Wednesday, December 16, 2015

BCS ? TOWN BOARD? Minutes?

In keeping with the Town's tradition of not reporting town and school board actions....still no minutes on either of their websites despite numerous promises but MORE NUMEROUS Excuses...just as well we will probably be appalled by the inaction of these entities.

Congratulations HAMILTON! $255,000 Grant for their Salt Shed

The Town of Hamilton just won a $255,000 grant from NYS DEC to build a new salt shed.  Too bad Salka didn't want to work together and apply.  Now, the Brookfield taxpayers can foot the bill.  Nice to see how well the Salka & the Board play with others.

$1,000 Reward - Lipstick on the Pig...

Sure...the BCS Board & Administration are now offering a $1,000 reward leading to the arrest of the students who vandalized the BCS school to the tune of $250,000.....wow!  It looks good, but when they don't want to know who the "suspects" are... and don't bother to follow up... who are they fooling AGAIN?...

Friday, December 11, 2015

BOARD OF EDUCATION Vandalism Update: " ...Shut your CAKE-HOLE" about it!


BCS VANDALISM:
BOARD OF EDUCATION Update:  " ...Shut your CAKE-HOLE about it!!!"


For those of you who actually care about the recent $250,000 in vandalism at BCS ...DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME !

Based on what occurred at Wednesday night's BOE meeting,  it is evident that the Board and Administration want this one buried deep....real deep.  Don't talk about it..."it's under investigation".

In the past few weeks several calls and emails have been sent to Superintendent and a Board Member and was told there was "nothing new"; they are still "waiting to hear from the police"...WAITING TO HEAR? Apparently only the Waterville Times has the gumption to follow up.  Why do we have to get an update from the Waterville Times and have the BOE claim no knowledge?

Don't ask about it....and don't bother with BOE meetings if you are easily intimidated by a Board Member telling you to "shut your CAKE HOLE"... . Based on the failure of other members to react, I take this to be standard treatment of the public.

Frankly, their failure to answer the most basic questions only leads to further speculation...and the plot thickens:

Did the suspects gain entrance by using a school ID card?   Since they refused to answer or respond negatively only reinforces the rumor that access was gained using an employee access card.  If so, there must be some record.  Perhaps that explains why the Board and Administration don't appear to be moving ahead on this case.

While the Board complain "people are refusing to talk to the police... " Why is no one is being taken in for questioning?  NO Leads? NO suspects?  In this "close-mouthed" Town?...surely you jest.

The message is: just let it drop... and "shut your CAKE-HOLE" about it!






Wednesday, December 9, 2015

BCS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING:  Tonight!!! 
WEDNESDAY, DEC 9
7:00 PM - Library/Media Classroom

VANDALISM: There is more to be cleaned up!!!! 

It has been over 60 days since the Brookfield School was vandalized to the tune of a quarter of a million dollars!!!  Rumors abound but no action taken or updates given.  Is this going to be yet another incidence of vandalism being swept under the rug ?  Is that because of "who" might have been involved? How they gained access?..... allegations & suspects abound.... it's time to get some answers and action from the Board and Superintendent to clean up this part of the mess!  Please take the time to attend tonight's meeting and get some answers!....

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

A WIN FOR THE VOTERS!
Conviction of ex-speaker Silver sends NY politics into turmoil
http://www.uticaod.com/article/20151201/NEWS/151209990

(Excerpts/ Utica OD): The conviction of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has shaken New York politics down to the granite foundations of the state Capitol….  A jury convicted the 71-year-old Manhattan Democrat on Monday on charges that he traded favors for $4 million in kickbacks from a cancer researcher and real estate developers….A political earthquake has hit Albany, said Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Group. "This is a stinging rebuke to the 'Albany business as usual' defense and a clarion call to clean up state ethics."

Monday, November 30, 2015

WE NEED A VOTERS' REVOLUTION: 

…… this is an op-ed from the Utica OD….definitely worth reading….


It's time for people to take back government (Utica OD Op Ed) ;  A report out of Albany last week should frighten you. Essentially, it said that state government is in shambles — two of its most powerful leaders are currently on trial facing corruption charges...... Voting has hit an all-time low and nobody seems to care. SEE:    http://www.uticaod.com/article/20151129/OPINION/151129613

Here are some highlights…definitely worth the read! 

“We need a revolution — but not like the last one. Our weapons in today’s war must be ballots, not bullets. And awareness is our principal ally.”

Our current State Senate majority leader, Skelos, is the fifth consecutive Senate Leader to face corruption charges. " 

.... since 2000, more than 30 state lawmakers have left office facing criminal charges or allegations of ethical misconduct."

BUT….we get what we DESERVE when we don’t vote…. And to support that statement:  

In  1974, 75.4 percent of registered voters went to the polls to vote for governor, according to the state Board of Elections. That number has dropped steadily since. In 2014, it was 31.49 percent."
.....Public apathy has turned government over to a select few who essentially do precisely as they please." 

