The North Greenbush Town Budget submitted by Supervisor Mark Evers appears on its face to be balanced and he boasts that his budget will provide residents a slight tax decrease as he campaigns for reelection. "The entire budget is a fraud." stated Joshua Sabo, "2006 was a fiscal disaster for the Town under the leadership of Evers. At last week's Town Board meeting Evers indicated the report would show a deficit in excess of $330,000.00."
"Last week the Supervisor justified the fact that his budget shows a starting fund balance of zero instead of being in the red by hundreds of thousands of dollars by claiming that he took fund balance surpluses that our water and sewer districts had in 2002-2005 to balance the budget." "In my role as Town Attorney, I contacted the State Comptroller's office to see whether such a move is legal", continued Sabo, "It is absolutely illegal and never happened. The reality is that the Town is faced with a huge deficit for 2008 that must be erased. Given the Supervisor's budget, each taxpayer is faced with approximately a 35% tax increase to bring it into balance."
"The Supervisor's budget is an illegal and improper attempt to bolster his reelection efforts by hiding the fact that providing jobs and favors to his political supporters will result in a huge tax increase to the residents of the Town", concluded Sabo.
There is a public hearing on the 2008 budget tonight at 6:30 p.m.. The public is encouraged to attend.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Greenbush Party Candidates Call Fund Raiser Unlawful
The candidates for town office on the Greenbush Party, ROW F, in this November’s election, are demanding Town Supervisor Mark Evers and his running mates, Louis Desso and Al Spain return the illegal campaign contributions they received last night at a fundraiser held at the Troy Elks Club.
Referencing a fund raising letter the candidates sent using the Supervisor’s secretary as an illegal conduit for sending contributions by mail, Supervisor candidate Josh Sabo affirmed that these candidates failed to register their committee dubbed “Bringing North Greenbush Together”, with the Board of Elections as required by State Election Law. "These acts are part of a pattern and practice of illegally hiding from public view the money and donors these candidates have solicited on their behalf."
Council Candidates Wes Marshall and Josephine Ashworth agreed noting that the rules to protect the public from illegal campaign contribution are being ignored by these candidates. They stated their belief that the bulk of their financial support is coming from developers and contractors with much likely coming from the Supervisor’s political benefactor, the Conservative Chairman, Michael Casale, whose company is seeking more money for its overspent contract in Water District 14.
The candidates called on the Rensselaer County District Attorney to enforce this serious breach of State Election Law noting that there exists the potential for fraud on a substantial scale as a result of this conduct. They also called on their opponents to refund all money unlawfully received at this event and to make public the names of all donors in excess of $100
List of filers where name is like %BRINGING NORTH GREENBUSH TOGETHER%
Oracle found [ 0 ] records matching your criteria.
Referencing a fund raising letter the candidates sent using the Supervisor’s secretary as an illegal conduit for sending contributions by mail, Supervisor candidate Josh Sabo affirmed that these candidates failed to register their committee dubbed “Bringing North Greenbush Together”, with the Board of Elections as required by State Election Law. "These acts are part of a pattern and practice of illegally hiding from public view the money and donors these candidates have solicited on their behalf."
Council Candidates Wes Marshall and Josephine Ashworth agreed noting that the rules to protect the public from illegal campaign contribution are being ignored by these candidates. They stated their belief that the bulk of their financial support is coming from developers and contractors with much likely coming from the Supervisor’s political benefactor, the Conservative Chairman, Michael Casale, whose company is seeking more money for its overspent contract in Water District 14.
The candidates called on the Rensselaer County District Attorney to enforce this serious breach of State Election Law noting that there exists the potential for fraud on a substantial scale as a result of this conduct. They also called on their opponents to refund all money unlawfully received at this event and to make public the names of all donors in excess of $100
List of filers where name is like %BRINGING NORTH GREENBUSH TOGETHER%
Oracle found [ 0 ] records matching your criteria.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Greenbush Party Support Stronger Ethics Law
The candidates for town office on the Greenbush Party, ROW F, in this November’s election, announced their support for a stronger Town Ethics Law that addresses dual concerns arising from the current experience our town government is experiencing.
