Friday, July 26, 2013
Good to be Back....
Good to be back....I have been having problems posting.... have some follow up reports on Comp Plan meetings, etc.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
ALBANY - Public Defender not good enough for Elected Official !
Another screwing of the NYS taxpayers who will pay $700 per hour to represent NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. [$500 lawyer + $200 paralegal PER HOUR]. And by Albany standards this is considered a "reasonable" rate...talk about legal "dream teams"..... I think pot has already been legalized in Albany!!! A public defender is good enough for the rest of us!....They should bid this work out like they require the rest of the state gov't to do!!!... Read the details in this article from PRESS & SUN http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20130701/NEWS10/307010063/State
Sunday, June 30, 2013
BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD - July 8 - Don't Miss this One!
DON'T MISS the JULY 8 TOWN BOARD MEETING --- Bound to be "Interesting".....a major upset with the Comprehensive Plan being "not recommended" by the Town Planning Board....and the shouting match that ensued....altered documents (forgery).... and don't miss the WATERVILLE TIMES that will be publishing some equally "interesting" Letters to the Editor. Should be a real eye-opener for some (but not for those who attend these meetings!)...Should sell tickets to this one! Here's a "trailer" for the upcoming meeting! [LETTER TO EDITOR]
To the Editor:
I was shocked and dismayed that at the June 26th Brookfield Planning Board meeting Marylou Rhodes and myself were repeatedly shouted at publicly by two fellow Planning Board members. We were called “liars” and accused of “lying to the Planning Board members and the people of this town” regarding the legal meaning of a Comprehensive Plan. One of them waved a supposed copy of the NYS Statute on Comprehensive Planning, Town Law § 272-a, while both of them shouted loudly at us that “the state says once adopted, a Comprehensive Plan becomes law”.
What these individuals had in reality was a document that had been altered. They did NOT have an exact printout of Town Law § 272-a. They had a document where said law had been copied and pasted into a new document, with the formatting changed and statements added to intentionally mislead both the Planning Board and the Community into believing the Plan becomes an actual "LAW".
Because of the anger and hostility created by the altered document described, I requested a legal opinion from our town attorney, based on the actual law, which follows:
“First. No Town is required to adopt a comprehensive plan. It is voluntary.
Second. If a Town adopts a comprehensive plan it does so by a Resolution, not by Ordinance or Local Law. Resolutions are the least formal kind of legislation; they are typically used by Town Boards to govern the day to day management of government (adopt a budget, set meeting dates, honor a citizen, etc.).
Third. A comprehensive plan does not require anyone to do anything, and there are no penalties for not following it. The plan is really just the ‘goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, devices and instruments’ of the Town to promote ‘protection, enhancement, growth and development’ of the Town, according to NY Town Law Section 272-a(2-a). By its very nature the plan is simply that, a plan, not a requirement. As with all plans it is meant to be advisory and informative, not to be mandatory. It is designed to give guidance, not to be mandatory or punitive.
Fourth. If a plan is adopted, then all ‘town land use regulations must be in accordance’ with the plan according to NY Town Law Section 272-a (11). So, if a plan is adopted, and the Town later wants to adopt land use laws, they must be in harmony with the plan.
Fifth. NY Town Law Section 272-a (12) says if a plan is adopted, it must be filed in the office of the Town Clerk, and the office of the county planning agency. Local Laws must also be filed with the Secretary of State, but that is not required for comprehensive plans.
So, can it be said that a comprehensive plan is a form of legislation? Yes, but it is legislation that is voluntary, adopted in the least formal manner, and it does not require anyone to do anything. It just serves as a guide.”
To the citizens of Brookfield, please do not be misled by this deliberate attempt to deceive. I urge you to either go to the Town Hall and request to see the actual Town Law or go to the NYS Laws website at: http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS to download and print a copy of any law yourself.
Karen Nowak
Brookfield Planning Board
To the Editor:
I was shocked and dismayed that at the June 26th Brookfield Planning Board meeting Marylou Rhodes and myself were repeatedly shouted at publicly by two fellow Planning Board members. We were called “liars” and accused of “lying to the Planning Board members and the people of this town” regarding the legal meaning of a Comprehensive Plan. One of them waved a supposed copy of the NYS Statute on Comprehensive Planning, Town Law § 272-a, while both of them shouted loudly at us that “the state says once adopted, a Comprehensive Plan becomes law”.
