To the Editor:
I read in the March 29th edition of the Eastwick Press that I was one of the seven people applying for the job of Supervisor of the Town of Grafton. Although I did write a letter and care about the Town and its future, I did not write a letter of intent to apply for the top town job.
Instead I wrote a letter, imploring the current Board to work together and appoint one of the Councilmembers as Supervisor for the good of the Town, putting aside politics. The only way that could have happened is if the remaining councilmembers agreed to back the Councilperson who stepped down from the Board to be appointed Supervisor.
Sincerely,
Jan Shields
Babcock Lake, Grafton
Editor’s Note: As it happened the Councilmembers withdrew their names from consideration and the Board chose one of the remaining people who were interested in being Grafton Town Supervisor – Frank Higgins.
Letters & Comments
Letter To The Editor – Hoosick Citizens Deserve Answers
To the Editor:
In case the people in the Town of Hoosick haven’t heard, there was break-in at the HAYC3 offices located at 80 Church Street (the former Armory). You may be interested to know that it occurred March 11 after the Town Board meeting. Apparently someone broke the lock and illegally entered the HAYC3 premises. Of course, it would have been illegal entry even had there been no lock since they had not obtained permission to enter. (HAYC3 – I would suggest cameras and a security system if they aren’t already on your agenda)
I have it from a very reliable source (either a HAYC3 Board member or a Town Board member) that the incident involved at least one and possibly four Town Board members. A police report has been filed which shows Keith Cipperly listed as a suspect, and I’ve been told that at least one person confessed to an official at HAYC3. So, here are the questions I believe the citizens of the Town of Hoosick should have answers to:
1. Was the current Town Supervisor the culprit responsible for this behavior?
2. Didn’t he (or they) realize that what was being done was unethical as well as illegal?
3. I understand that one of the Board members (Mark Surdam) was definitely not involved and reported to HAYC3 that he believed other Board members had planned to enter the premises. However, did the other Board members report, to the proper authorities or officials, what they knew about the incident?
4. The Town Attorney was reportedly with the group after the meeting. Did she know about the incident? Did she advise against it? Did she report it to anybody if she was aware? Was she involved?
5. If the Town Supervisor was the culprit, does he intend to resign or is the Town Board taking other action to have him removed from his seat?
I realize that HAYC3 is in a tough spot. They likely won’t press charges since they really need the Town as a tenant while they get HAYC3 on solid financial footing. This is especially true since the Town hasn’t paid a nickel in rent since HAYC3 took over the Armory last year. Regardless of whether or not they press charges, the Town’s citizens should be outraged by this behavior and should finally say enough is enough. Only an independent investigation will divulge the full truth.
Jim Martinez
Church Street, Hoosick Falls
Letter To The Editor – HFCS Should Cut The Administration Not The Teachers
To The Editor:
As recently reported in the Eastwick Press, Hoosick Falls Central School has begun to work on next year’s budget, and once again, the administration felt they had to “eliminate quite a few positions.”
The big surprise out of the $684,700 in staff and program cuts Superintendent Ken Facin announced was the $51,958 being saved by reducing the 7-12 Assistant Principal position to half time. Facin said he felt he could not make this level of cuts to the teaching staff without making “some cuts to administration.”
Gee, would that be the same Assistant Principal who wasn’t granted tenure by the Board of Ed last Spring when he was up for it? This was expected after his error involving the Bowling team being in the Sectionals, making him an obvious scapegoat and convenient job cut for this year as Athletic Director also.
How noble it is of Mr. Facin to actually take $50,000 some dollars out of almost $700,000 worth of Budget cuts from administration. What a sacrifice!
The fact of the matter is, and always has been, the School is there for basically one reason and that is to educate the students.
This is not made any easier by cutting teaching positions and programs, especially special education teachers. These students need as much help, if not more than other students – particularly one on one help.
However, we all know these are tough financial and economic times, but I would like to suggest a possible solution.
Since HFCS is once again destitute and in dire financial straits, how about cutting out the administration, which is a large portion of the School budget with their pay and benefit packages. The State would be brought in to run the School on the Financial end of business, and what I would do is retain the Assistant Principal as a Dean of Discipline to deal with the students year round, which is one of his primary functions anyway.
I would do the same with one of the Elementary Principals. You are talking about a School that generally has a student body between 1250-1300, and yet has as many as seven high paid administrators. Not needed.
I know most people will say that this scenario would never happen, but it is time for a change.
The two top administrators at HFCS, the Superintendent and Business Manager, have basically done two things over the last two years: spend a lot of money and get rid of an awful lot of employees through budget cuts and other controversial decisions.
