When an office holder runs unopposed he or she does not have
to be answerable to the citizens.
When
we stop to think are we electing Commissioners to represent us or is it ‘taxation
without representation’? If we don’t get
anywhere with one Commissioner we are stuck in the mud with no other elected
official able to help us.
Today I was informed by someone in City Hall that there is a
hell of a story developing and once again Skippy Scirocco is in the middle of a
dangerous situation that could pose a threat to city residents. The Department of Health has found high concentrations
of lead in our drinking water. The best
part is that neither Scirocco or anyone in his department will comment to
anyone who calls his office and you can’t find out any information from any
other department, again so much for our representative form of government.
I spoke with many friends today that called
the DPW office and our elected representative would not come to the phone.
There is also information that there are adults at Wesley that
have gotten sick by Saratoga Springs drinking water but we can’t verify this
yet. The meeting between the State &
Scirocco scheduled today was called off and a phone call between the two was
supposed to take place instead.
We all
know that if Scirocco doesn’t have Madigan and 3 other people speaking for him
he will not talk on the phone or in person so I doubt he made the phone call
either.
There will be much more coming out of this and hopefully he
will have to be removed from office.
STOCK UP ON BOTTLED WATER
There is an article in the Saratogian regarding this. We are being told to contact the water dept. NOT Skip The Fees!!! This man is SO incompetent. It's time for citizens to start knocking on DPW's door (& cover the back door) DEMANDING answers!!!!
ReplyDeleteOnce again our ELECTED representative shirks his duty to be OUR representative and passes the buck. Stop electing people who know nothing about the job they are elected to, it's time we get professionals to run departments.
ReplyDeleteLead was found in water of 7 homes in Saratoga!!! I think it's breaking Skip The Fees!!!!
ReplyDeleteCommissioner Skippy has been pumping from HIS well field rather than the lake, just look at the level of the lake. This same thing happened in Flint MI. The water department changed the water source, causing corrosion to leach lead into the water.
ReplyDeleteSkippy changed the water source and skipped the testing, just like in Flint MI. The people that did this in Flint are now in jail.
SKIPPY SHOULD RESIGN AND SKIP TOWN.
The article in the Saratogian says that more than 10% of the home in Saratoga has water that you cannot drink. I wonder if Skip has had the water at his home tested.
ReplyDeleteEight years in office and he continues to say "Ain't broke don't fix it" when it comes to charter. The charter must be broke, because a complete moron like skip can hold office in a community like ours.
ReplyDeleteYou bet and it shows the incompetence of the Democratic Party that they can't find anyone to run against him. There is something I heard from someone on the Republican committee that the Democrats & Republicans have an agreement that each Party will let Madigan & Scirocco run unopposed, that folks is true representation in action.
DeleteWrong again! While unfortunate, the Dem party tried hard to find someone to go up against Skip. No one wants the headaches for the price it pays. The McTygues liked the job simply for the ability to wield power but since Billy Boy can't get elected there is no one else willing to take on the shit show
DeleteU r absolutely right Captain, & that's is BS!!! This is why our form of government needs to change!!!
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding. It is lead in private homes and the cause is the lesad in there pipes. The water treatment plant doesn't have and lead it water. When the water sits in the pipes that were soudder with lead you get lead in the water. Why would you cause a panic when thewre is no cause for it.
ReplyDeleteCommissioner Skippy has been pumping from HIS well field rather than the lake, just look at the level of the lake. This same thing happened in Flint MI. The water department changed the water source, causing corrosion to leach lead into the water.
DeleteSkippy changed the water source and skipped the testing, just like in Flint MI. The people that did this in Flint are now in jail
If fact I am just call the Dept. of Health myself and let them know that you want to causer a panic. You are going to cause problems for them also. What a mayor we have, she puts stuff out there that she doesn't undewrstand thinking it will cause a problem for DPW. She just wants to cause trouble. Not be a problem solver.
ReplyDeleteScirocco said any homes built after 1986 need not worry about lead, how many homes in Saratoga were built before 1986? I would call that a panic situation. Scirocco has to go, this should have been something looked into before this week. Maybe instead of sleeping in or hanging out at the ITAM he should be a little pro active and deal with items that affect our health.
