Except for Mayoral musings of random "dog poop" bag police checks, "executions" and "rapes", last night's (11/16/09) Saugerties Village Board meeting was boilerplate. Oh wait, I forgot the bit about PBA demanding a SEQR.
The pledge of allegiance was followed with the standard mix of self-congratulations, quips and odd explanations of why the Village is in such financial straits. Analogies were abundant, with the mayor grasping for the right picture to illustrate his fiscal position. Like the one about "falling dominoes", which excused repeated bank loans (to make payroll) and the Village's burgeoning $6,000,000.00 debt. According to Mayor Yerick, it was all the Federal government's fault. He ended with, "We (the Village) don't have many products to sell" as the apparent reason why his government has had trouble (for the past several years) paying its workers.
Though all hope was not lost when trustee LeBlanc and Murphy announced that the board was going to vote "tonight" on the board's intention to seek Lead agency status for a SEQR (The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act) which the PBA is requesting. You may be asking yourself, what is "SEQR" and when did the Police Benevolent Association become environmentalists?. Well, the supposed answer to this perplexing question lies deep within the creative mind of the PBA's legal counsel. After the Saugerties Police Consolidation study was presented in August, the Saugerties Village PBA threatened to sue if the Village proceeded with a public referendum. Now it appears that Village attorney Alex Betke agrees that [giving us a chance to vote] on a Town and Village police merger can not proceed without a NYDEC environmental impact assessment review.
But all was put into proper perspective, when the mayor explained that "we've been working on consolidation for the past fourteen (14) years". I couldn't help but think to myself how comically sad the Village's state of affairs has become and that we [tax payers] are forever being held hostage by a self-perpetuating local government machine. 14 years after the first attempt to consolidate and after a $35,000.00 study, Saugerties Village [New Vision Party] trustees still can't get the will to implement the only reasonable solution to our deepening debt; consolidation of services!
Showing posts with label murphy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label murphy. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
No Hors'n Around
At last night's Saugerties Village Board meeting, mayor Yerick opened with a salvo against the "jerk... idiot... 22 year old" who irreparably damaged one of the Hors'n Around Saugerties horses. "What in the hell gives these kids the right", the mayor continued as he explained that there was probably more than the 3 horses that have already been damaged.
Not children friendly
Apparently there have been other unforeseen issues that have arisen with the artful horses. Trustee Myers' report to the board included a child who "bumped" her face with the corner of one of the horses' metal bases. It seems that the bases on all 48 horses have protruding metal corners which are at eye-level to most children. "It's hard for a child to see them", Myers nervously chuckled, continuing to ensure a wary public that road department ground down the corners immediately after being alerted to the problem. "It's been quite a job keeping up with the horses..." she added. Mayor Yerick ended with a plea for anyone who witnesses suspicious activity around the horses to call the police immediately. "I can't understand why anyone would sit a child on these horses... they are beautiful pieces of art". Adding to the vandalism, it seems that folks have been seen sitting their pleading toddlers on the horses.
Running out of juice
Can you imagine that the little Village of Saugerties has reached full capacity and needs electrical upgrades? Well, it's true according to Alex Wade. Central Hudson will need to install 70 new utility poles. The problem is that CH will have to cut down some old shade trees in order to complete the upgrades. The Mayor explained that Verizon and Time Warner share these utility poles and they have "thousands of law suits" pending against them and he is "not optimistic" that they will comply will the Central Hudson pole transfers leaving old poles next to the 70 new poles and an unsightly mess. Kelly Myers is in charge of protecting the trees and the historical "integrity of our streets".
DOT changes its terms
The multi-million dollar Village water and sewer separation work agreement that has been planned for many years has run into financial trouble. New York State DOT wants the Village of Saugerties to pay for the construction costs upfront before the work begins. Then, as Alex Wade explained, "... we [Village of Saugerties] will bill DOT for the work when they are completed." The Mayor went on to assure the public that he has called all the politicians and representatives for their help and is hopeful something can be worked out.
"Oh yea... I'm abstaining"
The financial abstract for last month's Village expenses was approved unanimously (Campbell and Moore absent) with Trustee Murphy abstaining. At first Mayor Yerick seemed surprised, though with a smile and wink remembered that Trustee Murphy's trash services are included in the abstract of bills. Oh yea... I forgot.
Squeezing in another subdivision
A "Major Subdivision" request is in the progress. John Duran who owns property at the end of Main Street is requesting permission to subdivide his village property into several smaller parcels, "... for his kids".
Not children friendly
Apparently there have been other unforeseen issues that have arisen with the artful horses. Trustee Myers' report to the board included a child who "bumped" her face with the corner of one of the horses' metal bases. It seems that the bases on all 48 horses have protruding metal corners which are at eye-level to most children. "It's hard for a child to see them", Myers nervously chuckled, continuing to ensure a wary public that road department ground down the corners immediately after being alerted to the problem. "It's been quite a job keeping up with the horses..." she added. Mayor Yerick ended with a plea for anyone who witnesses suspicious activity around the horses to call the police immediately. "I can't understand why anyone would sit a child on these horses... they are beautiful pieces of art". Adding to the vandalism, it seems that folks have been seen sitting their pleading toddlers on the horses.
Running out of juice
Can you imagine that the little Village of Saugerties has reached full capacity and needs electrical upgrades? Well, it's true according to Alex Wade. Central Hudson will need to install 70 new utility poles. The problem is that CH will have to cut down some old shade trees in order to complete the upgrades. The Mayor explained that Verizon and Time Warner share these utility poles and they have "thousands of law suits" pending against them and he is "not optimistic" that they will comply will the Central Hudson pole transfers leaving old poles next to the 70 new poles and an unsightly mess. Kelly Myers is in charge of protecting the trees and the historical "integrity of our streets".
DOT changes its terms
The multi-million dollar Village water and sewer separation work agreement that has been planned for many years has run into financial trouble. New York State DOT wants the Village of Saugerties to pay for the construction costs upfront before the work begins. Then, as Alex Wade explained, "... we [Village of Saugerties] will bill DOT for the work when they are completed." The Mayor went on to assure the public that he has called all the politicians and representatives for their help and is hopeful something can be worked out.
"Oh yea... I'm abstaining"
The financial abstract for last month's Village expenses was approved unanimously (Campbell and Moore absent) with Trustee Murphy abstaining. At first Mayor Yerick seemed surprised, though with a smile and wink remembered that Trustee Murphy's trash services are included in the abstract of bills. Oh yea... I forgot.
Squeezing in another subdivision
A "Major Subdivision" request is in the progress. John Duran who owns property at the end of Main Street is requesting permission to subdivide his village property into several smaller parcels, "... for his kids".
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