“No one cares. No one votes. Everyone thinks everyone in government stinks,” Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, a Long Island Democrat and former corruption prosecutor, told the Associated Press. “We are living the worst-case scenario.”

Thursday, July 30, 2015

REFERENDUM FOR "ONE" JUDGE....

Referendum Clarification:   basically, the Board has already approved the reduction of 2 Justices of the Peace to ONE... subject to a "permissive referendum".   That is, the change has already been approved by the Board;  barring anyone "objects"  by obtaining a formal petition, signed by 10% of the Town's voters, requesting it be put to a TOWN wide vote in November....as is the case with John's term being increased to four years instead of two.  The change in John's term is subject to a town-wide vote in November.  The judges' change is not subject to a vote UNLESS someone petitions for a town-wide vote.

I simply question why we couldn't put that on the November ballot?  Why did the Board feel the need to make the decision?  What was the discussion?  Pros & Cons?  How were we to know these issues were under discussion without an AGENDA?..... Granted, we have a good judge in Mary Lou Rhodes and I personally have heard and observed the positive results of her efforts.  My fear, that now they move to reduce her salary.  She has been doing work of two + judges -- check it out on DA night -- and has gone out of her way to make herself available to law enforcement officials at all times. Now the rumor is that this move will be a cost savings!!!!   This change should NOT be a COST CUTTING MOVE.... !!!! We're not trading "justice" for "dollars".... particularly given the workload and long term CONSEQUENCES for peoples' lives.

Why can't this administration simply "COMMUNICATE" with the rest of the Town...is it really too much to ask?  If we  had a July agenda and knew these issues were before the Board, then the public could have asked questions at the time.  Granted, August 10 hearing... but once again...too little...too late.

Mis-Informed???? Really?!

Supervisor Salka has advised me that I was misinformed.  He says that he did send the missing July "agenda" to the webmaster.... if so, why isn't it up there as of  July 30? ....or did it ever exist?

Saturday, July 18, 2015

WTF?? Salka is at it again...

UPDATE:  And isn't it interesting that the AGENDA for that meeting was never posted on the Town website...they were AFRAID that people would show up at the MEETING ! COWARDS ALL!
Just another under the radar move by Supervisor Salka and the Town Board... guess the rumor was true... and he snuck this by right after the deadline for anyone to file to run against him.  And now only one judge?  The VOTERS are the ones that should make that decision...... let's make it to the August 10 public meeting .... and wasn't this guy Salka a supporter of term limits ??  -- oh, right, for "others"....time to limit some terms around here. Hedging his bets to arrange to run for Magee's Assembly seat again?.... Starting to run the Town like the School.


Notice of Public Hearing

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Brookfield shall conduct a public hearing at 6:30 pm on August 10, 2015 at the North Brookfield Firehouse, North Brookfield, NY to consider passage of a Local Law entitled A LOCAL LAW PROVIDING A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR THE ELECTIVE OFFICE OF TOWN SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF BROOKFIELD”.

 Copies of the proposed Local Law are available for public inspection at the Town Clerk’s office during regular office hours.

 Sherry Perretta, Town Clerk
 Posted: July 15, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York, at a Town Board meeting thereof held on July 13th, 2015, duly adopted the following resolution, subject to permissive referendum.

A RESOLUTION TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TOWN JUSTICES FROM TWO TO ONE

WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Brookfield hereby determines that it would be in the best interest of the Town to reduce the number of town justices from two to one in that there is presently no need for two justices to handle the volume of matters in the Town Court of the Town of Brookfield, and 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph 2 of section 60-a of the Town Law of the State of New York as follows:

1.  The number of town justices of the Town of Brookfield shall be reduced from two to one effective January 1, 2016.
2.  In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2, of section 60-a of the Town Law, this Resolution is adopted subject to permissive referendum, and shall not become operative or effective unless and until 30 days have elapsed after its adoption and no petition protesting against this local law signed and authenticated as required by law has been filed with the Town Clerk of the Town of Brookfield, or if such petition is filed, a proposition for approval of this Resolution has been submitted at the next general election or a special election for that purpose pursuant to said section and received the affirmative vote of a majority of the voters thereon.
Posted: July 15, 2015

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

LEONARDSVILLE EMS Coverage Needs Attention !

Check out Barb Howard's column in this week's WEST WINFIELD STAR.

We need more people like her who are willing to step up and voice concern and "carry the ball" to get some critical EMS issues resolved.  Nothing like a "deaf ear" from the so-called responsible parties who "know nothing/do nothing" maintaining the status quo.  Thank you for carrying the ball for the rest of the neighborhood, before it takes a horrific mistake that costs lives.  Am sure that this is only the "tip of the iceberg" and Leonardsville is not alone in its concerns.  THANK YOU BARB HOWARD!.. See the July 15 issue/ page 12 in the column "Leonardsville/West Edmeston Corridor" !

