Amsterdam Spends Wisely

According to the Amsterdam City Charter, the Budget Review Board consists of the Mayor, five Alderman and City Controller who each have a deciding vote. The preliminary budget is supposed to be prepared by the Controller after the department heads have each submitted their proposed budget requests. March 1, 2013, is the date the working tentative budget should be presented and May 1, 2013, is the date the Budget Review Board is to adopt a final budget.

Since this writer has kept track (about five years), the budget review process has never gone smoothly. I never understood why the City of Amsterdam Controller, an elected position, had a vote on  city budget matters or the Mayor either for that matter. The legislative body of government (Alderman) was formed for that purpose while the executive (Mayor) approved or vetoed legislation.

This year’s budget negotiation is without a Controller. The City of Amsterdam’s last Controller, Ron Wierzbecki, died in December and the Common Council decided to continue without appointing an interim. Instead they chose to create a Deputy Controller, an appointed position to serve in that capacity. An experienced accountant, David Mitchell was hired to the $75,000, 6 year post. Things seem to be going smoothly since he took over the reins but I’m sure he still has some catching up to do.

The City of Amsterdam Budget Review Board met on Tuesday, April 23, 2012, to hear budget presentations from City Department heads. This year’s Budget Review Board consists of Mayor Ann Thane, 1st Ward Alderman Joe Isabel, 2nd Ward Alderman Valerie Beekman, 3rd Ward Alderman Gina DeRossi, 4th Ward Alderman Dave Dybas, 5th Ward Alderman Richard Leggiero, Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis and Deputy Controller David Mitchell. Legally the Deputy Controller and Corporation Counsel have no vote on the city budget. Corporation Counsel DeCusatis certainly had his say in both preparing the budget and active negotiations. It seems he has stepped in the role of  Controller.  In fact, the preliminary budget was prepared by Thane and DeCusatis who took it upon themselves to add items and even new employees to the department head budgets without their consent. This revealed itself as the department heads each presented their budgets last night.

Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course Maintenance Supervisor Jim Derrick

Mayor Ann Thane, Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis, Alderman Valerie Beekman, Alderman Gina Derossi, Alderman Joe Isabel

DeCuasatis, Beekman, DeRossi, Isabel

Jim Derrick, Golf Commission Chairman Mike Bucciferro

Amsterdam City Engineer Richard Miller

Rick Morrison reporting live from the budget hearing

Ann Thane, Gerard DeCusatis

Deputy Controller David Mitchell, Alderman Richard Leggiero, Alderman Dave Dybas

DPW General Foreman Ray Halgas

Transportation Director Cheryl Scott

Recreation Director Rob Spagnola

Recorder Reporter Rebecca Webster

Rebecca Webster

Mitchell, Leggiero, Dybas

Director of Community and Economic Development Robert von Hasseln

Rob von Hasseln

Placed in the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course budget was a cart fee of $2.00 per cart applicable to everyone driving a cart on the course. The Review Board decided to remove that fee with Alderman Beekman stating it was unfair for those that own carts housed at the course who already pay cart storage and membership fees. There was a discussion about hiring a general manager for the course next year but that was not figured in their budget for this season.

City Engineer Richard Miller argued for increased hours for his secretary from 30 to 35 hours a week. That request was approved pending a Civil Service agreement.

DPW General Foreman Ray Halgas found a newly created supervisor position in his budget that Mayor Thane admitted she placed there. The Mayor wanted the position to keep an eye on crews and people who tend to take too long during breaks. She stated her office constantly receives calls that DPW crews are hanging out at Stewarts or other convenience stores for extended periods of time. This new employee position was voted down by the Budget Review Board.  Halgas seemed a bit uneasy about the Montgomery Otsego Schoharie Solid Waste Management agreement scheduled to end this time next year with no current negotiation pending for a replacement or new contract.  Alderman Dybas congratulated Halgas for finally getting both street sweepers working. Halgas stated a new sweeper will arrive this year, describing problems he has had maintaining the older sweepers.

Transportation Director Cheryl Scott presented her budget with an irregularity noticed in last year’s electric bill that the Deputy Controller stated he would help work out. As an aside, Alderman Isabel turned to the media table of reporters to state the Transportation Budget requires a taxpayer subsidy amounting to $326,000 per year to run. Low cost transportation is provided around the City of Amsterdam, to County Offices in Fonda, To Fulton-Montgomery Community College as well as daily trips to Albany, NY.

