Fishkill residents will have a new Town Board for 2012. We have seen Republican Bob LaColla transcend politics by putting the town first. Bob has earned the honor to be supervisor.
However, there are two vacant board seats up for election. While both Republican candidates are good men, the brutal reality is Fishkill is now facing millions in deficits and major water/sewer problems due to 5-0 Republican control for the last 20 years.
I urge my Republican friends and fellow conservatives to consider the two Democrats for council.
Mara Farrell was instrumental in stopping a strip mall from being built on a Revolutionary War burial ground in Fishkill.
Tim Tuttle is a young attorney who can save us money. How? Fishkill budgeted $125,000 for lawyers, but spent $450,000 last year by outsourcing.
It's time for some "checks and balances" in Fishkill. For more, check them out at: www.farrelltuttle.com.
Ozzy Albra
Fishkill
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
10/19/2011 Fishkill Town Board Meeting
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2011Agendas/10-19-2011%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
Charge backs for over assessed properties was $169,000 and will be bonded out. Councilman LaColla asked if another $16M was outstanding. Supervisor Pagones said it would have to dealt with next year. Looks like another $200,000 bond for next year.
Supervisor Pagones announced a deal with the PBA. I wonder if it's in the budget, tbd.
Public Hearing set for November 9th for the budget.
Charge backs for over assessed properties was $169,000 and will be bonded out. Councilman LaColla asked if another $16M was outstanding. Supervisor Pagones said it would have to dealt with next year. Looks like another $200,000 bond for next year.
Supervisor Pagones announced a deal with the PBA. I wonder if it's in the budget, tbd.
Public Hearing set for November 9th for the budget.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
10/12/2011 Fishkill Budget Workshop
The $3.2 M bond that expires in December has not been paid back and will be a issue for 2012.
$200,000 is owed to the county for lower assessments, Pagones indicated that this money will need to be bonded out next year.
Fishkill owes Beacon up to $200,000 for water and sewer, inside sourced indicate that the amount is over $1 million.
The $750,000 that was donated by a developer for Siscar Sewer was placed in the Dutchess Park Sewer District and spent.
Huge rate increases are in store for the Rombout/Merritt water and sewer districts.
Energy costs were left out of the budget.
Councilman Ferguson will be retiring on December 31. That means a open seat for next Novembers election.
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2011Agendas/10-05-2011%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
$200,000 is owed to the county for lower assessments, Pagones indicated that this money will need to be bonded out next year.
Fishkill owes Beacon up to $200,000 for water and sewer, inside sourced indicate that the amount is over $1 million.
The $750,000 that was donated by a developer for Siscar Sewer was placed in the Dutchess Park Sewer District and spent.
Huge rate increases are in store for the Rombout/Merritt water and sewer districts.
Energy costs were left out of the budget.
Councilman Ferguson will be retiring on December 31. That means a open seat for next Novembers election.
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2011Agendas/10-05-2011%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Poor and Unwanted in Fishkill: The Snow Valley Tragedy
posted by judgeboyajian
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:50am
Visiting Snow Valley in Fishkill it is hard to believe that you are in affluent New York State. The poverty here goes beyond Appalachia rivaling the ghettos of Brazil or parts of Africa. You feel that you are no longer in America.
There are Native Americans here from a tribe out of North Dakota that settlers wiped out by killing off their Buffalo food supply and giving them blankets infected with small pox. Now we are unceremoniously throwing them out of their homes with no place else to go.
The sewage system here consists of an open pit that residents pour their refuge into. This pit may seep into the water supply and a nearby stream that runs through the collection of shanty trailer homes.
The owner is a mining company called Montfort and they have issued a 30 day eviction notice to the residents here on the eve of winter. One wonders how they can expect these residents to pack up and move from their long term homes in just 30 days as the snow begins to fall.
HUD, DEC and health authorities in Dutchess County have regulatory authority over this site yet there is no sign of their involvement according to Peter Rostenberg of the Fishkill Ridge Caretakers an environmental group seeking to help out with the situation. Local preservationist Mara Farrell and local attorney Tim Tuttle are also helping out as is educator Ved Shravah and long term county legislator Alison MacAvery who is knocking on the doors of government agencies regarding this situation. Help is also coming as far away as Boston with the involvement of financial worker Cheryl Miller who is an environmental activist.
Montfort was recently seen drilling with a bit as “thick as a human thigh” in this area and may have found something below ground that is the reason why they are evicting everyone here. It seems to be profit above humanity when you are poor and unwanted in the Town of Fishkill.
http://www.r8ny.com/blog/judgeboyajian/poor_and_unwanted_in_fishkill_the_snow_valley_tragedy.html
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:50am
Visiting Snow Valley in Fishkill it is hard to believe that you are in affluent New York State. The poverty here goes beyond Appalachia rivaling the ghettos of Brazil or parts of Africa. You feel that you are no longer in America.
There are Native Americans here from a tribe out of North Dakota that settlers wiped out by killing off their Buffalo food supply and giving them blankets infected with small pox. Now we are unceremoniously throwing them out of their homes with no place else to go.
The sewage system here consists of an open pit that residents pour their refuge into. This pit may seep into the water supply and a nearby stream that runs through the collection of shanty trailer homes.