MEDICAID & FOOD STAMP - Drug Testing Should be Required

It is not often that I would agree with someone like Republican candidate, Scott Walker, I DO AGREE with his stance on drug testing for anyone receiving MEDICAID and/or  FOOD STAMPS.  If the rest of us have to pee in a cup to apply for and keep a job, it should be required of those receiving government benefits.  Today an article appeared in the Oneida Dispatch with a mother/daughter team shooting heroin in the County Office Building...and likely there for benefits!  Here is the Scott Walker article ...not much more that I agree with him on....but this hits home and would clean up so much crime that we the taxpayers are funding through these freebies.  

Scott Walker Sues Feds Over Food Stamp Drug Testing

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Fire departments respond to barn fire in Hamilton Monday

Fire departments respond to barn fire in Hamilton Monday

 Oneida Dispatch reports.... full link below.

The farm is owned by the Carhart family. Madison County Property tax records show it is owned by White Eagle Farmland, LLC. Fire dispatch information indicated that there was an apartment attached to the barn. Prior to arrival of fire departments, everyone had been evacuated from the barn. Fire departments working at the scene and as mutual aid included: Eaton, Morrisville, Madison, Earlville, Hamilton, Munnsville, Smithfield, Georgetown, Cazenovia, Oriskany Falls and Hubbardsville.

Monday, July 13, 2015

BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD MEETING????

By comparison, rumor has it that there might be a Brookfield Town Board meeting...a check of the website shows no ....no agenda... so yes, it must be a "regular" meeting...regularly no information.

MADISON CO. Board of Supervisors - Meeting Agenda for JULY 14

Good coverage of MADISON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS monthly meeting agenda is found in the ONEIDA Dispatch.  Following are a summary of their most recent article and link to the county site for agenda materials.   


WAMPSVILLE>> The next regular meeting of the Madison County Board of Supervisors is set for Tuesday, July 14,
•Among 32 agenda items, the board will consider creating an emergency management planner position.
pickup an item tabled at their June 9 meeting, “preferred agendas”, or a format or course of action for how all items are ultimately placed on a meeting agenda.


accept a $141,589 grant from the state Office of Children and Family Servicesfor the Madison County Child Advocacy Center
Introduce a proposed local lawand schedule a public hearing. conveying real property in the city of Oneida to a David and Timothy Taylor for a price of $2,000 .... a 1.67 acre parcel which border their land .
consider a resolution to continue the Buy Madison bank endorsed debit card campaign with Community Bank which is expected to soon be merging with Oneida Savings Bank who currently administers the program.
approve an agreement with Madison County Sewer District for Biosolids Disposal.... the landfill will accept the biosolids for disposal for a tipping fee of $42 per ton.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

JEFF MAYNE - New "Land Use Administrator" for Town of Plainfield

From today's issue of the West Winfield Star:

At its March 12, 2015 meeting, the Town of Plainfield Town Board  (Unadilla Forks) appointed Jeff Mayne as the new Land Use Administrator.  He replaces John McNulty who resigned after not having been reappointed at the Town's reorganization meeting in January.      The Board had not decided on the compensation for the new appointee.  Some residents at the meeting expressed concerns that he [Mayne] should be held to the same standards as McNulty, the previous Land Use Administrator...."McNulty had sent a letter to the Board addressing concerns in dealing with the county and also provided an outline of responsibilities of the Land Use Administrator and history of past actions."

Monday, March 23, 2015

LEONARDSVILLE FATAL ACCIDENT....the "Rest of the Story"

Following is a link to the POST STANDARD article with the details on the fatal accident in Leonardsville which occurred Thursday.   Apparently, the trio was in the process of fleeing with an ATV stolen from a local garage.  The victim, David Elliott of Bridgewater, was ejected from the bed of the pickup and subsequently run over by another vehicle as he lay in the road.  Details are here at the PS: http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2015/03/investigations_into_deadly_madison_county_crash_finds_victim_2_others_involved_i.html#incart_2box_news_index.ssf

Friday, March 20, 2015

LEONARDSVILLE - CAR PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT

Just saw on WKTV today... apparently, occurred last night...link below:

EDMESTON, NY -- There are reports that a person was hit by a car just outside of West Edmeston.
The accident happened just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday along Route 8, several miles south of Leonardsville.
NEWSChannel 2 crews on the scene said the road is blocked off to traffic. State Police, who are handling the investigation, said troopers are still on the scene, and they cannot release any other information at this time."

Stay with NEWSChannel 2 for updates.
http://www.wktv.com/news/Pedestrian_reportedly_hit_by_car_in_Edmeston.html

RABIES - Three Animals Test Positive in Hamilton-Lebanon Area


Oneida Dispatch reported today:  That on Thursday, Madison County Health Department announced the first positive rabies results of 2015 found in three animals. In Lebanon a cow and cat tested positive for rabies, and in Hamilton a cat recently tested positive for rabies, officials said.
The un-vaccinated cow was this year’s first confirmed animal to be infected with the rabies virus in Madison County, followed by the two cats testing positive for rabies a few days later. Both cats were barn cats. One cat came from the same location as the rabid cow in Lebanon and the other cat from a farm nearby in Hamilton, a little over 1,800 feet away." See the rest of the story at:  http://www.oneidadispatch.com/general-news/20150319/rabies-3-animals-test-positive-in-madison-county

Thursday, March 19, 2015

SEX OFFENDER - Failure to report - West Edmeston....