DeleteThe goodship Skippy has run aground. He is in deep shit.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a tip of the iceberg.
He has been bullshitting the public for years. He should be removed from office. If 7 of 60 fail what will 10,000 households test out?
he spends the tax payer'smoney hiring his campaign Mike Veithch with noexperience for a 135,000.00 job and Eddie Miller for The independence Party to work in DPW for 95,000.00 rather than hiring professionals to develop and infrastructure plan.
This bullshit must end.
"this bullshit must end"....agreed!...lead the way Cap.
ReplyDeletewho was the pedestrian who was killed on Lake Avenue a couple of nights ago? Not in the paper dontcha know.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important pieces about the proposed City Charter change is the benefit of professional management over our current system, in which department heads and their executive staff aren’t required to have qualifications to lead their departments. In DPW, the Commissioner Scirocco hired his former political rival Ed Miller, who also happens to be the local head of the Independence Party, to work in the water department. He also hired his campaign manager Michael Veitch as the department’s business manager – a position that seems to have been created for him. Ask yourself are these the people who should be in charge of the city’s water supply? The water problem is a developing story. Lots of people are ordering lead testing kits. Tell your friends and neighbors about this example of a non professional government and ask them to look into the proposed Charter and vote YES in November. It only takes 1 person to tell a friend or family member and ask them to do the same and when it passes we will have professional's running departments and elected Saratoga citizens representing us.
ReplyDeleteTake the word of a anonymous blogger???...No thanks..Big Fat NO!
ReplyDeleteOK, we'll take the your word, wait, you post as anonymous also.
ReplyDeletethis blog is a fraud and has no creditiblity at least we know who authors the real blog saratoga politics
ReplyDeleteYeah, Cap, I have to agree that this is really a non-story. Sensationalizing things will not get Skippy out, or help to get him out.
ReplyDeleteThe homes that have high lead levels in the water, no doubt have old zinc pipes, or old copper with old soldered joints. Can't blame this one on the city water, sorry. We are very fortunate to live in a city with abundant water. The scare tactics by the McT brothers, who said that we would run out of potable water by 1987, proved to be just that, nonsense.
We do have a problem with water and it is not being addressed by Scirocco. The farce that Scirocco spews about Saratoga having the lowest rates is bunk. We may have the lowest min. rate but after adding all the fees (which he separates to make the base charge look low) he has raised in the last 10 years the bills are not as low compared to other bills in the State.
DeleteCould Skip The Fees tell us taxpayers why all the street lights along S. Broadway are on 24/7, & who pays that bill! No one in DPW can seem to answer this question 2 weeks ago!
ReplyDeleteI went to the library the other night to listen about Charter in Saratoga. Going in my wife and I were against it. So many of our friends are now in favor of charter change we decided to attend. Coming out we both have converted. This was the first time we have ever heard some of these people speak. we have been in Saratoga Springs for 30 years. We both work in public accounting in Albany. We were always to busy raising our children and working to pay too much attention to government in Saratoga Springs. We were so unimpressed with our public officials that got up to speak. First off, Mrs Madagan is so impressed with herself, my wife was offended how little class she has that she will never vote for here again. One person in our row said that hardly anyone will have anyone running against them. Is that true? We got the sence that most of the people who were in opposition are the same ones from last time. well they lost at least two votes. Now I know why most of our friends have switched to support the change. Our neighborhood ( Saratoga Lake) had a member of the charter commission speak last week. Everyone there loved what they heard. So we had to hear for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteWe are switching and voting Yes.
What a waste of time on August 3rd at the library for young democrats. How embarrassing. Watching the same OLD crowd stand up and speak against charter. The performance of Michelle Madigin was mind numbing. As a lifelong Democrat, I can not that she was even capable of being endorsed by our party. She is a blow hard.
ReplyDeleteI would ask city Democrates, Is this the best we can do?
Mr Brown my check will not be in the mail.
Captain
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last Economic Plan ever published for Saratoga Springs.
I read that Brad Burge is paid 145,000.00 dollars plus benefits to be our Economic Development Director. I could not find one on the website.
What is the deal with the Trail by Geyser Crest? Someone gives you land and you balk?
ReplyDeleteYou can if you're our current Mayor....
