POTENTIAL SALE OF TOWN COMMUNITY CENTER IS LATEST HARMFUL BUDGET GIMMICK PROPOSED BY MAHAN ADMINISTRATION
October 19, 2011
POTENTIAL SALE OF TOWN COMMUNITY CENTER IS LATEST
HARMFUL BUDGET GIMMICK PROPOSED BY MAHAN ADMINISTRATION
Central Avenue Community Asset Identified in Mahan Budget for Possible Sale
Town’s Deficit Issues Continue Despite Costly, Taxpayer-Financed One-Shot Deals
COLONIE – Town of Colonie Supervisor candidate Denise Sheehan today informed residents that Supervisor Paula Mahan is actively considering selling the Town Community Center on 1653 Central Avenue. Mahan’s proposed 2012 budget identifies the Community Center as a parcel to be sold and resulting revenue transferred to town coffers. The sale of another valuable town asset is the latest in a series of one-time financial gimmicks designed to cover up the ongoing deficit problems and harmful budget practices of the current administration.
Sheehan held a press conference today at the Community Center, which supports more than 40 community organizations in Colonie, including youth sports groups, child day care services and adult education classes, among others (a list of organizations is attached). The Community Center was originally owned by the South Colonie Central School District. The School District sold the Center to the Town for $1 several years ago, based on the expectation that it would be used for community services.
“Once again, Colonie residents are about to pay a steep price for the financial mismanagement of the Mahan Administration,” Sheehan said. “For four years, the Supervisor has failed to get her fiscal house in order and has sent our town deficit skyrocketing – and here is the result. Another one of our most prized and valuable community assets will be made available to the highest bidder. The South Colonie community suffers because the Mahan Administration overspends, under-thinks, and relies on disastrous one-shot gimmicks to correct their mistakes.”
At today’s press conference, Sheehan outlined a pattern of alarming financial mismanagement on the part of the Mahan Administration which caused the Town’s deficit to grow by $11 million in only 16 months between 2009 and 2010. The Town’s own auditors recently determined that Mahan’s budget practices are in violation of New York State Town Law. Results of the Town’s own independent audit, whose report was only recently released, stated that:
“The ‘General, Library, Capital Projects and Environmental Services Funds have generated significant deficits and have deficit equity positions at December 31, 2010. These deficits were primarily the result of (1) the Town’s overspending on various cost/activity categories, and (2) budgeted revenues being overstated. The Town is not in compliance with New York State Town Law.”
During the last four years, more than $31 million has been collected by the Mahan Administration through a “one-time tax” and sale of town assets. Heritage Park was sold for $2.7 million, town residents paid the “one-time tax” of $5.6 million in 2009, and the controversial landfill deal provided a $23 million payment – resulting in a total of $31.3 million being sent to Town Hall since 2008.
Despite collecting an enormous amount of funds through one-shot budget gimmicks, Colonie still maintains a multi-million dollar deficit. Analysis of Mahan’s current budget plan shows that deficit will likely exceed $10 million by the end of 2012.
“We can no longer afford the kind of leadership now being provided in Town Hall. Budgets are crafted in secret, financial projections are pure fantasy, and as we’re seeing here – Town residents suffer greatly for the poor performance and flawed fiscal decisions from this Administration,” Sheehan said. “Colonie taxpayers have paid more than their fair share, but we still face an alarming deficit and our town is being sold off piece by piece.”
SHEEHAN CALLS FOR MAHAN TO RETURN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
October 18, 2011
SHEEHAN CALLS FOR MAHAN TO RETURN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
Donations Received From Landfill Bidders is a Clear Violation of Public Trust
COLONIE – Denise Sheehan, candidate for Colonie Town Supervisor, today called on Supervisor Paula Mahan to return campaign funds received from two parties who provided donations while actively participating in an open-bid process to secure operating rights for the town landfill. According to published reports, the matter is now in front of the Albany County District Attorney.
“It’s alarming that the Supervisor would shake on a deal with one hand, and take campaign donations with the other. But it’s even more disturbing that she apparently sees nothing improper about it,” Sheehan said. “This is another example of politicians saying one thing and doing another. The Supervisor and these companies had everything to gain by these unethical contributions. And as it turned out, the town had everything to lose.”
According to election financial records, Supervisor Mahan accepted donations in February and March from a former executive at County Waste – now Waste Connections – and by Waste Management. At the time the money was exchanged, both Waste Connections and Waste Management were participants in a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to secure rights to operate the town landfill. The RFP process was open from January 20 to April 22, 2011. Waste Connections eventually won the bid.
Colonie Town Law clearly prohibits public officials from engaging in actions that represent conflicts of interest. According to Town Law (17-4(A)(6)), a conflict of interest occurs if:
The person directly or indirectly solicits any gift or accepts or receives any gift or favor, whether in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or any other form from any person, firm or corporation as an inducement or to effect improperly the performance of the official duties or decision of such official employee.
