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Niskayuna supervisor has conflict of interest with county job

    Re April 25 editorial, “Sch’dy police consolidation issue not so easily dismissed”: I hate to say to Niskayuna residents that I told you so, but I told you so.
    Supervisor Joe Landry’s inherent conflict of interest in serving as counsel to the county Legislature while simultaneously serving as town supervisor has surfaced in the recent debate over consolidation of police services.
    Mr. Landry’s initial comment to the press that “We’ll defer to the county, to whatever the city and county work out” was later altered. However, the unavoidable truth remains: As an attorney, Mr. Landry has an ethical obligation to recuse himself from matters in which he has not only a conflict of interest but also in matters in which there appears to be confl ict of interest. The town supervisor is not only in violation of his ethical obligations as an attorney, but, more importantly, is doing our town a disservice at our expense.
    As the first-ever counsel to the county Legislature, I am keenly aware that there are many issues that surface in which the town’s interests are different than the county’s. This shall not be the last. You cannot serve two masters, especially in matters of the greatest importance such as this, in which our safety and financial well being are at stake. We deserve better.

    MICHAEL P. MANSION
    Niskayuna
The writer is chairman of the town Republican Committee.     

Quoted from 251

The plot thickens.  Pass the popcorn and the jujubeeds.

Stratton and Savage exchanging jabs.  Gardner, Savage's manager getting in an eye poke to Stratton from outside the ropes.  The referee (the press) observes it but makes no disqualification.  The other wrestling camp (the Republicans) sit in the locker room watching the match on the monitors.  Will they come out and take part?  Likely not.   Not on this day.  Is their inaction due to lack of courage or their desire to watch the power struggle for control of their opponenets' camp?  Meanwhile, the spectators (the public) applaud, jeer, and call for more blood, er dirt, to be spilled.  Who will win the belt and the heart of the diva (the police union)?  Will there be a challenge from the Republicans?  The issue will be settled in a battle royale steel cage match (November elections).

Now, turn off the show.  Back to reality where, in the end, there will be no change.  But, it is a good show for the (over)paying audience.

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Schenectady seeks funding to conduct police study
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
By Justin Mason (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY — City officials are seeking state grant funding for a study that would explore consolidation options between the Schenectady Police Department and at least one other law enforcement agency in the county.
The grant through the New York Department of State would provide up to $50,000 to study cost reduction and management improvement options for the city police. Mayor Brian Stratton said the grant could require a 10 percent match from the city but would at last provide a detailed look at the various consolidation options available for the Police Department.
“We are taking the next step as I have always said we should,” he said Tuesday.
Grant writer Sue Lombardi said Schenectady’s Police Department ranks in the top 25th percentile of per capita spending, which makes the city a “high priority” in terms of funding for a study. She said the city spends about $249 per capita on its Police Department, which is $20 more than the state average.
Lombardi said the study would look at a broad array of cost-saving measures. This could include everything from a consolidation of whole departments to sharing of services between police agencies.
“This is really to look at the questions you’ve been talking about,” she said during a meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.
Lombardi said a group from Columbia University already produced a basic study in July that suggested the city investigate consolidation and shared services with other municipalities.
The city will apply for the grant individually rather than with another municipality. Lombardi said the grant award will likely be announced within the next three months.
In March, Stratton proposed consolidation as a way to both save money and solve recurring discipline problems within the city police. The mayor’s call for consolidation was quickly dismissed by county officials and by supervisors from two of the three towns with police departments in Schenectady County..................>>>>.................>>>>...........http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/sep/09/0909_policemerger/

Quoted from bumblethru

I still stand on......dissolve ALL of the police depts and use the State Police. We are paying for them anyway. It would be a win-win!

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Quoted from B GAGE:
Are you for real.....that would never work

Quoted from 251

Why would it not work Brian?  Would you be opposed to working for the NYS Police?
How do those in the Sheriff's Department feel about some form of consolidation?

Quoted from B GAGE

Are you for real.....that would never work