As the Saratogian wrote, the weather finally cooperated for
a while so the Mayor could deliver her State of the City address. The address did not contain many surprises
but did give a recap of her first year in office despite all the shenanigans that
Scirocco, Madigan & Methiesen pulled to make her look the fool in
2014. The only thing these 3 did was to
show how incompetent and disrespectful they how bad they looked in a public setting. Scirocco should have been out of office 4
years ago and Madigan and Metheisen after their first term. In Madigan’s case if not for her Deputy and
the permanent staff in her Department she would not be able to add 1+1, but
shame on us for reelecting them.
The investigation that is going on now at City Hall
regarding the improper absolving and handling of the water hookup fees is
kicking into another gear, employees are still being called out of City Hall to
be interviewed (some for the second & third time) and it looks like more individuals are
involved than before. Also, the investigation
into the possible incorrect legal notice on the Collamer lot bidding process is
still ongoing. One source in City Hall
has said that the investigation could be moving into other areas that may have
potential problems rearing their heads soon.
The State Comptroller’s and the State Attorney General’s offices are
doing the investigations.
Where oh! where is Marilyn Rivers? Marilyn, are you still working in City
Hall? Instead of promoting yourself to
Scirocco for the soon to be filled Director of Public Works you should be doing
your job as Risk and Safety Manager. The
trucks that are not city vehicles are still being parked on City property (you
may need one of them when moving your office out of its current location), have
you checked to make sure that these vans, small trucks and box trucks are not
leaking any fluids that we the taxpayers will have to pay for clean up? Marilyn & Skip, there are also quite a
few old trucks that are awaiting auction parked at the ice rink, the same
question here - have you checked to make sure that any of these vehicles are not
leaking any fluids that we the taxpayers will have to pay for clean up? Will you look into this? WHEN PIGS FLY!
Marilyn, I also think that all City vehicles are supposed
to be identified with a logo that they are Saratoga Springs. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner’s
vehicles (no, not Donna Buckley’s) are not marked, come on get with it,
please. If this is how you operate Risk
& Safety how will you do as Director of PW, or for that matter, if not you
then current Commissioner mouth piece and acting Deputy Commissioner Donna
Buckley?
Commissioner Scirocco, I have noticed that there are
tractor trailers that are going in empty into the compost facility and leaving
fully loaded with branches, leaves etc. that we use to make our own compost,
are you letting another outfit take our materials to process and make money or
are you doing this so our citizens in Saratoga can get free compost this year? Are you going to save our citizens money? WHEN PIGS FLY!
Commissioner Scirocco, another question. Why are there 2 City employee at the landfill
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s but only 1 employee on Saturday &
Monday when they are the busiest days?
Nobody likes to work weekends but you should put 2 employees there on
the busiest days. Will the situation
change this year? WHEN PIGS FLY!
As I said, as I was
listening to the Mayor’s speech yesterday I felt it was sad that a person tries
to do good for the City and is flanked at the Council table by those who would
like to see her fail and thereby taking us down with them. Will this year be different? WHEN PIGS FLY!
We won’t get into Commissioner Mathiesen’s views which seem personal, regarding bar closing times, we’ll wait to see if he was wishing on a star
or continues to want to deprive local businesses of making income. Will he change his mind? WHEN PIGS FLY!
If you missed a Council meeting or want to watch any part
of it, you can catch the rerun of the meetings by departments by going to http://saratogaspringsny.swagit.com/city-council/
Below is a picture from the Saratogian of the Commissioners
listening intently to the Mayor’s speech.
Look at the captivating looks Madigan & Mathiesen have as the Mayor
gives her remarks, they do look interested don’t they? WHEN PIGS FLY!
Wonder how Skippy's BFF's first day @ Congress Park is working out? Did he let Geri ride "Shot Gun" w/B Herney & collect OT?
ReplyDeleteIf there was a fire on Broadway today, the firemen couldn't get to the water fast enough, no fire hydrants were shoveled out today (as of this afternoon).
