Nine questions about a proposal by Reggie Crowley that could cause you as much as $10,000 or more in the next decade

Nine questions about a proposal by Reggie Crowley that could cause you as much as $10,000 or more in the next decade.

Q. What's the proposal?

A. Reggie would like to replace the current system whereby the voters select three assessors with one in which current Republican board majority can appointed a single assessor.

 Q. When will he try to do this?

A. At 8:30 AM, Sat., Sept. 11 at the board meeting.

Q. Why does he want to do this?

A. Crowley says that having a sole appointed assessor will somehow take politics out of the assessment process. He claims that he wants to keep the appointment nonpolitical by involving the office of real property services in Hudson in the selection process, an office headed by a Republican!

Q. What's wrong with that?

 A. The process whereby a board majority (by virtue of one vote) undoes the decisions of the electorate can hardly be described as non political. The Republicans last two candidates for the assessor's office lost to the Democrats candidates. So they're simply trying to increase Republican power by going through a backdoor. In addition, the proposal is a diversion from making real reforms such as doing a town wide reevaluation that would treat everyone in the town fairly.

Q. Why can't Crowley's proposal that having a sole assessor will benefit the whole town, be taken at face value?

A. Crowley's record of appointments does not inspire confidence. He says he wants to have an outside agency involved in the selection process. What he doesn't mention is that that agency is headed by a Republican. Also, last January he shut out the public from commenting before the Republican majority appointed a replacement for someone who had resigned from the assessor's office. In addition, the person appointed had a murky history which involved misappropriating insurance claims funds and failing to account for town monies that were in his hands. Such a record does not make one comfortable about the town board majority substituting it's judgment for the

Q. You argued that the town should NOT consider having a sole assessor. Are there any changes that the town SHOULD consider in regard to the assessor's office?

A. With cooperation from other towns, an appointed assessor's office --- a real nonpolitical one --- could be created to handle assessments of all of the towns that pay taxes to the Taconic Hills School District. That could eliminate unfair assessments and  inequities resulting from different ways of calculating assessments on school taxes that currently exist from town to town.

Also Copake needs to do a total reevaluation. Hundreds of properties which have been in the same hands for several decades are under assessed, while many purchased in the last 10 years are over assessed. And finally, one can argue for creation of a countywide appointed assessor's office. If an assessor's office were established either for the towns that feed into the Taconic Hills School District or a countywide basis, the possibility would be to pay the assessor a full living salary rather than the relatively small salary that the chief assessor currently gets.

Reggie has shown no leadership in regard to these proposals. On the question of a town wide revaluation, he and some of his friends and colleagues clearly could be at a disadvantage because their properties have not been reassessed in decades. At least several town hall Republicans have houses which are assessed on a square foot basis significantly lower than dozens or scores of other residents who live in older and smaller houses than the well-connected people.

Q. What did you mean that Crowley's proposal because could cost me as much as $10,000 or more in the next decade?

A. Many town residents would receive significant reductions in taxes if reevaluation took place. The longer this is delayed, the more you may be overpaying your taxes.

Q. How can I try to stop Reggie Crowley from pushing through creation of a sole assessor in Copake?

A. Attend the Sat., Sept. 11 board meeting and/or send a letter to Reggie Crowley, with copies to Bob Sacks or Linda Gabaccia urging Reggie to drop his plan. Demand a town wide reevaluation. Your appearance at the board meeting is crucial. Faces and bodies have a bigger impact than letters.

Howard Blue

Copake Highway Superintendent Gregory responds to Morris Ordover’s letter

Letter to the Editor

Copake Highway Superintendent Gregory responds to Morris Ordover’s letter

Mr. Ordover’s letter to the Editor in last week’s Copake Chronicle was filled with many misleading facts.  Only two statements were accurate and truthful. One is that the Voters of Copake will have the opportunity to choose a Highway Superintendent in this November’s election. The other true statement is that our Highway Budget is over 50% of the total town budget. Not truthful is his statement that “For the first time in many election cycles, the voters of Copake will have an opportunity to make a choice in the election of our Highway Superintendent." The Highway Superintendent position is on the ballot every four-year election cycle; the voters have always had a choice.  

