Bumble, there are ways to build homes in an area with a high water table like Rotterdam has but there must be rules and they must be followed exactly as they are written. If the water table  is 42" below the ground then a house with a full basement must not be built. Drainage ditches which that were put in by the developer when the developments were built 50 years ago must be periodically cleaned out of leaves, debris and fallen trees which has never been done in this town. There's an agreement which our town signed which said they would do certain things to keep pollution out of the Normanskill Creek so that it didn't contaminate the Watervliet Reservoir drinking water that hasn't been lived up to. As Michael has said this town needs a COMP plan to spell out how things are to be done so that we done create more problems when a development is built. Builders, developers, and engineers must be held responsible for problems which do occur, thru a bond, after a development is built which protects the taxpayer and town from costly repairs in the future. Houses were built blocking a natural drainage area which resulted in water backing up and not draining properly which soaks back into the ground becoming ground water and raising the water table. Many of the water problems of today were created by things done many years ago and now the town and the taxpayer have to foot the bill to correct them. Years ago there were too many good ole boy deals worked out which we are now paying.  

Quoted from 153

Greasin the skids for the former Dem Chair Mike Greasemer's exit?   Very interesting...what
took ya sooo long Steve?  And then to have that "hack" DiLello at the helm????  I thought those days of cronyism died with frank bean.  Hey I heard a rumor that Surprise, Surprise Surprise
has been handin out assessment reductions to all his Rotterdam NiMo buddies...Only in
Rotterdam does this stuff go on uncheck and swept under the rug.

Agree with ya......but, every town is a dysfunctional family.........who's zoomin' who?????

Having a qualified REGISTERED  engineer " in your pocket " so to speak- is usually very effective. Many large projects I have been  on - the general contractor will try and "wrestle " or figure a way to get the engineers on site resident engineer  on their payroll.

Myopic  thinking and a good dose of " political radiation "- usually found in small towns in the upper north east will put a political spin on anything-
so you need to form a commitee - vote on a resolution  to rewrite the constitution ... bla -bla- blas ona and on

It's a damned if ya do or damned if ya don't situation. However, having an engineer in the town's back pocket can come with it's problems as well. The position can then become too politicized. We need to keep government out of as many aspects as possible.

Look, we had an assessor in 'our back pocket' at the time of the reval.....and what good did that do? People in political service tend to become complacent. Unless they have a driving passion for their position and desire to serve, it appears to be just a warm secure seat. Well, that is until the parties change hands. And we don't need to pay for yet another 'warm secure seat'.IMHO

Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Planning panel gets OK for engineer
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Rotterdam officials approved a zoning amendment that will allow the Planning Commission chairman to appoint a town engineer for certain projects.
    John Mertz was the only Town Board member to vote against the amendment on Wednesday, saying it could potentially reduce government transparency.
    Previously, the Town Board was responsible for selecting an engineer when one is recommended by the Planning Department. Such projects would first go before the commission, which would then forward the matter to the board to hire the engineer.
    Some town officials argued this process set some projects back more than two months. They said allowing the commission to select the engineer would streamline the process.
    “The issue from my perspective is that we allow the Planning Commission to do its job,” Supervisor Steve Tommasone said during a public hearing on the amendment earlier this month.
    Rotterdam began exclusively using town-designated engineers paid for by developers after then-supervisor John Paolino eliminated the town engineer’s position in 2003. The Town Board then created a public works coordinator position and put language in the town code stipulating that developers would need to pay for an engineering consultant as part of their administrative fees.
    Joe Bianchine, a partner with ABD Engineers, said the time it takes to hire an engineer can sometimes be burdensome to developers. He said a month can add significant obstacles to certain projects, even if it doesn’t sound like a long time.
    “It may not seem like a big deal, but to some developers a month is a lot of time,” he said during the public hearing.
    Mertz wasn’t convinced. He argued the board usually meets at least once a week for either its agenda meeting or regular business session.
    “Somebody needs to explain to me how there’s a 30-day delay when we meet every week,” he said.
    Resident Michael O’Connor also...........http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01403

This plan leaves the door open for special treatment if the selected engineer follows the planning boards recommendations instead of doing an impartial review of a project. In the past if an engineering firms analysis of a project differed from what the town wanted to hear to fix the problem the town just kept hiring engineering firms until it got the results the town wanted. Business as usual and don't rock the boat mentality.

Quoted from Shadow

Business as usual and don't rock the boat mentality.

I'm beginning to think the same way. I really don't see what difference it will make. The town board would still make the ultimate decision in the end. To me that seems like they are just adding an extra layer to the process.

The Town Board will tell you exactly the opposite…that they are actually stripping a layer away by giving the Planning Commission this authority.  The problem is the process becomes more opaque, not transparent.  Good luck trying to figure the criteria for being among “preferred” engineers or the guidelines used for selection from that list.

Who will provide the checks and balances of vetting possible conflicts of interest?  Right now anyway, the Town Board has rightly been responsible for that aspect.  Once again, the town is eager to serve developer interest over resident interest and in the process relieve themselves of direct accountability.

It really comes down to a question of transparency and Mr. Mertz is dead on correct when he suggests that this action will occlude required sunlight.

I am very surprised at this latest decision. It clearly will not cut the time for development. In fact it appears that it will add delays to it. And I also agree that there will be no oversight.

repubs giving more friends do nothin jobs.  waste of tax payer $$$.  Godlewski wont let this happen when hes elected.

The two zoning change contemplations in the other thread begin to make the concerns about this engineering switch even more troublesome.  Can you see Town Board accountability evaporating before your eyes yet?

AM I READING THE ARTICLE WRONG OR ARE YOU GENTS?  MERTZ WANTS TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO THE ENGINEERS WILL BE.  IS THIS STEINBERG ENGINEER A TOWN EMPLOYEE?  IS THIS WHY MERTZ IS OPPOSING THIS OR IS IT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS ON WHO GETS THE ENGINEERING CONTRACTS WITH THE TOWN?  WHAT'S HE GAIN BY NOT ACCEPTING THE DECISIONS OF THE PLANNING BOARD?  FOR THE TOWN BOARD TO JUST RATIFY THE DECISION OF THE PLANNING BOARD DOES APPEAR TO BE A RUBBER STAMP.  WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?

occlusion at it's best----either way.......