ReplyDeleteFrom the 3 of us at the Justice League we want to thank the DPW workers for jobs well done in plowing our streets during this tough winter. Sometimes I curse when the plow goes by after I shovel but even during a severe storm if one has to get out for something, you can usually get around town by driving slow. Thanks guys.
ReplyDeleteFrom the 3 of us at the Justice League we want to thank the DPW workers for jobs well done in plowing our streets during this tough winter. Sometimes I curse when the plow goes by after I shovel but even during a severe storm if one has to get out for something, you can usually get around town by driving slow. Thanks guys.
ReplyDeleteThe roads last night and early this morning were an embarrassment to the city.
ReplyDeleteI remember years ago that the City would cut back snow banks especially on streets like Caroline & Phila and cart it away. Where is that equipment today? I know the guys plow long hours but when they are not couldn't they be cutting back the banks? It is getting hard to see around the corners or drive down our narrow streets.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about what the DPW used to do,but unfortunately for this city the DUMBEST bastard on the planet is now the Commissioner...he has to go and maybe the good ole' days shall return.
DeleteWhile I do not like the word bastard or the like used, I will agree that the DPW Commissioner and his Deputies, Cogan & Buckley are the most incompetent department leaders we have had in quite some time.
Delete9:32
ReplyDeleteThat has always been a question: What do the DPW people do when they aren't plowing snow? Ride around with the plows up?
Where is the Public Safety commish on this situation with the lack of visibility? Isn't that a safety issue? Too busy trying to take business away from restaurants and bars, to take care of the real issues?
After that last post, I have to wonder if Commissioner Mathiesen was a guest blogger. The issues raised were really nonsensical, petty, and personal attacks. The city is covered with roads that have leaking cars and trucks driving on them. If the vehicle leaks it is the owners responsibility.
ReplyDeleteCaptain you never mentioned the garbage lot that was, according to property records, sold by the city to John Stark for $21,000 in July 2002 and Stark sold it parcel to Tara Stone in September 2013 for $220,000. http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20150213/city-could-be-responsible-for-former-landfill-cleanup#disqus_thread
I haven't got a clue of what you are talking about. The leaking trucks are on City property both where the U-Haul trucks are and behind the ice rink, so how citizen clean up comes into the picture I have no idea other than it's our tax money used in the cleanup. I thought I did make mention of the dump property earlier. The property was sold by then Commissioner of Accounts (as is the practice) in 2002 by Stephen Towne the Accounts Commissioner at the time, one could say that in 2013 the City could have checked the property since it was so close to the dump and Commissioner Scirocco was ignoring the State in not burning the methane gas as he was told to do.
DeleteThe bottom line is Scirocco is costing the city, therefore all of us that pay taxes here, a LOT OF MONEY due to his very bad choices and his "let's ignore that issue" attitude.
ReplyDeleteI've had it with him and here's a fact (not a personal attack):
He's Bad for the City and not very smart, period!!
Put both Scirocco and Mctygue in a padded room with a couple of pillows and let them duke it out. But really, when will these political parties abandon both men and get behind someone new ? It's time.
ReplyDeleteHow about someone with education, training, and experience? Oh that is right this is a part time job that pays $14,000, but requires 40+ per week. Any qualified individual is going to be working somewhere and getting paid 10x that. So we are stuck with the dog catcher and/or the retired buffoon because the parties can manipulate them.
DeleteHow about someone retired with those qualifications? If he/she gets a good Deputy that knows how to handle employees and knows how to keep them busy then there you go. The training and experience could fall to the Deputy who makes a decent salary with benefits and the Commissioner could be the handling the political side. 40+ hours is a stretch for the Commissioner, he needs a good Deputy.
DeleteHey 9:28 I beg to differ. The Mctygue's have done a lot for this city.
DeleteNow you can start listing all the things that were said bad about them, but don't stop there. Starting looking into them and you'll find most were just hot air.
They were made-up by others like Skip, Skip supporters, etc.
They've done a LOT of good things and many that skip has turned a blind eye to and now they're falling apart.
Talk is cheap, getting things accomplished is hard work.