“This wasn’t an act in the Town’s best interest. It was an act in the interest of self-preservation that put government up for sale,” Sheehan said. “I hope that the Supervisor admits this error in judgment and does the right thing by returning these highly questionable donations.”
SHEEHAN ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO ATTEND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF COLONIE
October 18, 2011
SHEEHAN ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO ATTEND NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF COLONIE
COLONIE – Denise Sheehan, candidate for Colonie Town Supervisor, announced today that she has scheduled a series of Neighborhood Meetings, giving residents multiple opportunities to discuss current issues facing the town and present their concerns and priorities for the future direction of Colonie.
“It’s the duty of elected officials to listen to their constituents and be attentive to the public’s voice when developing policies and programs that impact their lives,” Sheehan said. “I’ve talked to thousands of residents during the last several months and I know there’s a tremendous amount of anxiety out there. One of my highest priorities is to include residents in the decision-making process. The Neighborhood Meetings will provide the perfect forum to have an informal conversation with the community and share ideas about how to address the most important issues affecting Colonie.”
Three Neighborhood Meetings have been scheduled in October at various locations throughout the Town. All meetings will be held from 7-9 p.m. The schedule for the Neighborhood Meetings is as follows:
- Tuesday, October 11 – West Albany Fire Department, 1956 Central Avenue
- Wednesday, October 19 – Boght Fire Department, 1095 New Loudon Road
- Tuesday, October 25 – Midway Fire Department, Station 1, 113 Sand Creek Road
“The current administration has made a habit of enacting flawed public policies without giving residents a voice. The landfill was a ‘back-room deal’ that took the public out of the process and landed the supervisor in court,” Sheehan said. “That is not the way I have led organizations in the past, and it should not be the environment Colonie residents are forced to live in.”
COLONIE SUPERVISOR CANDIDATE DENISE SHEEHAN’S STATEMENT ON TOWN LANDFILL LAWSUIT
October 18, 2011
COLONIE SUPERVISOR CANDIDATE DENISE SHEEHAN’S
STATEMENT ON TOWN LANDFILL LAWSUIT
“The landfill deal was a decision that hurt the town and was brought about by a process that deliberately kept the public in the dark. Residents were not given a voice in this process for a very simple reason – because it was an election-year money grab used to cover up the Supervisor’s alarming financial mismanagement. It comes as no surprise that this botched deal ended up in litigation. The legal action by Mr. Conners and fellow Colonie residents reinforces what I have been arguing for months – the public deserves the right to determine the future of this important public asset. Supervisor Mahan could have avoided this lawsuit and the uncertainty is now raises by simply listening to what I and other residents urged, a more thoughtful and open process and a meaningful role for Town residents.”
MAHAN FUDGES FIGURES ON LANDFILL DEAL
October 18, 2011
MAHAN FUDGES FIGURES ON LANDFILL DEAL
New Information Reveals Landfill Deal Will Not Eliminate General Fund Deficit
COLONIE – Colonie Town Supervisor candidate, Denise Sheehan, today chastised the Mahan Administration’s for its latest attempts to distort the facts about the Colonie landfill deal, as new details surfaced that refute repeated claims by Supervisor Mahan that the deal would eliminate Town’s General Fund deficit.
“The Mahan Administration misled taxpayers, giving up the town’s No. 1 revenue-generating asset without solving the Town’s General Fund deficit,” Sheehan said “They promised taxpayers that the landfill deal would eliminate both the landfill and General Fund deficits. It is now painfully obvious that the General Fund deficit hasn’t been cured, and the Supervisor is now back-tracking from those statements.”
On September 20, the town transferred control of the Colonie landfill to an out-of-state waste conglomerate from California, Waste Connections. Despite repeated promises by the Mahan Administration that the landfill agreement would erase the town’s General Fund deficit, figures shared at last night’s town board meeting indicate that the one-time cash infusion will not erase Colonie’s General Fund deficit.
While providing few details and allowing only a limited two weeks for public input on the landfill plan, the Mahan Administration made repeated promises in media reports and public meetings that funding from the deal would eliminate the Town’s General Fund deficit. The Town’s own website includes a new release repeating this claim www.colonie.org However, to date, the Town has provided neither hard numbers on the Town’s current fiscal condition nor a specific plan for the use of the landfill revenues.
Instead of using the funds as the Mahan Administration had promised, and paying off the General Fund’s deficit, the one-time $23 million cash infusion must be used to retire bonds associated with the landfill. At last night’s meeting, the Supervisor indicated that they now plan to use $11 million to pay off outstanding bonds, leaving only $12 million to apply to General Fund deficit (last known to be $18.2 million as of 12/31/2010). The Town Comptroller added that it could be 90 days before they will have a specific plan for the $23 million. There is currently $26 million in outstanding bonds on the landfill.