DeleteSummer in Saratoga is awesome
ReplyDeleteI got a call to come to to support the anti charter group. I showed up and many of my pals were not there. When i asked the group where they were. They said they could not make it to the event.
ReplyDeleteAfter I sat down I learned that my pals have all switched sides and are now supporting the change. The leader of the anti group Gordon Boyd was not there, but I was told he is now one of the leaders of pro change group. Mayor Ray Watkins told me he is VERY much in support. The rest of the gang is there but does not sound to convincing. As always, everyone who spoke against it has a family member of a "close friend" in City Hall. I know BK and he is a nice man. if he believes that this change is good so do I.
Want an eye opening experience? Call and ask to speak with Commissioner Scirocco. Some lady named Donna never puts me through to him. She claims he is too busy on City Business to talk with me.
ReplyDeleteHe always claims he is responsive. He has not called me back ever.
If I wanted to talk with Donna, I would have called looking for her.
Michele Madagin should seek professional help. She is an egomaniac.
ReplyDeleteShe also drags her husband out to talk. He too could benefit from an ego reduction too. I used to support her. Not anymore.
On principal, I am note voting for her ever again. I spoke with A.C. Reilly at the event. Now there is a well balanced lady.
Rumor around city hall is that Skippy boy has a pile of shit heading his way.
ReplyDeleteBest blog !! The other guy is the fraud. he only writes what Michelle Madigan wants him to write. He is a weasel.
ReplyDeleteMore shaky shit going on at The DPW garage. Mrs Rivers Mrs Rivers Mrs Rivers
ReplyDeleteIs Mark Baker retired?
ReplyDeleteSomeone says he has an office in a city building still. What business can he be doing while using taxpayer dollars?
Has he officially moved to Saratoga Springs Yet?
How long before the finance deputy quits. Heard he is amazed at what a jack ass his boss is. Utter disbelief. Michele Madigan will have to hire her 4th deputy this year. May be she will hirethe other crazy women in city hall Eileen Finigan to be her deputy.
ReplyDeleteI bet my wife that at least one of the "speakers" at Aug 3 charter talk would remind us they they were far more capable of solving any problems because they were"born here" and that entitled them to be all knowing. Well I Won. Mrs Macgraw Boxley wasted no time to remind us that she was born and raised in Saratoga and she was more qualified than anyone. I am not sure her age, but she does not look older than 50. So my 52 years here mean nothing as having my ass slapped at Saratoga Springs. When will these idiots ever stop saying that. It is an insult. I do know her brother is a long term employee in DPW and she worked for a few years too. If she is so smart, how did her department ever survive when she left city employment. She claimed to be on of the "irreplaceable" deputies. Not sure when she left, but I did not remember a governmental shut down when she left.
ReplyDeleteshe did more harm than good by opening her mouth on the subject.
Where is Gordon Boyd on this issue?
I agree this is most annoying. While there are many intelligent "native" Saratogians, being born here does not provide a high IQ or even the ability to determine what is best. After all, they live here by accident of birth - others of us are here by choice so probably have an even greater investment in the success of our "chosen" city.
DeleteWell you knew it would come at some point.
ReplyDeleteThe city had a deficit of over 1 Million dollars and now more bad financial news for Saratoga Springs.
Hello Ms.Madigain WAKE UP!
A state comptroller’s report issued Fridaythat stated salestax revenue to Saratoga Springs DROPPED 5.9 percent in the Spa City, compared to the same time frame a year ago.
County sales tax collections were $56.6 million this year versus $55.6 million in 2016.
In the city, revenues fell more than $300,000 from $5,373,422 last year to $5,054,272 for the first two quarters of this year.
Of the 18 cities in New York that impose their own general sales tax, Saratoga Springs was ONE od THREE that experienced reductions. The others are Norwich (7.3 percent) and White Plains (3.8 percent).
Salamanca had the highest percentage increase (14.7).
In Wilton, the town saw sales tax distributions was a dramatic 16 percent INCREASE.
The state report said local sales tax collections across New York grew 3.3 percent in the first six months of 2017, or $8 billion compared to $7.8 billion during the same period last year.