Recreation Director Rob Spagnola has taken on added responsibilities this year with the establishment the Beacon School Recreation Center and the Creative Connections Art Center. With help from a part-time Recreation Assistant, programming was created for both the young and old. The addition of Union College Baseball to Shuttleworth Park will bring astro turf paving. Spagnola asked for a salary increase for himself and full-time hours for his assistant stating he was the oldest tenured Director who loves his job and has never asked for a salary increase before. The Recreation budget also included a $10,000 revolving fund to help defray costs of programming, with the understanding that the money would be replenished from programming services rendered. His requests were unanimously approved by the Board.

Director of Community and Economic Development Rob von Hasseln completed his first year in the new position, giving a status report of developments. He reiterated that while still performing the City Historian job, he no longer receives the $5,000 stipend. Von Hasseln also stated that he saves the City money by not accepting the health insurance as he already has health insurance through his US Army retirement. Von Hasseln was also responsible for helping to create and sell the revolving fund for recreation services. Thanks Rob!

While this three-hour Budget Review Board meeting was only one of many, it does seem things are running better than earlier years. Only time (tax and utility bills) will tell.

Angry Jesuit Blocks Entrance to Buddhist Temple

The angry Leprechaun pictured is Fr. George H. Belgarde, S.J. Director of Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, NY, who recently ordered a barricade built on Shrine Road, blocking access to the Western Supreme Buddha Temple and headquarters of the World Peace and Heath Organization adjacent to the Shrine. The barricade, built with tree trunks and a sawhorse, was adorned with a large black sign with the word CLOSED painted in red.

This blogger received a call today from WPHO spokesperson, fellow Buddhist and friend Jennie Wong who had just returned to this area from another mission in China. She asked if I would meet her at the WPHO headquarters to help figure out why this barricade was blocking access to their property at 174 Shrine Road. This barricade not only blocks Buddhists it also prevents mail from being delivered and emergency vehicles from reaching the Temple.

I arrived before Ms Wong and decided to go to the Shrine Office and ask about the barricade. A pleasant receptionist greeted me and I introduced myself stating my business. She entered the next room informing the occupants and told me I could go right in. I saw a small man dressed in black talking with someone else and heard him state “…and he has a camera”. As I approached the next room he stated, “You can wait” and went on with his conversation for another five minutes. I was met by a visibly angry and generally disagreeable little man who I found out later was Fr.Belgarde, the Shrine’s Director. I introduced myself and asked about the barricade. He declined to answer any of my questions stating he would need to see my identification. I gave him my driver’s license which he stared at for about a minute. He then asked me for documentation stating I was a Buddhist. Apparently my physical appearance differed from what he assumed a Buddhist should look like. Another man wearing a red plaid shirt entered the room and stated, “I think I’m the person you want to talk to, I put up the barricade”. He was then silenced by Belgarde, still clinging on to my license, who told the worker he (Belgarde), was taking care of this. After refusing to answer any of my questions, it appeared that Belgarde was enjoying trying to antagonize me. I then asked for my license back and left the building.

Jennie Wong and three other members of the WPHO arrived and we all took another trip down to the Shrine Office only to be met outside by the Jesuit and maintenance worker. Once again they refused to answer any of our questions, referring us to their lawyers. Ms Wong tried reasoning with the Jesuit, asking him to remove the CLOSED sign as it looked as if the WPHO headquarters was closed and not just the road. The antagonistic Jesuit then ordered us to leave HIS property. We then took a trip to the NYS Troopers headquarters in Fonda. Trooper Matt Wheeler, a true professional, listened to the story, made suggestions and agreed to take a look at the barricade and talk to Belgarde. When we returned to Shrine Road we were greeted by a Montgomery County Sheriff who quickly entered his vehicle and moved it to further block the road when he saw us coming. He then exited his vehicle and was in the process of telling us to leave when Trooper Wheeler arrived explaining the other side of the story.

The result of the debate between the law enforcement officers hinged on whether Shrine Road was a County road or a private road. It appears on maps as a County Road, in which case the barricade is illegal. Part of the original deed agreement was that an alternate access road would be built. While this road was built connecting the Temple with Ridley Road, it has not been graded or paved and does not appear on official maps, GPS or EMS response systems. The steep base of the road makes it difficult to travel without sliding.

What was once a harmonious relationship under the Shrine’s former Director Fr. Murray is now antagonistic and non-communicative under the direction of Fr.George H.Belgarde who appears to have an ax to grind.

Can’t we all just get along?

UPDATE:

Journalist Ed Munger Jr. wrote a great, objective article about this incident titled “Surprise barricade cuts Buddhist Temple access”. It is published in the April 8, 2013, edition of the Daily Gazette. The article can be found at http://www.dailygazette.com.

