The Case of the $4500 Calendar

by Michelle Richardson

With Election Day over, and the Supervisor's race still uncertain, it's back to work! [The absentee ballot count won't start until November 16th at the earliest.]


At the August 2009 Stuyvesant Town Board meeting, the Town Council's Republican members approved a $4750 budget amendment, with $4500 going to cover the Quadricentennial Calendar. With Democratic councilwoman Roz Gumaer absent, there was no one on the dais to ask questions, but some audience members questioned the expense.

Here is the transcript of the audio [MP3 can be found here]:

Valerie Bertram: We have a budget amendment that we need to do, a total of $4750. $4500 of that is monies that we spent for the completion of our calendar that we did, and the graphic design, and $250 was to the Office of the Aged, so our total is $4750.

Audience: “What was the first part of that?” “Can you repeat that please?”

VB: Um, money that we spent on the Quadricentennial celebration. We did the calendars for 2009 and the graphic design for the calendars.

Martin Roby: Oh, that was $4000?

VB: Yes, all together, between printing costs and…

Ron Knott: [aside, question to Valerie Bertram]

VB: No, we didn’t have to….no

VB: So, do I have a motion, any more questions on that, or…

Ed Scott: I’ll make a motion.

Brad Webster: Second.

VB: Motion is seconded, all in favor.

All Town Board: Aye.

VB: Opposed? [None] Carried.

When questions arose on the online Stuyvesant Forum, Councilman Ron Knott responded that the cost to print 200 calendars was $2800, a cost of $14 each. Since the sale price was $15 each, the town stood to make a $1 profit per calendar. He also said that all labor was volunteer labor, which was inconsistent with what Supervisor Bertram had said at the time of the transfer. He did not respond to further questions and requests for clarification.

We have since learned that his statements were not correct.

There are two line items in the April 2009 abstracts that are attributed to the calendar:
Item 100: Joanne Jakiela, A/C# 7550.4, $225.00 (graphic design)
Item 101: Pro Printers, A/C# 7550.4, $2928.48
Total: $3153.48

So right there was a net loss of 77 cents per calendar. Okay, so it was a commemerative calendar of historic Stuyvesant photos, and it came in over budget because they paid a professional to complete the design work. Fine.

Except they did a budget amendment of $4500 for the calendars. $1346.52 is still unaccounted for. What was it for? Where did it go? Why are Councilmembers responding to questions with false information? Why did the town wait until August to pass a budget amendment for expenses incurred in April? Were they waiting for an opportunity when Councilwoman Gumaer was absent, because Roz is usually the only one who questions what they're voting on and what the money was for? Why have the abstracts been left off of the Town Board minutes posted to the website since April? Is it any wonder our taxes keep going up, when we can't see where our money is going? Is it any wonder our taxes keep going up, when Councilmembers aren't sure what they're voting on?

Roz asked Supervisor Bertram for the actual cost of the calendars, and only received information that accounted for $3153.48. We're still asking where the remaining $1346.52 went, and we expect an answer.

Stuyvesant Supervisors Race - Too Close to Call

See: It's Too Close to Call for Lee Jamison in Stuyvesant Supervisors Race, On Columbia County Democrats

Stuyvesant: Worth Fixing?

Supervisor Bertram's "update" on the Schoolhouse Road Bridge still leaves us with questions.

Too expensive to fix?
Of course it's expensive. We can't fix it alone, and we're not suggesting that the town do that. We need help. We get help every year for each of our 27 miles of roadway.
Assemblyman Tim Gordon offered to help the town apply for stimulus money this spring. Councilwoman Roz Gumaer hand carried an application to Town Hall. Supervisor Bertram declined to complete it. 

Too expensive not to fix?
Farmers need this bridge. Commuters need it. Delivery trucks need it. Ambulances need it.

Why was the bridge project not shovel-ready?
The bridge was closed two years ago! Why no progress? Other towns received millions in stimulus funds. Nothing for Stuyvesant.

What would the maintenance costs be for the town?
Minimal! Engineer Prof. Robert Clark tells us that pre-fab bridges are virtually maintenance-free for 50-75 years. The Highway department was already paving it. What else is there? What's the problem?

What is the impact of the closed bridge?
Longer travel times for residents to work or the grocery store and for farmers to market and fields. Ichabod Crane school buses turn around on Rt. 9J at peak drive times. Residents continue to raise questions about emergency response times.

Is it better to be proactive than to make excuses?
We think so, especially since stimulus money is OUR money. Other towns have received stimulus grants for road and bridge repair, with no match required.

CSX does not depend on the bridge, but many Stuyvesant residents do!

A Hard Look at Assessments in Stuyvesant

This was originally published as a My View piece in the Register Star.

"Take a hard look at system before trying to fix it", October 8, 2009

by Martin Roby, Stuyvesant

After reading New York State Senator Steve Saland’s recent My View, I am convinced he does not understand the property tax issues or the meaning of the word reform. Raising state taxes and passing it out like candy to pay property taxes is not going to reform anything.

Property taxes are high because our towns and county spend too much. Each year, spending increases. The town of Stuyvesant just spent over $4,000 to print a town calendar! These towns maintain frivolous spending by inflating assessments.

