SOME NOTES ON THE CITY FRONT

We have several projects going on by Public Works that are questionable by City residents.  The residents are not concerned about the projects but how they are being carried out.  The City is paying (1) City Engineer a salary of $109,039.00 + benefits (health ins., retirement, etc.) also (1) Assistant City Engineer a salary of $109,039.00 + benefits (health ins., retirement, etc.).

Keeping the above figures in mind the DPW Director; yes Skip Scirocco hired an outside engineering firm to plan a water & sewer job on Woodlawn Ave. for a figure of $60,000.00.  Remember we have 2 City Engineers who could have done this job and it wouldn’t cost the City a penny.  Well the code says that a water line must be at least 5 feet underground and 10 feet away from the sewer line. I can see our 2 engineers not knowing the rules but an outside firm?  they should have known this when they submitted the plans ($60,000.00) for the project.  However, the water line sits 3 feet underground and is only 5 feet away from the sewer line which is one of the old clay sewer lines.  This is incompetence at its best and another one of Skippy’s not understanding or the City Engineers understanding of the codes.

The next best thing about this project is that the job must be overseen by one of the City’s 2 engineers, so if this is fact are they as blank as most think or is a pocket being lined?

I would also like to know what plan DPW & DPS has for car, truck or equipment replacement yearly.  I remember when a 19 year old fire truck went to put out a fire and the fire truck caught on fire.  DPW has quite a bit of trucks, cars and dump trucks that need to be replaced and I hope Scirocco does not give the money back to Madigan to make her look good and put the good of the City in jeopardy by not having enough vehicles on the road or having to replace many at one time as I have heard he might have to do.

Having been following the Charter Commission( which had to be assembled by our Charter) via the City website, citizens can learn much about our form of government if they only open their ears and listen to the pros and cons of our form vs. other forms.

In a letter to the editor today written by none other than the mummy of Bonnie Sellers, Richard Sellers, this is a person that is blank and understands nothing about the Commission form or other forms.  Richard, the partner of Bonnie Sellers who make up the Abbot & Costello team in Saratoga Springs have no clue about many things and in the Commission vs other government types.  This duo, along with their uninformed friends use scare tactics not information when discussing these topics.  They offer nothing valuable to the discussion other than ‘look at other cities using another form of government and see how bad they are as compared to Saratoga’, well my friends the form of government did not make Saratoga what it is today, the business people, volunteers, to some extent City officials and having 2 race tracks and Skidmore College in our City along with the Northway led to what Saratoga is today.  If people open their eyes and look around the State there are many good Cities and since we are not #1 in great city’s in the country, there are thousands and thousands that are doing good.  I think one thing that Saratoga Springs does have are people like Dick & Bonita Sellers who spread fear and will not even listen or educate themselves to other ideas, now that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own opinion but stop the fear mongering.


I listened to a local radio show Saturday morning as Commissioner Matheisen was the guest and he spoke on various City topics that made sense and one of the topics he spoke on was form of government, he was the first City official to call for a different form of government (back in January).  You will have to speak with him about the benefits of a possible change and his ideas of why it may be better to do so. BUT NOTE, this current Commission is looking at ways to streamline our current form as well as having guest Mayors and City Managers speak so maybe we can incorporate some of their ways into our Charter to improve it.  The Sellers and their bunch have to get out of the 1920’s and realize we are in 2016 and things change and we need to do what is best for Saratoga and its citizens.  Change it or update and streamline it either one. 

What do you think of Change the form of gov't?  Stay or Change and put a good reason why you think one way or the other.

THIS TRIO of “LEADERS” are an EMBARASSMENT to the CITIZENS of SARATOGA

The 3 Commissioner’s (Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen) have to stop not only embarrassing themselves but also the citizens of Saratoga.  Madigan yells and screams it seems at every Council meeting, showing as some people think,  that she is becoming unglued and is imbibing too much during the day.  It is becoming such a spectacle that everyone watching these meetings are becoming frustrated at how they react not only to the Mayor but citizens as well.

Madigan expresses the fact that the Mayor can’t control the meetings but it is herself (Madigan) that argues, won’t shut up and won’t listen to the Mayor when she is trying to restore order at the table.  This is a pitiful trio.

Scirocco had zip on his agenda so he made the resolution to censure the Mayor.  The motion should have taken 10 minutes to read but the great orator took 30 minutes to get through it, a mighty reading, that’s probably why so many dogs and cats got away when he was the dog catcher,he trying to call an animal over to snare it and it probably took  him 15 minutes to say ‘come here fido’.