About that Art Center…

Around this time last year, the City of Amsterdam, NY realized it owned a building recently vacated by St Mary’s Hospital Outreach Center. Several organizational meetings were held by Mayor Ann Thane to get public comments on just what to do with this building. There were several great suggestions including a Community Recreation Center. Through a series of missteps that did not include required approval from the Common Council, a handpicked committee was formed with the intended purpose of managing and running an Art Center. This committee then became a private entity that would have control of a city owned property again without any advice from the Common Council, the legislative body for the City of Amsterdam. Creative Connections became very non-communicative, refusing to hold public meetings and would not answer any of my email inquiries. Aside from a couple of art shows, there was little action from this committee or programming for the public.

Throughout this process, I recommended to both the Mayor and the Creative Connections Committee, that they get approval from the Common Council as required by law,before proceeding any further. My suggestion was ignored creating a great deal of animosity.

My earlier blog entries describing these occurrences can be found here and here.

At last nights meeting of the Amsterdam Common, a resolution was presented for approval that transferred funds to pay for furnace repair, carpeting and painting of the Creative Connections Arts Center. This brought about a long needed discussion by Council members about why they were never consulted regarding the use of this building.

I commend Alderman Valerie Beekman for standing up to the Council with a direct criticism of the way the Art Center has been handled, at the same time expressing the importance of continuing to move forward and do things the right way as an example to our kids. She pledged to donate the rest her salary to pay for expenses incurred.

Left out of today’s Recorder article describing last night’s Council meeting, was my formal request that one of our Aldermen propose a resolution dedicating the building at 303-305 East Main Street as a Community Recreation Center. The approval of this resolution would, by law, put the management under control of the City Recreation Committee and would allow them to directly receive funding and grants for programs and improvements. This would increase public confidence in the center by providing a documented, public flow of funding with no appearance of impropriety. It would also open the center for use by the entire community and allow the Recreation department to charge a usage fee, relieving some of the tax burden.

I believe my suggestion was taken seriously and that we will see some movement on this proposal.

Alderman Valerie Beekman authoritatively asserts that the Art Center be handled the right way as an example to our kids.

Amsterdam Recreation Director Rob Spagnola explains the Art Center repairs and upgrades to Amsterdam’s Common Council.

We also discovered at last nights meeting that the security camera systems donated by the Buddhist World Peace and Health Organization last July were finally being installed by Michael R. Parillo. An example of the mounting device designed by Parillo is displayed in the next photo between Corporation Counsel Gerard Decusatis and Alderman Joe Isabel.

Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis, Alderman Joe Isabel, Alderman Valerie Beekman, Alderman Gina DeRossi

There is still time to buy tickets to the Mardi Gras Dance Party Fundraiser sponsored by the Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation on Saturday, February 9, 2013, starting at 5:30pm. All proceeds go to fund the FREE 2013 Amsterdam Riverlink Park Summer Concert Series. You may buy tickets directly from the website www.riverlinkconcerts.com.

 

UPDATE: A Show Of Support

Buddhists Donate Security Cameras to the City of Amsterdam

During a formal presentation ceremony at Amsterdam City Hall this morning, the local Buddhist group known as the World Peace and Health Organization, led by Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi, presented the City of Amsterdam with 20 video surveillance camera systems. The cameras were donated Sky Deng, whose company LYD Technology USA Inc.  produces the systems.

Local Pediatrician Dr. Govind C. Rao who is the groups liason with City officials, gave a short speech followed by the presentation of the cameras. In turn Mayor Ann Thane presented a basket to Sky Deng as well as a bird feeder and potted plant to the Buddhist group. Master Ziguang Shang Shi spoke to the assembly with his words translated by Jennie Wong. The Mayor then expressed her gratitude and hopes of continued cooperation with the group.

Amsterdam Police Chief Gregg Culick and Lieutenant Rob Richardson who had several earlier meetings with the Buddhist group about the installation of the cameras,were also present at the ceremony. Sky Deng previously  provided video surveillance systems for several buildings occupied by Buddhist group members residing in the City of Amsterdam, as well as the author of this blog.

Sky Deng, Chief Culick, Mayor Thane, Lt Richardson

Dr. Rao, Sky Deng, Mayor Thane, Lt. Richardson, Chief Culick

Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi, Mayor Ann Thane

Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi, translates into English as Purple Light Guru.