The owner is a mining company called Montfort and they have issued a 30 day eviction notice to the residents here on the eve of winter. One wonders how they can expect these residents to pack up and move from their long term homes in just 30 days as the snow begins to fall.
HUD, DEC and health authorities in Dutchess County have regulatory authority over this site yet there is no sign of their involvement according to Peter Rostenberg of the Fishkill Ridge Caretakers an environmental group seeking to help out with the situation. Local preservationist Mara Farrell and local attorney Tim Tuttle are also helping out as is educator Ved Shravah and long term county legislator Alison MacAvery who is knocking on the doors of government agencies regarding this situation. Help is also coming as far away as Boston with the involvement of financial worker Cheryl Miller who is an environmental activist.
Montfort was recently seen drilling with a bit as “thick as a human thigh” in this area and may have found something below ground that is the reason why they are evicting everyone here. It seems to be profit above humanity when you are poor and unwanted in the Town of Fishkill.
http://www.r8ny.com/blog/judgeboyajian/poor_and_unwanted_in_fishkill_the_snow_valley_tragedy.html
September 28 Fishkil Town Board Meeting
It was a quit meeting until it got to the point of new business. When Counciman LaColla thanked Supervisor Pagones for her 20 years of service and asked for a smooth transition, as LaColla beat Pagones at a earlier primary. Pagones said there would be no smooth transition and that she was going to issue a press release soon.
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2011Agendas/09-28-2011%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2011Agendas/09-28-2011%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Fishkill's Financial Outlook Worse than Predicted
New information regarding a $3.6 million Bond Anticipation Note. Regarding the finances of the Town of Fishkill. I have inluded the bond issued by Jefferies & Company so you can review the information on your own. This is very informative.
http://emma.msrb.org/EP535803-EP417990-EP815416.pdf
The following items should concern the taxpayer.
1.The bank holding the bond for the Merritt Sewer Bond (see page 1 last paragraph) that was due April 21, 2011, opted to not renew an existing $1.9 M note (see table top of page 2)
2.The town does not have the money to cover the note.
3.Due to the town’s current bond rating, the new interest rate will be 4.75% (cover page.) This rate is substantially higher than what other neighboring towns are paying and higher than the rates of the notes being replaced.
4.The proceeds of the bond offering are to be used to repay the cash used for the Merritt bond, other bonds coming due over the next several months and for new borrowing for two water districts. (Table top of page 2)
5.The bond statement discloses that the town incurred an unaudited deficit of approximately $1.2 m in the general and highway funds. (page A-6) Although the water, sewer, lighting and ambulance districts show a surplus, the town is constitutionally bound to use the funds generated in special districts for special district purposes only.
6.The town has not delivered the Annual Update Document that was due May 1, 2011 to New York State. This has a negative impact on interest rates the town must pay.
7.More bonds will be comming due in 2012. Any idea of the up-comming interest rates on those?
8.Pagones has failed to implement GASB Statement 45 regarding health benifit requirments.
Please note, that Supervisor Pagones. Left out a $3.4 million bond that she took out in December 2010. This was to cover 2009 & 2010 OVERSPENDING and was not used for Capital Projects. Ergo, if Pagones is INCREASING the defict by over $1 million, how can she claim to be paying off the debt? It's just like paying off one credit card with another with a higher interest rate.
http://emma.msrb.org/EP535803-EP417990-EP815416.pdf
The following items should concern the taxpayer.
1.The bank holding the bond for the Merritt Sewer Bond (see page 1 last paragraph) that was due April 21, 2011, opted to not renew an existing $1.9 M note (see table top of page 2)
2.The town does not have the money to cover the note.
3.Due to the town’s current bond rating, the new interest rate will be 4.75% (cover page.) This rate is substantially higher than what other neighboring towns are paying and higher than the rates of the notes being replaced.
4.The proceeds of the bond offering are to be used to repay the cash used for the Merritt bond, other bonds coming due over the next several months and for new borrowing for two water districts. (Table top of page 2)
5.The bond statement discloses that the town incurred an unaudited deficit of approximately $1.2 m in the general and highway funds. (page A-6) Although the water, sewer, lighting and ambulance districts show a surplus, the town is constitutionally bound to use the funds generated in special districts for special district purposes only.
6.The town has not delivered the Annual Update Document that was due May 1, 2011 to New York State. This has a negative impact on interest rates the town must pay.
7.More bonds will be comming due in 2012. Any idea of the up-comming interest rates on those?
8.Pagones has failed to implement GASB Statement 45 regarding health benifit requirments.
Please note, that Supervisor Pagones. Left out a $3.4 million bond that she took out in December 2010. This was to cover 2009 & 2010 OVERSPENDING and was not used for Capital Projects. Ergo, if Pagones is INCREASING the defict by over $1 million, how can she claim to be paying off the debt? It's just like paying off one credit card with another with a higher interest rate.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Moody's Shows great concern for Fishkill and 2% tax cap.
"Of particular concern are the issuers who already face significant financial pressure," said Weber, listing as examples the towns of Colonie, Fishkill, and East Greenbush, and the cities of Newburgh and Glen Cove.
http://www.wtaq.com/news/articles/2011/jul/05/ny-property-tax-cap-may-hit-cash-poor-cities-report/
http://www.wtaq.com/news/articles/2011/jul/05/ny-property-tax-cap-may-hit-cash-poor-cities-report/
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