“Local sales tax growth across the state is welcome news, especially for many of our upstate communities that have struggled with tough economic conditions,” state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. “Sales tax, however, can be a volatile source of revenue and local officials must remain cautious. While consumer spending is holding up for now, the upcoming back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons may determine if this level of growth is sustainable.”
In Warren and Washington counties, sales tax rose 1.6 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.
Just a question...Do you think Madigan has anything to do with the state of sales tax - other than to include it in her budget. If sales tax is down that responsibility goes to the Chamber, Downtown Business groups, etc. If you're going to blame someone at least know that you are blaming the right person.
DeleteWhat was the point of having Boxley as a speaker at the forum last night at the library. I was interested in learning more about the Government Change so I attended the event. Thank you to Mayor Joanne Yepsen, Robert Turner & B.K. Kermati for explaining the great points of change and they won my wife & I over to go for change. I hope there are many more events like this. The only thing I would hope for is that there would be 6 panelists on the side against change, they really didn't add any factual information and the more people on their side the more people will vote for change.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteYou will several more educational events in the months ahead.
Wow
ReplyDeleteAnonymous had a busy afternoon on Aug 4.
Sending multiple posts does not make a believer out of me. Obsessing about Madigan and Skippy, might make sense to that anonymouse on 8/4 but the arguments are weak, at best.
People should obsess about Madigan & Scirocco. The 2 of them both waste mucho tax dollars and involve the City in to many lawsuits. The time Scirocco illegally let Bonacio off the hook for 1 million dollars it was Madigan as Finance Commissioner that should have opened her mouth but she was worried about her royal bathroom instead.
DeleteI don't expect to make a believer out of anyone who has myopic thinking. However, there might be one or two people reading this who have a degree of critical thinking skill and are interested in hearing a point of view different from their own. It is, after all, how some people choose to grow and learn.
DeleteThe two of Scirooco and madagan are both political party hacks
ReplyDeleteThey both are poor representatives of their party.
Skip votes like a Democrat and Madigan is not loyal to the democrats.
The parties have cooperated together to suppress voter will. Both Skippy and madagain are running unopposed just like candidates in Russia and China. There is no way to vote them out. These are the people that will be in office for the next two years. Might as well save some money and just have four year terms
ReplyDeleteTo answer some of the interest posted above, Gordon Boyd is an enthusiastic YES vote for charter change. See his letter to the editor in The Saratogian July 8-9, next to Barbara Lombardo's column.
ReplyDeleteYeah right Anonymous and Cap, and that is why Madigan is beloved by her party including the City Chair, the City Exec Committee and the County Chair. Why don’t you ask these same people what they think about Yepsen. I can tell you this, they are all beyond thrilled that she is done and gone so very soon. This blog gets is wrong time and time again. And once again Madigan and Skip will be back at the helm. Hahahaha.
ReplyDeletebeloved? That shows you the state of the Democratic Party. Her role is only being Edgar Bergman to Scricco's Charlie McCarthy, and that is probably the best thing she is good and beloved at.
DeleteBack at the helm! Of course, because both parties refused to run anyone against them. That is why we need to change our form of government!!!!
Deleteright on Capt., not only is Madigan mean as a rabid pitbull to city residents from the Council table she is just a nasty person off the table. If the 'drooling beloved nasty pitbull' is a mascot the Democrats want for their poster child then so be it.
DeleteCharter Change is good for the future
ReplyDeleteWhat will Saratoga Springs be like 10 years from now in 2027? I have been thinking a lot about this. More specifically, I have been thinking about what I would do to ensure that Saratoga Springs will continue to thrive in the next 10 years.
I moved to Saratoga Springs three years ago with my pregnant wife. We bought a house. Our son was born here. We hope he goes on to graduate from Saratoga High School. While I may have lived the shortest period of time in Saratoga Springs among my colleagues on the charter review commission, I hope to live here for a long time. So my perspective is looking forward to how the city will grow and how we can stay vibrant in the coming years; to how can we attract industry and talent and continue to prosper.
Considering this, the commission form of government seems outdated. Of all cities in New York state, only Mechanicville and Saratoga Springs still have this form of government. All other cities have moved towards a council with professional management often in the form of a city manager.
