Schenectady County Community College is sponsored by the County of Schenectady. Schenectady County Legislators are elected at large within each district to four-year terms in alternating biennial elections.
District 1 Vincent M. DiCerbo, Deputy Chair Karen B. Johnson Michael Petta District 2 Philip Fields Gary Hughes Edward J. Kosiur, Vice Chair District 3 James Buhrmaster Michael Eidens Robert T. Farley, Minority Leader Dr. Brian Gordon Susan E. Savage, Chair District 4 Judith Dagostino Kent W. Gray, Majority Leader Carolina M. Lazzari Joseph J. Suhrada Appointed Official: Kathleen Rooney, County Manager Brian Quail, Clerk, Schenectady County Legislature
I am writing as an outsider to Schenectady County. I live in southern Rensselaer County, but commute a couple of times a week to take classes on a part-time basis at Schenectady County Community College’s highly regarded music department. It’s not free, but at state tuition, I know I am getting a bargain for my dollar at SCCC. I commend the county Legislature for wanting to build on the music department’s success and authorizing spending for its expansion [Sept. 11 Gazette]. But I am troubled that it did not take the time to consult the people who make up the department before dictating conditions for the expenditure. The true treasure of the SCCC music department is its faculty and staff — not its bricks, either the old ones or the new ones that may be purchased. If the Legislature respects the music department, it seems to me they should also respect the people whose vision, talent and leadership were required to create it. JEFF WAGGONER Nassau
Please don’t misunderstand what I am about to say. I love Proctors and what it has done for the resurgence of downtown Schenectady. What a gem it is in our city. But I also love Schenectady County Community College, and especially its music department. As an over-60 resident of the Stockade, I have taken several free courses at the college, including sitting in on both the jazz and wind ensembles. The music department is a wondrous program that prepares students for the world of the professional musician. I have observed firsthand the strong commitment to the students and to the college of the professional team put together by Willian Meckley. There is no question that these teachers are totally dedicated to making fine professional musicians from the students under their care. The important point to remember is that this process is not done without the help of the rest of SCCC. I have seen students rushing in between other classes to grab a practice room, getting in 30 minutes or an hour of practice time. I have observed how well the music department is integrated into the rest of the college life at SCCC. To move the music department uptown would cut it off from its core of support, the rest of the college. I believe students would feel much too separated and much less an integral part of the total college experience. I am amazed when I read that Bill Meckley and the music department were not even consulted on this idea of moving to Proctors. Why not walk over there and observe what I have seen? BRUCE HOLDEN Schenectady
Well, I haven't read or heard not one positive thing to make me think that it would be in the best interest for SCCC to move it's music dept to Proctors.
However, it clearly seems to be in Suzie's best interest!!
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
Contrary to a {Sept. 22} letter {by Constance J. Ostrowski} that was uninformed and a gross misrepresentation of character, Schenectady County Chairwoman Susan Savage’s proposed plan to move the music and drama programs of SCCC to the heart of downtown Schenectady demonstrates real vision for the college, its students and the city. As Schenectady residents know, the city needs to continue to be aggressive about economic revitalization. Unfortunately, SCCC’s big remodeling plans are for a campus that really can’t sustain more physical growth because it is built in a flood plain. Under Chairwoman Savage’s plan, students will be able to immerse themselves in the heart of downtown, laying a foundation to build a thriving arts community in the city. Across the country, artistic communities have been shown to be incubators that strengthen neighborhoods, attract new residents and build economies. As for concerns about students being allowed to travel off campus for classes, SCCC already has a program that requires travel off campus, which appears to be doing quite well. The commute in this case would be a mere two blocks from the main campus — a stone’s throw away. Susan Savage has articulated a real vision and a plan for a greater Schenectady. Savage is a woman who demonstrates real leadership, exactly the kind that Schenectady County needs to move forward. RONALD EGNACZYK Rotterdam Junction
Perhaps Ronnie should move from Rotterdam Jct and move to the city, huh? When you can't see the storm through the clouds, ya better not write anymore editorials. Or perhaps Ronnie is a good friend of Mr. Mallozzi who happens to also live in the Jct..HMMMMM.....
