Colonie GOP sees ‘a real shift’ in voters

Published: Thursday, July 08, 2010

By Jennifer Dugan
Latham Life

COLONIE — The Chairman of the Colonie Republican Committee, John Graziano, Jr., says that he has noticed a call for change coming from voters in recent months and that the committee is gearing up to meet that call. “I think there’s definitely been a real shift in the mood of voters at the local, state and national levels toward a desire for more fiscal responsibility and accountability. People are nervous about the economy and are concerned about our current elected leaders’ preferences to spend money we simply don’t have.” Graziano said.

Graziano said he has seen an increase in political interest locally which he hopes will continue to build as they head into upcoming elections. “We’ve seen an uptick in the number of individuals interested in participating in the committee and in running for local offices. Right now we’re in the process of collecting signatures on petitions to ensure Republican candidates are on the ballot and we’ve received extremely positive feedback as we go door-to-door. I think we’re going to see that mood reflected in the upcoming elections.”

Graziano has also been working hard to reinforce the community minded message of the Colonie Republican Committee. “My goal has been to refocus the committee on being a community- oriented organization where people can come and participate in a meaningful dialogue on issues that are important to us but also provide an atmosphere for people in town to get to know each other through informal and fun activities with their friends and neighbors.” He says.

On July 16, the Colonie Republican Committee will be hosting two events that are open to the public, a golf tournament at the Colonie Town Golf Course and a family picnic at the Grove at Midway Firehouse.

Registration for the golf tournament begins at 8:15am and the $90 entrance fee ($80 for seniors) includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, breakfast and lunch. It also includes dinner at the family picnic at the Midway Firehouse immediately following the event. Graziano said that a number of local businesses have stepped up to sponsor prizes for the event, including a hole-in-one contest to win a new car.

While the family picnic is an annual event, Graziano says that they have added several new features this year, including a live band and many activities for children. Admission to the picnic, which runs from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, is $25 for adults and free for kids under ten. The admission price includes an all-you-can-eat- bbq as well as refreshments.

In addition to hosting these events, the Colonie Republican Committee is reaching out to the community in many other ways as well. “We have created a number of new informal ways for anyone who’s interested to participate in committee events that are no or low cost.

Events include monthly networking events, meet-the-candidates outings, our upcoming golf tournament and family picnic, and in August we’ll be hosting an ice cream social. We’ve also established a web and a Facebook page to provide new ways to communicate our message and keep people informed.” Graziano said. “And I’m always happy to talk to anyone who’s interested in learning more about the committee or who wants to get involved in town issues.”

Additional information can be found at www.coloniegop.com.

Town of Colonie resident, Thomas Jasiewicz, filed a petition with the New York State Supreme Court on Friday, requesting that the transfer of lands between the Town of Colonie and Guptill Holding Corporation be annulled. Jasiewicz is a local business man and he decided to file suit after learning about the proposed swap of 9.5 acres of valuable Town lands along the Mohawk River corridor in exchange for 9.2 acres of undevelopable wetlands and bog lands owned by Guptill Holding Corporation.

“As a businessman and Town resident this strikes me as a bad deal for Town residents. If the Town lands along the Mohawk were truly surplus, the Town should have sold the property through a competitive bid process, not given it away in exchange for wetlands and bogs that the Town cannot use. With a deficit of over $16 million, you would think that Supervisor Mahan would be interested in getting top dollar for this prime Town-owned property,” Jasiewicz said. “I also find it particularly mystifying that the appraisals on these parcels somehow were determined to be equal in value at $330,000 each. It just doesn’t pass the straight face test that both parcels were valued exactly the same and a close inspection of the appraisals shows they were not done properly. The result is clearly an illegal gift of a Town asset to a private company.”

Jasiewicz also alleges in the lawsuit that the Town failed to follow the law to declare the lands surplus and failed on a number of occasions to provide proper and timely public notice of the land swap to Town residents.

“We haven’t gotten a straight story from the Supervisor on this land swap from the beginning. First, she told us it was necessary for the new water line, which has proven to be patently false. Next, she told us it was necessary to protect the kettle bog, which is already protected from development under federal and state environmental laws. The bottom line is that this land swap was completely unnecessary and is ultimately a raw deal for residents,” Jasiewicz said.

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Editor’s Note: Tom Jasiewicz is being represented by Thomas Marcelle, Esq. The Colonie Republican Committee also supports this petition. A copy of the petition and supporting documents can be viewed by clicking here.

Mahan bragged last year, too, that she had trimmed the town’s deficit by 45 percent, from $19.7 million to $10.8 million. Now the supervisor says the troubled economy means the deficit is significantly higher than projected.

“With everything that’s occurred since that time, it’s closer to $16 million,” she said.

Mahan, who took office in 2006, said the deficit she inherited was closer to $21 million than the $19 million estimate.

The shortfalls in sales tax, mortgage tax and landfill revenues led to the deficit being larger than she had projected, Mahan said.

Daniel Dustin, the sole Republican on the Town Board, said the town needs to be more honest about its finances. The town’s release announcing the deficit was cut 45 percent remains posted on its website, he noted.

“They certainly know now it’s not a 45 percent reduction,” he said. “It’s almost break even. They should acknowledge it. Now that the numbers are in, it’s plain to see they ran a significant deficit in 2009.”

Mahan replied the Republicans long denied there was any deficit under the GOP.

In its report, Moody’s says the financial problems stem from operating deficits from 2002 to 2007 “caused by inaccurate budgeting of employee benefits, budgeting of land sale proceeds that did not materialize, and annual appropriation of fund balance without replenishment.”