If Saratoga Springs wants to be a thriving destination of choice for companies and individuals, for tourists and residents, then we have to think about what is going to move us forward. The answer is a new charter that calls for a professionally trained forward looking city manager to run the day-to-day administration of the city, and for a city council that is representative of the entire city and opens up doors for all Saratogians.
This is the reason why I will vote yes in November on the charter change.
Minita Sanghvi
Saratoga Springs
ReplyDeleteA proposed new charter for the City of Saratoga Springs will appear on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 7, 2017.
Important features of the new government structure it would create are: it separates the policy making function (via a 7-person City Council) from administration (via the hiring of a professional City Manager); all city employees would actually be working for the city, rather than for individual commissioners; it adds an internal audit function responsible to the Council; the Mayor remains the chair and a voting member of the Council, but also chairs the Finance Committee and has important appointive and ceremonial functions.
One of the most frequent questions at the Charter Open House was, “What is the timeline for the changeover?” And the answer is:
November 7, 2017 – Voters approve the new city Charter, and also elect Commissioners and a Mayor who take office, under the rules of the current Charter, on Jan 1, 2018.
Within 60 days of filing of the charter referendum results – The City Council (including the Mayor) appoints a 9-member Transition Team. Among other things, the Team is charged with recommending salaries for the Council, Mayor, City Manager, the budget for 2020, and conducts a search for a City Manager.
November 5, 2019 – Election of the City Council (including the Mayor) to serve under the new Charter’s format.
November 30, 2019 – The sitting City Council adopts the budget for 2020.
January 1, 2020 – The new City Charter goes into full effect, the new City Council takes office and considers the appointment of the City Manager.
Barbara Thomas
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission member
Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission Surveys
ReplyDeleteTimes Union Letter by Barb Thomas: Charter model will unify Spa City’s government
Charter model will unify Spa City’s government
Opponents of the proposed new charter for the city of Saratoga Springs are fond of saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s like the owner of a children’s swing, who notices that a rope is wearing through, deciding to put off replacement till it wears through completely.
We have had the same commission form of government for slightly more than 100 years, through good times, depressions, empty storefronts, organized crime and corruption, and, right now, good times again. That makes it hard to say that our current good fortune is a result of the government’s structure.
But we do notice a fraying of the rope. As our society becomes more complex, the services we need from government don’t fit neatly into one particular commissioner’s fiefdom so that, where there should be cooperation, there is bickering. One example: the lack of a human resources department to provide career ladders for all qualified employees. The city’s own employees, to whom we in the Charter Review Commission listened, can speak to the fraying of the rope.
Switching to the proposed charter with its city council-city manager form of government will unify the administration under one manager responsible to all the members of the council and make this an even better city.
A survey of city employees and the full text of the proposed charter is at www.saratogacharter.com.
BARBARA THOMAS Member, Charter Review Commission Saratoga Springs
Why does my drinking water taste funny?
ReplyDeleteI recently read that Saratoga Springs lost the Saratoga County drinking water taste test to Clifton Park. How did that happen? I have lived here for 10 years, and the water used to taste great; lately it tastes as though it’s been laced with chlorine and chemicals. Then there’s the reduced water pressure.
If Commissioner of Public Works Scirocco had hired a professional, to serve as the Public Works Director, instead of hiring his campaign manager, Michael Veitch, at $85,000 a year, plus benefits, this would not have happened.
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Mr. Veitch, who had worked as Senator Roy MacDonald’s press secretary, and as a political consultant, has no business running the 200 person, $20-plus million Public Works Department, which is critical to the drinking water of the city.
We need professionals to serve the people, and unfortunately we are stuck with Mr. Scirocco and his political hacks, as he is running unopposed.
John D. Kirwin
Saratoga Springs
Barb
ReplyDeleteJan 2, 2020 (as Barbara Walters used to say ....twenty-twenty) City Manager Joe Dalton takes over, I move out of Saratoga Springs.
John Kirwin, The employees that work in the water treatment plant have to go to school, pass tests, if they fail they are out of a job. All water samples are testd and sent to Dept. of Health. Saratoga Springs water has tested fine, there is no problem with it. The Dept of Health has the City test in houses built during certain year, there water for lead in their homes. It is cause by lead in their pipes, not the City. Please tell the whole truth, or maybe you don't understand how the City works.