Furthermore, what Mr. Ordover fails to explain is that while our 2010 Highway budget accounts for 53% of the total town budget, nine Highway Departments in our county spend a higher percentage of their total town budgets. It is a myth of convenience, created for political advantage saying our Highway Budget is out of line with the spending of the other towns in the county.  At our recent Open House, I had on display a detailed comparison of all eighteen towns.  I have moved this display to the Town Hall for anyone who was unable to attend the Open House to view.

What follows is my response to the misleading statements made by Mr. Ordover for Mr. Jamieson:

1.      Mr. Ordover’s most misleading statement of his entire letter is Mr. Jamieson’s number one item of their platform; “Open records for all to see”.  That statement falsely leads people to believe that there are closed Highway Department records. The Town Board oversees any expenditure of monies out of the Highway Budget. The budget process starts with the Highway Superintendent submitting a budget request to the Budget Officer. Through the rest of the budget process, the Town Board may increase or decrease the Highway Budget.  After the Town Board approves a budget that they are satisfied with, the Highway Superintendent submits a Section 284 agreement detailing how the highway budget will be expended. During the following fiscal year, the Town Board has the power to accept or reject any expenditure out of the Highway Budget.  At every Town Board Meeting, the Board reviews and approves all bills out of the Highway Department.  These records of claims are public information.  I have been the Highway Superintendent for nearly ten months, neither Mr. Jamison nor Mr. Ordover have ever approached me with a request to see any records. How can someone claim to be denied access without ever making a request?

2.      “Savings through closer supervision”. Perhaps Mr. Jamieson can explain how he will supervise the department closer than myself while working part time?

3.      “Savings through a new tier of benefits for new employees reducing benefit costs”. This is not a new idea.  The following statement is taken out of the Town Board meeting minutes dated November 10, 2009: “Supervisor Crowley, we should take a stand that any new employee hired January 1, 2010 must pay a percentage of their insurance.” Highway Liaison & Town Board member Linda Gabaccia and I have met with our insurance agent to discuss initiating this policy. It is up to the Town Board to pass this resolution, not the Highway Superintendent.

4.      “Determining true personnel needs through attrition”. How convenient to overlook that is exactly what I have done by the elimination of a full time position in the Highway Department.  When I was unanimously appointed Highway Superintendent by the entire Town Board, I did not fill the position that I held in the Department.  The Department has traditionally had eight full time employees; I am now running the department with seven full time employees thereby saving the town a considerable amount of money.

5.    5)  “Reducing the cost of road maintenance while maintaining safety through more competitive bidding”. All major purchases by the Highway Department are made through either State, County or Town bids. How can Mr. Jamieson claim he will initiate a policy already in place?

6.     “Sharing and purchasing new equipment with neighboring towns”. This is another example of current policy.  Each year our Town Board approves an Inter-municipal agreement between the towns of Copake, Ancram, Hillsdale, and the Taconic Hills School District.  This allows each Department to share equipment and labor to save money.  In December of 2008 with the Town Board approval, (recorded in 12/13/2008 minutes), the above-mentioned Towns and school district applied for a 2008-2009 NY State Local Government Efficiency grant. This application was for $240,000 to purchase an Ariel bucket truck for tree work and three pieces of turf conditioning equipment. 

Although the truck was denied, the field equipment was approved and the equipment was received in 2009.  Each applicant paid $1,065.40 for equipment costing $38,354.40; ninety percent of the cost was covered in the grant. I have had discussions with my fellow Highway Superintendents and we plan to continue to work on grants to benefit the Taxpayers in these Towns & School District.

7.      “Selling unnecessary and aged equipment”. One of the first decisions I made as Superintendent, was to downsize our fleet of trucks. With board approval, we sold two trucks at auction. This is documented in our board meeting minutes, (1/14/2010). At our Open House, I detailed my intention to replace two dump trucks with one, further reducing our fleet size.