It credits Mahan’s administration with cutting expenses by $1.6 million and selling property for $2.7 million in 2008, resulting in a surplus of $2.6 million.

Unaudited results for 2009 show a surplus of $614,000, driven by a one-time $5.2 million tax levy and an annual increase of 2.9 percent in property taxes. Moody’s said the town’s 2010 budget was down $5.7 million.

In March, Moody’s recalibrated all its government bond ratings, with most ratings shifting up three notches. Colonie’s rating was raised from Baa1 to A1. This month, Moody’s dropped the rating back to Baa1. Lower ratings usually mean higher interest charges, but Mahan said the removal of the negative outlook should result in lessened costs the next time the town borrows.

“These are extremely difficult times,” she said. “We are working day in and day out to keep moving forward. There is still a lot of work to do.”

Staff writer Tim O’Brien can be reached at 454-5092 or by e-mail at tobrien@timesunion.com. ]]> http://coloniegop.com/colonie-deficit-trouble-grows/feed/ 0 http://coloniegop.com/times-union-colonie-election-loser-gets-town-post/ http://coloniegop.com/times-union-colonie-election-loser-gets-town-post/#comments Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:36:56 +0000 colonie http://coloniegop.com/?p=701

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.

]]> http://coloniegop.com/times-union-colonie-election-loser-gets-town-post/feed/ 0 http://coloniegop.com/colonie-town-board-member-dustin-calls-for-more-transparency-in-town-budget/ http://coloniegop.com/colonie-town-board-member-dustin-calls-for-more-transparency-in-town-budget/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:42:37 +0000 colonie http://coloniegop.com/?p=693 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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In a letter dated January 11, 2010, addressed to Supervisor Paula Mahan, Dr. James J. Yarmus, PhD and president of the NYS Society of Professional Engineers criticizes the appointment of Jack Cunningham as commissioner of public works.

Yarmus cites the position’s job description as one that requires a professional engineering license as recognized by New York State as a critical component and contends, “Giving an unlicensed individual authority over the operations and maintenance of this critical public infrastructure not only jeopardizes public safety, it also potentially burdens the town from a liability standpoint.”

The letter was referenced in the organization’s most recent electronic newsletter that was distributed to its entire membership after the appointment of Jack Cunningham was made public by a January 6, 2010 Times Union article and publicly criticized by Colonie Town Board member Dan Dustin.

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Editor’s Note: Find attached, the letter from Dr. James J. Yarmus, PhD, PE and NYS Society of Professional Engineers president to supervisor Paula Mahan. For more information about Dr. Yarmus and the NYS Society of Professional Engineers, visit their website: http://www.nysspe.org/index.php

The series was created in an effort to build party enthusiasm and support while bringing town residents and committee members together to exchange ideas about the future of the town and its leadership. “We are very pleased with the turnout of our first event and look forward to seeing some new faces at the next event” said committee chairman, John Graziano.

The first event took place at Vin Santos Tapas Wine Bar and was attended by over 75 Colonie residents and committee supporters. For updates about upcoming networking events, visit us at: www.coloniegop.com or join us on Facebook.

Reacting to the January 6, 2010, Times Union article “Ex-Bethlehem Supervisor Lands Job Running Public Works Department in Colonie,” Dustin is urging his colleagues on the Town Board to work together and establish a transparent, bi-partisan search committee for qualified candidates that reside in the Town. “There was absolutely no public process for the selection of these two appointees” said Dustin. “The fact that I learned of these appointments through an article in the newspaper is very troubling to me as a Town Board member” he added.

In conjunction with the lack of public input, Dustin finds issue with the outsourcing of a high paying Town position to non resident, Jack Cunningham. “The position of Public’s Works Commissioner pays over $100,000 per year, why would we choose to pay someone, qualified or not, with Town money that will not go back into supporting the businesses or tax base of the Town?” “As a community working to get out of debt, shouldn’t we look to keep that money here?”

Another source of concern for Dustin is Burick’s lack of experience and heavy involvement in Supervisor Mahan’s campaign last fall. The January 6, Times Union article quotes Supervisor Mahan saying “He has a good background that would lend itself to coming in and learning this position” regarding the appointment of Burick. “The Town’s Commissioner of Civil Service position should not entail on-the-job training which raises serious questions about Burick’s appointment.”

Town Justice, Peter Crummey administered the oath of office, swearing in Town Board Member, Dan Dustin, Town Clerk, Elizabeth A. DelTorto, Receiver of Taxes, C. Michele Zilgme and Town Justice, Andrew Sommers.

The ceremony was followed by a reception to pay a special tribute to outgoing Town Board members Brian Hogan, Nicole Criscione-Szesnat, Thomas With and Town Justice, Susan Tatro. “Showing our appreciation to outgoing Board members while welcoming our incoming elected officials was a great way to start off the New Year” said Chairman, John A. Graziano, Jr. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Town of Colonie and serving residents in the best possible manner, in 2010,” added incoming Town Board member, Dan Dustin.

The series was created in an effort to build party enthusiasm and support while bringing town residents and committee members together to exchange ideas about the future of the town and its leadership. “We are very pleased with tonight’s turnout and look forward to seeing some new faces at the next event” said committee Chairman, John Graziano.

The next event, scheduled for January 13 at Lainie’s Café, located at 471 Albany Shaker Road from 5PM-7PM is open to all and will include drink specials and finger foods. For more information about the Colonie Republican Committee, visit: www.coloniegop.com or join us on Facebook.