The Ethics Committee issued a report about a conflict with the Mayor but they didn’t issue one for Skip’s alleged  illegal multiple water deals which Madigan may be a party to by not making sure the monies were collected and the voting block of those 3 should as one brought the matter before the Council.  Also let’s not forget the Collimer lot deal which would cost the City to lose big money if Commissioner had his way dealing with the people he knew.  The City Attorney’s wife serves on the Ethics Committee and we wonder if she abstained from the discussions and the vote?

It is alleged that the reason Matheisen changed Attorney firms is because the firm that was handling the water deal & the Collimer lot deal was a not capable to handle criminal charges and it is said that the State is now pursuing criminal cases against the 3 .  Again, a nice representation by three comatose Commissioners.  We need to remember this at election time next year.

The Public Works Department is and has been up to job capacity for a while.  The problem is that Sirocco’s last bunch of hires have been to supervisory jobs or newly created supervisor jobs which total over $300,000.00+.  The baloney that if employees are blacktopping they can’t pick up grass clippings too, how many times a day have you seen City vehicles parked in a Stewart's, Shirley’s, Triangle Dinner, Cumberland Farms or Wal Mart?  The same numbered vehicles are seen at most of these places by people daily.

Also, the new hired bookkeeper and Finance fellow (Veitch) that Skip had the job title changed from Director of PW has taken to riding around the City in the Skip Mobile instead of working inside and it is said that Deputy Donna Buckley is not too happy, resorting as some say to putting a whoopee cushion on the seat of Skip’s chair.

This is really unsettling and if the criminal charges stick the 3 should be removed and a special election held to replace them.

I also read in the paper that John Herringbone has called for the Mayor to resign.  Nice try John.  John is retiring as the Chairman of the County Republican Committee because he has a loss of faith in his position.  There were many towns, the City of Saratoga included that did not support him and the list was growing.  He should have left years ago when he could have saved face.

Let’s keep the focus on Madigan, Matheisen and Scirocco and remember Sirocco put new sewer & water lines down his street and gave his street new paving, What A Guy!

CAN THIS BE REAL OR AM I IN A NIGHTMARE?

I watch the City Council meetings and the show the 3 amigos put on is getting funnier each meeting.  Commissioner Matheisen sits back in his chair with his fingers tapping against each other, Skip staring out to who knows where only waking up to say crazy things like ‘I think some of the homeless are serial killers and Madigan, well what can you say about her, she is just too out of it.  Anyone who attends the meetings or watches them knows the great martini Madigan wants to be Mayor and she is treating her constituents like dirt, unlike the current Mayor.

Now we have bull dog David Bonner at the mic again at every Council meeting berating the Mayor instead of Madigan, Skip and Matheisen for acting like dummies at the table.  Bronner is like the big bad wolf  but his bluster is not good enough to be believed.

Now, about Skippy.  The story is that a few times a week Skip, Deputy Dog Buckley and Madigan are at Jacob & Anthony’s imbibing in a (few?) adult beverages.  Why Madigan can’t even hide her straw that is in her carafe of the vino she drinks.

Those of you know I write about my funny little guy Skip quite a bit, there is nothing wrong with the little fella except he is way out of his league holding the position he occupies on the Council.  Skip was a very capable animal control officer, corralling doggies and getting cats out of trees, chasing skunks and even a raccoon or two.  Advice warning…. Skip, you should have stayed at the job you were born to do.

Anyone that wants to know what the DPW workers do during the day only has  to look anywhere that sells coffee, ding dongs (named after he who can’t be mentioned) and lottery tickets.  Also, stand on Broadway and you can see trucks with the same identifing number going round and round. 

Madigan again sucked up to Skip at the 5/3 Council meeting, saying that she congratulates Skip for the job well done and for returning some money back into the budget.  Well, the DPW fleet is in such disrepair it is an embarrassment, why didn’t you put some money into that part of the business Skip and why didn’t Madigan address that point when she was shining your ding dong?

A question for Skip, you always say how much infrastructure you have done, what is the % of what the DPW has done and what the outside firms you hire at big $ have done?  Please list the number and jobs so we can laugh at your explanations like we do when you try to make a point  at a meeting.  Skip, no one can understand what you are talking about.

Another smiling matter, all this nonsense about the hospital deal.  Madigan, Skip and Matheisen are going against the will of the residents of that area. Skippy said ‘we should get the home owners together with the hospital and maybe something can be worked out’, SKIP get this through your head, at every meeting the home owners do not want to talk to the hospital, they do not want the mammoth building with all the black top parking spaces, they do not want their property values to plunge, what in the heck don’t you get? You are blank but can’t Madigan sit you on her lap and explain it to you?  Although she doesn’t get it .   Madigan says we have so much of a fund balance then why doesn’t she talk to her fellow Council members and purchase the houses now at the current market values then let Sonny build away?  Talk about conflict of interest, Bonacio was a member of the Comp Committee and he stands to gain the big bucks for building the facility.  This could be another reason why the Skipster forgave the 1 million dollars in fees Bonacio owed the City in water hookup fees and the 3 amigos voted in favor in changing that part of the Charter in eliminating said fees.  Do you see a pattern?  Follow the money friends, follow the money.  More on Skippy & the other 2 amigos later, for now sit back and relax, watch a rerun of a Council and laugh your head off.