“The Mahan Administration force-fed Colonie residents a deal that was opposed by some of the highest-ranking Democrat municipal leaders in Albany County and by the only certified public accountant on the Town Board,” Sheehan said. “We need to hold the administration accountable for its false claims. This was a terrible deal brought about by a terrible process, and the residents of Colonie deserve far better.”
For more information on Denise Sheehan, please visit her website.
SHEEHAN CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL DEBATES IN SUPERVISOR RACE
October 17, 2011
SHEEHAN CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL DEBATES IN SUPERVISOR RACE
Increased Number of Debates Gives Colonie Voters More Information Before Nov. 8 Election
COLONIE – Denise Sheehan, candidate for Colonie Town Supervisor, has invited her opponent to expand the number of debates to be held for residents prior to Election Day. To date, only one debate, on November 2nd, has been scheduled and agreed upon by the candidates. Ms. Sheehan has called upon incumbent candidate Paula Mahan to participate in at least one October debate, and has expressed her willingness to add additional debates and a dates and times selected by Mahan.
In a letter to her opponent, Sheehan proposed to add at least one debate to the candidates’ calendars. The debate would be scheduled for the second week of October and held at The Crossings. The format would be mutually agreed upon by both candidates. Sheehan also suggested that additional debates be scheduled at various locations throughout the Town, allowing for greater participation from the community.
“Residents have serious questions about the financial mismanagement that has occurred under the Mahan Administration,” Sheehan said. “We were hit with a one-time tax but still saw the Town’s financial condition worsen over the past four years. To cover up poor decisions, this Administration took pennies on the dollar for the Town’s top revenue generator – the landfill. Additional debates provide voters with information on these issues and they deserve more than only one chance to attend and participate in this critical dialogue.”
The two candidates are scheduled to meet in a debate on November 2 at 7 p.m. The debate will be held at the Albany Holiday Inn Albany, 205 Wolf Road, Colonie, and is sponsored by Colonie Chamber of Commerce, League of Woman Voters of Albany County, Spotlight Newspapers, and the Capital Area Council of Churches.
Increasing the number of debates would give residents more opportunities to hear directly from the candidates, provide additional information to voters, and allow for more discussion of Town issues before voters take to the polls on November 8.
“As candidates, we have a responsibility to provide voters as much information as possible before they make their decisions on Election Day,” Sheehan said. “There are several issues Colonie residents are facing right now that will shape the future prosperity of our community, and those issues deserve more than an abbreviated, one-time discussion. I’m committed to providing sound leadership, responsive government, and real plan for the future for the people of Colonie – holding multiple debates on the issues affecting residents is a first step in that direction.”
MOLINARO RESPONDS TO MAHAN’S PERSONAL ATTACK
September 25, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Becky Miller
518.727.1841
MOLINARO RESPONDS TO MAHAN’S PERSONAL ATTACK
Statement from Peter Molinaro, Candidate for Colonie Town Board
September 23, 2011 - The comments by Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan at last evening’s Town Board meeting, in a public forum and on record, questioning my fitness as a role model for my children based solely on my opposition to the landfill deal, is deeply disappointing and demeaning of the office she holds on behalf of all Colonie residents. For Ms. Mahan to equate democratic discourse—and disagreement—on substantive issues affecting all taxpayers, my capacity as a citizen and parent leads me to the conclusion that she has neither the temperament nor the perspective to serve as supervisor.
SHEEHAN CONDEMNS MAHAN’S COLONIE LANDFILL DEAL
September 21, 2011
On the eve of the transfer of control of the Colonie landfill to a private contractor, Denise Sheehan, candidate for Colonie Supervisor, condemned incumbent Supervisor Mahan’s landfill deal as a “sellout of all of the citizens of the Town of Colonie and a deal designed to mask Supervisor Mahan’s mismanagement of Colonie’s finances by bringing in an initially large sum of cash while giving away the landfill for a fraction of its actual value.” Read the press release on her website to find out more.
SHEEHAN AND MOLINARO RECEIVE ACCESS TO COLONIE LANDFILL DOCUMENTS: SAY TAXPAYERS AT RISK
August 23, 2011
Denise Sheehan, candidate for Colonie Town Supervisor, and Peter Molinaro, candidate for Colonie Town Board today announced that they recently were given access to documents related to the Town of Colonie’s 25-year landfill deal, and are even more concerned than they were previously. Click here to read this press release.
SHEEHAN SAYS FLAWED PROCESS LED TO BAD DEAL
August 3, 2011
A Guest Editorial from Denise Sheehan, Candidate for Colonie Town Supervisor regarding the land fill deal with Waste Connections. Click here to continue reading.
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