While our current law prevents party chairmen from being paid a salary from town funds, it does not prevent them from doing business with the town. As such their ability to endorse candidates for town board and influence public policy public should be regulated to avoid the appearance that policy decisions are in any way a reflection of a desire to curry favor with elected officials to further the business interests of a political party officer.
Accordingly we support a provision to the Ethics Law that would state that the Town of North Greenbush shall have no business dealings with any political party officer or company which employs that officer. We point to the current situation involving Casale Excavating which has immersed itself in town politics and has managed to get Michael Casale installed as Chairman of the Conservative Committee.
They have endorsed their Vice Chairman Louis Desso for Town Board and have made a deal with the Chairs of the other 3 major parties to endorse the same slate of candidates and take charge of the town board which is responsible for administering an overspent and unfinished water district contract, now $740,000 over budget and counting. No contractor should not be permitted to nominate candidates to a town board and municipality with which he has millions of dollars in business contracts.
Secondly, the candidates announce support for an Ethics Law provision that would protect elected public offices from undue influence and conflicts of interest arising from holding elected positions in a party committee. The candidates support an addition to the current law that would protect public elected offices from such conflicts of interest by preventing any elected town officer from serving as a member of a political committee.
Dennis Bonesteel, running for Receiver of Taxes stated, “We believe it creates an inappropriate appearance for residents to be paying their tax bills to the Treasurer of a political party because he has chosen to wear two hats. It is time those wishing to serve the town in an elected office chose between holding the elected office or holding a committee seat which allows them to serve as a party officer such as Treasurer.” The current Receiver of Taxes is the Treasurer of the Democratic Party.
Jan Liberty, Candidate for Town Clerk agreed, stating that every elected office should be protected from such appearances that diminish public confidence or perception in that office. “We should not be paying licensing fees for marriages, etc or seeking any other service from the Secretary of a political party or a committee member of a political party”, stated Liberty. The current Town Clerk is the Secretary of the Democratic Party.
We believe these changes will protect the integrity of Town elected offices while protecting taxpayers from appearances of undue influence that have arisen under the current situation. Sabo, Marshall and Ashworth would support these changes to the ethics law and urge the current board to consider them.
While our current law prevents party chairmen from being paid a salary from town funds, it does not prevent them from doing business with the town. As such their ability to endorse candidates for town board and influence public policy public should be regulated to avoid the appearance that policy decisions are in any way a reflection of a desire to curry favor with elected officials to further the business interests of a political party officer.
Accordingly we support a provision to the Ethics Law that would state that the Town of North Greenbush shall have no business dealings with any political party officer or company which employs that officer. We point to the current situation involving Casale Excavating which has immersed itself in town politics and has managed to get Michael Casale installed as Chairman of the Conservative Committee.
They have endorsed their Vice Chairman Louis Desso for Town Board and have made a deal with the Chairs of the other 3 major parties to endorse the same slate of candidates and take charge of the town board which is responsible for administering an overspent and unfinished water district contract, now $740,000 over budget and counting. No contractor should not be permitted to nominate candidates to a town board and municipality with which he has millions of dollars in business contracts.
Secondly, the candidates announce support for an Ethics Law provision that would protect elected public offices from undue influence and conflicts of interest arising from holding elected positions in a party committee. The candidates support an addition to the current law that would protect public elected offices from such conflicts of interest by preventing any elected town officer from serving as a member of a political committee.
Dennis Bonesteel, running for Receiver of Taxes stated, “We believe it creates an inappropriate appearance for residents to be paying their tax bills to the Treasurer of a political party because he has chosen to wear two hats. It is time those wishing to serve the town in an elected office chose between holding the elected office or holding a committee seat which allows them to serve as a party officer such as Treasurer.” The current Receiver of Taxes is the Treasurer of the Democratic Party.
Jan Liberty, Candidate for Town Clerk agreed, stating that every elected office should be protected from such appearances that diminish public confidence or perception in that office. “We should not be paying licensing fees for marriages, etc or seeking any other service from the Secretary of a political party or a committee member of a political party”, stated Liberty. The current Town Clerk is the Secretary of the Democratic Party.
