WHAT IS GOING ON IN DPW AND DOES THE REST OF THE COUNCIL EVEN CARE?

DPW is in a mess and Skip is to blame for not keeping his head in the game as a Department Head should.  He was under-qualified for the job when he was first elected and if he wasn’t a guitar player and native son he wouldn’t have lasted for 1 term as the department and City are both going downhill.  The fact that he is Charlie Brown to Madigan’s Edgar McCarthy is comical and she does have her hand up where a dummy has to have it placed.

First it was Skip’s son Mark who was arrested for DWI blowing a .18 and 3 other charges.  He had his girlfriend pick him up after booking and not only was she charged with DWI but also driving under the influence with their child in the car.  She has had a past DWI so her charges constitute her arrest as a felony.

Remember all this happened in February of this year over 5 months ago.  Who else would have 4 major charges against them and still as of July 23^rd still not have the case put before a judge.

Now, another story development. Frank Brimhall a DPW employee was involved in a traffic accident while driving a City truck.  SSPD issued him a ticket and arrested him for driving with a suspended license.  This could be a potential and most likely a lawsuit against the City.

This is yet another hair brained lapse for Comm. Scirocco and the Human Resource Dept. because insiders tell me that there are many DPW workers driving around without licenses also some not having the proper class of license for driving the larger trucks and equipment.  Scirocco should be doing a license abstract periodically to make sure that his employees #1 have drivers licenses and #2 don’t have any marks that would affect the status of driving for the City.

In the Brimhall case not reporting his license suspension and continued driving should be cause for immediate termination, union or not and this Council should not give him a monetary going away package as they always seem to do.

This is another case of why this form of Government should be changed not played around with like it is being done with now.  Everyone has to vote NO on the updated Charter as it will cost us big money because of all the raises everyone gets and the funny part is that this was the reason Franck, Madigan and Scirocco gave as the biggest reason to vote against Charter change last year, funny how things change when you are on the side of making more money.   Franck, Madigan and Scirocco must go next year and we hope the opposing Party’s put up qualified candidates against them, well in Scirocco’s case a monkey could probably do a better job.

THERE’S A NEW TRIO IN TOWN

   THE THREE MUSKETEERS                 

                   

Know it all John Franck

Michelle 'Mad Man' Madigan 

Skippy
What do you two want me to do?

Before Charter Change started heating up and John Franck promised if the date for a vote was changed from May 30th to Election Day he would take no sides.  Well, the promise was broken about 3 months later when it started to look and sound like many people were getting excited about changing the form of government and many prior supporters of not changing, switched sides and now want change.

The point of this is that as election day draws near 3 Council members are starting to show signs of cracking up and are really helping those who want change instead of their sob stories and ‘presentations’ to gob the truths about changing to a Mayor/Council/Manager form of government.

Now though back to the caption.   Before February when Franck made his promise to stay clear of the process with a Commission promise of an Election Day vote on the Charter there were on the Council the ‘3 Musketeers’.  These 3 (Madigan, Scirocco and Matheisen) voted in block about 99 ½% of the time.  Frank and Madigan could not stand one another and Madigan was picked up on the microphone once in a while swearing at or calling Franck names.  He likewise although not as constant or disgusting as she  challenged her aptitude with dealing in the finances even referring to her at a Council meeting as just a librarian.

Once Commissioner Matheisen announced his decision to support Charter Change and his reasons why, the ‘3 Musketeers’ realigned themselves (with new Cavalier feathered hats of course) made up of Franck, Madigan & Scirocco.  Folks, everything from there went downhill, Council meetings became (if you can believe it) more contentious, the 3 Musketeers  being nastier with citizens and the other 2 Council members. 

The presentations they put on at meetings can only be referred to as comedy routines.

This is a prime example of when politician’s that can’t stand each other band together when a clear and present danger, that of losing their power seems imminent.  

The 2 things to look at with these 3 are ‘follow their money’ and the ‘political patronage’ they engage in not to mention the mass amounts of money we’ve lost in lawsuits because of their decisions.

