Town of Stanford
GOP
Partisan division........again There seems to be some “miscommunication” among Democratic chairman Michael Schaffer (Councilwoman Johanna Schaffer’s husband) and Supervisor Virginia Stern: Northern Dutchess newspaper August 2011, Michael Shaffer of Virginia Stern… “The accomplishments of her administration include a balanced budget, careful spending practices that didn’t sacrifice services, making energy efficient improvements, enacting a zero tax increase for 2011, committing to preserving open spaces and overseeing the towns infrastructure”. Stern was also cited for excellent Highway Department support with no interruption in services throughout the 2011 snowy winter” He said…Balanced budget…She said “…To do that we tapped into our reserve accounts.” “The town experienced a $117,000 budget shortfall for 2011, to cover the shortfall; we were forced to draw the funds from the Towns General Fund Balance...Its like taking money out of your savings to cover expenses”. Virginia Stern February 2011 newsletter The last time we checked, a balanced budget means current year revenue equals current year expenses. A balanced budget does not mean current year expenses are so high we have to take from our savings to “balance the budget”. He said…Careful spending practices that didn’t sacrifice services …She said; MINUTES OF THE JUNE 9TH, 2011 MEETING-3. HIGHWAY GARAGE – CAPITAL PROJECT RESOLUTION: FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAPITAL PROJECT FOR THE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION, PAYMENT AND FINANCING OF A NEW TOWN OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 14th, 2010 MEETING 7. CREATE NEW POSITION: SECRETARY TO THE SUPERVISOR: Supervisor Stern requested that the Board approve the creation this new position. She stated that a 10-hour week (2 hrs. per day) would cost $8,289, or for a 15-hour a week (3 hrs. per day) would be $12,431. Lengthy discussion continued on this matter. A motion was then made by Johanna Shafer, seconded by Virginia Stern, to have a Supervisor’s secretary for either 10 or 15 hours per week. Vote: Mark D’Agostino – no; Thomas Dewhirst – no; Johanna Shafer – yes; “The 2011 budget was at a 7.69% tax increase”….. “Under Adult Recreation, (Forever Young Club) several trips to luncheon theaters could be deleted”…. “Under Recreation raise the costs to the parents for bus trips for fun land and water parks”……Town Supervisor Virginia Stern (memo to the Town Board October 22, 2010) June 10, 2010 - A motion was made by Virginia Stern, seconded by Johanna Shafer, to approve the purchase of a new computer and printer for the Supervisor’s office to spend $1,650.10 for a printer and a personal computer for Virginia Stern which included a new keyboard, new mouse, speakers and a 22 inch wide monitor. In May, Councilman Dewhirst had said Dell computers were advertised for $500, with a $199 printer and $1,000, as originally asked for by the supervisor, would be more than enough for a new computer and printer. Supervisor Stern said “right now my computer is the topic and we can’t extend the discussion….” In July, 2010 the taxpayers were billed an additional $522.50 for installation of software and configuration of the Supervisor’s (Virginia Stern) new computer and workstation. Not only was this expense not authorized by the Town Board, it also raised the cost of the Supervisor’s (Virginia Stern) new computer and printer to $2,173.60. Do you believe these are careful spending practices that didn’t sacrifice services?...and these are only a few examples. He said…Making energy efficient improvements…She said…1/13/11 Town Board minutes-item#5 CENTRAL HUDSON ENERGY GRANT: A motion was made by Virginia Stern, seconded by Johanna Shafer, to apply for an amended grant where Central Hudson would upgrade all lighting in the Town Hall and the Garage. With the motion changed to reflect this new information, the motion carried with all voting in favor. THIS NEW INFORMATION WAS (see 1/13/11 video) Councilman Mark D’Agostino contacted Central Hudson and its affiliate to implement a municipal plan that will result in the installation of energy efficient light bulbs free of charge resulting in annual savings of $3,224 in utility costs for both the Town Hall and Highway Garage. Although Supervisor Stern proposed a program in December 2010, Ms. Stern’s program would have cost the town $1,872 to implement and taken two years to recover the costs and break even. Upon further investigation by Councilman