No Love And Roses At The New Lebanon Town Board Meeting

by Thaddeus Flint
Valentine’s Day was not a night of love and roses for the New Lebanon Town Board. The monthly meeting once again came a bit undone over problems with the Ethics Board, past administrations and how much the new Town Hall that doesn’t exist is costing to exist on paper.
Resident Joanna Johnson-Smith read out the Town’s own rules on Committee and Board members which require them to be at 75% of meetings or they should be dismissed. She also questioned Council Member Bruce Baldwin as to how many complaints he had faced so far that were investigated by the Ethics Board. By her count it is now four. [private]“I don’t know what you are talking about,” said Baldwin, who stated he has had only one that he knows of; one that was investigated by the Ethics Board without bothering to talk to him about it. Members of the Ethics Board present never really presented any clear number of complaints against Baldwin.
Ethics Board member Kathy Murnane got up and said, “I’m here.” Indeed she was. By being there she was not somewhere else. At last month’s meeting it was stated that she was gone from the town for five months somewhere down south. How could the Ethics Board form a quorum if one of the three members is gone more than 25% of the time? Murnane said that this is untrue. She called up the State Police and told them as well that she was here and that people were saying she wasn’t. “Well, that’s what you get for being in politics,” replied some wit with the State Police.
“No good deed goes unpunished,” added Town Supervisor Mike Benson.
Some of the good deeds of the previous Town Supervisor, Margaret Robertson, were then brought up for punishment. Benson maintains that the previous Town Bookkeeper (and when Benson says the word bookkeeper here he holds his hands up and makes little quotes with his fingers), Anita Crosby, wasn’t really doing all that much bookkeeping. She was fired. This might imply that her boss, Robertson, was ok with no-show employees not showing during her administration. Benson pointed out that the finances were a mess. “Nothing short of irresponsible. The worst thing I have ever seen,” said Benson. The Town had to pay a $651 fine in January to the State for a late payment in December. To clear things up Benson hired the accounting firm of Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci. They will also audit Robertson’s books shortly. “Was this the Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci that the County fired after $9 million dollars went missing?” asked Robertson. Indeed it is. They are also experienced in late fees. When they were known as Pattison, Koskey, Rath & Florio the Town of Millerton fired them, according to a story in the Nov. 6, 1991 Harlem Valley Times, because they failed to file earnings statements for 1990 and 1991. Millerton received a fine of $1,950.
“My God, I was as dumb as a box of rocks,” said Robertson. Was this what everyone thought of her? Robertson said she had wanted an audit of her books done in her presence but was not afforded that luxury. All during her years as Supervisor there were at least three other Board members sitting with her who approved her monthly finance reports. These three are still there, but it is Robertson who seems to be getting all the blame. “It’s very much an attack on my character,” she said.
Benson went on to say he has moved the Town’s money from Bank of America into an account with First Niagara Bank. “It was costing us money to keep our money at Bank of America,” said Benson. Bank of America would pay interest and then “completely wipe it out and then some” at the end of each month in fees. In fact, the Town paid Bank of America $81.16 for keeping its money in January. “First Niagara earns interest all the time and no fees,” stated Benson.
“What interest is First Niagara paying?” asked a resident. “You know, I don’t know off the top of my head,” said Benson, but probably around $2,500 to $3,500 annually. “It’s not a lot of money, but it’s something,” said Benson.
The Dead
Even the dead are having a hard time in New Lebanon. According to Doug Banker of the Lebanon Valley Historical Society, Evergreen Cemetery, the Town’s largest, is suffering financially and lacks funds to adequately maintain its grounds. The cemetery makes a good portion of its revenue from plot sales. “People are living too long; that’s the problem,” pointed out Council Member Doug Clark. “It reflects on the Town what the community thinks of its deceased,” observed Banker. Benson said a request that residents offer their help in the cemetery’s preservation would be added to the next Town News Letter.
Johnson-Smith proposed having people sentenced to community service be used to keep the grave yard from getting too grim. “I think that’s a great idea,” said Benson.