SKIPPY IS DUMB AS A JACKASS

You have to read the story at http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20171019/spa-city-commissioner-unhappy-with-message-from-charter-commission-official  It's a hoot 

This definition fits Skippy to a tee - 

Chicken-Shit - Petty, insignificant, lacking courage, lacking manliness or effectiveness

ELECTION DAY DRAWS NEAR

Well it is almost here, Election Day Tuesday November 3^rd.  How can you tell?  The land is covered with signs, so many in fact you can’t tell who the candidates are. 

The local newspaper has a subscription rate of at least 700 homes so we know that Saratogians can’t get their information from there. The candidates have to get their information out themselves, that’s why every one of them need to go door to door themselves and talk to voters themselves.

The Mayor’s race is one that gives me a chuckle.  We have a Mayor that has a good track record and a newcomer who has not gotten involved in or on any commissions but declares himself ready because of him being in the military and advising some homeowners associations.  The old lip service that he must get rid of a career politician (10 years) and bring stability back to the Council is just that lip service.  Mayor Yepsen has had to control the Council but Madigan, Matheisen and Scirocco clearly do not want harmony so 2 times a month create a circus atmosphere and even the new candidate won’t be able to handle unless he rolls over and is subject to them.  He also talks about career politicians yet I don’t hear him trying to get rid of Skip for going for his 4^th (8 year’s) and his (8 years as Supervisor) for a total of 16 years times in office, wouldn’t he be classified as a ‘career’ politician?  Stafford isn’t upset about this?  Isn’t this kind of being two faced and not being honest about his feelings and statements?

On to the DPW race.  Skip has done too many questionable things to be re-elected.  There are too many lawsuits against the City (against Skip), including but not limited to the Betty French suit, The giving away of over $1 million dollars to 1 developer concerning water hookups without getting Council approval (required), changing the Charter and eliminating the hookup fees then charging certain developers water hookup fee but not the one he gave $1 million dollars to, also during this past very cold winter a plumbing firm I will not name the outfit but I’ll give you the first letter of their name ‘B’ was repairing a water line break and had to dig up the road over to the house, however when they didn’t finish that day left the hole open causing sever water main breaks. 

The major repairs are now being done on Washington regarding this and hopefully the plumbing outfit will be paying the City for the work and not us taxpayers, also the pressure he put on his Party to not have any Republican to run against Democrat Madigan for Commissioner of Finance even when the Party had 2 qualified candidates that wanted to run for the position and well just for being Skippy who is like past President Coolidge “Silent Cal”,  we call him “Silent Skip”, although Skip does try to get into a discussion but  forgets what he is discussing 1 minute into talking and when he does discuss an item and he gets around the ooh’s and uhm’s and finally sounds like he might make a stand he reverts to voting along with Madigan & Matheisen.

Skip’s opponent is former DPW Director of Public Works and he did a good job while doing his job.  The one mark most people think Bill has is his last name, McTygue.  Bill’s brother Tom was a good Commissioner for years and the Skipper ran a successful election victory beating Tom McTygue.  However, Bill is his own man and he was involved with many popular and important projects.  The one thing noticed by City residents and tourists alike is the appearance of Downtown and how dirty and unkempt it is.  This is not good. Infrastructure was certainly updated during these years and won’t be a problem. Let’s do as John Stafford says and vote out a career politician and give a chance to someone who will probably be a better fit for the job and the City.

As for Madigan & Matheisen, their absolute disregard to the majority of citizens who have spoken on issues in the past 2 years and one who it appears wants to close businesses down and the M & M’s are the same two Commissioners who have gotten condescending and downright mean to citizens when they (citizens) are speaking, just about gives the nod for their seats to go to qualified opponents.

Of course everyone should thank all citizens who want to take their personal time to serve the City, there aren’t many and we do appreciate it.

So, here are our picks.

Mayor - Joanne Yepsen – she should continue to add to all the good projects she has done.