8.     “Extending the life of trucks to reduce replacement costs”. This statement from Mr. Ordover is interesting, given Mr. Jamieson’s reaction of surprise when I explained the age of some of our equipment at our recent Open House.

9.     “Passing savings on to reduce budget needs in following years”. The Highway Budget had an unexpended balance of $130,000 at the end of 2009. I hope to use some of these funds with Town Board approval to replace an older vehicle without burdening the Taxpayers.

                         “Limiting pay raises to annual cost of living increases”. Are Mr. Ordover and Mr. Jamieson aware that in 2010 the Highway employees did not receive any raise?

In my opinion, the preceding platform detailed by Mr. Ordover for Mr. Jamieson appears to be an attempt to "catch up" or an effort to deflect Mr. Jamieson's apparent lack of familiarity with how our Highway Department operates.

Even though I am a registered Republican with the endorsements of the Republican, Independence, and Conservative parties in the Town of Copake, I will continue to run the department in a non-partisan fashion, openly, honestly and with complete transparency. I will not make pledges on behalf of the Republican Party or any other Party for that matter because I do not believe this race should be about politics. I think this election should be decided on the merit and the qualifications of the candidate, not political affiliation. Will Bill Jamieson, a registered Conservative, endorsed by the Democratic Party in the Town of Copake make the same promises?

Bill Gregory

Town of Copake Highway Superintendent

A Choice in the Election of Highway Superintendent

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

For the first time in many election cycles, the voters of Copake will have an opportunity to make a choice in the election of our Highway Superintendent. Highways accounts for well over 1/2 of our total Town budget. If we are to cut costs and keep taxes under control, this is an area that needs scrutiny. Bill Jamieson, the Democratic candidate, is running on the following platform:

1. OPEN RECORDS FOR ALL TO SEE
2. SAVINGS THROUGH CLOSER SUPERVISION
3. SAVINGS THROUGH A NEW TIER OF BENEFITS FOR NEW EMPLOYEES REDUCING BENEFIT
COSTS
4. DETERMINING TRUE PERSONNEL NEEDS THROUGH ATTRITION
5. REDUCING THE COSTS OF ROAD MAINTENANCE WHILE MAINTAINING SAFETY THROUGH MORE
COMPETITIVE BIDDING.
6. SHARING AND PURCHASING NEW EQUIPMENT WITH NEIGHBORING TOWNS
7. SELLING UNNECESSARY AND AGED EQUIPMENT
8. EXTENDING THE LIFE OF TRUCKS TO REDUCE REPLACEMENT COSTS
9. PASSING SAVINGS ON TO REDUCE BUDGET NEEDS IN FOLLOWING YEARS
10. LIMITING PAY RAISES TO ANNUAL COST OF LIVING INCREASES

All of these efforts to reduce costs should be reflected in reduced taxes or at lease freeing up money to restore other services. The State just announced grants to entities that share services. Why were we not one of them?

Can the Republicans make the same pledges? We'll see. I suggest that we support Bill Jamieson to give the Town a fresh look at how we spend highway money while using his 32 years of highway experience for the benefit of the Town.

Morris Ordover

Copake, N. Y.   

Harvey Keitel goes to Copake to escape the Cops

Hi Bob—

Are you aware that Copake is where Harvey Keitel goes to escape cops

in Scorcese’s first film called, I think, “Who’s that knocking?” And you can see the Copake clock.

                Best, Sonia Pilcer

The Best Place for Fall Foliage

I do not know which category this fits under, nor do I have the patience to go searching thorough your glorious Chronicle for the right Designation----That said I want to nominate going away the best place for Fall Foliage---The Kancamangus Highway   (route 302) is so far and away the Best place to see New England, Fall Foliage and just utter magnificence----it runs between Vermont and New Hampshire---it is the best--

thank you --David Goldman

“The Jobs Crisis: What Hit Us?

Bob,

Just read the Copake Chronicle. I was stuck by your introduction to the Article written by Bob Burnett, of The Huffington Post, titled “The Jobs Crisis: What Hit Us?”