But for the sake of the taxpayers in the School District, which five out of the seven administrators do not live in or pay taxes here, lets give the School back to the community and give our students the help and resources they need.
Don’t put up with the administration’s blackmail threats to cut student programs and financial help if the budget is voted down.
It’s the administration’s turn to take the financial hit.
And forget the Board of Education during all of this. A lot of this has been caused by their policy to not get involved in personnel decisions – which needs to be changed by the policy committee. They are clueless about much of what goes on at HFCS, which is not why they were voted in for.
When they do ask or try to get involved in personnel or other matters, the way things are going to be is dictated to them by the top two administrators.
Sincerely,
Bruce Seney
High Street, Hoosick Falls
Letter To The Editor – New Lebanon Sidewalks
Who Should Make The Decision?
To the Editor:
The following is the letter that I have sent to the Town of New Lebanon Supervisor
To Mike Benson, Town Supervisor
I do not think that the final decision regarding the sidewalk issue should rest exclusively with the Town Board. This is, after all, a democratic society and involves our tax dollars.
It’s being said that the Town of New Lebanon will only be responsible for 5% of the cost, Columbia County 15% and the Federal government 80% of totals that could be as little as $670,000 to as much as $1.5 million. We are constantly hearing that most of our states and the Federal government are broke – remember “Sequester”? No matter how you sugar coat it, we – the taxpayers – will be paying for it in our town taxes, our county taxes and our income taxes.
Darrow students did at one time come to shop here in town. They shopped mostly at the New Lebanon Supermarket, buying things that were probably not available at their school. Being realistic, local people don’t shop in New Lebanon – they can’t find most of what they need here. If they do shop here, most of them drive.
In the winter who will be responsible for keeping the sidewalks free of snow and ice? The highways are plowed numerous times during a storm. Is the landowner expected to clear the walk each time? Who is liable if some one falls and gets hurt whoever does the plowing, the town or the landowner?
There are issues that should be made clear up front – not as they happen. The residents of New Lebanon should be the unit to make the final decision – not the Town Board. The residents will remember in November whatever the outcome of this issue is.
Patricia Burnell
Route 20, West Lebanon
Letters To The Editor – Venting
Dear Editor:
I REALLY need to vent ! Last week I attended the New Lebanon Public Hearing re: the sidewalk project. I arrived at 6:30 and already, it was standing-room-only! This was the first public hearing held at the new meeting room, and the capacity of 45 was exceeded by almost 100%. This issue was mentioned to a Town employee prior to the meeting beginning and the response was, “So, who’s going to do anything about it?” WOW! Several other residents mentioned that it wasn’t legal to overcrowd the room by so many, but I advised them that our local officials have never OBEYED Codes and Laws, so to not expect the meeting to be moved.
As bad as this was, it didn’t bother me anywhere as much as what I witnessed once the meeting began. There were people there of all ages, including many I have never even seen before. In the six years that I have been the Citizen’s Advocate and Incumbent-Watcher in this town, and attended nearly every meeting of every Board, I have never seen as many people come out to a meeting. The majority of those present were people who NEVER attend a meeting of any kind in this town. So why, after SIX YEARS of BEGGING the residents to get involved and object to the corruption and violations of our local officials did they not turn out in such numbers before ?
Let’s look at that. I have always said on my blog that people will not take a stand for anything unless and until it knocks on their very own doors or hits their pocketbooks. Last night was the indisputable proof of that. A proposed project that could affect their tax rates got them off their couches and to the Town Hall. Criminal behavior and lack of integrity and honesty in their officials does not. Money over honor. What a sad statement, what an embarrassing picture of who the People of New Lebanon ARE. Still, that was not the worst of it.
What pained me the most about this meeting was the fact that there was not ONE man in that room with an ounce of chivalry. I looked around at the many older ladies in their 60s and 70s, standing against the walls for two hours, while younger, able bodied men sat in the chairs. Not a single one of those “men” offered his seat to one of those ladies. Nor did they offer one to the young lady who stood and held her baby for two hours. I was absolutely appalled! Did any of these men have mothers? What did their mothers teach them? Apparently not much. I would have NEVER tolerated such behavior from my own son. Despite his own bad back, he would have stood and given his seat to a lady. No question.
I can almost understand, if not excuse, this behavior from the younger guys, as Women’s Lib had a negative effect on their respect for the ladies and those “Progressive” women slit their own throats. However, what about the men in their 40s, 50s and 60s who continued to sit on their duffs while senior ladies stood? Inexcusable! Many of these men are people I know and have now lost a great deal of respect for. A few of them even had mothers present, and even the moms said nothing to their sons! I am disgusted and ashamed of them all.