Commissioner of Finance – Ken Ivins, a former Commissioner who should be back in because of his knowledge and positive contact with citizens. It’s time to vote out one of two Commissioners who have gotten condescending and downright mean to citizens

Commissioner of Public Safety – Richard Wirth (it should have been Sarah Burger), it’s time to vote out one of two Commissioners who have gotten condescending and downright mean to citizens

Commissioner of Public Works – Bill McTygue – We need to get someone in that position who know what the heck is going on and one who will talk to, reply to and answer citizen’s questions directly.

Commissioner of Accounts – John Franck (running unopposed) ‘he can’t be beat even with an opponent.

Remember to vote, it is a right no one can take away from us, if you are going to be away get an absentee ballot.  

Election Day Tuesday November 3^rd, 6:00am – 9:00pm

Don’t complain about issues if you don’t vote.

ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION

As we near Election Day and the removal of those darn signs, we were discussing the choices this year.  It’s not that one Party is better than the other although each Party will say they are, but it’s all about the candidates.  This year it happens that the Democrats have the better candidates running for office.

You can’t top Joanne Yepsen, she was our rep on the County Board of Supervisors and throughout her tenure did a very good job and was an excellent partner along with Republican Matt Veitch.

Shauna Sutton on the other hand has a record that is mostly bad.  Why?  Well for starters she is not well liked by those who work with her in City Hall (there has to be a few exceptions), she is not liked by many people she meets and even quite a few Republicans won’t be flying with her.  One of the things she said in the paper and at the debate is that she saved the City $32 million dollars with settlement of contracts this year, heck our whole budget is $38 million dollars.  She was part of the biggest cover up in Saratoga’s recent history.  Hiding public information when the City built the Woodlawn Parking Garage and then you had to FOIL any public information that you, a citizen, had the right to have.  Playing games with 2 or 3 building inspectors when they wouldn’t name her tune, that’s right games.   Hiring a City Planner that was dismissed from Wilton (could she be a friend)?  Spewing along with the Mayor that the money for the Garage was a combination of public and private money when the lot was owned by the City, the City financed the garage along with the downtown merchants.  The downtown merchant’s money came from the business district taxes which in fact is public money.  Where is the private money?

Sutton is also anti small business, ask the small businesses on the West side that Sutton is trying to close.  It seems if your name is not Bonacio, Roohan or Julie Bonacio you can forget about getting a building permit in the City or cooperation or a CO, which by the way the Rec operated for quite a while without a CO and that was just dandy with Johnson and the wannabe Mayor.  It seems that some builders can get fast tracked and also the Planning Board rules have changed to facilitate these large contractors, just look at who is contributing to Sutton’s campaign.  It is the right of the Mayor along with his Deputy (Sutton) to mould very important Committees but during their tenure every Democrat was replaced by a Republican, so much for equal representation,

Nobody knows John Arpie, so not too much can be said about him except he doesn’t know squat about paint (inside joke John).

We know the job that John Franck does and he does it well.  He does not play political games in his capacity as Commissioner and has even started programs during his tenure to help citizens understand how to go about lowering their assessments if the committee sees a reason to do so.

Skip Scirocco just doesn’t get it.  The City looks a mess.  Broadway is always dirty, Congress Park is a disgrace and the final straw was the back room deal he made to sell water to Wilton when we do not have enough water for Saratoga.  What happens when the Weibel Ave. project is done and Sonny buys more property out there and they start sucking water?  When you go by our reservoir on 50 take a look at how many inches the water level is down.  Skip keeps telling us that we have all the wells we need but where’s the water?  We need a change.

Dick Wirth had his chance and didn’t get anything done.  If he did he never spoke about it at a Council meeting.  Tony Izzo spoke more in a month than Wirth did in 2 years. Mathiesen ran on a platform and won; he also has carried out his promises and has gone above and beyond expectations.