SKIP, THE THEATER DISTRICT BALLERINA

After many years of the citizens of Saratoga trying to tell the Council that they wanted a multi-use Parking Garage that would bring in million's to the City every year the Council of Doom (Madigan, Matheisen & Scirocco) did not listen and went ahead with the Mark Baker Garage which pays the City $50,000.00 per year.  This new move of creating a Theater District in the unused area of the lot is designed only to see that the City Center pay’s its debt down as there was no way it can do so now (it has an annual deficit, and the bedroom tax it relies on is dwindling) and Baker's figures changed faster that Skip could say huh?

Now it is to be believed that Skippy the Wonder Boy after years of not making any sense at meetings or with contract workers or developers, save for one, comes up with a grandiose design (shown in Sunday's Saratogian) and we are led to believe that this 'District' was conceived by him.

I read the article which took most of the morning because I just couldn't stop laughing at his quotes.  The one that stood out to me was the reasoning for this Theater District.  Skip is a closet theater lover “I like theater, but I don’t go very often,” he said. “Mostly I’ve seen high school plays. I’ve never actually been to a Broadway show. So this plan is just something I think would be good for the city. It’s not because I have a personal theatrical agenda.” why this alone could make him a large lover of the theater.  I have to tell you, if this was the Skipper’s idea, he has been wasting his life; he should have been a planner for the City rather than chasing dogs.

I will dare say another thought crossed my mind, guess who will be building this Theater District?  I’ll bet that it will be Sonny Bonaccio, after all he had one of his top men on the Citizen’s Committee that brought back their ideas on the RFP’s why the multi-use garage wouldn’t work and he was appointed by non-other than Skip’s femme fatale Michele Madigan, so the saying Follow The Money still has merit.

Scirocco was quoted “We want this to be new, innovative and modern,” Scirocco said. “But we want to keep the historic connection, too. The city is so well-suited to this idea, being a community of the arts.”  Yep!  This is right next to a generic, concrete & brick ugly parking garage.  He also stated “Some benefits of a High Rock theater district would include extending Broadway show business from New York City north to Saratoga Springs; providing a year-’round economic powerhouse; offering high-quality space in which local and out-of-town troupes can perform”  I am almost sure that if ‘What’s New Pussycat’ is playing in this theater there will be busloads coming to Saratoga from NYC, ’What is Marcia from SPAC going to think about this competition?  Wasn’t one of the big reasons she objected to the Racino’s small facility was because it would give SPAC (a 4 month venue) competition?  If competition is good for business, has the Skipster changed his mind about the convention building at the Racino?  Will he now support this venue because it will bring in more small conventions and music groups, helping the City’s pocket book and again he said competition is good?

I think the next logical move would be for the Siamese majority of Madigin, Matheisen & Scirocco to build a facility on the Farmer’s Market land and construct a building that could house the National Dog Pageants typically shown on the USA network, heck we already have Miss Pekinese living on North Broadway, the Miss Capital District Pageants and all sorts of other things to use the parking garage and make some more historical moments for Saratoga. 

We better watch out, Skippy is thinking outside the box, if it really is him and not the Art District we are in big trouble. 

GREENRIDGE CEMETERY

After 2 months the fence still looks like this.  Pitiful Board.

3 RATS RUNNING THE SHIP

Watching the Council meeting tonight makes one thing perfectly clear, Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen are the looniest bunch of people in the City.  The fact that they are on our City Council makes those who voted for them even loonier.  The fact that they are supposed to be representing the citizens is embarrassing.  The fact that months ago it was reported by a Capital District newscaster that Madigan had her three votes to pass Baker's parking garage proved to be true even after she herself yelled that 'this is a lie' no one knows how anyone is voting.  Madigan, Scirocco & Matheisen can be seen laughing at the Mayor & Franck as the say they are representing we the citizens, it seems like they are the only two who are doing so.  Having a dentist, dog catcher and wine consumer make a decision like this is again an embarrassment.  The City Center will likely not be able to pay it's debt service or the City's share of $50,000.00 per month.  Remember that if the property was a multi use facility the amount the City would get using modest figures was $2 million per year and would employee local people, something that these three are against.

