SUPER CALLS FOR CITIZEN PANEL (SCHENECTADY COUNTY, ROTTERDAM)
Posted on: 01/25/08 Ross Marvin, Spotlight Staff email: marvinr@spotlightnews.com
Rotterdam’s town board was slated to consider a resolution that would create a special committee designed to survey and study appropriate salary ranges and terms for all elected and appointed town officials at the Wednesday, Jan. 23, meeting.
Supervisor Steven Tommasone said that if the resolution passes, the panel would consist of no more than five members and would serve the purpose of making recommendations to the town board as part of the 2008 budget process.
Tommasone mentioned two names of people being considered for the committee — Diane Marco and Kevin March.
Marco, who retired from the board last month after eight years of service, was outspoken in her belief that members of the town board deserve a pay increase. She said members hadn’t seen an increase in pay in 17 years.
Last year’s board, which included Marco, voted 3-to-2 to propose a $5,000 salary increase for each of the four town board members. The vote proposed a local law subject to permissive referendum that would amend the 2008 budget to appropriate $20,000 for board member salaries. The raise would not have affected the supervisor’s $16,000 annual salary, but would have bumped members’ salaries from $10,000 to $15,000 annually.
At a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, the new town board found itself in a 2-to-2 deadlock vote on the resolution that would have ultimately accounted for the raises and amended the 2008 budget.
March, a Rotterdam resident, was adamantly against the raises, speaking out at both the New Year’s Day public hearing and at the Jan. 9 meeting.
March said he would probably be interested in joining the special committee because it would involve members of the public.
“People in the community need to realize that they should take more action in what happens in the government both locally and nationally,” said March. “People need to speak out at meetings instead of complaining about things after the fact.”
March also said he wouldn’t rule out the possibility that the board deserves a raise. He said the procedural aspects of the recently proposed raises upset him.
“The raises were brought up after the November elections and the public hearing on the issue was held on a holiday,” said March. He said that both of these occurrences may have limited the input of the public on the issue.
He also said that a 50 percent salary increase at one time was too much, but that after a proper period of research and community involvement, a more reasonable increase might be determined.
Councilman Joe Signore, who was a strong proponent of the raises, agreed with March that more public involvement on the issue would be in the town’s best interest.
“This committee would put away any doubts that things were being done behind the scenes,” said Signore. “The salaries of all town appointees and employees, not just the board, can be discussed in public and we can get more input.”
Signore went on to say that he hopes the proposed committee would find that a raise for the board would be good for both Republicans and Democrats, as it would attract high-quality candidates.
Councilman Joe Signore, who was a strong proponent of the raises, agreed with March that more public involvement on the issue would be in the town’s best interest.
Interesting, considering he hasn't really said anything at any of the public meetings regarding this.
Quoted Text
Supervisor Steven Tommasone said that if the resolution passes, the panel would consist of no more than five members and would serve the purpose of making recommendations to the town board as part of the 2008 budget process.
So, is this what Joe Signore was talking about when he mentioned that more public involvement is needed? Instead of 5 people originally agreeing on this (Tommasone, Mertz, Signore, Godlewski and Marco), we now need to get together a group of no more than 5 people (myself, Ms. Marco and UP TO 3, as of now unnamed people) shows MORE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT?
Only if this goes out to the people and is actually given a chance to be debated and considered at least a few times and that there are different choices of what's going to happen (not just a yes or no to raises).
BTW, how is a group of 5 people, including one person who originally was on the board voting for this, meeting in some dark alley when other people don't know, going to make sure this isn't done behind the scenes?
Kevin, you have already eloquently stated your stand on this issue, on record at a town meeting. And Diane Marco has also stated her stand, on record at a town meeting. Both statements being echoed in the paper.
My guess is that 5 people deciding on a raise seems more appealing than 30,000+ in a permissive referendum.
Again, the issue is not the raise, it was how it was implemented. There are too many more important pressing issues facing Rotterdam right now. Many being a quality of life isssue for some. The raise should be up for discussion in next years budget.