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
Legislature not trying to bully SCCC, it’s just trying to save money
Recently, there have been a number of letters and opinion pieces dealing with the county’s relationship to the community college and downtown economic development. Many seem to suggest that there is more conflict than cooperation. Nothing could be further from the truth. The college worked closely with the county to land the new police academy on Erie Boulevard. This project has been a huge success for downtown and has helped the college’s criminal justice programs. Our downtown development team at the county also negotiated, and purchased, a key parking lot across from the college that is crucial to supporting the college’s growth. Currently we are working with the college to get a private developer to build housing near the college so that out-of-town students have a great place to live downtown. We are also looking at the potential to utilize facilities like the Armory and the current YMCA to support the college’s future growth. Recently the college played a key role in helping GE recruit hundreds of new workers. The fact is, the college and the county are working together every day. The county is supportive of the college — always has been and always will be. When it comes to the music program, I have attended many of the meetings that have seemed to cause so much concern. The meetings have been cordial and cooperative. Before investing almost $3 million in taxpayer money into this expansion, the county is asking the same due diligence questions that any organization would ask. Through this process, we have learned that the existing 20,000 square feet of music department space is inadequate for the growing music program. We understand that 15,000 square feet of additional space is needed to add classroom, small rehearsal rooms and meet other program requirements. The price tag proposed by the college for this expansion is more than $5 million — which translates into a cost of more than $300 per square foot. This is more than $100 per square foot higher than any other downtown development project. The county Legislature is simply doing its job when it asks about the cost of this project before committing tax dollars to the project. Like any other organization facing a construction project, the Legislature is asking basic questions like: Do you build new or can existing space be renovated at a lower cost? Is there a way to use existing space more efficiently? Is there an alternative to incurring this cost that might save money? Is there a way to raise the local share of the cost for this project using other funding sources so that county taxpayers save money? From the first meeting, there has been discussion with the college about the importance of keeping the entire program together. We showed college staff, offi cials and board members a number of buildings and sites that could absorb all or part of the music program just as we worked with college officials to identify sites for the dormitory project and for the police academy. Nothing is new here. There is no hidden agenda or threats about funding or anything like that. The county Legislature is simply doing its job by evaluating all of the options and how much each option will cost. This is part of the due diligence process that was too often missing in the past when Schenectady projects were announced but never built. RAY GILLEN Schenectady The writer is the county’s commissioner of Economic Development and Planning and chairman of Metroplex.
In response to Ronald Egnaczyk’s Oct. 2 letter concerning Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage’s plan to relocate part of the SCCC music program off the main SCCC campus and into the Proctors complex: According to Ronald’s logic, the whole college should be moved because it is built on a flood plain — sort of like much of the Stockade. There was no concern for the expansion plan being on a flood plain when first proposed, when the plan and funding were approved and the funds set aside — not until after Chairwoman Savage and her legislative majority had suffered several political setbacks within the last year and seemed to decide on yet another unpopular course of action that they feel somehow will raise their political stock just before election time. “Students will be able to immerse themselves in the heart of downtown...” The optimum word here is “students,” whose main endeavor would be “learning,” or perhaps “immersing themselves in learning,” not “immersing” themselves into a particular geographic part of downtown that makes their college experience more difficult. Economic revitalization is not more important than education. “...artistic communities have been shown to be incubators that strengthen neighborhoods, attract new residents and build economies.” The college’s “neighborhood” is the Stockade, not downtown. The only attempts to “attract new residents” into the downtown area have been a few overpriced condos and luxury apartments. Finally, the section of State Street that is actually adjacent to the college, and is in great need of revitalization, has virtually no economic development projects in the works. The other program at the college, which already has students traveling off campus: Does it require them to haul bulky equipment like musical instruments? And why, if Egnaczyk is so “well-informed” about this other program, didn’t he elaborate as to exactly what program that might be? Lastly, Egnaczyk’s math and athletic skills may require his return to grammar school. First, Proctors is four and a half long blocks up State Street from the college, not the two he imagines it to be, and is a stroll that requires the crossing of two major city arteries. Second, I would guess that Egnaczyk was never taught to throw a ball or a stone — no less an accurate statement — if he thinks the walk from the college to Proctors is a “stone’s throw.” Egnaczyk’s letter is a blatant political hack job. It is by far the weakest attempt to justify a terrible plan by Ms. Savage. If Ms. Savage had an ounce of political acumen, she would be spending her energies finding some graceful ways to mend fences with her own fellow majority legislators and the community at large. But, fortunately or not, that is not her style. DAVID A. FREEDGOOD Schenectady