This is what happens when two henpecked men are led by a delirious woman who's greatest feat is sipping red water at Council meetings and by the way Madigan swore that the news of having the votes to approve Baker's garage were false, well she thanked them after the vote for standing behind her for 2 years.  Wait:  That's why you couldn't see the boys, they were standing behind her.  I saw Madigan the other day walking in front of Scirocco & Matheisen with a pinkie in each of their noses leading them into her office.  Imagine how many illegal meetings the 3 had to iron this one out.

Let's see if Franck's information is correct, the lease is set at .82 cents per sq. ft.  Where in Saratoga can you get a price like that?  Why only if the 3 Amigos are selling something.

  

THE DUMB BUNNIES

Some think I haven’t written because I am licking my wounds over the last election, nothing could be further from the truth.  After the election “You Asked For IT You Got IT” said it all.  It’s not that I don’t see what is going on here in Saratoga, it’s just I don’t care anymore.

Saratoga Springs has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the State.  Most of the so called” Native Saratogians” could care less about what is happening in their own City.  Let’s look at a few items.

The biggest political beach ball since the Casino is the City Center parking puke of a garage.  Now we won’t say who has her head up the wazoo of Mark Baker but I’ll give you a clue, she sits to the right of the Mayor.

This woman should have a blood alcohol test before entering the Council Chambers.  She not only looks buzzed at the table but totally disregards citizen rights.  I watched in horror yes horror, oh, the humanity, the meeting on 3/15  as the public hearing for the lease took place.  I even had to go back and watch the dialogue of the hearing again, Madigan had berated a citizen because she (the citizen) wanted to talk about finances and here was where the fun began for everybody except the lady at the mic.  Madigan went off yelling her that she was not to speak of finances (this was part of the lease) and Madigan also screamed ‘it is my public hearing and I’ll run it my way’, clearly she hasn’t seen the light of day between the vino and the wazoos, but it was doubly disgusting that an elected official would treat a citizen in such a way, she is publicly, an embarrassment as representative of the City.  Many of Madigan’s friends and owners of Broadway businesses paraded to the Mic decrying the benefits of a multi-use concept.  Ms. Sellers would be likely to say, ‘burn the non-conformers and all non-Native Saratogians’. 

We must look at the view of the DBA (Downtown Business Assoc.) and Chamber of Commerce as one of chicken crap.  These entities do not want anyone shopping off Broadway, period, whether it helps the economy, creates jobs or any businesses benefitting due to off Broadway business.  The DBA & Chamber should give free memberships to those businesses off Broadway or the City should take away their higher tax rate.  Today, it looks like the vote for the City Center to get its way may be a reality (thanks to wobbly Madigan & the wide eyed Scirocco, everyone is saying that Matheisen is the wild card and is still evaluating which I sincerely hope he is doing.  Commissioner, it is not a law that you have to vote with Madigan & Scirocco, keep an open mind and make the right decision to go into the RFP’s a little more (selfish me).  Also worth noting, Madigan’s appointment to the High Rock Park Technical Review Committee was none other than Larry Novick (a Bonaccio front man, Scirocco’s pick, Rod Sutton and Tom Roohan from the City Center plus the other picks.  Novick, Sutton and Roohan have nothing in common, right?  

You know you are in trouble as a citizen when a majority (hopefully not) would settle for $50,000.00 per year when with a multi-use garage you could have a business 1^st floor that could generate about $2 million dollars a year, create new jobs and tie Broadway into the High Rock area, now that is great leadership from a Council, again check the blood alcohol level.

The Skipster, what to say about him?  The citizens should chip in and purchase a new pair of glasses for him, it looks like he can’t read or see what goes on around him.  If you were at or watched the Council meeting from March 1^st Mark Lawton (a man who knows and can interpret the Charter) informed Skip that he was not following the Charter because he should be presenting his water & sewer plan at budget time instead of in March.  Scirocco admitted he didn’t know this and then corrected himself with a shaky excuse.  This is scary because by not knowing your Constitution (Charter) you are bound to fail.  

Wait, according to Skip, if you go against the Charter just change it to suit your needs.  Point in case, Donna Buckley, Deputy Commissioner and puppet master of Skip hires a Director of Public Works then fires him when a Veitch family member wants the job, only he can’t pass the exam.  So what does Donna & Skip do?  Why create a new position of Business Manager.  Who was taking care of business for the Department all these years?  Now that we have a Business Manager the department’s employees whose duties are going to this new position should have their salaries reduced.  Skip, you’re a nice guy I guess but you are way out of your league in your position as Commissioner as you were as Animal Control Officer (PC for Dog Catcher).

This is what happens when apathy sets in at election time.  Most people don’t care enough about what goes on in their City but boy can they complain about everything and a case of electing the good old boy’s choices (yes it still runs rampant in Saratoga, although the old guard are dropping away quietly)