Jennie Wong

Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi

Sky Deng, Shanxing Tan, Jennie Wong

Amsterdam’s Administrator of Economic Development

 

With a forty-five thousand dollar salary in place for the City of Amsterdam Administrator of Economic Development, a search for the proper candidate will soon take place.  During last night’s Common Council Meeting, Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis referred to the city charter when reminding the Alderman, the position is filled  by Mayoral appointment.  Let’s take a look at what the charter states the duties of the Administrator of Economic Development really are.  Some people will be in for a few surprises.

Article XXII
Community and Economic Development Department (§ C-149 – § C-150)
[Added 5-20-1997 by L.L. No. 5-1997]
§ C-149
Establishment of Department.
A Community and Economic Development Department shall be headed by an Administrator appointed by the Mayor, with Common Council approval, for a term of office coterminous with the Mayor’s term, to serve at the Mayor’s pleasure.
§ C-150
Duties of Administrator.
The duties of the Administrator shall be as follows:
A. To act as a full-time administrator of the Urban Renewal Agency and Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency offices to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to community and economic development within the City of Amsterdam.
B. To develop and administer a combined and integrated staff to support the Urban Renewal Agency, Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency and other community-based programs recognized by the Common Council.
C. To administer and keep detailed financial records according to generally accepted accounting principles for each of the above respective departments, programs and volunteer initiatives.
D. To aggressively seek, prepare, review and administer all aspects of grants sought by the City of Amsterdam and maintain detailed financial and administrative records of every grant received by the City.
E. To appoint, with the Mayor’s approval, project managers when grant budgets permit for various projects that may come under the jurisdiction of this Department, after seeking the advice of the Board of Directors of the agency involved.
F. To oversee all volunteer community-based initiatives, recognized by resolution of the Common Council, and to provide administrative services and technical support to the various community-based initiatives so recognized.
G. To coordinate the financial affairs of the Community and Economic Development Department with the City Controller.
H. To assist the City Planning Commission in updating the City’s current Master Plan.
I. To advise and coordinate with City and county planning offices.
J. To undertake any other community and economic development duties deemed necessary by the Mayor.

Full-time administrator of both Amsterdam Urban Renewal and Amsterdam Industrial Development Agencies and act as accountant for both agencies!

Develop and administer staff for both offices any other community based projects recognized by the Common Council.

To develop and administer grants. Why did the budget just pass with separate funding for a grant writer?

What Mayor Ann Thane thinks the job description should be:

CEDD Draft Job Description

MISSION
The City’s Community & Economic Development Department provides leadership and technical assistance to business, residents and elected officials to:
- Provide direction and momentum for revitalization of the City’s commercial and industrial areas;
- Maintain a business friendly and investment friendly atmosphere to encourage economic development;
- Provide a system for sustainable development and preservation of the City’s historic fabric;
- Develop and support activities and programs that increase the quality of life in the City of Amsterdam

RESPONSIBILITIES
The CEDD is responsible for the areas of economic development, planning, downtown redevelopment, historic preservation and physical regeneration of the City. This includes retail and industrial development assistance, staff support to City boards and not-for-profit community organizations, marketing, comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance revisions, and historic landmark designation.

MAJOR SERVICE ACTIVITIES
- Assist new and existing businesses with expansion or retention projects.
- Develop and Assist a Downtown Amsterdam Business Improvement District (BID).
- Provide staff support to the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Micro-enterprise Committee.
- Develop/update marketing materials for ongoing economic development in the City.
- Provide development planning services.
- Administer the City’s business loan fund and other grant programs.
- Support the city’s cultural heritage and other tourism efforts.
- To undertake any other community and economic development duties deemed necessary by the Mayor.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
- Business Data Tracking
- Business Outreach and Retention
- Project and Contract Management
- New Business and Business Expansion Entitlement Processing
- Liaison Between the Local Business Community and City Resources
- Overall Management of Marketing and Economic Development Efforts

General Assistance
The Department of Community Development will provide a number of services to make the process of opening or expanding a business as easy as possible. The Department will provide direction on what permits are needed and who needs to be contacted. The Department will act as a liaison with other economic development agencies such as the Amsterdam Industrial Agency, Amsterdam Urban Renewal Agency, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Industrial Development Agency, and the Empire Zone, and act as an advocate for businesses with other city departments.

Revolving Loan Fund
The Department of Community Development will develop and administer a City Loan Fund. Businesses that create or retain jobs in the City of Amsterdam may be eligible for assistance. Example: A business can obtain loans of up to $30,000 for equipment, real estate acquisition or improvements, or working capital. Loans can be obtained for to 5 up years. Current rates may be the prime rate -1 for targeted businesses such as manufacturing and niche retail or restaurants. Other businesses receive a prime +1 rate. Decisions on loans will made by a committee of local peers who run businesses or live in Amsterdam.