ReplyDeleteCapt understands how the city works. Skippy's brother got the list of homes and is offering to replace the plumbing for lots of money. This is how the city works.
ReplyDeleteRemember Eddie Miller got a job at the water treatment plant as a political pay off as did Mike Veich.
What Veitch makes 85,000.00 base pay? add at least another 50% for his benefits and you have a person who brought NO EXPERIENCE being paid over 125.000.00! That is bullshit.
ReplyDeleteMike Veitch was a joke in high school and he is still a joke.
ReplyDeleteHe bullshitted his way through life so far.
It it was not for his brothers he would be delivering Pizza right now.
Annon 6:18 John Kirwin understands that if the schooling, testing and professional knowledge of the employee is not politically expedient or is damaging to Skippy that employee will be out of a job. Employees that do the right thing in Saratoga if it does not have a political advantage to the commissioner will be fired. Look at the history.
ReplyDeleteAnonymousJune 8, 2017 at 3:58 PM
ReplyDeleteAnd it keeps going on and on
MORE If It ain't don't fix it" needs to be presented with a list of City Government FU#*K ups.
Please add to the list.
1 Skip Scirrocco's Top Secret Deputy Promotion and hiring Eddie Miller who is the head of the Independence Party.
2. Scirooco's DPW buying from Scirrocco's Brother with city knowledge who heads The Conservative Party
3. LOST $130,000,00 in legal fees fighting for the parking lot deal- land swap.
4. Hospital Expansion or Lack
5. 17 Year and counting delay on the parking garage for City Center
6. $750,000.00 for Madigan's toilets and kitchette. The PRIVATE Use.
7. FIRE at City garage set by DPW Squatters
8. Madigan's Deputy leaves. And now another leaves again!!!!!!!
9. Another Lawsuit lose in February regarding City lot for City Center.
10. Madigan and Mark Baker alliance.
11. 700,000.00 lawsuit lose in December against the Anderson’s City pays 750,000.00
12. Numerous drug test failure by DPW workers again!!!
13. Rapidly failing water infrastructure on West Side.
14.No eastside EMS/ Firehouse near Exit 14
15. 15 Year Delay on Geyser Crest Trail System.
16 Lack of response to high led levels in water tests through the city. The water quality in the city is horrific
17 DPW fleet reduced to rust buckets due to lack of proper maintenance.
18 Bloated Salaries in City Hall. 10 employees have salaries exceeding 120,000.00 annually# 19 There are still 2 open
investigation by the NYS Attorney General's Office.
19. Check out Michele Madigan's Campaign Finance donors list. Can you say PAY FOR PLAY.
20. Skip Scirrocco hiring Mike Veitch to be "business manager" for 85,000.00 per year, rather than hiring a Director of DPW for which Mike could not qualify. Mike Veitch was Skip's Campaign manager during his last campaign.
21. More CASH deals at the Weibel ave landfill. The operators there are taking cash instead of bags that are purchased from City.
22. DPW workers plowing private driveways while on City Payroll.
23. DPW refusing to cut down the trees to allow the 15 year trail to proceed
24. City being sued for not paying bills. Suit filed for 150,000.00
I guess just after election day Eddie Miller will be fired, because there is no way that idiot can pass a test. Skip won't need him so he will dump him.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Water Genious..ever heard of the corrosive test?
The Copper levels have been high, the chlorine levels have been low and the city is now required to do a mandated corrosion control studies. I understand the pipes in my home are my responsibility. The DOH has not been to happy with Saratoga Springs for quite some time. Both Copper and lead issues have plagued the system for quite some time.
Skippy will not need Mike Veitch after this election so we can hope that Mr noskills will be gone. The only reason he is there is because Donna Buckly thought there was political advantage to the republicans's to put him in that position as the Veich"s are a big part of the Democrat party. Well that worked no One running against Skip.
ReplyDeleteActually Veitch is a Republican. He was little Skippy's campaign manager.
ReplyDeleteWhile the "regular" city republicans we're volunteering, mr No skills Veitch was getting paid. Scirocco paid him 13,000.00 during campaign 2015 and them gave him a 125,000.00 job in DPW.
