The Taxpayers’ Dime

I got a letter from the Town Supervisor’s office today.  It was a survey for the Lake Peekskill district about whether or not to pursue a 5 year septic maintenance  law.  While I have no objection to our town officials actually asking our opinion about issues, I am wondering if Sam O paid for this survey or the Lake Peekskill Civic Association.  The letter attached to the survey says that this topic came up in the last civic association meeting, and Sam O was wondering if there would be community support for this.  Mr. O religiously attends civic association meetings, while simultaneously neglecting the district.  The district is not the civic association and the civic association is not the district, and they cannot make decisions for each other, or expend funds for each other.  If this is a personal mission of Mr. O’s, or a project of the association, that is fine, but if my tax dollars were expended without discussion or approval, then that seems much like fraud to me. How much did this little letter cost us and who approved the expense?

Unfortunately, in order to see if this was discussed at the last town board meeting, I had to watch the last excruciating town board meeting.  It was not discussed.

As far as smoking in the park, I thought it had already been taken care of by state law and the Board of Health, but I am against it.  I do understand that Patty feels that it is an infringement of yet another legal civil liberty, but I do know people with breathing issues, as well as children, so I think it should not be allowed.  That, however, is not my point.  When Tom Carano got up to make his point, there was no need to make a remark about Patty Villanova.  You can just disagree with someone’s point.  The town board should always respond to gratuitous personal attacks.  Really unnecessary.

Sam O said that the community wants this and Steve said how would you know. Steve is right. These things seem to come from nothing, and none of them talks to the community.

Like the building in the town park –  $100k from this fund that just sits there?  Parks and Rec has money to burn, and it won’t cost you anything.  I’ve got a bridge to sell you.  There is no such fund that just sits there.  The taxpayers are paying for this.  And it is too much money to spend on something that only the commission wants.  Instead of spending $100k on the architect and even talking about a $2-3 million dollar building, ask the people what they want. Instead of spending vast sums because the commission wants to, tell the taxpayers the truth. Most of the community probably doesn’t know there is a parks and recreation commission. They are mentioned at the reorganization meeting, and their function in the town code is very different from their actual function. It is time for a change.

The contract with Catholic Charities that was glossed over is posted on the town website. When Sam O was running, he said that they needed to rethink the day camp, but when signing the contract, no one even mentioned the amount. The contract for the property for the summer camp is $77,390. Wendy says we do it every year, so I guess that’s it, we just keep going around in the same circle.

As for conflicts of interest, I think it was the Town of Greenburgh that passed a law that only one member of a family can work for the town. Let’s do that. Then, we’re done.

And the 3 minute thing, really? Vote on everything. Don’t ever tell us you don’t have to vote. There were 4 people in attendance at that meeting and you think you have to limit speech, and you, Sam, take up most of the time?