At last night’s meeting of the Common Counsel she added Communications to include updating the City’s website to that list.

The Common Council needs to decide if the job description in the Charter should be changed. If left to her own devices, Queen Ann would have the poor Administrator at her beck and call.  A personal servant to walk two steps behind her and to the left to pick up anything she may have dropped along the way.

Queen Ann Prevails!

Amsterdam’s Mayor Ann Thane got her wish at the June 19, 2012 meeting of the Common Council. Despite the large public outcry, the budget committee voted to fund a $45,000. Economic Development Director proposed by the Mayor.  Alderman Richard Leggiero proposed the position be removed from the budget, only to be met with an extremely long-winded soliloquy from Mayor Thane as to why it should stay in.  The only other changes to the budget so vehemently opposed by the taxpaying public were a reduction in the proposed raise for Corporation Counsel from $15,000 to $6,000 and a reduction in the sanitation rate to bring it under the 3% tax cap proposed by Alderman Gina DeRossi. Apartment buildings with 4 or more unit may now install water meters instead of paying a flat rate. That was changed for favored son William Petrosino’s Guy Park Avenue School/apartment building. The Assistant Recreation position remained in the budget as did other raises for appointees and grant writing. The Aldermen increased the budget for more laptops, printer and software for themselves. Alderman Isabel stated that Amsterdam would likely see a large budget increase from the dissolution of the insurance trust from the County.

The official property tax is now $15.14 per thousand. Flat rate water fee is $346.53/year, Sewer $271.36/year, Sanitation $223.75/year.

With Corporation Counsel acting as the Controller inputting changes in his laptop computer and dictating the results, the modified budget passed. 5th Ward Alderman Richard Leggiero voted NO to the modified budget and Controller Ron Wierzbicki abstained from all budget votes.  Alderman Joe Isabel who stated he would vote no to the proposed $45,000 position, flip-flopped and voted YES to a one year trial. The Aldermen also wanted in on the selection process. Corporation Counsel reminded the Aldermen that the Economic Development position was a Mayoral appointment.

There were also various year-end changes to departmental budgets and a proposed city employee insurance plan sent back to committee.

The people spoke, the Mayor and majority of the Budget Review Committee ignored them!

The Politics of Art

It was a great idea that has gone sour.  I wrote about the proposed Amsterdam Center for the Arts back in March of this year, when the city then realized it owned the building that formerly housed a mental health outreach Center for St. Mary’s Hospital at 305 East Main Street. Before that it was a furniture store and a church prior to that. Until last year, it was the polling place for two sections of the 5th Ward. The city had paid the utility bills for the building for years and did not realize that either.  No wonder the Controller is having such a hard time with the budget!

Mayor Thane proposed the space be used for an Art Center. I attended the meetings as I thought this would be great for our community.  As a published photographer who has had a few gallery showings of fine art prints, I realized there was no gallery space anywhere around here.  I decided I would support this effort and attended the planning meetings, made suggestions offered my help with photography and marketing. I had a lot of time and committee experience to give to the effort, until politics got in my way.

After a few meetings with the public, the Mayor decided to hand-pick an advisory committee headed by her former Administrative Aide Thom Georgia. The rests of the committee were women, many who did not take part in any of the planning meetings, but were personal friends of the Mayor.  The newly formed group met privately and would not answer any email inquiries.  They held one public meeting on June 7th where the committee members Thom Georgia, Julia Caro, Jessica Murray, Gail Talmage and Janet Tanguay introduced themselves and presented a mission statement. That is all they had for the interested public who had waited for some sign of progress from the group.  I had many questions, but they were not readily answered.  I asked what role the advisory board played and if the Amsterdam Common Council had approved of this endeavor. Georgia snidely stated, “We only answer to the Mayor.” Prior to establishing an advisory board, the Mayor contracted with an Urban Hip-Hop Dance group to use the center for dance lessons, without Council approval.

Today the advisory board announced they were now an incorporated private entity calling themselves, the Amsterdam Creative Canvas Foundation. The advisory board members were now trustees and another woman, Patrice Vivorito was also named a trustee. I do not know her as she has not attended any of the meetings.

It seems to me that the correct process is for the city’s legislative body to negotiate and approve contracts and use of city property with the Mayor acting as executive to sign the contracts.  I don’t see where this now private corporation has any authority to make decisions about the disposition or use of city property without the approval of the Amsterdam Common Council.