FYI - The following CRIME notice appeared in the ONDEIDA DISPATCH.

Friday, March 13: Christopher Bartlett, 24, of West Edmeston, was charged as a sex offender failing to report a change of address.
 

http://www.oneidadispatch.com/general-news/20150318/police-blotter-for-march-19

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

STOLEN, Brookfield AK-47 Recovered in Utica Raid....

STOLEN, Brookfield AK-47 Recovered in Utica Raid....  see today's OD and WKTV... an AK-47, alleged to have been stolen in a Brookfield burglary has been recovered during yesterday's raid of a Utica apartment.... the raid was a part of the  MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT's investigation of a Brookfield burglary.  OD:  http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150317/NEWS/150319281/1994/NEWS

"Hauck says they got the gun, which was an AK47 believed to be stolen from Brookfield. Utica Police were assisting Madison County with their warrant. Quentin Faison, age 28, of Wall Street, is under arrest for criminal possession of stolen property, criminal posseson of a gun and criminal possession of a firearm."  WKTV 
http://www.wktv.com/news/UPD_shoots_kills_dog_during_warrant_execution_bullets_go_through_apartment.html

Thursday, March 5, 2015

BCS: the BLACK HOLE OF TAX PAYER $$$$ DOLLARS ---


 
BCS:  the BLACK HOLE OF TAX PAYER $$$$ DOLLARS --- 

 BCS...where gym teachers ($60k)  and grounds keepers ($50-55k)  & bus garage ($60k)  earn more than the TEACHERS...and at $144,000 the  SUPERINTENDENT earns more than other districts with 10x the student population (NYMills & Rome!)...
 
Owens,Paul T $63,372 2012 Transportation Manager
Kupris,Mark E $52,007  2012
Kupris,Paul E $45,100  2012 Building & Grounds Manager
Murdock, Brent J $60,009  2012 Specials Phys Ed
Howlett, Karen A $66,165  2012 Specials Phys Ed

Very interesting....apparently we have 30 students in BCS unaccounted for -- we're always told it's 240....or are they excluding 10% of the student population that they bring in from OTHER DISTRICTS......at a "reported" enrollment of 209 our per student costs are $28,000+  and the national average is $10,608.....
 
Do the math
Budget  $     5,900,000 Last year's Budget at BCS
Students 209
Per Child  $         28,230 Per Year
 
 The Utica school district spends $15,129 per student — 42.6 percent higher than the national average of $10,608. BROOKFIELD COST = $28,230 per student.  - 
 
Alliance: Local schools owed more than $100M
According to data provided by the Alliance for Quality Education, area schools are owed more than $100 million through money due in foundation aid and money cut though the Gap Elimination Adjustment. - See more at: http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150304/NEWS/150309740/1994/NEWS/?Start=2#sthash.fDLfa9M7.dpuf
 
 

DISTRICT BREAKDOWN
District            Enrollment      Owed
Adirondack            1,237      $392,516
Brookfield              209         $164,294
Camden                2,167      $4,706,709
Canastota             1,449      $3,564,641
Clinton                 1,277      $1,010,182
Dolgeville              893         $2,409,664
F-Schuyler           1,028      $1,956,455
Hamilton               537         $460,009
Herkimer               1,153      $2,516,625
Holland Patent     1,446      $1,999,235
Little Falls             1,122      $2,733,397
Mt. Markham         1,081      $1,423,790
New Hartford        2,596      $3,177,415
N.Y. Mills               577         $161,466
Oneida                 2,179      $3,611,049
Oriskany              Numbers could not be verified
Owen D. Young      184         $84,691
- See more at: http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150304/NEWS/150309740/1994/NEWS/?Start=2#sthash.fDLfa9M7.dpuf

Monday, February 2, 2015

TOWN BOARD - Rules Of Decorum for the Board !!!

TOWN BOARD - Rules of Decorum  For the BOARD !

Kudos to Larry Krauss for an excellent "Letter to the Editor" in this week's Waterville Times!!! Larry also takes issue with the new “Rules of Decorum” passed by the Town Board that further restricts public participation and comment at Regular Board Meetings.  While “legal”, the new "RULES effectively limit any inquiry as to what is going on in this Town.  So,why now?

Frankly, because the "natives" are restless and asking questions, demanding performance!!  Enough of the promises...and "I'll look into it"...."it's under discussion"..."there's nothing we can do"....and ignoring the PUBLIC !    

This “gag” rule comes at a time when it is so critical to be informed about the changes and issues affecting our community;   when OPEN discourse with our elected representatives is most  essential, YET we are HANDED a four page “sit down & shut up” set of rules.  While it may be “legal” it doesn’t make it RIGHT!!!