We believe these changes will protect the integrity of Town elected offices while protecting taxpayers from appearances of undue influence that have arisen under the current situation. Sabo, Marshall and Ashworth would support these changes to the ethics law and urge the current board to consider them.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
THANKYOU!
From all of the candidates running to represent your interests and not those of the 4 party bosses, we extend our sincere thanks to everyone who made our first fundraiser a huge sucess! Special thanks as well to Mike Moscatiello and his outstanding staff for all their attention and outstanding service throughout the evening. Hey, whose that waiter who plays guitar? Get discovered!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Greenbush Party Candidates Ask Supervisor to Disclose Referendum Status
The candidates for town office on the Greenbush Party, ROW F, in this November’s election, are asking the Town Supervisor to explain what actions he has taken to insure that a public referendum ordered by the town board and required by law for October 16th takes place as scheduled. The referendum, sponsored by the Supervisor would, if passed, permit the town to borrow another $830,000 to pay for the mismanaged overspent contract in Water District 14 and force the entire town to pay for it.
“Earlier this week, we announced our opposition to the Evers sponsored resolution because it is a disgraceful attempt to patronize his Conservative Party Chairman’s company which holds the contract now $740,000 overspent and unfinished”, stated the candidates. They noted that the district remains unfinished and that the Supervisor has failed to come forward with any other alternative method to complete the district other than his town wide bonding proposal ordered for a public vote on October 16th.
Supervisor candidate Josh Sabo, who is the town’s attorney, stated that the Supervisor has not once asked for any assistance in preparing for the vote. “He runs the town in a complete vacuum from the rest of the board and the legal staff”, stated Sabo. “It is incredible that with a vote scheduled in just 12 days, that not one official word has come from the Supervisor on either the status of the vote or his intention to prevent it by not doing what is required to hold it”, stated the candidates.
Despite the fact that town law requires that this vote take place pursuant to the process of Permissive Referendum, it appears the Supervisor has failed to take any steps to comply with the law and allow the public their right to vote on the referendum, stated Josephine Ashworth and Wes Marshall, candidates for Town Council.
We believe this may be a deliberate failure to obey the law and sabotage the referendum to protect Conservative benefactors and allies in Casale Excavating from a decisive defeat at the hands of the North Greenbush voters, concluded the candidates.
Note:The Record filed a story today on this issue.You may read it here.
“Earlier this week, we announced our opposition to the Evers sponsored resolution because it is a disgraceful attempt to patronize his Conservative Party Chairman’s company which holds the contract now $740,000 overspent and unfinished”, stated the candidates. They noted that the district remains unfinished and that the Supervisor has failed to come forward with any other alternative method to complete the district other than his town wide bonding proposal ordered for a public vote on October 16th.
Supervisor candidate Josh Sabo, who is the town’s attorney, stated that the Supervisor has not once asked for any assistance in preparing for the vote. “He runs the town in a complete vacuum from the rest of the board and the legal staff”, stated Sabo. “It is incredible that with a vote scheduled in just 12 days, that not one official word has come from the Supervisor on either the status of the vote or his intention to prevent it by not doing what is required to hold it”, stated the candidates.
Despite the fact that town law requires that this vote take place pursuant to the process of Permissive Referendum, it appears the Supervisor has failed to take any steps to comply with the law and allow the public their right to vote on the referendum, stated Josephine Ashworth and Wes Marshall, candidates for Town Council.
We believe this may be a deliberate failure to obey the law and sabotage the referendum to protect Conservative benefactors and allies in Casale Excavating from a decisive defeat at the hands of the North Greenbush voters, concluded the candidates.
Note:The Record filed a story today on this issue.You may read it here.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Candidates oppose Evers Bailout of Conservative Contractor
Candidates of the Greenbush Party seeking seats on the North Greenbush Town Council today announced their opposition to Conservative Supervisor Mark Evers referendum to bailout his political benefactors in the Conservative Party who hold the overspent contract in Water District 14.
Board candidates Charles “Wes” Marshall and Josephine Ashworth noted that the district is overspent some $740,000 over the stipulated contract price without required change orders.
