That's My Story!

Politics for all too long has been concerned with 'right or left' instead of 'right or wrong' - Richard Armour, American poet and writer.

This article was first published about six months ago but nothing has changed so I thought I would update it as things appear to have become worse as has been summed up by Tom Nimick's Review of the actions of the present Town Board and his thoughts on absentee ballots. We all have a very bleak economic future ahead if we don't bring this to a halt on November 5th.  If you do not think this story has changed over the past six months then you need to provide a term limit to the incumbents on Tuesday by voting on the Preserve Rockland Line - Row G. 

Colin Quinn is a stand-up comedian best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live.  Quinn would comment on the highly publicized 'media circuses' such as the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal using the catch phrase, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it."

Recently there have been several highly publicized 'patronage circuses' in the County of Rockland and particularly in the Town of Clarkstown to which Quinn's catch phrase now appears more than apt. 

On December 18, 2012 when the County Legislature voted to override Vanderhoef's budget vetoes and retain full employment for all of the County's CSEA employees, P.T. Thomas the Head of the Rockland County CSEA was asked if he knew how many patronage appointments there were in the County. He stated unequivocally that there are 110 such positions costing the County a minimum of $5-7 million per year in salaries. Thomas went on to reproach one patronage appointee saying: "Legislator Sparaco should be ashamed of himself - he took a $75,000 patronage job and he is trying to lay off union people!"

That's P.T. Thomas' story and he's sticking to it!

In the 'Our Town' newspaper of December 12, 2012 one legislator droned that "patronage employees are the most protected employees in County government to the extent that suggesting cuts was 'heresy'".  Not to be outdone in the shedding of 'crocodile tears' other legislators commented that the head of one department is making as much as the County Executive; one deputy commissioner will be collecting three pensions upon retirement; the Head of Tourism for Rockland County, CJ Miller is receiving more that $160,000 with benefits for what is basically a position overseeing a website; and one patronage person was laid off but was immediately 're-hired 'temporarily' in a higher paid position.  

Earlier this week CJ was on WRCR talking to a Nyack Psychic as to who would win the election for County Executive.  She was told that on Channel 12 David Fried's face had appeared over that of Scott Vanderhoef.  Miller and the psychic then went on to discuss whether CJ's relatives in heaven were using Pond's skin cream before Miller revealed that "everyone knows she talks to her psychic all the time". This is how your money is being spent to promote tourism in Rockland County!

That's the Head of Rockland Tourism's story and she's sticking to it!

In the Journal News of May 31, 2013 Vanderhoef Ally's Appointment Not About Saving Money tells us:

When a political favor is framed as a “salary savings” it’s easy to figure out how Rockland County could slide into a $100 million-plus deficit in a matter of years.  Sean Mathews, longtime political ally and chief of staff to County Executive Scott Vanderhoef, has been named the county’s real property tax services officer, a job that has been vacant for nearly six months. The position is budgeted to pay $82,300. As chief of staff, Mathews receives a salary of $105,900. Because Mathews is keeping his chief of staff title, he will keep the higher salary — even though many of those duties will be picked up by county Consumer Protection Director Terry Grosselfinger. The latter gains the title of deputy county executive.  

Here’s the clever math: Vanderhoef says this maneuver will save taxpayers $82,300. How's that? The County doesn't have to pay another person to take the tax services officer position; the county just has to pay a longtime political operative more money. It’s arguable whether such job-shifting saves the county money, but it most certainly preserves Mathews’ employment. 

Political payback? Yes. A money saver? No way.That's County Executive Vanderhoef's story and he's sticking to it. 

Just because County Executive Vanderheof is leaving the County's taxpayers over $100 million in deficit doesn't mean that he might desist from adding to it with a little help to his friends. I guess Vanderhoef practices the maxim of the former Chairman of the Democratic Party, Paul Adler, who was charged with public corruption after prosecutors said he had enriched himself by almost $375,000 through a series of real estate transactions tainted by fraud, bribery and extortion.  He went to prison having threatened local politicians with the loss of their jobs if they did not cooperate with him on several deals, including the Palisades Center mall. In one secretly tape-recorded conversation, he argued that he had not assumed the party chairmanship to "lose money'' and was quoted as saying:  "If you can't help your friends, then why get into some of these positions?''  

Paul Adler is pulling out all stops to get David Fried elected as County Executive. Parties at his house, meetings with senators, congresspersons, the governor, and even President Clinton. There are two things we know about Paul Adler - he is a past felon and a present political power broker.  It is common knowledge that Hudson Valley Legal Services has been lobbying for at least 18 months to get the legal defense services for people who are in need. Paul Adler joined the Hudson Valley Legal Services and what happened? 

It was an act that so infuriated two members of HVLS that they resigned. One said “The mission of the organization, to provide access and a fair hearing of issues to those unable to afford private legal services, is made a mockery by placing a person convicted of bribing a public official to ‘fix’ the outcome of government proceedings.”