I was a big advocate of creating a community art center for the City of Amsterdam, as you can see in this earlier article, but I can no longer support this tainted effort. The public no longer has any input and micro-management has destroyed what should have been an inclusive democratic process.

I really thought Ann Thane could put party politics aside for the betterment of the community, but I was wrong. It was made very clear when she mistakenly sent me a copy of an email intended for Roberto Milan in which she labels me a looser.

Sour Grapes?

Update:

A newly elected member of the school board for the Amsterdam School District, a former City of Amsterdam Councilman and former Corporation Counsel agree with my assessment of this unsavory situation. The discussion of the Art Center takes place at 18:30 in the video.

A Copper Caper

With taser drawn, he waits silently on the lawn of the former Park Hill Adult Home in Amsterdam, New York.  Ready to react to any situation that may jeopardize his safety or that of his fellow Police Officers and the citizens of Amsterdam.

Over the past several weeks, Park Hill has been the target of local copper thieves who have already done hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage to this historic building by gutting the heating system and water lines. The former nursing home went into foreclosure over a year ago and is now owned by a bank who have done little to protect and secure its contents. You can read about some of its history here.

Whether it was the Strawberry Moon or the Venus transition, people have behaved badly on Grove Street lately. Last night about 1:00am I woke to the sounds of slurred cursing. I went outside to find a man so intoxicated he was laying on the sidewalk in front of the Former Park Hill adult home. Then I discovered someone stole my full trash can put curbside for pick up today!  Two women walking by last night after the police arrived stated they saw two teenaged men, one white, one black wheeling a trash can full of copper pipes down Forbes Street. Their description of the can led me to believe it was mine. Apparently they ditched the trash bags inside and used it to haul away copper from the Park Hill Adult Home.

This morning during a visit from my brother and sister-in-law, a car did a three-point turn in front of my house and started driving the wrong way down the one way street, pulling into the driveway next to Park Hill.  Armed with my iPhone, I decided enough was enough and confronted these would be burglars as they pulled out of the driveway with copper pipes in their vehicle.  I stopped the vehicle and ordered them to return the pipes. As they complied, I photographed them, the vehicle plate number and then called the Amsterdam Police who arrived about 15 minutes later.

The building was thoroughly searched both last night and again this morning and secured by the responding Police Officers.

The photos of the alleged perpetrators is being withheld due to pending litigation.  With my statement and the photos, the APD were able to name the individuals responsible and now have some evidence to work with to help curtail the theft of copper on Grove Street… or so we thought.

Just a few hours after this mornings incident, I was checking the property of the adjacent Goddess of Mercy Temple with Jennie Wong when we discovered the side door of Park Hill propped open with a bucket.  Once again I notified the APD and this time the response was immediate and large! The APD covered all the entrances and exits, once again doing a systematic search.  I did not see anyone taken into custody.

As the night falls I notice the APD making frequents rounds of the area. Hopefully, Venus is finished transitioning and I can get a full nights sleep!

Update: Reported in the Amsterdam Recorder 06/12/2012

Amsterdam Police Department

• Two Amsterdam men were each charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and trespassing, a violation. Jose Reyes, 38, of 20 Garden St., was arrested June 5, and Jimmy Rivera, 44, of 27 McDonnell St., was arrested June 6. Their charges stem from an incident on Grove Street where the two men allegedly stole copper form a vacant building. Reyes were held pending arraignment, and Rivera was released on an appearance ticket to appear in Amsterdam City Court at a later date.

Apartment Complex Buyer Wants 35 Year PILOT

The troubled Highland and Holland Garden Apartment complex in Amsterdam that I wrote about here is about to be sold.  Liberty Affordable Housing Inc., with a listed address as P.O. Box 549, Rome, New York 13442, is asking the City of Amsterdam for a 35 year payment in lieu of taxes.

Fourth Ward Alderman Dave Dybas has been less than honest with the public when he stated to Recorder reporter Jarrett Carroll;

“It’s truly, at least to my thinking, not a pilot.”

I don’t know that many people would agree with his thinking, since the document states that Liberty is asking for a 35 year PILOT. For that matter, the public should be able to read and make their own assessment of the facts and proposal submitted by Liberty.

The proposed PILOT agreement submitted by Liberty to the City of Amsterdam can be found here.