 You preface the article with, “It is also worth pointing out that the article is not favorable to the national Democratic or Republican positions.” I have to ask you to respond to this question. How can you make such a statement when the article is from The Huffington Post, which is one of the most progressive liberal blogs on the net, and goes on to bashes and blame Ronald Ragan and his presidency solely for the current economical woes of our country?

Gerard Meenagh

“The Jobs Crisis: What Hit Us?

“The Jobs Crisis: What Hit Us?

Bob:  I just wanted to say that I appreciated this article very much. Although it was about a national condition, it does seem to me to have local implications. There are many reasons why Copake is in the condition that it is in. A stagnant national economy is just one reason. The bottom line is that a local business man has to want to put his life savings into the project. If we are all honest with each other there are better places within a 10 mile radius to put your business life in such stress.

JJ Shaw

Copake Lake

A Registered Yoga Teacher In Copake

My name is Franny Alexander and I am living in Copake full time. I am a registered  Yoga teacher and  will be teaching Yoga in a small space above my barn. Presently I am teaching Sundays at 10 AM and will begin to teach on Friday(Sept .3rd)  at 10 AM. I am interested in forming more classes. I can teach on Tuesday as well, and could offer an evening class if there is a need. I am an experienced meditation practitioner and would also like to begin  a meditation course . Please let me know if you are interested and I will contact you with more information. Please  call me at 518 329 0729 

Frightful Railroad Accident

Hi Bob,

I wanted to let you know how excited I was to see the article "Frightful Railroad Accident" reprinted from /The New York Times. /My brothers and I heard this story when we were kids and had just been talking about it recently. We wondered if it really was possible that it happened the way we heard the story or was it some kind of "urban legend". Thank you for printing the article and for all the work you put into the /Copake Chronicle.

Kind regards,

Mary Hermans Guntert

I Want My Roads Plowed, and Very Minimal Government

Dear Bob:

I do not want my taxes to go up any more than absolutely necessary. I want my roads plowed, my children in a good school, and very minimal government. That minimal government includes the release of a police force we never needed in the first place. This is not about jobs, as they are all very part timers. It is about relief of the Copake Tax burden and thinking and planning ahead. We never had these problems till Reggie and Tompkins came to power. I fully expect that when they go away so will these stupid problems. I greatly regret my vote for them. It will not happen again.  

Jake Simon

Copake Falls

The Budget Deserves Serious Consideration

Dear Bob,
I think that your proposal to fund a reassessment and build a fund balance in the budget deserves serious consideration.  However, I'm not sure that we can afford to wait for a referendum.  As I recall, the budget problem surfaced last summer and we were forced to borrow and raise taxes.  I think that the town councilpersons and supervisor should immediately determine our financial status and take action to avoid a debacle like last year.  A good place to start cutting is the Copake Police Dept.  This is a duplication of services that we cannot justify maintaining in light of the current economic environment. 

This recommendation is not made lightly nor should it be perceived as a negative evaluation of the Department.  We simply cannot afford it.  I have observed  the State Police, the Dept. of Environmental Conservation, and the Sheriff's Dept.on patrol in the area and on the lake.  The coverage is excellent.  I feel confident that they can provide good coverage if the Police Dept. is disbanded.
Sincerely,
David Craw
A Copake voter

Ideas for Fixing The Mess the Town Board Has Gotten Us Into

Hello Bob,

The Chronicle Article was very good and  very timely. Here are some quick thoughts on what you need to do, and quickly!

One way to fix the mess the town board has gotten us into is to simply not spend what we don't have. You guys are all guilty of this. I seem to recall that many items that were carved out at the end of fiscal year 2008 for fiscal year 2009 have made their way back into the budget. Things that have no business being funded by the tax paying public. Here is a sample for your perusal.

 1.) Young at Hearters

2.) Summer play ground program which basically is a subsidy for day care.

3.) Park Superintendent-this work is currently being done during the day while the individual is being paid out of the highway budget. Double dipping to be sure.