Is it any wonder that our officials at every level have no integrity? Parents and schools no longer place any value on courtesy and respect. It is a ME-ME-ME world and the H_LL with YOU! We deserve what we accept, and we have accepted far too much for far too long.
JJ. Johnson-Smith
Shaker Road, New Lebanon
Letter To The Editor – The Great Oz
To the Editor:
The recent performance of the Wizard of Oz at Berlin Central School deserves to be recognized.
From the screen to our stage, this charming classic was brought to life for young and old with a stellar cast of main characters, excellent supporting cast and a troupe of delightful Munchkins and Ozians.
All the colorful costumes, the phenomenal stage sets, as well as the wonderful pit band, made this an unforgettable experience for the audience.
Thank you to all who gave so much of their time and talent to this effort, especially Dianne Mosher. What a great send-off! In the words of one viewer, “You wouldn’t believe it if you didn’t see it!”
Sherri Craib Klein
Berlin
Letter To The Editor – Supporting The Legislative District Public Library
To the editor,
I am writing this to express the benefit it is to have our Library in Stephentown. The Stephentown Memorial Library is very important to the community. The resources and services they offer create opportunities for learning and support education. The library is needed now and especially for our future generations. Our library welcomes the growing community with its family programs.
In order for the Stephentown Memorial Library to keep operating, we need the library to become a public library. This will allow and offer more funding that is needed for funding basic operations, (open hours) at the library.
Andrew Schrump
Route 43, Stephentown
Small Business Owner
Letter To The Editor – Supporting The Legislative District Public Library
To the Eastwick Press Editor:
I wish could vote Yes on March 19th.
The library is the most important part of the village of Stephentown. It honors our history and our veterans. Stephentown is a community. The idea of community is right there in the library. It is has the tradition of a village kind of library with everything you need from a big city library right there. When you ask a question, you receive a polite and articulate answer. People are genuinely friendly. It is a place to go for some.
Our family has owned land in Stephentown for three generations. We return every summer for vacation and make many visits to the library. The letter and information you sent about your special district initiative was so well done and clearly written. I wish I could help the library become a district library. It is time. It is right. I truly wish I could vote Yes on March 19th .
Claudia Hodder
410 Manitoba
Playa del Rey, CA
Letter To The Editor – Petersburgh Town Clerk Responds
To the Editor:
I am writing to clarify several points mentioned in the “Clerks and Secretaries” section of last week’s article [in The Eastwick Press] regarding the Petersburgh Town Board Meeting. While it is true that I do hold numerous positions in the Town, I have organized the responsibilities of each to avoid any possible conflicts. Discussions during this Board meeting involved only my positions as Town Clerk and Town Secretary, for which the duties have increased significantly in the past couple of years. The reason for addressing the “clerical and secretarial needs” of the Town is based upon the necessity of updating office procedures, record keeping, reporting processes and such to better accommodate the requirements of the Town and the State as well as the needs of public.
Regarding “unnecessarily raising the cost of Town government,” I would like the public to be made aware that my request has been for the hiring of Deputies to assist with the workload, for which monies have already been allotted for such purposes.
My only objective is to better serve the residents of the Town of Petersburgh by creating a more efficient and productive functioning government.
Respectfully,
Callie Crisp
Petersburgh Town Clerk
Letter To The Editor – A Question Of Security At The Grafton Town Hall
To the Editor:
I would like to elaborate further on the anonymous letter referenced in the January 18 Eastwick Press article titled “Weird Confrontations and A Sander Accident in Grafton.” The purpose for reading the anonymous letter, found in my Town Hall communication box at the January 14 Town Board meeting, was to point out that security within the Town Hall may need to be revisited.
On the surface the letter may seem as a practical joke or possibly a threat. More importantly, it speaks directly to the security of Official Town communications and correspondences. In addition to reading the anonymous letter at the meeting, I suggested the Grafton Town Board investigate additional measures to assure the security of official communication boxes and public safety.
As reported in the Eastwick Press during 2012, issues of Town Hall security were acknowledged, requiring changes in security procedures including securing communication boxes and changing locks on doors. It is apparent these procedural changes have been breached if someone can simply place an un-authored letter in Town Officials’ communication boxes located in a locked room. Residents of Grafton need to be assured their public and private information or correspondence remain secure. Every public servant has a responsibility to uphold these protections.
I would like to assure the people of Grafton as a public servant, I am committed to safeguarding YOUR information and protecting the public at large within the Town Hall and Grafton publicly owned properties.
Barbara J. Messenger
Town of Grafton Board Member