Storm Drainage on Oak Leaf Drive

by Lee Jamison

Anyone who lives in Stuyvesant's Oak Leaf Drive development, or who has friends who live in Oak Leaf Drive or who, maybe, ever went campaigning door-to-door knows that the most critical issue on homeowners minds is storm water drainage. The houses look comfortable, modest, tidy and pretty but a sharper eye soon sees signs of run-off problems.

Some of you think, after years of no formal response from the Town, that there is nothing that can be done. Some have watched repaving by the Highway Department and felt the flooding only got worse. Many have spent thousands of dollars fixing water damage to their homes. Others wonder if they can ever sell their homes. Others fear losing their homes. Some say they are ready to sue the Town.

Some folks came to a Town Board Meeting looking to air fears that their house was actually washing down the hill. A Town Official responded, "It's not my fault that water runs down hill!"

Celebrate the Harvest

A Festive Lamb Roast to support
the Stuyvesant Democratic Party
on Sunday October 11, 2009
from 4pm to 7pm
at the home of Chris Bortugno III
63 Bortugno Lane
off County Route 25
Stuyvesant Falls, New York

Donations cheerfully accepted

Music by Peter Jung and Colin McCoy

Call Lee Jamison at 758 7347 for more information

SDSC • Box 154 • Stuyvesant NY 12173

Stuyvesant Democrats Choose Their Candidates

left to right: Michelle Richardson, Lee Jamison, Mark Young and Nancy Thomas

The Stuyvesant Democratic Party held their 2009 caucus on Saturday August 1st, 2009. Six candidates from diverse backgrounds were nominated for town offices. These candidates bring a variety of professional experience, talents, fresh energy and commitment to serving their Town.

Nominated for Supervisor was Lee Jamison, a 27year resident of Stuyvesant Landing, who brings management, problem solving and community organizing skills from a career providing services to neighbors with special needs . Having come from a dairy family in Orange County, she holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University . Lee has been an active volunteer on the Kinderhook Library Board of Trustees, the MRDD SubCommittee of the County Community Services Board, COARC, the Stuyvesant Farmers Market and the Recreation Committee. She has been an advocate for clean air, for the Stuyvesant Falls Hydro and green energy initiatives. Lee is concerned that Stuyvesant's Town Supervisor has declined to consider economic stimulus money for such projects as repair of lcoal bridges, the Highway Department's salt shed, park and shoreline improvements. This money could have created new jobs in our town and lowered the local tax bite.

There are two nominees for Town Council: Michelle Richardson and Mark Young.
Michelle Richardson lives in Stuyvesant Falls with her husband Kevin and son Liam. She also grew up on a family dairy farm in Orange County, NY. She has a BS in electrical engineering from SUNY New Paltz and spent twelve years in the high tech field. Michelle is, currently self-employed as a technical writer. This spring, she assisted townspeople with analysis and research in understanding their property re-vals and in preparing for Grievance Day. She raised concerns that the revaluation used peak sales data and ignored the downturn in the real estate market. She is working on business development initiatives for the region, especially in the areas of clean energy and green jobs. As a volunteer, she has been involved with the Town of Stuyvesant Recreation Committee, building community and encouraging people to get outdoors and be active all year long.

Mark Young is the owner and operator of Mexican Radio Restaurants. These restaurants have gross sales of over $3 million and employ over 50 people in New York State. Moving to Columbia County over eight years ago with his partner, Lori Selden, he has been active in local politics and charities for many years. He serves on the Hudson Area Association Library Board of Trustees and is an active member of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and Columbia County Bounty, a local Chef to Farm organization. Aware of the economic possibilities of this county, he wants to bring his entrepreneurial expertise to local government and help the Town of Stuyvesant pursue new businesses and encourage current ones to grow. Mark feels that his small business acumen will serve the town well.

Nancy Thomas of Oak Leaf Drive will run for Town Clerk.
Nancy Thomas has lived in Stuyvesant for over 15 years, after growing up in Rensselaer County. She has worked in state government, the private sector and has owned her own business. Active in various voluntary organizations, including the American Red Cross, she served in lower Manhattan after the 911 attacks. Presently she is a Supervisor at the Times Union newspaper. Nancy believes the Town Clerk's services should be a number one priority for whoever holds the job. Services at Town Hall should be easily accessible and hours should be expanded. “The Town Clerk should answer to the needs of the people, rather than the agenda of other elected officials.” according to Thomas. Nancy resides with her husband, Ed and their youngest son.

Mike Winnie and Bill Bateman will run as candidates for Town Justice.
Mike has lived almost 30years in Oak Leaf Drive with his family. He is an Army Veteran who made a lifetime career in criminal and civil law enforcement. Currently he serves as Stockport Police Chief where he has a reputation for vigilance and being tough but fair. Bill is a native upstate New Yorker, who recently moved to Stuyvesant Landing with his wife and daughters. A Registered Architect, he is a small businessman who runs his own full service architectural firm. Earlier in his career, he was elected for two terms to the Town Council of Bluffton, SC. He was asked to serve as interim Mayor in Bluffton when a corrupt office holder was removed. No stranger to public service, Bill understands complex regulations, negotiation and mediation skills. The Batemans have lived in various towns in Columbia County but selected Stuyvesant as home due to its lively community spirit.

All the candidates have been inspired and encouraged by the elections of President Barack Obama, Congresswoman, now, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Scott Murphy in Stuyvesant and believe this momentum for change should continue on the local level!