4.) Poor internal controls over assets

5.) Failure to use competitive bidding on many large ticket expense lines.

     Health insurance

     General insurance

     Supplies

     Office equipment

     Computers and phone systems.

On another note, our ZEO should be out there capturing revenue for all the apparent zoning violations in our township. If John Keeler and I can see violations, I have a difficult time with the apparent inability of the ZEO to see the same things. In addition to this, perhaps one building inspector is enough and one that has certification.

As far as the Police dept. being made into a substation for the State Police or the Sheriffs, that was one of Reggie's planks in his election campaign. Once elected he forgot about that and told us that the Sheriff could not get enough manpower to do so. Then the rumor was circulated that if we had abolished the police department we would have no coverage since we were so far from Hudson. Sheriff Harrison indicated that was untrue and that he had the responsibility to cover all of our county 24/7.

Immediately after the statement that our town could not be covered the State Police became an almost daily presence. So hate to say this, but someone was fabricating. We do not need the police department at all. The coverage offered by the state agency as well as the county agency if more than sufficient.

The list goes on and on and quite honestly it is shameful. The tax paying public is tired of the drama that unfolds each month. We are also tired of the games that are played with our funds and the apparent lack of fiduciary responsibility. I would hope that someone with some business sense comes out of the wood work to lead this town in a fiscally responsible manner. As it stands right now, we are doomed.

Sorry to have to break the news to you, but this is how many, many folks are seeing this and it needs to change ASAP.

Next November has the potential to be a blood bath on the local level if things don't change.

Fran Miller

My Contempt for the Sheer Incompetence

Bob,
I've lived here for over 30 years,have paid in excess of 100K in school taxes(single,no children)and am finally showing my contempt for the sheer incompetence, in the waste of the tax dollars.


Example,I stopped by the school to inquire about the use of the swimming pool and much to my dismay,not only couldn't I find anyone there(front doors all locked) but every light was on in all the hallways A.C. blasting! I want to know what the H is going on(not to mention the outdoor parking lot lights burning most of the night).The waste in one year could probably pay for an alternative energy source(ex. wind mill) which may well eliminate the need for expensive electric altogether.  Tune in and turn Off 


B.K.
P.S Then they have the audacity to charge me a buck to swim!

I found a metal/ribbon in the road after the parade

Hi Bob,

I found a metal/ribbon in the road after the parade in Copake on Monday. It is a star metal attached by a red/white/blue ribbon. My guess is that is belongs to a Veteran. What is the best way to get this back to the owner? I can drop it off at Town Hall Friday afternoon.

Please let me know.
Thanks
Patricia Phesay

Copake Is My Home

Dear Bob,


I want to take this opportunity to thank the Copake Park Commission for the awesome job they did with the fundraiser for Jeffrey’s Journey at The Cove this past weekend. They did everything – from soup to nuts. All the advertising, organizing and leg work it took seeking donations.

As I said at the town board meeting this past Saturday, a few years back I wanted to move closer to Albany so I could work in the Albany area as a nurse and continue my education, but it never really felt right in my heart…. And now I know why…because this is where I belong …
Copake is my home. Joan Spencer

A Chronicle of Their Own

This letter is in responce to another letter to the editor saying that it was obscene that other towns don't have a Chronicle of their own. The editor of this paper says thanks for the note from both writers.

It is sad, or regretable, but not obscene that other towns don't have a "Chronicle " of its own. Other towns don't have that combination of a skillful writer, a professonal editor-publisher, a wide-ranging interest and a comittment to a community-- all wrapped up in one person like Bob Sacks.

You need all those qualities to get what Copake has.
 
DF

I am Proud of the Democrats in Town

I, as president of the Copake Democratic Club, am proud of the Democrats in Town. We came together in large numbers, approximately 85 of us, to hold an open nominating process, with a secret ballot to allow voters to make their preference without others looking at their choice. We looked at the candidates and saw two qualified men, and chose to provide for an open election in November, with two candidates on the ballot allowing for open discussion of the issues and freedom of choice. That is democracy and that is the path we as Democrats follow.