Well said. However I don't think 9:28 said anything bad about McTygue. I think (and it might be only me) that its time to clear the table and get someone new in. Anyone that has been in office as long as McTygue should listen to his advice, they may not like it but he did put a lot of time in. Skip did a good job when he had a good Deputy in Design, after Cogan neither Skip or Cogan could get a handle on the Department.
DeleteLike who?
ReplyDeleteI nominate Captain America. He has all the answers.
ReplyDeleteAw gosh, you flatter me.
DeleteAs a longtime native, it seems to me that the DPW did a better job under McTygue. I realize that the City was smaller then, and that may account for some of the difference with significantly more work to do. What I really don't like is having the water bill almost double with no significant change in use on my part. The quarterly bill used to be $60ish, now, it's over 100. If, as some have suggested, increased fees for small residential users are subsidizing developers, that is not fair.
ReplyDeleteWater Bills have gone up because The Dept. of Health has said ton the City Fix Geyser Wells, update your water plant, add a generator, add a water source. The City has also started to fix the pipes below ground. Maybe that is why your bills have gone up. The money the developers paid went into a special fund that couldn't be used for pipes and up grades. But since last month when the Council made the change they now can.
ReplyDeleteIf Skip didn't get caught with his hand in the cookie jar and changed the law 6 years ago instead of a month ago we would be a million dollars richer, have new pipes, have the tower for higher pressure at the Geyser wells and still have the hookup fees. Incompetence is a terrible thing.
DeleteThat is not true, DPW also had to pay back the 1.8 millon that the former group took from the A budget and never put it back. Scirocco is one of the most up front people you could ever know.
ReplyDeleteI have always said that Skip is a nice guy but incompetent for his position. He could have made a motion 7 years ago to use the hookup monies for any purpose related to water, either repairs, upgrades or new equipment and keep water bills down. Instead he waited until the City got in trouble because of his business practices and now we don't even get the hookup fees from developers. This alone shows his incompetence which has nothing to do with his being a nice guy.
ReplyDeleteTommy's friend nets over $200,000 on the sale, but the city pays to clean up the site?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the real estate contract between Stark, who bought the property for $20,000, and the buyer? Shouldn't the attorneys of the buyer and seller be duking it out in court, instead of the city being on the hook?
You don't understand, you just want to keep nailing McTygue. It was the Commissioner of Accounts at the time (not John Franck) that sold the property, it was even discussed that it should not be sold because of the proximity to the dump. Skip not only has cost the City millions upon millions of dollars over his terms but if he was worried about that property being that close to the dump he should have proceeded to take the property by eminent domain and save the City the lawsuits they are facing. He didn't know about it you say? Then he is not doing his job, over his years in office he has made such a mess of this City that it is embarrassing to bring visitors here, not only can't he do the job but his top layer 'team' can't do the job either.
DeleteOne thing is for certain, Skip never wavered any fees. One of his tech's did and it never had gotten cc to any one.
ReplyDeleteIt was told to me by a reliable source that Skip was in a meeting with 4 other people, Bonacio, Skip, the City Engineer and 2 other people and Skip decided that would waive the fees.
Delete***Don't care if you publish, just puzzling observation.****
ReplyDeleteSaturday evening, when we had what was, by this time, essentially a nuisance snowfall, I observed plows doing the street (east side near rec) at least 10-15 times. possibly more, in the 8 PM to midnight time block. Why so much overkill? I don't get it. A few years ago, I noticed more than timely service on the holidays, and assumed workers were maximizing overtime. Same thing going on here?
Well, I'll tell you another thing that shows the incompetence of Skip and his Deputies. I drove down Union Ave. today and not only is it the widest street along with Broadway and the snow banks were removed to the terraces. I wondered why banks were not cut back on streets like Caroline, Division, Franklin and many, many other narrow streets (even in the summer)? I did however see many City trucks driving around town with one or two workers in them.
DeleteAnon 12:34
DeleteDid you catch the pickup truck with the plow down - driver eating a sandwich in one hand and coffee in the other ?