To make room for Mr No Skills, little Skippy dismissed a highly trained engineer.
Cap:
ReplyDeletePeople want to know....what about the Collamer lot sale?
Where are we with finding a location for the east side fire station?
What about the investigation into DPW?
Where is the report about the fire at the DPW garage? Were employees actually living there?
Kinda quiet out there.....and an election year???
From an article in the Saratoga Today April 6, 2017 "Nearly four years to the date since Chris Mathiesen first began working on a pair of land transactions that would have the city sell a parking lot adjacent to Broadway’s Collamer Building and subsequently purchase a Union Avenue parcel to build an East Side Fire/EMS station was publicly declared a dead deal by the public safety commissioner on Tuesday. “It’s time to move on,” said Mathiesen, invoking a sentiment not unlike an emotionally abandoned lover in a relationship gone-wrong. The arrangement had been mired in a lawsuit – in which the city reportedly spent at least $50,000 in legal fees – an investigation by the state Attorney General’s office, and a long period of inactivity." I think the new location will be in the hands of the incoming DPS Comm. The investigation into DPW is known only to the AG and about the timing, who knows? Scirocco, known as the 'Teflon Commissioner' has nothing to worry about as he is unopposed in the Fall election. We (the citizens) most likely will never get a report on the fire at the garage and it would not be a surprise if employees were living there. You are right, it is an election year and 3 of 5 Council seats have no opposition. This is a shining example of the decline of this form of government, the best vote you can make this November is to vote YES for Charter Change.
ReplyDeleteIn the Times Union article Skippy is quoted as saying "Scirocco was concerned, however, that his department would be locked into using vendors that don't fit its specific needs.
ReplyDelete"We don't want to send our trucks out and not be able to get them back for two weeks," Scirocco said. "I like the idea of piggybacking on the county, if we can opt out at any time."
He wants the option to use his brother's plumbing company, once again feeding himself and his political friends at the taxpayer trough.
http://m.timesunion.com/7dayarchive/article/City-joins-county-s-cooperative-bidding-plan-11817605.php
If Charter Change does get voted in, then where will Mr. Turner's office be in City Hall?
ReplyDeletehmmmmm?
The paragraph below is taken from the job description in the new Charter. I'm surprised you would make a statement like this when almost everyone has seen or has a copy of the Charter, it's easy to get online, hmmmmmm.
Delete"The City Manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of education, professional credentials and experience in the accepted competencies and practices of local government management. The City Manager shall be qualified by possessing a Master’s Degree with a concentration in public administration, public affairs or public policy and five years’ experience in an appointed managerial or administrative position in municipal government."
Since Mr. Turner has been a teacher for many years I doubt he has five years’ experience in an appointed managerial or administrative position in municipal government.
am a Republican who has lived here my entire life.
ReplyDeleteMy friend on the Republican Committee called me to sk me to spread a rumor. I asked what is it? My next question was is it true?
His answer to the truthfulness was No it is NOT true.
I then asked why spread the rumor? He said because Mark Baker will be beaten very badly by Meg Kelly if we can not discredit her.
Here is the Republican Party's bullshit rumor of the day.
That Joanne Yepson will become someone's deputy in 2018. I asked again for clarity and was told just spread it. "Ty to pin this on Meg Kelly."
Well I am voting for Meg
Well to tell you the truth I am surprised they are spreading lies already, their game plan is usually to start about 2 weeks before and go heavy so there can be no defense from the other side. Mark my words, Yepsen will not be an employee of the City. However, Baker does bring a lot of questionable baggage in his quest for Mayor. All I have to say is Joe Dalton is one of his biggest supporters. Enough said.
DeleteYou got it partially right. Yepson was offered a job by NYS in Albany. She accepted the job and decided not to run for mayor. The pay was 10x the Mayor salary. Good for her.
DeleteThe problem arose when the Republicans got wind of this. The Saratoga Springs Republicans pulled strings and got the position de-funded in the current budget. No Money = no job.
The republicans have done this many times destroying peoples lives after they have left service as economic retaliation. These are bad bad people who have messed with peoples lives to the point of destroying people because that person had a different point of view from the party line.