The current assessed value of both sections of the complex is $2, 409,800, it pays $182,036 annually in taxes, excluding water use fees.  The proposed agreement sets a base sum to be submitted to the City each year with a 2% increase annually. The proposed agreement is for a 100% exemption from City, School, County and State taxes for a 35 year period. It assures that the current assessment of the property will not be raised for 35 years, even if improvements are completed. It also assures that sewer use fees will remain the same for 35 years.

The agreement states that 109 of the apartments will be restricted Section 8 families and the rest restricted to low-income tenants described as those with incomes not to exceed 60% of the area median income.

I am not sure how the City can negotiate for the Greater Amsterdam School District, Montgomery County or the State as they are all separate taxing authorities or if accepting the PILOT agreement the City will be liable to pay the apartment complex’s share of those taxes.

I guess we will find out on May 8th, when the Common Council meets to discuss this PILOT agreement.  Let your Aldermen know how you feel about this 35 year PILOT agreement. Amsterdam Common Council phone numbers can be found here.  Email addresses as follows:

Mayor Ann Thane – athane@amsterdamny.gov

1st Ward Alderman Joe Isabel – jmisabel@verizon.net

2nd Ward Alderman Valerie Beekman – vbeekman@amsterdamny.gov

3rd Ward Alderman Gina DeRossi – gderossi@amsterdamny.gov

4th Ward Alderman Dave Dybas – ddybas@amsterdamny.gov

5th Ward Alderman Richard Leggiero –  rleggier@nycap.rr.com

The Many Faces of Michael Chiara

I hoped Michael Chiara would make a difference as Amsterdam’s 5th Ward member of the Board of Supervisors for Montgomery County, New York, but a recent experience proved otherwise. On March 7, 2012, as a 5th Ward resident, I called Supervisor Chiara to express my dismay at the Board of Supervisors passing a resolution to give public funds to the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, a Catholic church for the celebration of a Catholic ritual. Details of this 1st Amendment violation can be found in a previous Grove Street Grumble post entitled, Letter to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.

Chiara required me to put my complaint in writing and send it to his 7 Montgomery Street address. A copy of that letter can be found here. To date, I never received a response from the 5th Ward Supervisor. He has, however made several statement to local media concerning my complaint. On Wednesday April 11, 2012, Chiara is quoted by Recorder reporter Heather Nellis as stating:

I won’t be pushed around. This is putting a tinge on this area. What’s next? We salute the flag. How far are we going to allow this to go?

In another Recorder article about the Shrine funding on April 5, 2012, Chiara states:

It’s a wonderful thing that’s happening in this area, I’m very proud of Auriesville, I’m very proud of Kateri — my mother wrote a beautiful poem for that years ago that didn’t have anything to do with my decisions of that. It’s a shame something as beautiful as this has to turn into a group of people who want to make a big issue. This is not a state religion, as the original idea was about separation of church and state had to do with creating a state religion. Everyone has freedom of what they want to believe in, and it’s a shame this has to happen. In my opinion, this is still a Judeo-Christian country, and I’m proud to say in God we trust.

With no response from Chiara, I took my complaint to Americans United for Separation of Church and State , an organization fighting this very issue since 1947, and to journalist Carl Strock who writes for the Gazette. Strock supported my argument, his article was published in the Gazette. AU supported my position by sending a strongly worded letter on my behalf to the Montgomery Board of Supervisors. The letter can be found here. Several County Supervisors have contacted me with their support, stating they realize now a mistake was made and the right thing to do is correct it by rescinding the award to Our Lady of Martyrs. A motion to do the same will be introduced at the April 24, 2012, meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

Chiara’s newly elected position is still surrounded with controversy that Chiara seems to thrive on. From the first meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Chiara made his stubbornness known by refusing to sit with the rest of the Board because the seat occupied by the former 5th Ward Supervisor was taken, despite the fact that the Board of Supervisors had no assigned seats. Chiara chose instead to sit in the area designated for the public. These actions were described by the Chairman of the Board as petty and pathetic. In a statement to Recorder reporter Heather Nellis, Chiara noted,

It’s sandbox 101, It’s a matter of principal. They just can’t stand I was elected.

Small in stature and large in ego, the opinionated Michael Chiara is well-known in Amsterdam. While outspoken, he is still a very private person who refuses to use internet social networking as a means of communication. Amsterdam’s south side still retains some of the character of its Italian-American heritage and that is where Chiara resides. A devout Catholic, Chiara even mounted a crucifix on the outside of his Montgomery Street home. If I were to describe him physically, he would be the secret love child of Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman. A friend recommended I meet with Chiara to discuss an astronomical increase in my assessment in 2009. We met briefly in a south side coffee-house and he proved to be knowledge but apprehensive. I felt he was there more to find out who I was than to help me. He did tell me where to go to Fonda to get information from County sources.