Connect the dots - can we surmise that Paul Adler was brought on to Hudson Valley Legal Services because they know he is a 'power broker'? Then can we ask that with David Fried as County Executive where would the money be riding on the Rockland County contract for legal services? Easy guess here - the Legal Aid Society, the present contract agency handling this contract for Rockland County goes bye bye, and Hudson Valley Legal Services comes in.

'Connect the dots' and 'follow the money'. It always leads to deals, deals, and more deals. Adler knows the art of the deal but does he need a willing partner who is beholden to him? 

That's Paul Adler's story and he's stuck with it.

In another article the Journal News opined:  Rockland County government hardly invented the gifting of jobs for political pals. It’s an 'art form' in Clarkstown, where various party bosses have found employment. That includes a part-time $75,000-a-year post for Rockland Legislator Frank Sparaco, R-Valley Cottage, when he became power broker in the county’s Independence Party; and the hiring of Bronx GOP Chairman Joseph “Jay” Savino to handle tax certioraris. He was fired after his arrest on federal corruption charges.

That's the Journal News' story and it's sticking to it. 

Cost savings was the 'cover story' when Clarkstown's Town Board decided to fire one political operative who controlled the Independence Party, Marsha Coopersmith, and replace her with patronage employee, Jay Savino.  Before his embarrassing arrest and 'rump court' firing by the Town Board, Savino was an ally of Rockland Republican Party Chairman, Vinny Reda, and County Legislator Frank Sparaco. 

It was the latter who provided the evidence that the job Savino was given was and still is a 'patronage position'. In the Rockland County Times Sparaco described the position as a 'no-show' job given as political patronage pay off. That was his view when the job was held by the former Chair of the Independence Party, Marsha Coopersmith but Sparaco was notably silent on speaking in a similar vein about Savino's appointment to the position, presumably because the job had gone to his political ally.

That's County Legislator Sparaco's story and he's sticking to it.

When a group of citizens urged the Town Board not to retain Jay Savino under any circumstances as he was possibly the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation having been caught on FBI wiretaps encouraging others not to assist a Federal judge, Supervisor Gromack said:  

“It was just a decision by the board that we could go to outside counsel to do tax certs. We anticipate we can save $75,000 to $80,000 by going outside.  It was done as a way to save money.” 

When asked how Savino had come to the Town's attention given he had no past track record in conducting tax cert work the Supervisor offered: 

"Maybe it was someone that was proactive from his firm that contacted the Town Attorney's office and said ‘if there was ever an opportunity please give me a call’. And that is probably the way it happened. It was an outreach from him to the Town. My recollection is that this individual some time ago made an inquiry and said if there was ever an opportunity to be interviewed he certainly would like to be considered. Most of the stuff from my point of view that we spoke about Mr. Savino - a lot of that I have never heard of - so I really don't know."

After Mr Savino was arrested by the Feds and summarily fired by the Town Board Supervisor Gromack then declared that the real reason he had hired Savino was that he received a "resume of interest". 

That's Supervisor Gromack's story and he's sticking to it.

Town Attorney Mele when questioned as to who on the Town Board brought Savino's name to her attention given he had no past experience in tax cert work said she honestly couldn't recall who brought his name to her attention.

Concerning how she vetted him and rejected all Rockland County law firms known to have tax cert experience her response was:  

“If it is criticized, so be it” because she "wasn't worried" he had no experience in representing Towns in tax certiorari cases and “she was not concerned about criticism the Town has hired a person with political clout”. 

Given Supervisor Gromack's statement that he had received a resume of interest from Savino, Town Attorney Mele was asked to produce it. Not being able to do so she declared that she had "discarded" the resume when Mr. Savino was hired.

That's Town Attorney Mele's story and she is sticking to it. 

Town Attorney Mele speaking about herself periodically in the third person did one up on Vanderhoef when at the Town Board meeting on June 04, 2013 she handed out increases to a couple of her own allies as a "cost savings" measure following the firing of the now disgraced Bronx GOP Chairman whom she "vetted" and who had himself been hired as a "cost savings" when his predecessor was fired being no longer able to supply the Independence Party line to any of the incumbents.  

Here is what the Town Attorney said .....

As everyone on the Board and many in the audience are aware the Town attorney did some work with the law offices of Mr. Savino who had been handling approximately 800 tax cert matters for the Town at an annual cost of $88,740.  In a continuing effort to reduce costs I was asked to examine the options for handling these matters going forward including the retention of outside counsel, hiring additional staff or handling the matters in-house. 

After some review I have recommended that the matters be handled in-house by assigning the additional responsibilities to existing Deputy Town Attorneys staff in return for additional compensation. The Town Attorney has recommended that Paul Schofield should handle the tax cert matters. Mr Schofield is a CPA - he used to serve as a controller for the Town - and that Keith Cornell take over his justice court positions previously handled by Deputy Town Attorney Schofield. So this is reflecting an increase in salary to Mr Schofield of $25,000 and Mr Cornell $20,000. So what was handled previously for $88,740 is now handled at approximately $45,000.