The Supervisor race should be an easy one to pick.  Veitch has the experience and the know how to get things done.  The race will be between Martin and Ivins.  Martin is far and away the better candidate.  He has worked with the Supervisors in his capacity as County Clerk and can solve and articulate the problems not only as a representative of Saratoga Springs but as a County rep as well.  We also feel that having two smart and well spoken Supervisors one a Democrat and a Republican on the Board will represent all of Saratoga Springs

FIND THE MONEY

Anyone that would like to, can see what a candidate has received in donations by following this link,  http://www.elections.ny.gov/recipientstext.html  and putting in the last name.  I did this and was quite surprised at some of the filings.  While we all know the Republican Committee, both City and County have more money than the respective Democratic Committees (there was never a real representative Democrat Party in Saratoga until about 12 years ago), you can tell who is dropping the G bombs on their candidates.  If you look and check it out, the Republican Committee has infused Sutton’s campaign with more than $6,000.00.  Also, the majority of Sutton’s donations are $1,000.00 or more and she has many family members donating quite a bit of cash (which is no surprise), her family has big money and there is nothing wrong in helping out family.  I do however notice the businesses that have been courting her and it does throw a red flag up.

Yepsen’s donations looks like they have been coming in from more people donating smaller amounts ($50.00 to $75.00) range, not that she hasn’t gotten some larger donations but not nearly as much as Sutton and I don’t think Yepsen has had any $500.00 - $1,000.00 per plate dinners as we know Sutton has had a few.

Looking up Bill McTygue’s donations, he also has donations from family members, but probably 1/10^th of Sutton's, as a comparison.

I was very surprised to see that Skip Scirocco has quite a number of donations from contractors, plumbing firms, engineering firms, etc.  Surprising because it sends a message even if not true that Scirocco is being given donations from either businesses that did work and want to keep doing business with DPW or that they want to work with DPW.  I would think that businesses would either donate to both candidates or to none at all, but Holy Joker, that’s just what I think.

Franck’s donations have been coming in mostly at $100.00 per.

Arpei’s donations aren’t looking good; it seems that the bulk of the money is coming from family, the Republican Committee and the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority.

Well adios for now and remember if you see Bonita Sellers coming down the Street, Al Calucci (Dick Wirth’s choice for Deputy Commissioner) can’t be far behind.

Follow the link and look at the info for yourselves, you can look up anyone in NY State.

WHY, WHY, SHAUNA, WHY, WHY?

If the stories from Shauna Sutton’s friends are true, look out for a blast of negative suppositions spewing out in July.  This will be a nasty campaign as we mentioned before as evidenced by Suttons role as the hit lady of Johnson’s last run for office.  However, the tactic may back fire this cycle as many voters were very turned off by the Johnson camp false and very negative sprint to the finish, some even say that that tactic Sutton took in the last week of the campaign actually helped Brent Wilkes, Johnson’s opponent.  Wilkes as you remember, lost by a thin margin for being a relatively unknown in local politics.

Much of what was said by Sutton against Wilkes at the time was proved to be lies and really in poor taste by Capital District newspapers, something we can look forward to in this election campaign against Yepsen also.

Rumor also has it that big news will be coming in September, when everyone is back from vacation or from renting their homes out to track visitors, regarding Sutton and Arpei.  The news if it can be proved (and it looks like it will be) is so bad regarding Sutton she may, like so many of our State representatives be looked at for possible theft of services by taking money from the City in a no show job, while spending more time playing with graves.  There is supposed to be video from an unnamed source, who followed Sutton for 1 month, it is said the film has date and times, which will be easy to check with FOILED time cards.  Sutton also never went back to City Hall at night as she claimed when this came out in early Spring, when it was brought out about the time she MUST spend in City Hall and the time she said she made up nights to compensate for the days she worked at the cemetery. More news on this as the facts come in, but this could deliver a serious blow to Sutton and those who are playing the role of advisor’s to her campaign, as it could cast a shadow on them also, (guilt by association).

 Also, what will she do as Mayor as far as nepotism when it comes to her family and friends?  She hired her brother to a cemetery position of “head plumber”.  Here is an interesting fact:  cemeteries are not charged for the water they use.  Greenridge Cemetery had a water leak from June of last year and it wasn’t fixed by the "head plumber" until June of this year.  How much water was wasted when a 45 minute job took a year to fix?  The question, if she runs the City as she does the Cemetery by this one example, what will it cost us, the taxpayers? (see Rec. Center losses).