New “RULES” at Town Website: http://www.brookfieldny.us/

How about some RULES OF DECORUM for the Town SUPERVISOR & THE BOARD?  Here are some suggestions:  


1. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Put the COMMUNITY before your personal, family and political interests by DISCLOSING and NOT VOTING on resolutions where there is a CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

2, BE INFORMED - Have a fundamental understanding of the issues; some Board members believe their ignorance is an acceptable excuse and attempt to pass it off as "open-mindedness"!
  
3.  CONDUCT MEETINGS - publicly, at properly noticed times and not in private business establishments and behind closed doors.

4.  BOARD MINUTES & AGENDA –  Minutes and the agenda should be prepared for each meeting an available to the PUBLIC within a REASONABLE period of time.   When was the last time we saw MINUTES? Then, we can see what we missed and when those "formal" resolutions are finally written up!  And STOP WITH the same “cookie cutter” AGENDA with little, if any, information about matters to go before the Board.

5.  BE PREPARED - put a little effort in ...maybe read up on the issues, minutes, topics, resolutions BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS...not while you're sitting there at the table..

6.  DISCLOSURE - Let us KNOW when the COUNTY SUPERVISORS are voting for their own salary increases on TOP of their FREE health insurance...don't hide it in the budget or neglect to mention it in Supervisor’s County report.   The TAXPAYERS have a right to know when you are giving yourselves a salary increase at OUR expense! ….As happened this year!

7.  EARN RESPECT - a four page list of rules for the PUBLIC is the Supervisor's means of achieving respect..?  As Krauss summed it up:  “you don’t COMMAND respect… you EARN IT!”


Wednesday, January 28, 2015

NYS - So Long Silver.....!!!!

It's official....Sheldon Silver is stepping down as Assembly Speaker...from Capital Confidential:
Sheldon Silver’s 21-year reign as speaker of the New York state Assembly will end on Monday. Under the process agreed to by the 105-member Democratic majority, Majority Leader Joe Morelle of Rochester will be voted in Monday as interim speaker until the Feb. 10 election of a permanent leader. Morelle is expected to be a candidate for the post, along with Keith Wright of Manhattan and Carl Heastie from the Bronx. (TU)
As he left the Capitol just before 8 p.m., Silver would not say if he plans offer a resignation as speaker or if members will vote him out. He said only that he will not hinder the succession process. (CapCon)  http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/228344/a-m-roundup-the-sun-sets-on-silver/

Saturday, January 24, 2015

BILL MAGEE & NYS ASSEMBLY - Time to DUMP SILVER

Sheldon Silver...you need to do the right thing and RESIGN.  Bill Magee, et al. it's up to you and the rest of the Assembly to see this rotten apple gets dumped from the barrel.  ANY LEGISLATOR standing behind SS deserves to follow him and his greed out the door.  For too many years it has been all too apparent that ALBANY has been a hotbed of graft and abuse.  Here is an editorial from the Syracuse Post Standard that adequately sums it up....DUMP THE CHUMP...send him to the CURB!

NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver must resign (Editorial)

It should go without saying that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver -- charged Thursday with taking millions of dollars in graft -- must resign from that job. He's politically crippled, ethically bankrupt and supremely unfit to lead.

But that may not be enough. Silver should consider quitting Albany entirely -- for the good of the institution, the good of the state and the good of the people.

The speaker has professed his innocence, and he will have his day in court. However, from now on he will carry the taint of corruption wherever he goes.

Say Silver does quit his leadership job but remains in the Legislature. After 20 years as speaker, does anyone believe he would be content to be a back-bencher in the Assembly? It doesn't matter where he sits in the chamber; Silver still will be pulling the strings.
Need proof? Just look at the Assembly Democrats lining up behind their leader in his hour of crisis. Have you ever seen (or heard) a more deluded bunch?"We have every confidence that the speaker is going to continue to fulfill his role with distinction," Rochester Assemblyman Joe Morelle said. This was before he read the 35-page criminal complaint against Silver.

We recommend that everyone read it -- and weep. Then demand more from your elected officials than blind allegiance to their embattled leader.
With corruption charges hanging over the speaker's head, any deals Cuomo and Skelos might cut with him would be suspect in the eyes of the public.
Syracuse Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, a lawyer himself, said this after Silver's arrest: "It's the same as it was yesterday. Nothing has changed except there's this new wrinkle, so to speak."

On the contrary, Mr. Magnarelli. Everything has changed. If the allegations are true, Albany's cancer of corruption reaches right to the top. At minimum, our elected leaders should remove Silver from the speaker role.

As one of Albany's "three men in a room,'' along with the governor and the Senate majority leader, Silver has negotiated every piece of important legislation passed in New York state over the past two decades. The New York Times called Silver "a mercurial and potent force who could single-handedly sink the most cherished plans of mayors and governors.''
It's ironic that one of Albany's most opaque politicians appears to have been done in by aroutine ethics disclosure form. It's doubly ironic that the seeds of Silver's downfall were sown by the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption -- which he succeeded in closing down as part of the last budget deal. Thankfully, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara picked up where Moreland left off.

