That is one of the reasons why I said I needed more info before I could make an assessment. My issue goes back to the ethics committee. It seems rather foolish to me that people just sit back and say that the ethics committee does 'NOTHING'. This would and should fall under their jurisdiction.....if this is even needed at all! Unethical issues need to be enforced in a bipartisan manner.

I personally don't think we need a 'zoning reform'. The more I think about it the more it seems silly to me. This move appears to be in line with what stratton does in the city. How many layers of 'overseers' does he now have over the spd? He just added another 'overseer' to the code enforcers. There are people and committees that are already put into place to handle these issues. If these people or committees are not doing their job, then they need to either DO THEIR JOB, or GET OUT!

The only issue, is that people who are freinds, family  members or political supporters are not getting preferable treatment. There are already layers of committees that should red flag this.....the planning commission, the zoning board, the ethics committee and the town board elected officials. If they can't or don't have the ability to filter through those in question, than 'the people in charge' need to remind them of their job.

The proposed zoning reform is over kill to me. IMHO

Is this a ploy by GP so that he can look like he is doing something?

You guys talking about bigger government and all these horror stories seem like you are just trying to change the subject away from open government. There is no proposed invasion of privacy. There is no layer of government oversight. It's a friggin form. You say ethics in town suck now when there is something to bring ethics to rotterdam you all go off half cocked! Why? Grow up people this is a good thing.

Quoted from 565

You guys talking about bigger government and all these horror stories seem like you are just trying to change the subject away from open government. There is no proposed invasion of privacy. There is no layer of government oversight. It's a friggin form. You say ethics in town suck now when there is something to bring ethics to rotterdam you all go off half cocked! Why? Grow up people this is a good thing.

Relax! Rotterdam already has an ethic committee to oversee 'preferable treatment'. Make them do their job! Give them different guidelines if necessary.  Make these ethical complaints 'public'. There should be a website for the ethics committee where residents can see and read all complaints and their outcomes.

This is not bringing ethics to rotterdam. This is just another way to circumvent the system, just like everything else. If there were a sustainable comp plan in place, none of this would even have to be discussed.

Forgive me for thinking that most rotterdamians already know, who knows who and who donates to who. Rotterdam is small. I honestly don't know what anyone expects as an outcome of this 'reform'. Does that mean that A.santabarbara has to disclose and notarize that he went to school with GP? Does the guy down the street have to disclose and notarize that FDG put in a pool for him? Does the couple have to disclose and notarize that ND was their kid's principle? Does Mallozzi have to disclose and notarize that they gave $$$ to the dem party?
......And what if they lie? Who is going to dig around to find that out?...............another layer of government?..........then what?

Someone already said on this forum..Rotterdam is small and people know eachother.  How detailed are you going to get?  And how come nobody went after HV--between her family working in the town and her husband always being handed the contracts I would say that might have been a good place to start.  Don't you think?

Extra layer of government is....the police doing their job and prosecuting perjury. No extra level of government needed. Keep making stuff up though, you are good at it John.

Quoted from 565

Extra layer of government is....the police doing their job and prosecuting perjury. No extra level of government needed. Keep making stuff up though, you are good at it John.

We already have the ethics committee in place..............use it!

I'm not going to get into a spitting match over something that is only proposed. These are my opinions...k? And this is the way I look at it....k? I think it's a silly reform....k?

and I'm not john.....k?

Quoted from bumblethru

We already have the ethics committee in place..............use it!

I'm not going to get into a spitting match over something that is only proposed. These are my opinions...k? And this is the way I look at it....k? I think it's a silly reform....k?

and I'm not john.....k?

You may not be John Mertz but you are sure arrogant like John Mertz.  No wonder he lost and yet you still run GP and any of his ideas.  Hmmmmmm

What do you think of Mike Greisemer, Bumble.  Is he cool or would Tony Cervera be your "cup" o Joe?

Quoted from 487

You may not be John Mertz but you are sure arrogant like John Mertz.  No wonder he lost and yet you still run GP and any of his ideas.  Hmmmmmm

What do you think of Mike Greisemer, Bumble.  Is he cool or would Tony Cervera be your "cup" o Joe?

Thank you for acknowledging that I am not mertzie. If you think I'm arrogant, that may be the way you are reading my posts. A lot is lost in translation over the internet. I'm really a pretty cool guy!

I have seen MG a couple of times but have NEVER spoken to him. Never had to.
As far as TC, I have NEVER met him. Don't even know what he looks like. And that is the truth!!
So no opinion here!

And like I have stated many times.....I'm not a fan of GP!

Well then ask John Mertz about the debacle he caused on the Ethics Committee.  

I know there is no real teeth in this legistlation but don't we need to know? Even FDG statement that half the town would have to put his name down. Well so be it. We know BI's zoning change and contribution, SYNC's contibution and Brick. But I got to believe this is going to happen quite alot more over the next two years and we should know about the rest. After what went on with EE the Ethics Board certainly isn't going to do anything. At least the general public will be aware. Remember, TRANSPARENCY!

Ok...this is the way I see it....for example....Sync and Galesi both bid on property. Sync won the bid. Now saying that Sync followed all of the rules and procedures AND gave money to the present sitting board's political party, what difference does it make????? If Larned proposed a multi-family housing project AND gave money to the present sitting board's political party AND sold his 'product' to the town AND supplied land for the town's little league, what difference does it make? Everybody already knew and was not surprised that BI and TL would be the first ones to push their agenda through.

If there is a conflict of interest with an attorney, such as in Brick's case, than that is up to the legal system to, or other attorneys to object.

In this town it goes beyond who gave money to who. It boils down to who is 'friends' or 'relatives' with who. And everyone already knows who's in bed with who. I 'believe' that the last administration used the firm that AS works for for projects. Was that a conflict of interest or was this company the best for the job?

Let's go one step further.....how about every single town employee disclose and notarize exactly who they are either friends, family, business associates or political supporters of. How's that for a start?

The way I see it, ya can't discriminate on the grounds of association. If they follow the rules, are qualified and play by the book, there is no recourse. We already knew and know who the players would be with this town board.

When you begin work at the Town YOU DO fill out a conflict of interest form right away.

Quoted Text

TRANSPARENCY

- they only work right when you remove the tissue paper

PERFECT......get it passed

this will give the ethics board bigger cajoles......