Controversy seems to follow Montgomery County Supervisor Michael Chiara. His election to the post as representative for the City of Amsterdam’s 5th Ward made history in 2011 as the first ever to win by write-in ballot. That was not an easy feat to carry out and was strongly supported by Attorney Robert Going, who was Chiara’s co-host on the podcast The Show With No Name. Chiara left the show after his candidacy was announced and never returned. Prior to TSHWNN, the duo hosted a popular radio talk show on Amsterdam’s WCSS 1490AM where the conversation included often uncensored political commentary about local government officials. Chiara and Going were booted off the air after the station manager received a complaint from Amsterdam Mayor Ann Thane. Even before starting the radio talk show, under the Administration of newly elected Mayor Ann Thane, Michael Chiara was allegedly forced out of his job as Amsterdam City Assessor where in 2008, he was accused of using the office as a personal club house holding private meetings with then City Attorney Robert Going and others. A month before Chiara retired as City Assessor in July 2008, Amsterdam Detectives confiscated a computer from Chiara’s office as part of an investigation of alleged wrongdoing. In June of 2008, Chiara is quoted by former Recorder reporter Bill Sheehan as stating:

Nobody told me anything, and I think that’s very discourteous. What do they think they’re going to find? All it had on it was RPS-4 which is the standard state program that we use to do everything. If they’re looking for [revaluation] information, it’s on my computer. They don’t have mine. I can guess who might be harassing me, and If I think I am being harassed I’m going to file a lawsuit.

In October 2008, Police Chief Brownell stated the investigation of the computer was closed, that he found no criminal wrongdoing but noted there may have been an alteration to the hard drive, but nothing of a criminal nature, to Recorder reporter Bill Sheehan. In response, a retired Chiara stated:

The investigation was a political bunch of nonsense. They ought to be looking at [high taxes] and they better start giving people some relief.

In 2007, Amsterdam City Assessor Michael Chiara was accused of not performing his job by Alderman William Wills who in a Recorder article published December 1, 2007, Wills stated Chiara was given $10,000 above his salary for two years in to pay for extra help in performing a revaluation of Amsterdam’s properties. He went on to state only a few adjustments were done. Chiara’s response to the allegation was:

I’m doing my own impacts based on some of the numbers that I have…doing numerous calculations based on my own analysis. This is serious and I don’t want to make any mistakes,” he said, adding the impacts “are immense.

In a September 16, 2007, a Recorder review of the short film, Amsterdam, NY True Stories of the Rug City, featuring Michael Chiara, he is described as The Man Who Won’t Be Told He Isn’t King. The 27 minute film was produced by Colin Bannon with filmmakers Rob Rombout and Roger Van Eck. The review goes on to not only denigrate the film but Chiara as well, describing him as an unprofessional, disheveled, frenetic buffoon. In the film, Chiara is carted around Amsterdam by the filmmakers as he gives commentary. At one point in the documentary while describing Amsterdam, Chiara states:

We’re gonna go forward, and I’m the man who’s gonna take us there. My house — that’s where city hall basically runs from

According to another Recorder article published in 2004, the controversial Chiara was booted off the Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency where he served as Chairman. In May 2004, Chiara stated to former Recorder reporter Bill Sheehan:

That’s the council’s prerogative under state law. It’s not the first time I’ve been thrown off the board. I think this is the third time.

 

 

Michael Chiara is not the innocent, patriotic altar boy he professes to be. History tells us differently. Just as he often argued for elected officials to do the right thing, increase government transparency and lower taxes. I’m demanding he do the same. Get over the ego-driven politics and whatever his religious affiliation is telling him to do and act according to the framework provided by Federal, State and County law. He was elected by and for the residents of the 5th Ward of the City of Amsterdam, not the Catholic church.

Update:

Americans United for Separation of Church and State makes a second appeal to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors to rescind the public money awarded to the Shrine.

The 2nd letter can be found here.

Update #2

The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs declines the grant from the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. From an article published in the Recorder, written by reporter Heather Nellis, the Shrine event coordinator Beth Lynch states:

“We are what we are — a highly visible and deeply Catholic entity. We’re glad that we can contribute to the economy as far as tourism is concerned, but that’s not our main focus — we are a Catholic shrine, and we’re not going to agree that we have to do something on secular terms.”

This is exactly the point I have been trying to convey all along. No secular purpose = no public funding.