What these individuals had in reality was a document that had been altered. They did NOT have an exact printout of Town Law § 272-a. They had a document where said law had been copied and pasted into a new document, with the formatting changed and statements added to intentionally mislead both the Planning Board and the Community into believing the Plan becomes an actual "LAW".
Because of the anger and hostility created by the altered document described, I requested a legal opinion from our town attorney, based on the actual law, which follows:
“First. No Town is required to adopt a comprehensive plan. It is voluntary.
Second. If a Town adopts a comprehensive plan it does so by a Resolution, not by Ordinance or Local Law. Resolutions are the least formal kind of legislation; they are typically used by Town Boards to govern the day to day management of government (adopt a budget, set meeting dates, honor a citizen, etc.).
Third. A comprehensive plan does not require anyone to do anything, and there are no penalties for not following it. The plan is really just the ‘goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, devices and instruments’ of the Town to promote ‘protection, enhancement, growth and development’ of the Town, according to NY Town Law Section 272-a(2-a). By its very nature the plan is simply that, a plan, not a requirement. As with all plans it is meant to be advisory and informative, not to be mandatory. It is designed to give guidance, not to be mandatory or punitive.
Fourth. If a plan is adopted, then all ‘town land use regulations must be in accordance’ with the plan according to NY Town Law Section 272-a (11). So, if a plan is adopted, and the Town later wants to adopt land use laws, they must be in harmony with the plan.
Fifth. NY Town Law Section 272-a (12) says if a plan is adopted, it must be filed in the office of the Town Clerk, and the office of the county planning agency. Local Laws must also be filed with the Secretary of State, but that is not required for comprehensive plans.
So, can it be said that a comprehensive plan is a form of legislation? Yes, but it is legislation that is voluntary, adopted in the least formal manner, and it does not require anyone to do anything. It just serves as a guide.”
To the citizens of Brookfield, please do not be misled by this deliberate attempt to deceive. I urge you to either go to the Town Hall and request to see the actual Town Law or go to the NYS Laws website at: http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS to download and print a copy of any law yourself.
Karen Nowak
Brookfield Planning Board
Friday, June 21, 2013
BCS - "Imports" 9% of its Students
Interesting detail learned at the BCS Board meeting last week: 21 students (approximately 9%) of the BCS student population (approx 240 total) are from out of district and attend free.
BCS - Plows $130,000 salary
Catch this week's Waterville Times.... Plows got the job (surprise!) that they have been holding for him...$130,000 this year + benefits! The Board said this is the same salary as "last year"...do the math....$102,600 vs. $130,000 .... see below...this is what the SCHOOL reports to NYState... Hey, when garage and maintenance are making $50-60,000 at BCS -- it's right in the ball park....
Plows Jr, James H $81,689 2009
Plows Jr, James H $96,531 2010
Plows, James H Jr $102,881 2011
Plows,James H,Jr $101,595 2012
As for employees making $50-60,000 in Maintenance and Garage... Kupris,Mark E $52,007 2012
Owens,Paul T $63,372 2012
You'll find this and more at SEE THROUGH NY...
http://seethroughny.net/payrolls/
Plows Jr, James H $81,689 2009
Plows Jr, James H $96,531 2010
Plows, James H Jr $102,881 2011
Plows,James H,Jr $101,595 2012
As for employees making $50-60,000 in Maintenance and Garage... Kupris,Mark E $52,007 2012
Owens,Paul T $63,372 2012
You'll find this and more at SEE THROUGH NY...
http://seethroughny.net/payrolls/
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
BROOKFIELD BCS - June 11 - SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTMENT
Don't forget the BCS Board of Education Meeting this Wednesday, Jun 11 at 7PM. Jim Plows is expected to be appointed SUPERINTENDENT & BUSINESS MANAGER and his salary will be announced at this meeting.
MADISON COUNTY - Cassie Head 2013 Dariy Princess
Belated Congratulations to Cassie Head of Hubbardsville who was crowned the 2013 Madison County Dairy Princess . Eleven Dairy Ambassadors were also recognized in a special celebration for the 50th year of Dairy Promotion in Madison County. Cassie is the 15-year-old daughter of Tim and Colleen Head of Hubbardsville. See full story at: http://madisoncountycourier.com/?p=47112
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)