Been busy.  Just coming across this issue.  OK, I didn't read every message posted in this thread, but bumble, you are saying some things I'm curious.  What do you mean by non property owners vs property owners?  People who rent are registered to vote, people who rent pay property and school taxes albeit indirectly.  And since when can only one person in a family/household vote?  

Wouldn't absentee ballots just be mailed out to people.  THe vast majority of people who vote by absentee are people who have been disabled for a while.  Typically homebound for whom it's difficult to go out to vote.  They have their status on file with the board of elections who automatically sends them ballots every election.  They don't have to register for it every year.   Doctor certifies them permanent  

Quoted from bumblethru

Well from what I'm reading, there is no cut and dry law for absentee ballots. It's kind of like a 'free for all' here. Which only proves that this town board and attorney are making sh!t up as they go along.

Obviously they COULD HAVE CHOSEN to allow absentee ballots. But they didn't....right? Nice, huh?
Also the date should be changed to November.
Should EVERYONE be allowed to vote......not just property owners?
Speaking of property owners.....what if you own more than one? What if someone owns a home and a business?
AND....is it one vote per household? What if two people's names are on the deed? Do they both get to vote?

I know, I know...too many questions. But this generation will be dead and gone before we get all of the answers!
[Absentee voting]


Am I reading this wrong? Doesn't it say ANY ELECTION?

I asked the town attorney about multiple property owners and the only thing he knew for sure was that each property owner would
have only one vote, regardless of the number of properties they own...he couldn't specify whether all owners of record on individual
properties would be eligible...he didn't know whether they would be taxed on one or more of those properties...and if just one, how
it would be determined which one.

Now I found out that when Nicki DiLeva insisted that this vote be moved to November and that absentee ballots be restored, Mike
Godlewski tried to tell her that they couldn't cancel the vote now...she's not buying it. I am unaware of anything that would prevent
this Board from cancelling that vote and urged her to press on...she reaffirmed her commitment to pursue the matter with the goal
of postponing the vote until November and ensuring the availability of absentee ballots. She is now trying to get the rest of the Board
to join her and Parisi in doing what's right.

Bottom line, if they printed the cards already - that's their fault.  They tried to circumvent the system - and FAILED. They'll just have to be re-printed with the CORRECT information (Nov vote - and instructions for absentee ballots)

Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Lack of absentee ballots criticized REMS referendum limited to single location
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    As the referendum to establish an ambulance district in Rotterdam nears, some are questioning whether the town is putting certain voters at a disadvantage.
    Rotterdam offi cials have decided against offering absentee ballots for the vote on June 29 and will only set up one polling location at Town Hall. The town attorneys advised against offering the mail-in ballots because they would require a registration process for the vote, which is only open to property owners.
    “I don’t think it’ll be a problem,” said Supervisor Frank Del Gallo. “But we’ll have to wait and see.”
    But the lack of absentee ballots has already rankled some residents. Frank Salamone, a Republican running for the Town Board next fall, said voters should be allowed to vote via absentee ballot because they were initially promised that right when the election was set in April.
    “One of the fundamentals of our government is the idea that people get to vote,” he said. “This decision will deprive many Rotterdam residents of that right.”
    The upcoming vote also caught the attention of state Assemblyman George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, who is co-sponsoring legislation that would require municipalities to offer absentee ballots during referendum votes. He said many constituents have contacted him about the lack of absentee ballots in the Rotterdam referendum.
    “This legislation is vital because it would require absentee ballots for all elections statewide to be accounted for,” he said. “The situation we are seeing in the town of Rotterdam repeats itself across New York, and residents who vote by absentee certainly have the right to make their voices heard on these issues.” ...............>>>>...................>>>>...............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00901&AppName=1

Quoted from 147

Bottom line, if they printed the cards already - that's their fault.  They tried to circumvent the system - and FAILED. They'll just have to be re-printed with the CORRECT information (Nov vote - and instructions for absentee ballots)

Mr. Godlewski said that if the date was changed, there may be the option of placing labels with the correct date over the incorrect one.

The vote will be 5 days before the 4th of July, one polling place and there will be no absentee ballots???

GREAT DEPICTION of exactly what is going on with this REMS vote!!  A picture says a thousand words!!!

