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?

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

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

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scott-walker-food-stamps_55a64d15e4b0c5f0322bc850

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.

More details will be reported when available.

http://www.oneidadispatch.com/general-news/20150713/fire-departments-respond-to-barn-fire-in-hamilton-monday

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.   

http://www.oneidadispatch.com/general-news/20150711/board-of-supervisors-to-meet-july-14

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.

To see a full agenda and related materials, visit:www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/sites/default/files/supervisors/board_meeting_agenda_7.14.15.pdf