up 36%! Can't wait for the County/Town bill.
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