The Town happens to have just the candidates for some community service. If only they could catch them. Some malefactors have been on a vandalism spree lately. Handicapped railings were damaged; a bridge in Shatford Park was attacked, and the new skating rink was slashed and drained. Skating has been cancelled for the season. “They are probably from Canaan!” somebody said of the rapscallions. “No, they are not from Canaan,” laughed Baldwin. Getting a security camera was mentioned “That was one of my first thoughts,” said Benson, “it’s feasible.” Council Member Matt Larabee said that his suggestion was “to fence in the park and put German Shepherds in there.”
Broken Windows
The Broken Window Theory is often cited as a means of keeping crime and vandalism down. If a window is broken you fix it right away. Crime in New Lebanon should then drop off the charts since the Union Free School Building, which is full of broken windows, is being demolished this week. According to Christine Dreyfus of the Historical Society, $56,000 of taxpayers’ money is being used by the New Lebanon School District to turn the Town’s Nationally registered landmark into a parking lot. “If you want a last look at the Union Free School, do it tomorrow,” she said. Dreyfus questioned the point of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. One goal, of many, was to preserve the heritage of the Town and encourage the perpetuation of historical buildings. “The Comprehensive Plan is just a volume collecting dust on a shelf,” said Dreyfus.
With the broken windows gone, the Town might want to look into its drug problem. The problem is you can buy drugs at some businesses in New Lebanon. Resident Kevin Smith pointed out that synthetic marijuana was available legally to anyone who wanted to buy it as incense called K2. “A lot of kids are getting into it,” said Smith. Does the Town have a right to visit these establishments and ask them to pull it? The Town’s Attorney, Andy Howard, felt that this would be “over reaching.” Perhaps a petition could be put together? “We don’t want to badger them,” said Smith, “we don’t have a lot of stores left anyhow.”
Without having a lot of stores left, at least 8,400 cars a day “are driving right by us as fast as they can through our community,” said Clark. A few probably do stop to buy some K2. “We have been in a downward spiral since the loss of our supermarket,” said Clark. “If we could get a new supermarket we would be on an upward spiral.” Clark updated the Board on the recent public discussion held with the Lebanon Valley Business Association at which J. Lord from Hannaford gave his perspectives on challenges from the DOT, DEC and property owners that are making getting new stores all that much more difficult. According to Clark, a sidewalk project for “Main Street” on the Routes 20-22 corridor is in the works, and discussions with DOT about possibly narrowing the road are continuing.
Resident Bob Smith pointed out, “We do have a Main Street, already. It’s been there forever. Call it something else.” The name “Miracle Mile” has been mentioned, although what the miracle is nobody said. The DOT has decided though that the speed limit on the Miracle Mile will stay at 40 mph instead of the 30 that some residents feel would make it safer and more accessible for businesses. A resident proposed that everyone just drive 30 anyway. It would be like “Occupy New Lebanon.” Benson said that there is a bill currently being discussed by the State to allow towns to set their own speed limits. “We may potentially not have to rely on DOT,” said Benson.
The quest for a new Town Hall is also progressing. Clark outlined a project of a simple addition to the current Town Hall building. The new structure would allow for a meeting room, a court room, judge’s chambers, a vault and handicapped bathrooms. “On property we already own with money we already have on hand,” said Clark. The projected cost is thought to be around $200,000. Baldwin proposed using Town services to complete the excavation. “It is conceivable we could start in April,” he said. The project “could be done by the end of the year,” added Clark. Right now authorization is needed to have an architect complete plans and proposals. This would cost about $40,000.
“How much are we going to keep paying this architect?” asked Donna Smith, who worked with the original Building Committee in the fruitless search for a new Town Hall. “$80,000 so far and we don’t have a Town Hall. I don’t get it,” she said. Clark agreed that money might have been poorly spent. “Yes, unfortunately as a Town we spent a lot of money which is down the tubes,” said Clark. “But that money is gone and not coming back.”
Benson, too, seemed to feel that $40,000 was a bit much. He wanted at least two other proposals from other architectural firms. “My goal is to have a Town Hall and spend as little as possible,” said Benson. Right now there is around $186,000 in capital reserve available. Minus the $40,000 for plans would leave $146,000. The missing $60,000 would come from a five year bond. By no longer needing to pay for heat, electricity and other expenses at the court house in the American Legion Hall, the Town could save around $12,000 a year. That alone could pay off the bond without having to raise taxes. A vote was taken and all were in favor, minus Council Member K.B. Chittenden who was absent, of going forward and getting proposals for planning. “Have faith in us,” said Benson.[/private]