Now, with corruption charges hanging over the speaker's head, any deals Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos might cut with him would be suspect in the eyes of the public.

Silver is damaged goods. He should leave Albany before they run him out on a rail.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

TOWN - A ROTTEN STATE OF AFFAIRS

Be sure to get a copy of this week's Waterville Times....talk about unmitigated gall....these guys surpass themselves at every meeting.  SALKA - the new "Rules of Decorum" are quite clearly GAG ORDERS ...just how stupid do you think we are?...and as for JOE WALKER - then just WHY did you raise your hand when asked if you had a GAS LEASE?????? This is truly a rotten state of affairs for the Town.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

BCS - Educational Opportunities -

For those of you who have students at BROOKFIELD CENTRAL, there are several opportunities you should be aware of.    

WANT A FREE HIGH-TECH EDUCATION IN ALBANY?
The Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany says it has started to accept applications for the fall 2015 semester.The university, which is now independent of the University at Albany, said that a “significant number” of full and partial scholarships are available for those who are accepted into the prestigious program.SUNY Poly recently began accepting applications for admission to CNSE with authorization from the New York State Education Department.  Students can apply using the SUNY application, the Common Application, or by going to the CNSE website.

FREE SAT Prep COURSE OFFERED THROUGH COLGATE UNIVERSITY
Another session of Let’s Get Ready (LGR) is about to begin at Colgate. As always, LGR provides SAT preparation for all high school juniors in our area. The SAT prep is provided by Colgate student coaches who have been trained by the national Let’s Get Ready organization and who have recently taken the SAT exam.  The Let’s Get Ready program meets two times a week on Colgate’ Campus. All high school students participating in LGR will receive approximately 15 hours each of both Math and Verbal Training. The program also includes two practice SAT exams. LGR will meet on Colgate’s campus on Thursday and Sunday evenings throughout the spring 2015 semester. The program will begin with the first practice SAT exam and a parent orientation on Sunday, February 1, 2015 and will conclude April 30, in time for the SAT test on Saturday, May 2, 2015. We are pleased to be offering both SAT preparation and LGR’s College Choice curriculum again this spring.  As in years past, LGR is FREE for all high school juniors. Although the program is free, students will be asked to submit a $25 deposit in the form of a check or blank money order at the start of the program. The deposit will be returned to students who meet the attendance requirement (no more than 3 absences). The application link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ColgateSS... 




BCS - UPDATE - Veteran's School Tax Exemption Still Undecided


We hear back that only four veterans turned out for the January 14 public hearing to voice opinion regarding extending SCHOOL property tax exemptions to local veterans.  It's not clear at this point if the Board can offer this as an option or not; it may be that if the Board passed this, any veterans already receiving the county benefit would automatically get this one with no option to refuse it or not sign up for it.

Friday, January 16, 2015

TOWN BOARD - New RULES Severely Limit Public Participation

I guess the Brookfield Town Supervisor & Board have grown more than a little anxious with local participation in the Town Board Meetings.  Taking the lead from Madison County Board Chairman Becker's clamp down on public comment, Salka has introduced the new Rules for the Public which the Board approved on 1/12.  

Based on the new RULES, the Brookfield TOWN BOARD has effectively stopped public involvement and placed severe limitations on public comment and inquiry.  If all comments, questions, inquiries have to go through SALKA....quite plainly they are saying "we DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT ....OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT...."

Here is a portion of the introduction to the RULES:
The purpose of the public comment period is to discuss Town business only.....Town Board meetings are required to be held in public for the purpose of allowing the public to observe the meetings. (Emphasis in the RULES).......Individual problems,concerns or questions of the public should initially be addressed to the Town Supervisor’s office, rather than be brought up at Town Board meetings. This will allow the Supervisor to gather the necessary information and/or personnel to address those concerns. If those concerns are notaddressed to the satisfaction of the individual, then redress by the entire Town Board may be the next option. 

Salka refused to post the Rules before the organizational meeting and finally got around to providing them to the Town website, early this morning.  Check them out at the town website:  http://www.brookfieldny.us/uploads/1/3/6/9/13694452/rulesfordecorumatpublicmeetings1.pdf

SWAMPSVILLE: Political Intrigue In County's PROPERTY TAX OFFICE


What's going on in the MADISON COUNTY PROPERTY TAX DEPT??   Its newly appointed director, Paul Smith, was dumped by the powers that be in Swampsville.... in a "quickly planned" meeting... without public notice or comment....must have been really nasty...the Supervisors went so far as to entirely "vacate" his position because Smith hadn't signed and taken the official oath within 30 days of taking office.  If that's the case, I bet we would have to vacate the positions of half the town boards and other County positions.  Hope the Oneida Dispatch follows up on this political intrigue...always something....Link to January 13 full article:  http://www.oneidadispatch.com/
 
Here are excerpts from the article: 
" On a procedural technicality, Madison County officials on Tuesday vacated the position of director of Real Property Tax Services.... In a quickly-planned meeting Tuesday morning, supervisors met in executive session as the Committee of the Whole before convening as a board to officially terminate Paul Smith as director of the Department of Real Property Tax Services..... As required by state public officers law, Smith needed to sign and file an official oath of office within 30 days of his appointment. According to county officials he never did so and that automatically “vacates” the position......County officials also would not comment on whether any problems involving Smith had been documented."

