New Lebanon Town Board Action – Assessor Resigns

by Thaddeus Flint
As spring comes to New Lebanon so, too, comes change. And while everyone is probably looking forward to spring, not everyone is as welcoming of change.
One of the more unwelcome changes discussed at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting was the surprise departure of the Town’s Assessor, Craig Surprise. After 21 years at that position, Surprise’s final day with the Town will be Thursday.
“Why did he leave?” asked resident Bob Smith.
[private]“You have to ask him,” responded Town Supervisor Mike Benson.
“It’s not an appropriate time for him to resign,” pointed out Council Member Bruce Baldwin. Deadlines for tax exemptions and Grievance day itself are rapidly approaching. “We need to get somebody up there immediately,” Baldwin added.
Strangely, Surprise was quoted in the March 7 Chatham Courier saying that his successor in New Lebanon is to be Thomas Griffin, the Acting Assessor in Kinderhook.
Benson disagreed. “Despite what the word on the street is, there has been no appointment of a new assessor,” said Benson. The Town will be advertising the position, and a date of March 30 was set as the deadline for applications which can be mailed to Town of New Lebanon, P.O. Box 328, New Lebanon, NY, 12125, emailed to mbenson@townofnewlebanon.com or faxed to the Town Hall at 518-794-9694.
Resident Cynthia Creech voiced her concern that not having an assessor might cause problems with exemption filings. Creech, who owns an area farm specializing in the breeding and preservation of Randall Cattle, would be seeking agricultural exemptions.
Benson stated that he had already contacted Columbia County about getting exemption delays due to not having an assessor to process them. “We have taken the steps,” said Benson, who added that the County had assured him everything will be fine.
“And you are sure there will not be a problem?” Creech asked.
“I can only assure you what the County has assured us,” assured Benson. “As I sit here that’s the most I can assure you.”
Creech didn’t look very assured.
Town Engineer Replaced
While the Town will need some time to replace its Assessor, they were quick about finding a new Town Engineer. Morris Associates Engineer Paul McCreary has joined the growing “out” list of people whose services are no longer needed by New Lebanon. That list already includes Bookkeeper Anita Crosby and Court Clerk Diane Reynolds-Brown.
“Why?” asked Council Member Matt Larabee. “Why do we need a new engineer?”
Council Member Doug Clark said there had been some “issues” with McCreary.
“What issues?” persisted Larabee.
“Do you know how many muffins you have to sell to pay for $20,000 in curb cuts?” asked Benson.
Nobody seemed to know how many muffins you have to sell to pay for $20,000 in curb cuts.
“A lot of muffins!” said Benson. Benson was talking about the now defunct Judy’s Gifts. Judy wanted to sell muffins and, supposedly, McCreary had brought NYSDOT into the matter which resulted in $20,000 of curb cuts being needed.
“Why did DOT ask for the curb cuts?” asked Larabee.
“Because they can!” exclaimed Benson. “There was no need to involve DOT in an issue like this,” he added. To Benson such advice was “bad advice” and was part of the reason the Town had such a dearth of vibrant businesses.
“The Town is in a downward spiral,” said Clark. And the Town would probably continue to downwardly spiral, “until we take control of our own destiny,” said Benson.  Handing your destiny to the NYSDOT was not, for Benson, such a good idea.
Larabee was willing to overlook some bad advice. “He hasn’t done anything that bad to earn the Town’s disdain,” he said. Also, all this change was no good. The Assessor was gone; the Town was using a new bank, new accountants and now the Engineer? “We are changing too much, too fast,” warned Larabee. “It’s a small town, so let’s get it back to being a small town.”
“We won’t do that,” pointed out Benson, “if we kill off every business that comes along.”
“Change is good!” added Clark.
A vote was taken. McCreary is out and Crawford and Associates is in. All were in favour of the engineer change except Larabee.
New Deputy Court Clerk
The Town also now has a new Deputy Court Clerk. Judge Jack Nevers briefed the Board on the application process. The position was advertised and there were three decent submissions.  Another “was from a convicted felon,” said Judge Jessica Byrne. The felon was thrown out. When all was said and done, Nevers and Byrne decided on Cynthia Creech. Creech has some 19 years of experience as a Deputy Clerk with the Federal Courts.
Benson had no problem with Creech’s credentials. What he thought might have been a problem was how the process went. “I’m a little bit concerned about this process; there was some grumbling,” said Benson.
Nevers assured Benson that the process was fair and correct.
Deputy Town Clerk Darla Dobert was, however, not of the same opinion. She said that she had been promised the Deputy Court Clerk position and had even given notice at one of her other jobs. Then the offer was yanked back. Dobert said she hadn’t come to put down Creech, who certainly had the experience needed for the position, but “I don’t think procedure was followed,” she said.
With change in the air, the Board appointed Craig Westcott, Michael Blatt, David Farren, Jack Lancto and Larry Benson to the Conservation Advisory Council. Gabe Steadman and Georgette Tefoe were appointed to the Ethics Board. Larabee, who used to be on the Ethics Board, was the sole vote against the Ethics Board appointments. He did not explain why. Bruce Shenker was made the Town’s representative to the County Environmental Management Council, and the Recreation Commission was increased by one with the appointment of Katherine Leviton.
Town Hall Progress
Clark then updated the Board on the Town Hall progress. Instead of building a new Town Hall the Town is economising by adding on to the current Town Hall. A new firm is on board and “has a preliminary layout available for review,” explained Clark. Should all go smoothly, the project could “be put out to bid this spring and construction started this year.”
While the Town is building its new Town Hall they will be keeping their old gun safe around just in case. At the suggestion of Judge Nevers, the gun safe at the Town Court had been put up for bid as it was never used. One bid was submitted for $551. As the safe cost taxpayers $1,100 eleven years ago, Benson didn’t find it prudent selling something that is relatively indestructible for half its price. “I’d hold on this one until the Town Hall is finished,” said Benson.
Never Say Nevers
As for Judge Nevers, resident Hazel Dewey got up and wanted to ask him if he was being paid to do nothing. Benson asked that she address the Board instead.
“Is it true Jack Nevers is not able to perform his services?” she asked again.
Benson appeared to avoid the question by answering that Nevers “is being paid as a Town Justice.” He added that the “Town is required to pay elected officials.” And that was the end of that. Nevers offered to get up and give his side to rumors that he was unable to act in a Judge’s capacity until he finished State mandated Judge classes. Benson however didn’t let Nevers explain.
The Town’s previous Town Supervisor, Margaret Robertson, then got up and distributed to the Board a list of 619 New Lebanon residents who need the services of Columbia County’s Department of Social Services (DSS). She did this, she said, because at last month’s Town Board meeting, Benson had said something along the lines that DSS didn’t concern him. This was in regard to the Town’s new accountants, Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci, allegedly being involved with DSS losing around $9 million dollars. “DSS is important,” said Robertson. “Don’t dismiss people when they are struggling.”
Disrespect
The night ended with resident Johanna Johnson-Smith asking the Board why they all didn’t sit facing the residents in the room. Two Board members sit on each side of a table gazing into the eyes of two other Board members at the other side of the table; Benson, the Town’s attorney and the Town Clerk are the only ones facing outward. In her opinion this “is disrespectful.”
“As Americans,” responded Clark, “we are all entitled to our opinions.” In Clark’s opinion it was disrespectful of Johnson-Smith to refer to the Town’s Supervisor in missives about respect as “Czar Michael.”
“Respect has to be earned,” countered Johnson-Smith.[/private]