It makes one wonder why the Town went through all of the drama of twice hiring a "person of political clout" about whom the Town Attorney "wasn't worried" only now to claim that the work could have been conducted by shuffling around a couple of underworked deputy town attorneys at $45,000 less than what was paid to he who had the "clout". 

Nevertheless, Schofield's annual salary increases to $125,243 while Cornell's salary increases to $108,512. Cornell is the son of County Legislator Harriet Cornell.  

That's Town Attorney Mele's latest story and she's sticking to it. 

Cost savings was offered up as one reason why Highways Superintendent, Wayne Ballard spent taxpayers money on his outrageous appointment of County Legislator Sparaco to a customer service job which entails, according to Ballard's assistant, Nancy Willen, "answering of the telephone and the taking of photographs".   

Ballard, as if wandering lost through a dimly lit maze without a flashlight, offered: 

"I did look around considering comparable salaries what the compensation should be and, believe it or not, the $75,000 was fair and equitable to what was happening in the Town of Clarkstown, in the County and in the State ..... I will tell you that $75,OOO per year for 25 hours per week is below the average with only one position being paid less. The median salary for this position is a little more than $100,000 per year for a full time position and 35 hours per week for full time value. In order to compare the two you have to come up with the comp unit value which is the number of hours worked per year and what that value is. 52 weeks per year at 25 hours per week is 1,300 hours worked per year. For the full time position it is 1568 hours per year. Taking into consideration the number of days worked per year, taking away the weekends, the vacation days, the sick days, it comes down to $64 per hour. I'm telling you I have come up with a justifiable value." 

That's Highways Superintendent Ballard's story and he's sticking to it. 

It has been announced that your County tax will go up at least 9.9% in 2014. Clarkstown has told you nothing about its tax plans but it had an announcement in the Journal News which I think you should know about before the Nov. 5th elections.  The Town Board has given notice that a public hearing will be held in the Auditorium at the Clarkstown Town Hall, 10 Maple Avenue, New City, New York, on November 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible, for the purpose of considering the adoption of a Local Law entitled 'A Local Law To Override The Tax Levy Limit Established By General Municipal Law 3-c". The purpose of this proposed Local Law is to authorize the Town Board to override the real property tax levy limit set forth in General Municipal Law 3-c for fiscal year 2014, and to allow the Town Board to adopt a budget for fiscal year 2014 that requires a property tax levy in excess of such "tax levy limit."

Looking at the preliminary budget says the Town taxes will go up +5% without full payment of pension obligations and that there will be an additional $5 million added to the Town's debt which stands now just short of $110 million. Since mid-2004 long term liabilities have risen from $86,788,869 to $175,743,866 which is a 102% increase. It all has to be paid for today or tomorrow. That's why I wonder why anyone would vote for the incumbents who brought you this pain and misery and who are going to bring you more. Senior citizens stand to suffer the most even to the point of losing their homes if they can't pay these taxes. It is a shame that all seniors living in Clarkstown who have paid off their mortgages are now essentially renting their homes from the Town of Clarkstown. If seniors can't pay their rent (property taxes) then they will be turned out of their homes. 

That's the Town Board's story and it is sticking to it after the election. 

Then we had the Inspector Clouseau escapade where County Legislator Sparaco decided that the job the Town of Clarkstown had recruited him to do was to show the FBI, the District Attorney, the police chief, and the Town Attorney that there was "corruption" in the Highways department and he had uncovered it.  When that didn't seem to work he then took off on an absentee ballot gathering scheme to get his Republican boss Wayne Ballard installed as the candidate for the left wing Democratic Working Families Party.  Meanwhile, Ballard thought he could get re-elected if he spent $1.6 million replacing Belgian Block in one of the richest neigborhoods of Clarkstown while filling the cracks in my street periodically with a bucket of tar. 

"Believe it or not", as Mr. Ballard would say, I have read and not believed the fantasy story 'Through the Looking Glass' but I do confess to liking the part where Alice laughs and says: There's no use trying, one can't believe impossible things." 

The Queen then responds:  "I daresay you haven't had much practice. When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Living in Rockland and in the Town of Clarkstown I recommend to my fellow citizens that when you listen to these local politicians you may need to suppress your laughter and try to follow the Queen's excellent advice!

Anyway, that's my story and I'm still sticking to it!  

Don't forget to vote on November 5th.  If you vote the right way this time Mr. Sparaco may bring you an absentee ballot in 2015 so you can vote for his boss "from the comfort of your home" - that is if you are still able to afford to live in your home by the time the next election comes around. 

This blog is authored by Michael N. Hull  a retired senior citizen who suggests that the time has come to bring ethics and transparency back into local government. Crony, patronage politics in local government is an expensive and unnecessary tax burden on the electorate. Hull contributes to the Facebook page Clarkstown: What They Don't Want You To Know .