 

FORECLOSURE - Rte 8 Sutton Farm....

Rumor is from this month's Town Board meeting:  the County is in the process of foreclosing on the Sutton Farm, Rte 8 for back taxes.  There is a possibility that the owners can redeem their property by paying the back taxes.  This property has been an unlicensed junk yard for years and subject of numerous complaints and violations.  Good to see the County taking action.

Monday, January 12, 2015

BCS - TECH ED Opportunity for Local Students


One would hope that the BCS School Board would JUMP on this educational opportunity offered through Oneida-Madison BOCES. 

UPDATE: Here are the participating  schools - INCLUDING BROOKFIELD: 

 Component ONEIDA HERKIMER &MADISON BOCES districts: Brookfield, Clinton, Holland Patent, New Hartford, New York Mills, Oriskany, Remsen, Sauquoit Valley, Utica, Waterville, Westmoreland and Whitesboro.

Component Herkimer-Fulton-Otsego BOCES districts: Central Valley, Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Little Falls, Mount Markham, Owen D. Young, Poland, Richfield Springs and West Canada Valley.

Read more: http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150112/News/150119963#ixzz3OccnWsH4


Read more: http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150112/News/150119963#ixzz3OcbuXRyb
College isn’t for everyone, but neither is the average high school path.  For those in that situation, there’s a new option — and it comes with an associate degree.
Late last year, the governor’s office announced multi-million-dollar grants for two new technical sites in which will operate out of Herkimer-Fulton-Otsego BOCES and Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, combine elements of high school, college and the professional world.

Though the courses are open to all learners, the P-TECH model targets students who are at risk of dropping out of high school, or not successfully completing college because of cultural or social barriers.
The first class of ninth-graders will start in the fall. The schools still are admitting students, and interested students can learn more by contacting their schools’ guidance counselors.  Students are expected to graduate in five to six years with a Regents diploma and an associate degree from either Herkimer County or Mohawk Valley community colleges.
In Herkimer, P-TECH will offer quality assurance and advanced manufacturing courses.  In Utica, students can learn semiconductor manufacturing and financial services management.

Check out the rest of this article and information at:  Utica OD site:  http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150112/News/150119963#ixzz3ObxCJboK

Friday, January 9, 2015

RIP - Lynn Stillman

Sorry to hear of the passing of Lynn Stillman, 63, of Brookfield, died January 7, 2015. Arrangements by Paul Funeral Home, Brookfield.  

Read more: http://www.uticaod.com/article/20150108/News/150109543#ixzz3OLWD6bHq

FREE! Income Tax Preparation Available to Madison County Residents....

If you are a Madison County resident who earned less than $53,000 this tax year, you may qualify to have your tax preparation done free of charge.If you are a senior citizen 60+, you are eligible for free tax return preparation regardless of income.  Trained community volunteers can help you with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly for which you may qualify. Easy electronic filing puts your refund in your hands in two weeks.
 
In Madison County, appointments will be available at Community Action Partnership for Madison County in Morrisville, Department of Social Services in Wampsville, Caz Cares in Cazenovia, and Gorman Community Center in Oneida. To arrange an appointment, please call Community Action Partnership for Madison County at (315) 280-0889. For 60+ an appointment in Madison County, please call Madison County Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program at 684-3001, ext. 103.  Before calling, check the remainder of this link for a list of in formation you will need and further details ....CLICK THIS LINK to the MADISON COUNTY COURIER :  http://madisoncountycourier.com/?p=59905#more-59905

Thursday, January 8, 2015

SWAMPSVILLE - State of the County aka the Annual "WHINE" !!!


Another year of whining & blaming from Madison County Board of Supervisors...blame it on the constituents, the State mandates, but don't mention your own fat 16% SUPERVIORS' salary increases and free health insurance  while you stick it to the TAXPAYERS with a 8.4% tax increase..... and in the same year the County receives a $12 million windfall from the Oneida Nation settlement!

Check out the Oneida Dispatch article  (http://www.oneidadispatch.com/general-news/20150107/becker-delivers-state-of-the-county-address  ) and full transcript of Chairman Becker's STATE OF MADISON COUNTY ADDRESS... aka "The Annual WHINE" ....Mr. Becker needs to put on his "big boy pants" if the first thing he can do is whine about his constituents criticisms...  and BEGINS the speech whining about his constituents......who the hell are we to "second guess" our representatives???...somehow he thinks voting someone into office make them omniscient!!?   We voted them into office to "rule"?   Sorry, but last time we checked, it was a democracy and he pretty well shut off any public comment with the new Public Comment Rules...as for the "frequent" and "vicious" attacks he should ask if there is a "reason" or is he just paranoid? Nobody claims that this is an easy job.  Just the burden is not being shared and these insurance perks make it look worse.  And a 16% salary increase on top of it...and hide it in the budget.  With this kind of treatment us taxpayers should be paranoid!!! 