Well, believe me, you know i have no problem standing in front of the board and telling them my feelings, so if nothing comes of the committee, I can just go up and tell them right to their faces at a board meeting.
And don't forget, I will be looking for input from others.
I PERSONALLY would not agree to being a part of this committee just on principle alone! The board is obviously divided on this issue so they will now play the residents as pawns by schmozzing (however ya spell it) them into thinking they will make a difference if they are on a committee. To that I say poppy cock. They do this all of the time.
Come on now, these people were elected to be decision makers. To govern the people. To govern the finances. TO BE LEADERS!! Forming a committee soley to get input for a raise from 5 FIVE, people is bizarre! It clearly displays their lack of ability in their decision making roles.
It has already been discussed at public hearings. And it has already been voted down. So now they will send in the pawns to distract from their inability to lead!
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
Well, believe me, you know i have no problem standing in front of the board and telling them my feelings, so if nothing comes of the committee, I can just go up and tell them right to their faces at a board meeting.
And don't forget, I will be looking for input from others.
Use the media and write down your statements so they cannot get twisted.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Well, believe me, you know i have no problem standing in front of the board and telling them my feelings, so if nothing comes of the committee, I can just go up and tell them right to their faces at a board meeting
But you have already done that! Why are we wasting more time on this issue? They can't wait until the end of this year to implement it at budget time? Is there that much of a power play going on with those 5 elected officials? And I would like to know who invited Diane Marco into this hoop-a-la! Of course she will say 'yes'. She works for Stratton now....ya know, the tax and spend guy who voted themselves a raise as well.
Just when ya think the reps couldn't get any worse!
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
Wel, if they didn't appoint at LEAST one person who was already outspoken in favor of the raises, then they would be told that they were being unfair and partisan! First, they take control of the board in a suprmajority, now they create a committee to talk about raises with a known fact that it would swing one way or the other? I think it's the idea of being bipartisan thatthey're trying to get through.
It is quite clear what they are doing. But, we are only talking about a stupid raise here. Partisan or not, there is clearly a division within the reps themselves. So these elected officials who were elected to be leaders and make decisions obviously can't. Only 2.... TWO members are for the raise. And like I said, they have had a public hearing on the matter and it has already been voted on. Not good enough, huh?
This reminds me of the school budgets when they are voted down the first time. They just keep bringing it up for a new vote until it is passed!!
This is not about you personally, for me it is all about this ridiculous committee they are attempting to create.
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
Yeah, I admit that they're looking at a backdoor way to get their raises. And I'll say this right now. I may be willing to give them something. I will not say right now that I will never give them anything. One thing that I am HAPPY about is that this is going to look at ALL positions, elected and appointed. If we decide (and it's actually used in the end) to give ANYONE a raise, I will personally make sure that this is either bringing it to a point where it is equal with surrounding areas (as I don't know what the difference is at this time) or that the money that is given as additional to one position to make it "more attractive" to prospective people, i will look to see where that money can come from another position, essentially making the raise as far as the town budget 0.
Ms.Marco that works for Stratton who got his raise? It's either the government or its the mofia---I guess we have a choice of who to pay that "protection money" to......who ever controls the guns/money/transportation etc controls the masses.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Yeah, I admit that they're looking at a backdoor way to get their raises. And I'll say this right now. I may be willing to give them something. I will not say right now that I will never give them anything. One thing that I am HAPPY about is that this is going to look at ALL positions, elected and appointed. If we decide (and it's actually used in the end) to give ANYONE a raise, I will personally make sure that this is either bringing it to a point where it is equal with surrounding areas (as I don't know what the difference is at this time) or that the money that is given as additional to one position to make it "more attractive" to prospective people, i will look to see where that money can come from another position, essentially making the raise as far as the town budget 0.
we cannot compare Rotterdam to Guilderland or Nisky....more like Scotia village.....
BTW have you heard anything?
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Logged