John Arpei who is running for Commissioner of Accounts has more baggage than Elizabeth Taylor used to tote around.  This is one of the reasons he has not publicly come out of the closet to say he is running (he is, don’t worry).  I don’t think the Party wants him to answer any questions about the position he is running for or any answers he will have to provide about the jobs he has had, organizations he was involved in etc., until it is absolutely necessary.  Look at late September to hear from him after Sutton or whoever is leading these campaigns runs interference for him.  When the election season rolls around for good, this exposure could be devastating to his run for the roses.  If the Republicans were serous about defeating Franck, the Party should have done a better job vetting him. 

Well Bat Fans, until then.

CAN’T CATCH A BREAK

It seems the Republican Party is having a hard time getting candidates to run for office.  They have backed 2 losers in Ken Ivins and Dick Wirth.  When I say losers, I don’t mean it as a reference to their personal character (although that may be one reference, but not now); I mean to say that they were beaten on their records, so it appears that the R. Party will have to back these 2 announced candidates.

There is also a rumor floating around that Shauna ‘of the dead’ Sutton will have to take the endorsement of Mayor because of a lack of volunteers for the position and that she will do so while being backed by  Johnson money.  If this is going to happen, it will all but guarantee Yepsen a victory as Sutton’s husband and family would not vote for her, I am not one for political advice but Shauna, stay in the cemetery.

The Wirth run is interesting.  He was beaten, not so much from his lack of being at meetings (he was there but his mind was in the female officer’s shower room) and his failure to being anything but a pure puppet of John Herrick and Scott Johnson.  It was embarrassing when the Council had to wake him up so he could vote on a piece of legislation.  I think the only reason the Party endorsed him is (a) they had no one else and (b) he said he would run, with or with out Party support.

Wirth’s opponent, Chris Mathiesen, won the election because of the promise’s he would carry out.  He has carried out those promises and more, maybe a little too verbosely but performed as he promised.  His call to turn back the closing hours of bars failed to garner even a look by our County Board of Supervisors but  resulted in the Mayor of Glens Falls to pitch the same idea to the Warren County BOS, who last week voted to do just that, so now the proposition will go to the State with County approval.

Also, shouldn't it be a prerequisite that a candidate announce his or her Deputy before the election?  How do we know that the Deputy will be qualified for the position and not just a politicaly appointed position, heavens knows we have had enough of patronage attempts at the County level

I was wrong in predicting that Ivins would run against John Franck.  The order from Harper came down that he would not get the backing of the Party if he pursued that avenue.  If Ivins runs on his past record as he said in his announcement, he is in trouble from the get go and his statement that more Republicans are needed on a Board that is comprised of 19 Republicans to 3 Democrats and 1 Independence party members, (nothing against Republicans) are needed to get things done at the County level, must have been said after the cocktail hour.

Let us also not forget Johnson’s, Harper’s and Scirocco’s Watergate.  This will be huge at election time.

So, that leaves rumored Democrat Peter Martin to run for County Supervisor, a candidate who has not been named yet as Sciricco’s opponent, Andrew Jarosh a designated hitter for any position and opponents for Madigan and Franck.

The picture should become clearer by the middle of May.

IT’S OFFICIAL

Insider’s in City Hall confirmed today that the Mayor has appointed his cast of characters for the rest of his term.  He is copying the show Hawaii Five-O.

Chris Mathiesen – Steve McGarrett

John Franck – Danny “ Danno” Williams

Michele Madigan – Lydia Lei

Skip Scirocco – Chin Ho

Scott Johnson –   Wo-Fat (He will darken his hair shave his goatee and grow a fu-Manchu).  If the Mayor isn’t in the Wo-Fat role look for him as Gomer Pyle.

Shauna Sutton – Wo-Plump

A certain blogger that is very close to the Mayor, some say he is in bed with him, play’s the role of Kono “Kong”

The Mayor has issued an edict that all Commissioner’s and Her Plumpness get into their roles ASAP, he is also getting lei’s for all the staff in City Hall.

For those of you who have never watched the old Hawaii Five-O, you can watch the show on channel 556 or 13-3.  I started watching it and it is a lot better than the current one.

Aloha