Fishkill officials wasting taxpayer money. letter to Southern Dutchess News

At the April 20 Fishkill Town Board meeting, the failures of police and sewer consolidation were discussed. For those who don't know, Beacon city, Fishkill village and town received a $200,000 Dutchess County grant for sewer and $75,000 for police consolidation studies. The town board and Beacon mayor, who was present, blamed village Mayor Miccio for the plans falling apart, calling the village "hostile" towards such consolidation. The board went further and blamed "politics" for the failure.

I do not understand how politics played a role. The Republicans run the county with a super majority. The town and village also have Republican super majorities. In Beacon the mayor is an Independent who is backed by the Republican Party. Beacon's city manager is also an active member of the Fishkill Republican Committee. At no time did anyone from any other party try to stop either effort.

For the Fishkill Republican-led town board to blame politics for its failures and wasting $275,000 is just plain wrong. But wait, there's more. At the April 18 Fishkill Village Board meeting, Mayor Miccio stated that these consolidation studies came at no cost to Fishkill taxpayers. Well, there is a cost, as we all pay county taxes. For those who do not know, Mayor Miccio is also the Dutchess County Legislature Majority Leader. What that means is that he approves these grants as a legislator and then stops them from happening at the local level. This is the nonsense and waste of money that occurs when Republicans have absolute control of the county and local government.

No Ice Skating Signs - Fishkill

At the 5/5/16 Fishkill town board meeting. The board opened a Public Hearing to ban skating at town lakes. A citizen spoke against it. The citizen stated that the signs were already in place banning skating and were put up within the last month.

Amazing breach of protocal

Beacon Fishkill Police Consolidation

http://www.beaconfishkillpolicestudy.org/home

Separate meetings are scheduled for each of the three municipalities involved in the study:

• A presentation to the Fishkill Village Board will take place at 7pm on April 18, 2016 at Fishkill Village Hall
• A presentation to the Fishkill Town Council will take place at 7pm on April 20, 2016 at Fishkill Town Hall
• A presentation to the Beacon City Council will take place at 7pm on April 25, 2016 at Beacon City Hall

Fishkill residents on Cary Rd, claim lost water due to development.

For more go to this papers website.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/southern-dutchess/2016/04/09/fishkill-washington-view-cary-road-water/81819968/

Fishkill Justice Court-Town Board Audit Controversy

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1407

A discussion about a court audit begins at 1:18 and I comment at 2:02

The town board led by the supervisor and Councilman Cohen made our court look suspect, look at the video and decide for yourself.

Letter to Southern Dutchess News regarding Councilman Cohen introducing the Hotel Tax in Fishkill

At the January 20th 2016 joint Fishkill Village and Fishkill Town board meeting. Councilman Larry Cohen brought up for discussion. The possibility of a Hotel Tax. Much to my surprise, the village and town board members who claim to be fiscal conservatives, all appeared to be for it. Yes your town and village representatives are looking for a way to tax someone, in order to spend more money. Not only that, they were laughing about it. Laughing at how they were going to devour more tax dollars to spend.  Instead of looking at ways to tax more. Fishkill needs to look into consolidating governments, whether it is within her borders or going to a county wide government or eliminating county government. This is the only way to save money. Everything else is nothing but a temporary fix.

NOTE: The SND 1.27.16 covered Mr. Cohen's comments also. 

Fishkill Councilman Cohen calls for school resignations

The following was said by a Fishkill Councilman at a local school board meeting.

Cohen said that while he initially supported Walkley after her appointment, he has observed inappropriate relations between school board members as well as other unethical behavior. “The consideration of multiple resignations should be placed on the table immediately,” he said.

http://www.boarddocs.com/ny/beacon/Board.nsf/Public