If the truck is driving around town it had better have at least one worker in it, if not it is either stolen or driving itself. What you meant to say was that there were two or more city employees per truck. The problem is that this is an insurance requirement and OSHA.
ReplyDelete2 trucks only had 1 driver and thank you for the correction.
DeleteFeb. 23 @ 11:30AM One thing is for certain, Skip DID wave water connections fees. He was in that meeting w/Donna, Bill Benton, Sonny, Barbara, Stan Borden, & Tim Wales. As par for the course, Skip DEMANDED Stan Borden sign the letter that was typed up by Buckley so he wouldn't be responsible if caught! Why the hell do you think Borden's hired an attorney? Why the hell do you think Tim Wales sent a letter to Sonny after the fact stating they had "made a mistake"? Why the hell did Skip tell Borden he need not worry, they would cover for him, his job wasn't at stake? Scirocco is nothing but a lying, corrupt, ignorant, bullying person. Can't even refer to him as a human being. I believe all of Saratoga will find out just how corrupt this guy is when the investigation is complete.
ReplyDeleteYou know a lot of us say that "Skip is a nice guy"
ReplyDeleteWhat we really mean is that "he comes across as a nice guy"
In fact as 12:36 said:
"Scirocco is nothing but a lying, corrupt, ignorant, bullying person"
So he's a PHONY.
That's the LAST thing I would want to be known as, how about you?
Skip is what you get, I have known him for 30 years or so. What you see you get, a great guy. Billy he keep you on so you could get your hospital insurance. Pat he treated you like family. When Skip got into office he had to take care of all of the DEC crap you created, and all of the things that you didn't do water up keep, roads, under ground pipes ect. He did that with less and equitment. I would say he is doing a great job. and what comes around goes around.
ReplyDelete9:59 AM
ReplyDeleteYou might be onto something.
Billy........Pat......hmmmm
if you understand 9:59, then you are 9:59.
Delete9:59 Keep passing the lie around and some people will continue to believe it.
ReplyDeleteGreat job?
There are a lot of things that are starting to come to light that will show the lack of attention that Skip has show on all fronts of the city. Like the gas collection system at the dump that has been ignored for a long time.
When DEC sent letters years ago to take action, but skip did nothing.
We could talk for hours on all the wrong things skip has done.
Great guy my a%#, he's a lair and a Phony. But keep telling the lies......
I just read the Agenda for tommorrow nights Council meeting. Why is DPW paying Dehn's $55.00 for baskets the City owns? Why does the Commissioner of DPS have an agenda item that is the same one the Mayor has on hers, can't he verbally beat the agenda item to death when its on another Council members agenda?
ReplyDeleteCap, I hear there is someone in the wings to primary Madigan, have you heard anything?
ReplyDeleteShe can be beat,she's been fudging the numbers for awhile.,Community leaders are not to happy with her performances
DeleteAt last weeks' Council meeting she wasbragging about scirocco having a $500,000 surplus in the water budget two years and a $800,000 surplus last year.....with all this money lying around why then has Scirroco raised out water rates for the last six years???....Why are we bonding for anything????....Then he does away with water connection fees???????...Gives his campaign donor a $810,000 water connection waiver ,nobody really knows why.....gives global foundries a gift on the taxpayers of $2400 rental waivers for the Canfield Casino but makes the Homeless Vietnam Vets pay $350 to use the third floor in City Hall.....Can I be the first to say this louse has to go.
ReplyDeletewhen will facts and balance appear on the McTygue blog (er, I mean captain america)? WHEN PIGS FLY!
ReplyDeleteAnon: You are sadly mistaken. There are 3 people that contribute to Captain America and the McTygue's are not one of them. It seems though that you cannot accept the truth on most issues and that is your problem, sorry.
Deleteoh give us a break! none of you are NAMED McTygue, but you are all clearly in that camp. Yepsen isn't named McTygue, either, nor is Sarah Burger. What's the actual last name got to do with it? Nothing. This is the McTygue blog, just like SID was Johnson's blog.
