SCHENECTADY Assessor rescinds retirement, says he won’t be forced out BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
The city’s assessor isn’t leaving after all. Patrick Mastro has rescinded his retirement. He was to leave on Oct. 29, accepting an incentive to retire early. Instead, he’ll stay for at least another year. His contract expires in October 2013. The decision will cost the city. Mayor Brian U. Stratton had said he would replace Mastro with a cheaper assessor, possibly by sharing the work with Schenectady County. The state’s early retirement incentive was intended to help cities save money by consolidating positions or hiring less experienced workers at lower salaries. Instead, the city will continue to pay Mastro’s $83,200 salary, as well as setting aside upward of $15,000 to cover his sick time and vacation time buyouts if he retires next year. Mastro declined to explain why he decided not to retire. “It was a personal decision, and that’s all I’m going to say,” he said. “There’s a possibility I would retire next year.” He emphasized that he won’t be forced to retire. “That’s my decision to make,” he said. ......................>>>>........................>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01402&AppName=1
WTF! You're kidding right? This shows again what a joke this all DEM City is. Early retirements are announced and Mayor SOS states at least 100 City employee will accept. Less than a dozen take it and now they are already starting to renege.
It was also announced there are 36 City vehicles. How many will be returned to avoid police and fire layoffs? ZERO. In fact the Mayor is adding to his travel fund. Clueless-leaderless-a City in free fall.
Didn't Pat Zollinger bring up the expenses of "take home" vehicles in part of her campaign? Now Ba-Ba is going to try and take credit for it? Where has Barb been for the past few years??
Isn't this assessor the same man who callously allowed over-inflated assessments to many of the City taxpayers? Forcing older residents to re-locate and many others out of their life-long family homes?
Does he even LIVE in the City? Remarkable that half the City workforce doesn't even live in Schenectady, but feels comfortable taking one of 36 City vehicles home with them! This criminal activity needs to stop!! If you work for the City....you better live here!!
If there is no vested interest for these employees, why would they care if they waste our taxpayer money? Answer: They don't care and they spend frivolously.
Isn't this assessor the same man who callously allowed over-inflated assessments to many of the City taxpayers? Forcing older residents to re-locate and many others out of their life-long family homes?
Does he even LIVE in the City? Remarkable that half the City workforce doesn't even live in Schenectady, but feels comfortable taking one of 36 City vehicles home with them! This criminal activity needs to stop!! If you work for the City....you better live here!!
If there is no vested interest for these employees, why would they care if they waste our taxpayer money? Answer: They don't care and they spend frivolously.
He lives in Latham! Start enforcing the City residency requirements for City Hall brass. Not only did Mastro lock in assessments at the top of the housing boom, he orchestrated that assessment appeal circus. A thousand sheeple standing in line for hours only to be abused by horrible Lady Madonna. Bye-Bye. Another so Schenectady.
Good for BA-BA. This has more to do with her environmental wackiness than fiscal restraint but any port in a storm. The City needs to get out of free car business. If you want to work for the a City provide your own vehicle and cellphone. This insanity along with the DSIC, and SOS travel fund has to end. Stop balancing the budget on the backs of firemen and police.
But instead of making intelligent budget decisions, they choose to cut services that deal with saving lives instead of cutting stuff like the vehicles.
And instead of making the wealth pay their taxes, they raise taxes on the lower income people AND make them pay the taxes for the wealthy on top of it.
But, these are the things that DV claims is an improvement in the city. He would NEVER criticize his fellow dems for avoiding the city taxes by living outside the city. He would NEVER criticize his fellow dems for making the lower income people, and elderly on fixed incomes pay the taxes for the rich businesses. ETc.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
And instead of making the wealth pay their taxes, they raise taxes on the lower income people AND make them pay the taxes for the wealthy on top of it.
Ya got this one wrong MC. Liberal socialists are in the process of doing away with the middle class. That is also right out of the nazi playbook! They want just 2 classes.....the lower class and the rich....PERIOD! Think about it....no COLA for social security, no jobs (more people on public assistance), only low paying jobs, if any, are available!