D’Agostino, it was determined Ms. Stern had proposed the wrong program to the town board. He said…Enacting a zero tax increase for 2011…She said; “The 2011 budget was at a 7.69% tax increase”….. “Under Adult Recreation, (Forever Young Club) several trips to luncheon theaters could be deleted”…. “Under Recreation raise the costs to the parents for bus trips for fun land and water parks”……Town Supervisor Virginia Stern (memo to the Town Board October 22, 2010) TOWN OF SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 Supervisor Stern opened the public hearing for the scheduled public hearing on the 2011 Preliminary Budget with introductory remarks: “The Board struggled for long hours making cuts, asking the employees to do more with less, revenues are down and mandated expenses are up. This preliminary budget carries a 5.7% tax increase”. Councilmen Mark D'Agostino, Chris Flynn and Tom Dewhirst voted no to the above tax increase and cuts to the forever young club and countered with plan proposing a 0% tax increase and restoring cuts to the forever young club. The counter proposal from Councilmen D'Agostino, Dewhirst and Flynn passed at the November 10, 2010 Board meeting, as such your taxes did not increase for 2011. He said…Committing to preserving open spaces and overseeing the towns infrastructure…She said; Beth Doyle of Email from Supervisor Virginia Stern on September 11, 2010 indicating that there was no information about the CDBG just the deadline of October 1, 2010. Email from Supervisor Virginia Stern on September 20, 2010 asking the town board to approve going ahead with the application for the 2011 Community Development Block for the rebuilding of the Application was denied per Beth Doyle of DC Planning (email December 9, 2010) due to the application was not completed correctly. Town Board video December 23, 2010..mention was made the supervisor did not utilize the towns biggest assets, its employees, to complete a proper application for the 2011 CDBG in the amount of $75,000 for infrastructure repair. The town previously received CDBG funding for a walking path in 2003 and the Town Board meeting August 11, 2011 Supervisor Stern recommends the town hire a grant writer to write the 2012 CDBG…. instead of utilizing its own town employees. He said…Helping the town master plan move forward…She said; Town Board meeting November 11, 2010 Item#4 OTHER: Supervisor Stern wanted to submit a grant application to the Greenway to help with the Master Plan Committee’s work. A motion was made by Johanna Shafer to authorize the Supervisor to complete the grant application and send it in to the Greenway for the purposes of updating the Master Plan. No second was forthcoming and the motion did not carry. After further discussion, a motion was made by Johanna Shafer, seconded, by Christopher Flynn, to hold a Special Meeting on Friday, November 19th at 6 AM to discuss this matter further. Motion carried with all in favor. Town Board meeting November 19, 2010 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. PROPOSED RESOLUTION #37 OF 2010 TO APPROVE SUBMISSION OF GREENWAY GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE UPDATE OF THE 1980 MASTER PLAN: Supervisor Stern stated that everyone had received the updated draft of the resolution with suggested corrections given by Councilman D’Agostino. Discussion followed regarding the content and intent of the document. Roll Call Vote as follows: Councilman Mark D’Agostino – yes Councilman Thomas Dewhirst – yes Councilman Christopher Flynn – yes Councilwoman Johanna Shafer – yes Supervisor Virginia Stern – yes……Resolution #37 of 2010 approved by the majority vote of the Town of He said…excellent highway department support with no interruption in services throughout the 2011 snowy winter When did you see Virginia Stern behind the wheel of a snow plow?? We’d like to think our highway employees had something to do with it. About that
The Greenway Compact...Supervisor Stern did not tell the truth
To the Residents of Stanford: A Letter from Chris Flynn
Stanford resident Jerry Lerner writes Journal in support of Chris Flynn
Lets make a deal......bad manners and common sense!
3. That the total anticipated budget for the Capital Project is amended and restated to not to exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand and no/100ths ($2,500,000.00) Dollars. Supervisor VIRGINIA STERN votED-YES, Board Member JOHANNA SHAFER voted-YES Board Member’s MARK D’AGOSTINO, CHRIS FLYNN and TOM DEWHIRST voted- NO