DeleteWhere is my letter from yesterday, you don't care about the truth. Just bash Skip with lies. the Compton Controller Office told DPW that they had to put back the money that was taken (1.4 million) out of the A budget and put into the B budget. That was the McTyuge that did that. What did they do with that money? The controllers office also said that they had to have a surplus.
ReplyDeleteNever got it, but here it is. We have never bashed Sip with lies only truths, if you can't handle it, then I'm sorry.
DeleteAsk your friend madigan about that....better hurray she might be there to much longer.....comptroller doesn't talk to you,so what's this all about??..more lies from scirrocco...is he back from florida yet??
DeleteAha.....Jack Nicholson is the blogger
ReplyDeleteI would like you to foil all of the water stuff, there it will prove that what I am saying is true. Mctyuge's took 1.4 million from the A budget and put it in the B budget and never put it back. The controllers office said that it had to be put back. And keep a surplus. Plus he had to do all of the water related things that they didn't do. That all cost money
ReplyDeleteYou FOIL the information. If memory serves me right, the money was used for a study done to see if the lake would serve as a back up water supply which the State deemed it was. The report was put on a shelf and could have stayed open but Skip refused to pay the $1,200.00 fee the State required. So, instead of having a study that would only need to be updated when we need to use the lake we will have to start the whole study from the beginning and it will be twice as much as the original.. Smart move on Scirocco's part.
DeleteI'd like to know how the hell the public feels it's alright to discontinue the water connection fees for all builders and increase our sewer & water rates every year since he's been in office. This guy lines his pockets from the builders & continues to pick our pockets clean. Also Captain, ask Scirocco why he believes it's worth the taxpayers money to pay three, THREE women to clean the Casino. Up until a few years ago we only paid one person to do the job, now we're paying three to do the job of one. Anyone cleaning the bldg. has four days to clean. So now if we're paying three people to clean, it must be completed in no more than two days. What the hell are those three people doing the rest of the week? They certainly not working outside in the park! The topper, Skippy's favorite snitch, Geri is one of these people!
ReplyDeleteWhy would you want to pay 20 million dollars when you don't have to.
ReplyDeleteThat's what people are saying about the East Side Fire & Emergency station & staffing. They are served good enough now, why spend all that money?
DeleteI heard that the new EMS station will have queen size beds with Sealy posturepedic mattresses.
ReplyDeleteWill the firemen who stay at that new station go to the price chopper at Exit 15, or cross town to meet up with their buddies at their favorite price chopper near Taft furniture? These are big decisions people. Probably the biggest decision that they make all day, except for what they cook for dinner.
New trucks, new hires, new pensions for life.
Skip has found a cheaper way for water.
ReplyDeleteSo, what's up Captains? Are you giving up the blog?
ReplyDeleteNo not at all. 1 in Europe for 2 mos. on business/vacation, 1 in Fl. for a month and 1 I fought the long battle with the flu and have come out a winner. Will have some news soon. One item that is making noise louder each week is that Madigan will have a primary, that would be an interesting race.
DeleteYes, the Madigen's need to go.
ReplyDeleteThey're out for themselves, no interest in what's best for Saratoga!!
I think she's easy to beat with her record :o) :O)
I heard Franck and Yepsen will have Dem opponents, too. Getting very very interesting.
ReplyDeleteParty sources say no to a Franck or Yepsen primary. The reason they are glad that Mathiesen and Madigan will have one is because these two are beholden to Skip and the Republicans so it really is a Republican majority.
DeleteWho says Madigan will run for finance?
ReplyDeleteShe begged for the Independence endorsement for Finance Commissioner and got it. It would be pretty stupid on her part to switch to another position after the wine soaked gushing about being honored for the endorsement, and pretty naive of you to think she would.
DeleteSkip has issued an rfp for engineering services. The costs are unlimited and there is no restraint on who can request services. If you need a whole engineering consultant with their own insurance and profit it would be less expensive to hire another city engineer,or is it that the one we have is useless. http://www.saratoga-springs.org/index.php?ption=com_remository&Itemid=67&func=startdown&id=4693
ReplyDeleteFirst Skip gives away $1,000,000.00 to a developer with nothing in return, and now this with Madigan & Matheisen's blessing. Now he wants to give an engineer consultant a blank check on grabbing money and he will have the blessing of Madigan & Matheisen. The 3 amigos have to go, taken out by the AG or booted out in Nov. if they make the primary (although Madigan bought the Independence endorsement by being best friends with Hot Dog Eddie's girlfriend), drinking partners don't you know.