Nice of him to NOT TO MENTION their 16% salary increase or their NO CONTRIBUTION/TAX FREE health & retirement benefits....where was that in the "message" to Madison County??  Pathetic --- the average "part-timer" supervisor receives these SUPERIOR benefits to those of the FULL TIME workers!!!   If anyone should be whining it's the TAXPAYERS....There are CONSTITUENTS out there who work a helluva lot harder at FULL TIME JOBS and receive NO WHERE NEAR what these Supervisors get for their PART TIME JOBS, while the rest of us "eat cake".   

To quote our Supervisor, John Salka's FACEBOOK response to these criticisms:  " " The issue of the health insurance for the supervisors is officially beat to death.  I challenge anyone to say, with all honesty, that they would refuse and option to cover their family with good insurance, especially when they have a sick child.  If they say they would refuse they are simply  lying or willing to sacrifice thousands of dollars for principle's sake......"

AVERAGE SUPERVISOR (2015 BUDGET) EARNS:
AVERAGE (19):

SALARY = $16,200  
INSURANCE = $19,500 (Tax FREE - NO CONTRIBUTION)
RETIREMENT = 2,400  
TOTAL = $38,100 AVERAGE

Becker's PART TIME salary & benefits are included above.  


BECKER Salary = $30,000  
INSURANCE = $29, 221  
RETIREMENT = 5,753   
TOTAL = $64,974 



Wednesday, January 7, 2015

DON'T Let BCS School Board TURN THEIR BACK ON OUR VETERANS!!!

Check out today's issue of the WATERVILLE TIMES...BCS Cannot Decide If they shoul give Property Tax Exemptions to our Veterans! The School Board wants your input...

         Based on the article,  Superintendent Jim Plows "doesn't want the Board to feel any pressure to grant the exemption".    Board  members (Whitaker/Karns & Rogers) are "on the fence", but based on their comments, tend not to grant the exemption based on the "cost to taxpayers" and I quote, with these exemptions "it would be more difficult to pass the next budget"!     
          The Board doesn't  want to "burden the tax payers"?  Certainly didn't seem to bother them when they put together the 14.5% budget increase.  Now they want to take it out of our Veterans'  hides -- and tell us we can't afford them -- yet didn't even take the time to evaluate what the "cost" would be...I mean, how many Vets from WW2, Korea & Vietnam can there be in this District???  
          Regardless, the Board and Superintendent ask the tax payers each year to put Mega Millions into unnecessary space and ball fields, Cadillac health & retirement benefits, yet question a commitment to the people who REALLY SERVED our country?
          The Board has asked for your input, so  CALL YOUR BOARD MEMBER AND SPEAK UP FOR THE VETS...OR SHOW UP at the special school board meeting and  public hearing for the exemption on WED JAN 14 at 7PM - but call your BOARD MEMBERS NOW.... these vets  put their lives on the line for you and your country...the least we can do is call up or show up...but for God's sake DON'T SHUT UP!! Pick up a copy of the Waterville Times for full details on front page. 

These are the Board Members and Superintendent's names:
Jim Plows - Superintendent
Bernard C. Whitacre, President
Jeffrey Beehm, Vice President
Gerry Elliott
Sean Karn
Ryan Rogers

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Healthcare HYPOCRITS at HARVARD....

What a bunch of hypocritical saps.... while I may be considered "liberal" ...these guys are "above-it-all liberals" -- here are the major so-called Harvard "thinkers" who so adamantly supported Obama-care and now are moaning because they have to share in their healthcare premium costs at Harvard. They are as hypocritical as the government representatives in this country  -- AT ALL LEVELS-- with their "let them eat cake" attitude toward the rest of us.  Read it and LAUGH!   Here are a couple of quotes from these HARVARD HYPOCRITS -- they need to get a REAL JOB and live in the REAL WORLD.  I SUPPORT OBAMACARE but we ALL have to SHARE in the costs.  Remember, these CADILLAC insurance policies run $30,000 per year and UP and ARE NOT TAXABLE....so these policies are TAX FREE INCOME FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS and TAXPAYERS.  Our Town SUPERVISORS and STATE LEGISLATORS get the same LUXURY treatment as these HYPOCRITS and have the balls to bellyache:

 Richard F. Thomas, a Harvard professor of classics and one of the world’s leading authorities on Virgil, called the changes “deplorable, deeply regressive, a sign of the corporatization of the university.”

Mary D. Lewis, a professor who specializes in the history of modern France and has led opposition to the benefit changes, said they were tantamount to a pay cut. “Moreover,” she said, “this pay cut will be timed to come at precisely the moment when you are sick, stressed or facing the challenges of being a new parent.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/us/health-care-fixes-backed-by-harvards-experts-now-roil-its-faculty.html?&hpw&rref=us&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0