Let experts decide location of SCCC’s music program
We write to express our concern regarding Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage’s proposal to wrench the Schenectady County Community College’s music program from the SCCC campus. This issue has never once come before the county Legislature. Sadly, like far too many other issues facing our county, Ms. Savage prefers to rule by decree, rather than to entertain any public or legislative discussion or debate. SCCC’s music program has earned a national reputation for excellence, educating students and empowering them to develop the skills necessary for their success. It does not exist to meet the whims or social engineering of any politician. Teachers and students have gone on record opposing this move. The chairman of the music department [William Meckley] presented an especially compelling case for remaining on campus. That is why the Republican members of the county Legislature are all uniformly opposed to Ms. Savage’s proposal. County taxpayers, sensitive to the need to provide our students with a quality education, have invested millions in the present SCCC campus. The college’s professors, trustees and students, have all stated how unwise it would be to abandon these present facilities, to arbitrarily divide the community college, and to isolate its music students from the main campus. We have asked why would anyone disregard the opinions of those who have built this highly successful program? Why would we jeopardize the study methods and time requirements of the students? Why would we abandon the infrastructure in which we have already invested so much, to dump even larger sums of taxpayer dollars into a new, inconvenient location? We have received no satisfactory or even understandable answer. Common sense tells us to oppose this proposal. We hear what educators, students, and the public are saying. We do not pretend to know more than those so crucially impacted by our decision. We respect the taxpayers and know they work hard to pay county taxes. We value common sense. For all these reasons, we stand by our students and our educators and will oppose frivolously moving SCCC’s music program. ROBERT T. FARLEY Schenectady The writer is county Legislator minority leader. The letter was also signed by county Legislators James Buhrmaster, Carolina Lazzari, Joseph Suhrada.
Come on Suzie, we dare ya. Don't give the money to SCCC unless they agree to the move. Than I hope someone throws some water on you and you just melt away....you witch!
That's from the Wizard of Oz in case anyone has been unfortunate enough to see it! That is how they knocked off the wicked witch.
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
‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ applies to SCCC music department RUTH E. BERGERON Schenectady
Re Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen’s Oct. 6 letter, “Legislature not trying to bully SCCC, it’s just trying to save money”: It is worth noting in his letter that he is not personally advocating for the relocation of SCCC’s music department. He emphasized that he has worked cooperatively with the county Legislature “to show college staff, officials and board members a number of buildings and sites that could absorb all or part of the music program.” The legislative leadership position (stated quite clearly in the Sept. 16 Viewpoint) is that it wants to move the entire music department “uptown.” County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage commented, “I would also like to point out that universities have arts programs on separate campuses. Fordham University, for example, has its arts program at its Lincoln Center campus. I don’t propose these ideas to cut expenses or shortchange SCCC.” I must point out that downtown Schenectady is not a metropolitan area, so the comparison with Fordham University is hardly a valid one. However, if one academic institution is proving balky, why not ask Union College if it would like to move its arts or music departments downtown? I think the resounding reply from Union College would be, “No, thanks, why would we want to do that? Everything is here in one location, it’s convenient and it works.” My point is, the music department at SCCC has everything it needs in one place and it is working just fine. SCCC wants to expand on what it already has in place to add additional practice rooms, one more classroom and a small recording studio. All these items were in the plan completed and paid for with money approved by the county Legislature. It is very hard to escape the conviction that county leadership is playing hardball with SCCC because it controls a significant source of funding for the college. It doesn’t have that kind of leverage with Union College so the arts/music departments at Union are staying right where they are. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — is still a good operating principle. Find some other tenants to occupy those new spaces downtown. And how about making it a point to go to some of those wonderful concerts at SCCC, and spend some time visiting those classrooms?