Thank you Copake Democrats, for attending in such numbers and permitting the entire town to see what we are, what we offer for the future of the Town and how to run an open and effective caucus, allowing anyone present the opportunity to speak and be heard. We look forward to open factual public debate prior to the election in November, and to a Copake Democratic Party united in that democratic process. We will show, that even with a divergence of opinion, we can pull together for the common purpose of electing our candidates dedicated to open government.

Morris Ordover
Copake Democratic Club President

Has anyone taken a good look at the creek on 7A lately?

Has anyone taken a good look at the creek on 7A lately? It is cluttered with fallen trees and debris.


Our home as well as several others on the Main Street has suffered flooding from the stream. I have asked the town board for help but am continually told that clean up of the stream is not allowed by DEC. While I brought this up at a town meeting, Reginald Crowley stated that the DEC would not permit cleanup. However that was contradicted by other members of the board. Why hasn't the Copake town board ever applied for a a permit with DEC to clean up the stream to prevent flooding of our homes?

I feel that since it only affects a few homes it is not seen as important to the town.

I have contacted William Nechamen, Chief Flood Plain Management NY State Dept of Enviromental Conservation and was told that clean up was possible if done correctly. But without a request for a permit nothing is being done.

We should not have to worry each time we get a heavy rain.

I wonder if the members of the town board or their families lived on Main Street if this problem would be resolved.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Williams
Copake NY

Voting for Change

Decisions are gong to be made on Saturday morning. In the case of Highway Department Supervisor the impact of that decision is huge. Copake has suffered a succession of highway supervisors whose goal was never in doubt; to build an empire inside the town. The Supervisors were Republicans, so they hired only Republicans. They inflated the budget to a degree that their line item now constitutes half the cost of the entire town budget - that we sustain as taxpayers - and they have historically been arbiters of far more than road maintenance – they’re outsized influence was felt far and wide.


I’ve been here ten years and heard nothing from Democrats except, “We need to clean that place up”. “We need to look at the books” (Which we’ve never been able to do.) “We need new blood there.” “I’d do anything to get an independent Highway Supervisor.” Now, we have that chance and I see that instead of seizing our opportunity we are lining up to seat another Republican in the very place they have mismanaged for decades.

Bill Gregory seems like a nice man and competent, but exactly the same thing can be said of Bill Jamieson who also has decades of experience on the roads of our town and country. Both men enjoy good reputations as decent people and hard workers. The critical difference is that Bill Gregory is a Republican and Bill Jamieson is not. How then, can we squander our opportunity? How is it that we are losing our nerve at the critical moment? I remind all that this vote will put new leadership in the town’s most important office for exactly one year. If Bill Jamieson doesn’t please us in 52 weeks, the voters will get another chance to speak. How then, with this window of opportunity, can we not act in both our own interest and the interest of the town?

In case anyone’s forgotten, Bob and Linda can speak to all of you about the cost of missing an opportunity to exercise our power. They sat on a board for two years with a majority vote and instead of playing hardball, they played “nice.” They will be the first to tell you that was a huge mistake, one they won’t make again.

This isn’t personal for me. Nor should it be personal for Democrats. This is about strategy. It’s our moment to exercise our growing power. It’s our moment to make a statement to the good old boys and their dying mantra of anchoring our town to the past instead of the future. I call upon all Democrats to vote, and vote for our vision, our goals, because if anyone’s going to have a hell of a good laugh on Saturday, it will be the good old boys when they watch Democrats vote Republican.

Ian Jarvis – Voting for Change.

The Coverage of the Copake area Veterans

Mr. Sacks, I was moved by your coverage of the Copake area veterans. That was a very special issue. The Chronicle serves a wonderful purpose for our town and I thank you for your public commitment. I wanted you to know that our friends in Ancram are jealous and wish they had a paper like ours. I will be looking for you at Copake Day, to personally shake your hand and say thanks.

John Hess
Copake Lake