Times Union: Colonie Election Loser Gets Town Post

February 12, 2010

Colonie election loser gets town post

Former teacher who ran for tax collector job hired part-time at Pruyn House

By TIM O’BRIEN, Staff writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Friday, February 12, 2010

COLONIE — Pamela Rowley, who lost a bid for receiver of taxes last fall, is now working for the town as an assistant curator at the Pruyn House.The president of the historic home’s board, ironically, is the woman she tried to defeat, C. Michele Zilgme.Rowley’s hiring comes at the same time the Town Board hired Jack Cunningham, who lost a bid for re-election as Bethlehem town supervisor, to serve as public works commissioner. Rowley, Cunningham, Supervisor Paula Mahan and the majority of the Town Board are Democrats.

Mahan said Rowley is being paid a little more than $19 an hour and works 15 hours a week. The hiring does not increase spending at the Pruyn House, she said, because other staffers had voluntarily cut back on their hours.

Curator Diane Morgan approached the town about finding someone to assist her, Mahan said.

“We did an assessment with Diane of what her needs were,” Mahan said. “She was looking for someone who could assist her in working with the Pruyn House, to assist with some of the educational programs.”

Rowley worked for 11 years as a social studies teacher in the North Colonie schools, where Mahan worked before becoming supervisor in 2008.

“Someone with an educational background is appealing for that type of position,” the supervisor said. “She seemed to have an excellent background that really fit what we were looking for and what Diane was looking for.”

As she had with Cunningham’s hiring, Mahan insisted politics played no role. “It’s not a factor in her getting this position,” she said.

Zilgme said the hiring of her former rival surprised her.

“It was done by the town,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about it.”

The board president declined to say what she thought of the hiring.

“I hesitate to say anything because it doesn’t have anything to do with my employment with the town or my being president of the board,” she said.

Rowley said she lost to Zilgme and doesn’t have any qualms about working with her.

“I assume I will be working with her at some point. I look forward to it,” she said.

Rowley said she was surprised anyone would think her hiring is an issue.

“I was a history teacher for 11 years. It’s a great fit,” she said. “I have the educational background. I think I present a good public face. It’s a part-time job. It’s not like I was hired at a salaried rate.”

Tim O’Brien can be reached at 454-5092 or by e-mail at tobrien@timesunion.com.

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COLONIE TOWN BOARD MEMBER DUSTIN CALLS FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY IN TOWN BUDGET

February 10, 2010

COLONIE TOWN BOARD MEMBER DUSTIN CALLS FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY IN TOWN BUDGET

Colonie Town Board member Dan Dustin is calling on Town Supervisor Paula Mahan and the Colonie Town Board to adopt a resolution requiring the Town Comptroller to provide comprehensive quarterly updates of the Town’s financial status to the Town Board and the public. Dustin will discuss the resolution at the Colonie Town Board meeting, Thursday, February 11, 2010 at Colonie Memorial Town Hall.

The proposed resolution aims to create more transparency in the Town’s budget implementation process to ensure that decisions made by the Town Board today are well-informed and will protect the financial health of the Town. “The Town Board and taxpayers have a right to be provided with timely and accurate information about the Town’s finances in order to have a better understanding of the issues and their financial impacts,” said Dustin. “Ideally, the Town Board should receive monthly financial statements but this is a first step in the right direction” Dustin added.

Dustin’s proposed resolution is especially timely given that Supervisor Mahan is proposing $26 million in new debt for the Town. Resolutions authorizing the Town to issue this increased debt are slated to be considered by the Town Board at their meeting Thursday night.

“I am concerned that Supervisor Mahan is effectively using the Town’s “credit card” to balance the Town’s financial books. As consumers, we all know that this approach in the short-term seems like a solution, but in reality, it is recipe for long-term financial disaster. Without detailed information on the Town’s overall financial position, a new up-to-date review by Moody’s and a clear capital and debt service plan, the Town Board cannot carry out its fiduciary responsibility to Town taxpayers and I would strongly urge the Town Board not to approve any new debt issuances. The strategy being forwarded by the Supervisor is short-sighted and will impose an unnecessary financial burden on our children.”

Dustin’s calls for more transparency also come at a time when the Town has experienced a significant drop in sales tax revenue, is bracing for a State budget that would reduce State aid, and needs to prepare for large increases in pension costs.

“My proposal would ensure that the Town Board has timely, accurate and comprehensive information about the Town’s finances when they are making decisions about spending and hiring,” said Dustin. “In addition, the Town Board and Town taxpayers need to know how the Supervisor and Comptroller are proposing to manage theses issues now and in the future. The information currently provided by the Comptroller and the Supervisor is not adequate for the Town Board to make well-informed decisions and the public has been kept in the dark on the Town’s financial position.”

Municipalities must seek a rating from a bond rating agency when they issue long-term debt in the market. This requirement can be circumvented if a municipality issues the debt as short-term or seeks to sell debt privately. However, municipalities can seek a rating from a rating agency at any time. Shorter-term debt typically carries a higher interest rate than long-term debt.

At the state level, the State Comptroller provides the Governor and the State Legislature with monthly financial updates and the State’s bond rating is reviewed annually.

Dan Dustin was elected to his first term as Town Board member in November 2009. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

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February Colonie Republican Club Event

January 27, 2010

February 1, 2010
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm

Joseph E. Zaloga Post #1520
4 Everett Road
Meeting begins at 7 pm.
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Beer, wine, soda & light buffet served until 9 pm.
Speaker: Judge Andrew Sommers, Town of Colonie Justice

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