DeleteCaptain, I hope you are over the flu now. It's no fun, for sure. Get well, and give us some new info.
ReplyDeleteOn your 3/30, 7:31 PM posting, I think you meant to say "and pretty naïve of you to think she wouldn't" instead of WOULD.
Thanks, but I do not think after her personal endorsement she would switch to another position. She will lose her seat in any position she runs for. She has become the 'princess' of the Council (in her and her husbands own minds) and looks foolish acting like one. The constant that keeps the Finance Dept. in tip top shape is Christine Gillmett-Brown and anyone sitting in the Finance chair will look good because of her as has been the case for years.
DeleteHey Captain
ReplyDeleteAny info on Mad-Again yelling and swearing very loud at the agenda meeting today?
Maybe on her wanting to backdate a zoning change to the City Center proposed parking garage?
Oh Yeah! She was screaming so loud you could hear down to the front doors. She was screaming that she would make sure she would work hard to get everyone but Skip out of office and even bragged that she is the one that got Wirth to run again as a 2 time loser. She is in the Republican's pocket and is not afraid to say so, screaming or not.
DeleteHey Charlie Brown [Democratic Chair]
DeleteTake note of this, she should NOT have the Dem line!!!
I don't think the Repubs won't give her their line :0)
So she can have the Ind Party Line
Oooooo-kay. So you've spent the last several months screaming about how Madigan is in an evil compact with Mathiesen and Scirocco. But suddenly she supposedly "bragged that she is the one that got Wirth to run again"? So now she is against Mathiesen, too? Next you'll be telling us that she and the DPW Commissioner plotted the 9-11 attacks.
ReplyDeleteYou have no credibility at all. You constantly publish factual inaccuracies and can't even keep your fantasy storylines synched up. You're your own worst enemies.
But it sure is fun to read....
Thank you for reading. Right now Mathiesen & Scirocco serve her purpose but she is in the pocket of the Republicans and many Republicans & Democrats even say she should move to the Rep. Party. While you may think Madigan plotted the 911 attacks, if there was a bottle of wine involved I wouldn't doubt it. She is ruthless and domineering and probably would like to be Mayor so she can further her imagined subjects. Now the bragging she did was in a crowd of people not in some back room and she has also threatened to bring down the rest of the Democrat Commissioners. She is out of control but is your friend so it must hurt to hear the truth. Oooooooo-kay?
DeleteI don't know where you get all of the crap. Madagan is very loyal to Chris. The Mayor is the one leaving every one out of important information. This is not a strong Mayor form of Government. And the Mayor hasn't done any thing but cause trouble and listen to the McTygue's.
ReplyDeleteI get this so called 'crap' from the source and she is as loyal to Matheisen as Bin Laden was to the US. It suits her feeling of power to have his loyalty. You are right, this is not a strong Mayor form of government and it is not a strong Finance Commissioner form of government either (Michele would like it to be). The McTygues are out of power and no Joanne does not go out with Billy anymore and she is her own person so I don't think she takes their advice either. The Mayor has handled herself in a professional way while the circus of Madigan, Matheisen and Scirocco has embarrassed this City all over the Capital District. The root cause of all the trouble in this City government starts with Madigan and her husband. Get inside City Hall and ask around, employees will tell you what the shrew does along with drinking vino all day, and that is that.
DeleteBragging, over throwing democrats and republicans, drinks wine all day, domineering, ruthless, has all this power and upsets the captain. She must be a wizard.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't bother me so don't be upset about what people think of Madigan and oh, a wizard is male, a witch is female so unless she's packing in those pants we'll call her a witch or you may know something we don't. I'll not talk of Madigan on this thread again but we'll have a new post soon with some more juicy tidbits.
Delete