The liberal socialists are in the process of squeezing out the middle class!!!!
As far as the wealthy paying their taxes.....IF they have honestly made their money from years of hard work and sweat, then you shouldn't have a gripe.
If they have become wealthy from created government patronage jobs or by getting their hands greased through back door deals, then you gripe is justified.
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
my guess is that the liberal socialists are mainly women who have careers or who want to be able to 'put off' the burden of their choices.....and also are the men who are able to pay for their women to stay home and afford childcare and the likes......JMHO.........anyone have anything else to offer?
...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
Last week there was mention here that city Assessor Pat Mastro was taking an early retirement incentive, and insiders said Nick Barber was in line for the job.
Well, Mastro unexpectedly decided to stay on for another year. In the interim, Barber told me he's no longer interested in being assessor. He's retiring from a county position at year's end. He said he has other irons in the fire.................>>>>.....................>>>>................http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Candidates-hesitant-to-mention-unions-712345.php#page-2
Another only in Schenectady. Solo Assessor Mastro {from Latham} signs up for early retirement. Great! Finally! One of only 12 to do so. Mayor SOS said at least 100 would take early retirement but only 12 do. Now Mastro flip flops, says he will stay on for another year. Taxpayers go to hell.
Why is this allowed? Didn't he sign an early retirement form? After the complete reassessment appeal debacle this assessor should have been fired not allowed early retirement. This whole story stinks from rotten fish. Somebody is lying and the press needs to get away from the fax machine and get to the bottom of this.
SCHENECTADY Controversial city assessor Mastro set to resign BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
Schenectady’s hard-nosed assessor is resigning, effective Monday. Assessor Patrick Mastro may leave with a sizeable payout for unused sick, personal and vacation time as well, although the city has a policy of not paying for most sick and personal time. Last year, Director of Administration John Paolino said every department head hired under Mayor Brian U. Stratton’s administration had agreed to that policy. But then the council discovered that many managers believed they had verbal contracts promising benefi ts that had never been approved. Council members are trying to write legislation to end those unwritten agreements, but have not succeeded yet. The City Council will vote Monday on whether to give Mastro the payout. The draft legislation did not include the amount of the payout. Council members met behind closed doors to discuss it. Mastro, who has an annual salary of $83,200, was originally going to resign last October. He withdrew his resignation at the last minute and said he would stay indefinitely. However, council members said they were told he would leave in January. “The whole thing was always that he was going to postpone his resignation until the first part of the year,” Council President Gary Mc-Carthy said, adding that the decision gave city officials time to fi nd a replacement. “It’s always better if you have lead time. You can do a smoother transition,” he said. Several people have interviewed for the job, he added. Stratton did not return a call asking whether he had chosen Mastro’s replacement yet. Stratton has sole authority over the appointment. Last fall, Stratton said he wanted to reorganize the assessment offi ce and possibly get rid of it altogether by merging with the county’s real property tax service agency. Mastro came under heavy criticism during his six years in Schenectady. ....................>>>>...................>>>>.........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01301&AppName=1
If he has nothing in writing he shouldn't get a payout period. Not gonna miss that guy, lots of grief at greivances. Now to get a new assessment review board !!!!!!
If he has nothing in writing he shouldn't get a payout period. Not gonna miss that guy, lots of grief at grievances. Now to get a new assessment review board !!!!!!
Amen! The best news of the year! Complete contempt for the oppressed City taxpayer. This post should immediately go to Nick Barber a real class act who could turn around this offices ugly reputation.
The City assessment review bored "led" by Lady Madonna should all be replaced. A group of fossil Socialists who disgraced themselves.
Logged
WTF! You're kidding right? This shows again what a joke this all DEM City is. Early retirements are announced and Mayor SOS states at least 100 City employee will accept. Less than a dozen take it and now they are already starting to renege.