I am writing to support Dr. William Meckley’s position about the SCCC Music Department staying in its current location, as part of the SCCC campus. Having the unique position of serving 10 years as an adjunct music instructor at SCCC, and having recently retired as the music supervisor of Shenendehowa Central Schools, I can see the validity of his concerns from both the professional and the instructional perspective. During my time as an SCCC instructor, in addition to lecture-type classes, I taught chorus, aural skills, piano lessons and piano labs. In every instance, the courses that offered the students the most difficulty were the ones that required practice time. As Dr. Meckley clearly articulated, most of the students at SCCC work full- or part-time, in addition to their college classes. They must find time and space to practice for their courses, in addition to their major instrument. They must also fulfill other course requirements that would require commuting to the SCCC campus. During the last eight years as Shenendehowa music supervisor, we hired 23 music teachers. Candidates who had not mastered their instrument had a difficult time convincing committees of musician/teachers that they could develop these skills in their classrooms. This proposal would add cost to the original, legislatively approved plan for increased space since there would be a duplication of space and materials that already exist on the campus. A question arises as to the use of the current music space at SCCC. Practice rooms do not translate into other instructional spaces. The most troubling aspect of this entire discussion involves the lack of communication between the members of the board and the music staff and students. Open and honest communication between both parties is the only way to achieve the best solution for the students. The students in this case seem to be the ones without a voice. I would love to see the space at Proctors evolve into a true arts center. Perhaps a preparatory school that would include music, dance and drama instruction would add a community presence downtown. It would seem that the board could keep its commitment to SCCC, and the music students, while expanding arts experiences for the young people in the Capital Region. As a member of the music advisory board to SCCC, I urge county Legislature to return to its original position with regard to the SCCC expansion plan. DIANE BRENNAN WARNER Clifton Park
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Officials propose SCCC music move Program would be at Center City BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Schenectady County legislative leaders are proposing to relocate the community college’s entire music program to Center City on State Street, aided by state and federal funds. County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, said the county is “in line for approximately $8 million in state and federal money, which would enable us to do the entire music program in one location at little or no cost to county taxpayers.” She said she presented a detailed overview of the Center City proposal, complete with architectural drawings, in October to Schenectady County Community College’s board of trustees in executive session. County Legislator Vincent DiCerbo, D-Schenectady, who serves as an SCCC trustee, said the Galesi Group would refit a portion of Center City to meet the music program’s standards. Galesi, a major developer in the county, is in the process of purchasing Center City from the Robert Lupe family. The family owns the office and retail portions of the four-story, 117,000-square-foot building at 433 State St., and the city owns the indoor soccer field and manages it through the nonprofit Center City Committee. About $5 million of the $8 million available to the county would come from the state’s RestoreNY program and the rest from a similar federal program, DiCerbo said. SCCC Board President Robert Ruggeri would not discuss the college’s negotiations with the county in detail. “We are continuing to work with the county to arrive at the best solution for the expansion of the music program,” he said. “We appreciate all of the county’s support and interest, and they continue to make suggestions, which we give very serious consideration to.” College President Gabriel Basil said, “We should have something definitive over the next couple of weeks. Our board is talking with the leader of the county Legislature, and Metroplex [Development Authority] is involved.” The college and county have been at loggerheads over the music program’s future since the summer. The college had wanted the county Legislature to release its $2.7 million share toward construction of a $5.7 million addition to Begley Hall. The addition would contain a classroom, recording studio and 10 practice rooms for the college’s music program. College officials said they need to expand the program to maintain its accreditation and accommodate growing student interest. The release of county funds would have allowed the state to include the addition in an upcoming bond issue. SCCC had hoped to break ground on the addition this year. The county, instead, wanted to discuss moving some or all of the music program downtown, and the bonding deadline soon passed. The next bonding opportunity is in the spring, Basil said. Savage said moving the entire music program to Center City would help SCCC in the long run. “If the county can do major a project at no cost to taxpayers, then that gives us the ability to look at other projects at the college,” she said. SCCC’s board is proposing to spend $78 million between 2008 and 2014 to repair and maintain existing campus buildings and to expand beyond its current site near the Western Gateway Bridge. As the college’s chief sponsor, the county is responsible for covering half this cost, some $39 million, along with the state. DiCerbo called the $39 million “a very big bill for the county, so we have to plan for the future and see where we can go and make the best use of our money.” The college’s master plan, released in June, includes proposals to spend $14 million in repairs to Elston Hall and $3.6 million to Begley Hall; $2.9 million for athletic improvements and $53.9 million for expansion. These costs are separate from the proposed $5.7 million addition to Begley Hall. The $53.9 million also includes construction of a parking garage at $22 million and of a new public safety and business center at $24 million. DiCerbo said “$36 million in the master plan [primarily for the parking garage and repairs to Elston Hall] are directly related to the shortsighted decision to locate the college at its current location.” He called Elston Hall, a former hotel, “a disaster that will cost $14 million just to bring up to standards.” DiCerbo continued: “Quite frankly, every time I think about it, it appears we are sinking good money into a bad building. God knows how much more it needs. Every dollar we sink into Elston Hall is money we could use for new projects.” Before the master plan’s release in June, county officials had expected to spend $9 million through 2012 on college repairs.
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