If the republican committee was smart they would wish people they do not agree with well and give them a good reference, but no the republican committee tries to hurt people they oppose. There is nothing worse than an injured cornered individual. No wonder the republicans have so much trouble in Saratoga. They are mean retaliatory vindictive people.
Nice piece of creative writing.
DeleteWhat give you thew right to make up this crap. The Saratoga Springs Water is 100 percent fine. The City does checking in homes thought out the City and found lead in the water because of their plumming, not the City drinking water. Security Supply Plumming has had a account with the City long before the commissioner was in office. What is wrong with hiring a manger in DPW, isn't that what you are saying we need. Your friends are telling you a stroy.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to go back and start over.
DeleteThe People are being left out of the process you under educated knot-head,this has about as much chance of passing as Gordon Boyd has in getting elected to anything,you'd like to have the amount his energy Co. made off this Form of Gov't...some nerve!
ReplyDeleteSo I am an uneducated knot-head? THE PEOPLE had well over 1 year to weigh in and give the Commission their comments. Were you in a coma? You really are afraid this new form is going to pass, crying after the fact, you have some nerve lol
DeleteCaptain.....you know the old saying...."follow the money"
DeleteThe charter change people have their own "money" agenda, believe it!!
The only people the City has to worry about 'following the money' is those big Republican business people who are against change. They want to keep the status quo so the can get whatever they want.
Delete12:17pm has it right Cap,Gordie is a jonah this effort by you and the Mclosers and that drunk Mayor is so full holes,sorry cap no win here not with these people
ReplyDeleteIf The Capt is an under-educated Knothead it is the dems, progressives, and liberals who are at fault because they failed to provide the education. The Capt is not a knot head very reason with ample discussion with many differing views.
ReplyDeleteCap, the new Charter will allow more people to run for office 'council'. The way it is now the Republicans won't allow anyone in the Republican Party to run against Madigan and the Democrats won't allow anyone to run against Scirocco which doesn't give voters much of a choice. What we need is for 2 strong write in candidates to be able to write in for these seats, it will be difficult but at least we will have another choice rather than having two no nothing party's ramming their puppets down our throat.
ReplyDeleteI nominate Capt. America, do I hear a second?
ReplyDeleteWatching the Charter Review Commission meeting of August 22, 2017 one thing became crystal clear, Elio DelSette is one of the biggest boobs on the Commission. He looks like a deer in the headlights, not a clue of what is going around him. He sits at the table making eyes at Bonita Sellers all night. The Commissioner that put him on this Commission has to be one of the biggest nut on the Council.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure that wasn't Eli Manning? He also gets those deer in the headlights....just before throwing an interception.....or looking across the line at a 350 pound lineman with a few teeth missing. ha
ReplyDeleteCaptain call me crazy
ReplyDeleteBut there seems to be ". A special friendship" brewing between Michele Madigan and Mark Baker. I recently attended a fundraiser that they were both at. And they are very close to each other. As a woman, I sense it when there seems to be more than what meets the eye.
She is married? He is not.
But this political stuff makes for strange bedfellows. Maybe literally!
8;49,you sure it wasnt yepsen,Madigan chases one man ,her husband and everyone knows that except alittle bitty like you.
ReplyDeleteI also heard there was a special 'friendship' between Madigan & Baker, hence Madigans's whacky push for Baker's garage proposal. She would not even listen to other more sensible proposals. Remember, Madigan also has a 'special' friendship with Scirocco.
ReplyDeleteYour topic for this blog, was about lead in the water. It has been proven to be an untruth, yet this blog has not denied it. What say you, Capt.?
ReplyDeleteCap's a mouth piece for kane.boyd.the mclosers,the drunk mayor and the prof...i thought everybody knew that!
Deletesorry old chap, I am not a mouthpiece for anyone but if it makes you feel good thinking I am, then feel good. I am however in favor of the New Charter like many, many people are, so if the above are also in favor of the Change then great.
Deleteyes.
DeleteIt was untrue about the lead in the city water.
The blog is looking mighty pale.
ReplyDeleteIs the captain ailing?
What happened to your red background?
ReplyDeleteJust wanted a change for a while
DeleteA portable fish finder is a good choice if you don't fish from the same ship all the time. asbestos testing
ReplyDelete