Quoted Text

Rotterdam residents should OK REMS plan

    The time is coming! On June 29, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Rotterdam property owners will be able to stand up and support Rotterdam EMS [Emergency Medical Services] with a single vote!
    For too long we have talked and talked. It is finally time to support the agency that has grown with our town. Since the 1930s, this agency has been with us in our times of need. Sure, it has taken on different forms and names over the years, but the belief of a quality service and professionalism is still there, as it was then.
    The men and woman of Rotterdam EMS need to count on us as we have counted on them! You support fire and police. You support other public services that are necessary for society. Well, I am telling you that EMS is a vital component of public service and must be funded properly.
EMS is a necessity, not an option. Support the home-grown, not-for-profi t, resident-run Rotterdam EMS!

DREW CHESNEY
Rotterdam
The writer is a former employee of REMS.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00507&AppName=1

There they go again...blasting capitalism...leaving out convenient facts...making it sound as if they are the only game in town...playing on fears and
sympathy. Wake me up when they're ready to discuss reality.

REMS needs to start showing a profit, pay it's bills, and stand on it's own as a business should instead of being a parasite on the tax payers.

I just left the agenda meeting during a discussion about cancelling the 6/29 REMS vote.

Nicki DiLeva was furious with the Board for not previously discussing the planned date before setting it...she herself won't be here and wants to vote
AGAINST that unnecessary tax district...insisted on Primary or Election Day to allow the pre-registration of absentee voters...demanded that they cancel
a vote scheduled at the worst possible time. She spoke of people who are struggling to pay taxes now...of their right to vote on another one...of the
right to know all of the information...and their right to an absentee...scorning them all for their disregard for taxpayers. She questioned each Board
Member of any prior conference on the vote date...none. She reminded FDG of his promise for a November vote.

FDG told her they would go get people who would could call if they need a ride, "just like they do on Election Day"...can you believe it?
DiLeva askedwhat about those who are not here to transport...vacationers, military, hospital, etc. I told her then and there that they
did all of this on purpose...

The town attorneys continued to insist they can't do it in November, which is a blatant lie. FDG asked if we've ever had a special district vote like this
before...silence...I tried to tell them we have and how it was done...naturally I was told to shut up! I tried to tell them that not only do they need to
ensure absentee ballots, but they owe the public all of the information about alternatives before making this choice...I was told to shut up again. And
after being told to shut up a few times, I blasted them for their absolute refusal to listen to the only one in the room who knew the answers to their
questions...who had plausible suggestions as to how the vote could be held in November...who knows there is nothing to stop them from cancelling
that vote...who could have told them all of the same things that brought Ms. DiLeva to the fury she displayed over this...and all against her doctors
orders. She made it clear she defied those orders because she is that passionate about this suspicious tax scheme, and infuriated with the way
they have handled it.

Instead of accepting information they did not have then and there, the town attorney decided he was going to have me removed from the meeting...
I got up and left voluntarily as I told them of their refusal to listen to the same information they should have been sharing with the public long ago.

Shut up the opposition and do what you want to do ... ya, let's see how well that works in the next election.

Incredible arrogance.

even the paper can't spell Del(space)Gallo correctly
desk plate in the cartoon
it is not to hard, just remember what is in his head
nothing but empty(space)

Gadfly-I think "Bobby G" wants to be remembered as the town hero who saved REMS

Let's face it folks...the dems and reps are just a different side of the same coin here. This is the same bullcrap the reps tried to pull. They were even stupid enough to use it as their campaign platform....and lost. This administration is just trying to skirt the issue but hoping for the same end result as the last. The reps would have shoved another tax on the residence of rotterdam just like the dems are!!!

So on the issue of yet ANOTHER tax on rotterdam residence.....it would have been a battle no matter what political party was in control.

As far as ND, and although I commend her voice at the midnight hour......that is just it.....a little too late. Except for the absentee ballot issue, she knew months ago that this vote was going to take place on June 29th.  Where was the outrage then? Where were her letters to the editor? So please gadfly, don't try to make us swell up with gratitude, for an elected official who had ample time to voice her opposition on this issue.

And let's be clear....IF the reps had won and GP was still the town attorney, he would be playing the same hand as the present town attorney. A rep board with GP as their attorney would also be manipulating the system in hopes for the exact same results....THE PASSING OF A TAXING DISTRICT!!!  

It is disgusting!

Quoted from TippyCanoe

even the paper can't spell Del(space)Gallo correctly
desk plate in the cartoon
it is not to hard, just remember what is in his head
nothing but empty(space)

Gadfly-I think "Bobby G" wants to be remembered as the town hero who saved REMS

Yes...his rallying has endeared him to the interested parties...that's why he's the only Board Member I did not bother to contact
about this scam.