Lie #1: ALS service reimbursement Response: Mohawk is NOT the only ambulance service that can provide full reimbursement for ALS --- REMS could do so IF the Town Board would just authorize the signing of the contract that has been laying around for several months.
Distortion #2 tax rates will rise Assuming that just because some other place's ambulance tax went up that Rotterdam's ambulance tax will go up by the same amount. Note - The flier doesn't cite any sources just makes its illogical statement.
Lie #2 REMS will be taking in private donations Response: REMS will not be able to seek out private donations once it is awarded the tax district. And there is absolutely NOTHING illegal with the fact that it has been soliciting donations while receiving the subsidy from the town
Lie #3/Distortion #3 Making it sound as if REMS will still be getting a subsidy from the town Response :There is no subsidy in the 2011 Budget for REMS and once the tax district is approved .. there will be no need for any future subsidy from the town's general fund.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Lie #1: ALS service reimbursement Response: Mohawk is NOT the only ambulance service that can provide full reimbursement for ALS --- REMS could do so IF the Town Board would just authorize the signing of the contract that has been laying around for several months.
The flier never makes that claim.
Distortion #2 tax rates will rise Assuming that just because some other place's ambulance tax went up that Rotterdam's ambulance tax will go up by the same amount. Note - The flier doesn't cite any sources just makes its illogical statement.
Can REMS make the claim that taxes won't go up as high as those in other similar sized towns?
Lie #2 REMS will be taking in private donations Response: REMS will not be able to seek out private donations once it is awarded the tax district. And there is absolutely NOTHING illegal with the fact that it has been soliciting donations while receiving the subsidy from the town
I haven't been solicited by REMS since as long as I can remember. Why bother to solicite when you can go right to the source - the town budget.
Lie #3/Distortion #3 Making it sound as if REMS will still be getting a subsidy from the town Response :There is no subsidy in the 2011 Budget for REMS and once the tax district is approved .. there will be no need for any future subsidy from the town's general fund.
Taxing district is the subsidy - REMS is still a not-for-profit PRIVATE company.
ND interrrogated the hell out of BG with regard to his prior knowledge of an unsigned contract for REMS and their improper retention of ALS collections... Frank Salamone continually insisted that REMS had a contract for ALS BILLING, but confirmed that they were simply told by previous administrations that they could keep ALS $$$ with no contract or resolution. FDG insisted this is not a contract...I agree. FDG explained that we should know how much they kept and EXACTLY where it went...Salamone could only say it went for "operations". That's not good enough.
Matt Martin asked about the proposed audit...shouldn't it be completed before the vote? Isn't that impossible? GP, also a CPA, confirmed. I reminded them that this is why I urged all of them weeks ago to postpone the vote until findings can be known. He then asked why we are doing the audit if it won't be done before the vote. I say perform the audit and if the vote passes, the proceeds will not go to REMS unless and until the audit results can exonerate REMS and their enablers on the Town Board. GP invoked the resolution passed that gives REMS the cash if it passes. Basically, GP and Salamone used the agenda discussion in front of reporters to campaign for REMS. The audit resolution has now been tabled. FDG said that if any taxpayers request an audit, they'll have to do it...everybody call him tomorrow ! LOL!
See the Board Meeting thread for more...sewer service threatened to be discontinued by the City...the Defect goes crazy on Diane Marco...OMG.
So DV, you making the rounds at all the information sessions? Spying for your buddies, watching to see who says what?
No wait, he probably goes to every information session asking the same question at each one, in an attempt to sway voters to vote socialist
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
By the way, DV. which ambulance company will have quick access to your medical information if you can't speak for yourself and no one is around to tell the paramedics your info?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I've never seen such posturing. Who writes the script? Did any of our board members make a public statement, as to whether they support or oppose a taxing district on its principle? They all nibble around the edges on this issue, none of them have the backbone to take a public position.
I've never seen such posturing. Who writes the script? Did any of our board members make a public statement, as to whether they support or oppose a taxing district on its principle? They all nibble around the edges on this issue, none of them have the backbone to take a public position.
Really...you can't make this stuff up!
No one stated a position on the tax...but Matt Martin has a REMS sign at his house and I put a NO sign at FDG's house this morning! LOL!!
First you said Lie, now you're saying distortion. There's not one piece of evidence you offered that's a LIE.
Another false statement by the marshmallow mcrib man
You must need to get new reading classes ..because every th3 3 lies and 3 distortions are very clearly listed and the FACTS given.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
I saw a copy of a letter sent to REMS attorney, Frank Salamone, from FDG dated 12/6/10...in response to his hand delivered letter to the Town that apparently questioned the purpose of a REMS audit.
In it, FDG informs Salamone that "a Town Supervisor does not have the statutory authority to authorize your client or anyone else to retain funds that are due to the Town"...and questioned how anyone could have missed "such a blatant violation of Town Law". It also notes the absence of any documentation to support claims that the arrangement was authorized by previous Supervisors.
It goes on to state that no version of any contract authorizes REMS to retain ALS fees...and that the purpose of an audit is "to determine the exact amount of town funds impermissibly retained by your client so that a full restitution can be made".
I say let the vote continue on. I have talked to many business folks in rotterdam and they are dead set against this taxing district. The general concensus and question is why rems didn't just continue the way they were? And because they are business people, and know how to run a business, many believe that rems wants the taxing district because they can't make it on their own.
These rotterdam business folks do not want another tax forced on them when the economy is so bad and when there is a private ambulance service that can do the job at no cost to the taxpayers.
Many of these businesses offer health insurance. These business folks pay a hefty buck for this benefit. One that includes ambulance coverage. They don't want to pay twice.
This rotterdam taxing district idea is losing ground quickly. They, rems, should have just kept things the way they were.
FDG should have followed through with the audit and not have depended on the taxpayers to request one. FDG is, after all, the keeper and the responsible one when it comes to the taxpayer's money. Where is the leadership in rotterdam?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I know one thing for sure. If this taxing district doesn't pass, and REMS wants to continue to do business in Rotterdam and needs to raise funds by private donation. By letting their organization to become politicized may have alienates MANY potential donors. IMO
Republican county Chairman Tom Buchanan has a NO TAXING DISTRICT sign (actually a few) on his lawn. I noticed them today.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
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