“On Evers watch as the town’s chief fiscal officer, this contract was allowed to be overspent by $740,000 and the last $83,000 of that amount came in a check the Supervisor issued last December without required town board approval”, stated the candidates. They noted a decision is pending in the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court which seeks the Supervisor’s removal from office for the illegal disbursement.
This referendum which Evers sponsored attempts to force all town residents to pay for the illegal overspending in WD 14. It in effect attempts to transfer the bills paid and pending in WD 14 to a town wide water district so that everyone in North Greenbush pays for the mismanagement, stated Marshall and Ashworth. They challenged their opponents to take a stand on this important issue and noted that Louis Desso is Michael Casale’s Vice Chairman on the Conservative Committee and that Al Spain is Chairman Spain’s brother on the Democratic Committee both of whom apparently support the referendum.
Supervisor candidate Joshua Sabo, noted that more than 200 town residents signed a petition to force the question to a public referendum which was ordered to take place on October 16th town wide and the Town must have a referendum or be in violation of New York State law.
The candidates noted that there has been very little publicity on this Public Referendum which has been ordered by a vote of the town board as required by statute. It takes place Tuesday October 16th with the times to be announced. It is a Town Wide vote in which every deed holder in North Greenbush is entitled to vote on the borrowing question.
Board candidates Charles “Wes” Marshall and Josephine Ashworth noted that the district is overspent some $740,000 over the stipulated contract price without required change orders.
“On Evers watch as the town’s chief fiscal officer, this contract was allowed to be overspent by $740,000 and the last $83,000 of that amount came in a check the Supervisor issued last December without required town board approval”, stated the candidates. They noted a decision is pending in the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court which seeks the Supervisor’s removal from office for the illegal disbursement.
This referendum which Evers sponsored attempts to force all town residents to pay for the illegal overspending in WD 14. It in effect attempts to transfer the bills paid and pending in WD 14 to a town wide water district so that everyone in North Greenbush pays for the mismanagement, stated Marshall and Ashworth. They challenged their opponents to take a stand on this important issue and noted that Louis Desso is Michael Casale’s Vice Chairman on the Conservative Committee and that Al Spain is Chairman Spain’s brother on the Democratic Committee both of whom apparently support the referendum.
Supervisor candidate Joshua Sabo, noted that more than 200 town residents signed a petition to force the question to a public referendum which was ordered to take place on October 16th town wide and the Town must have a referendum or be in violation of New York State law.
The candidates noted that there has been very little publicity on this Public Referendum which has been ordered by a vote of the town board as required by statute. It takes place Tuesday October 16th with the times to be announced. It is a Town Wide vote in which every deed holder in North Greenbush is entitled to vote on the borrowing question.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Greenbush Party Holds Fundraiser
The newly formed Greenbush Party invites all to join us in support of candidates who are offering the voters of North Greenbush their only choice in this year’s important town election. Party Bosses have placed the same set of candidates on all four party ballot lines in an effort to make the November election meaningless. Thanks to a grassroots effort by more than 500 town residents, voters will have a choice!
Meet the candidates who cut across all party lines and have pledged to represent you and not the party bosses who are planning to take over our town. The event will be held Monday October 15th from 7 to 9 PM at Moscatiello’s Restaurant on RT 4.
Cost is $35.00 per person, $50,00 per couple. Tickets are available at the door or you may RSVP by sending your check to Greenbush Party, Box 585, Wynantskill, N.Y. 12198. Details at our website greenbushparty.blogspot.com.
Submitted by,
Mike Angelo
Greenbush Party
286-3488
Meet the candidates who cut across all party lines and have pledged to represent you and not the party bosses who are planning to take over our town. The event will be held Monday October 15th from 7 to 9 PM at Moscatiello’s Restaurant on RT 4.
Cost is $35.00 per person, $50,00 per couple. Tickets are available at the door or you may RSVP by sending your check to Greenbush Party, Box 585, Wynantskill, N.Y. 12198. Details at our website greenbushparty.blogspot.com.
Submitted by,
Mike Angelo
Greenbush Party
286-3488
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