Friday, June 27, 2008

$250,000 CUT PROPOSED--ELIMINATE BACK DOOR PICKUP OF GARBAGE--TO BE DISCUSSED TUESDAY

These are difficult times for all of us. Governments at every level are cutting programs, expenses. The town must do the same. The Town Board and I have asked every department head to identify possible cuts. This Tuesday, beginning at 2:30 PM, we will commence our 2009 budget process --and review of spending reductions. You are invited to attend our work session or to listen to the discussion on the web: www.greenburghny.com. Our meetings are streamed live on the internet. This Tuesday Commissioner Al Regula will discuss eliminating back door pickup of garbage--which will save over $250,000 and eliminate 5 positions.
In addition, Town Board members Sonja Brown, Diana Juettner, Kevin Morgan, Sonja Brown, Town Clerk Judith Beville and I are planning to spend at least one night a week until November knocking on doors - making housecalls to discuss the budget/possible cuts/quality of life issues. If you would like the Town Board to stop by at your house - please e mail townboard@greenburghny.com.
Cutting programs is not always pleasant. But--our economy is in trouble and we have no other choice.
PAUL FEINER


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: AL Regula
Sent: Fri 6/27/2008 3:03 PM
To: Paul Feiner
Cc: Town Board; Angelo Nanna
Subject: 2009 Budget issues


As a part of the ongoing cost reduction effort being undertaken by all town Departments, the DPW is considering a proposal to eliminate the “back-door” pickup of garbage throughout the Unincorporated Area. Historically, not all residents have availed themselves of this service and therefore only those who previously have had their garbage picked up in the rear or side yards of their homes would be affected

The savings resulting from this change would be significant, in excess of $250,000. They would include salaries of up to 5 positions that could hopefully be eliminated without layoffs, through attrition and transfers, the benefits associated with these positions, reduced vehicle and fuel usage since satellite vehicle use would drop dramatically and trucks would not be stopping for as long a time waiting for crew members to bring garbage out. The fact that employees would not be carrying garbage from rear yards would also reduce injuries and Workers Compensation expenses.

The discussion of this proposal will take place as the development of the 2009 Town operating budget progresses.





Albert S. Regula



Commissioner of Public Work

Town of Greenburgh

Work Session Agenda of the Greenburgh Town Board

Tuesday – July 1, 2008



(All Work Sessions are Televised Live on Cablevision Channel 76, Verizon 32 and are streamed live. Work Sessions and Town Board Meetings will be aired each Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:02am and 4:45pm. Each segment will run for approximately 6 to 7 hours, depending upon the length of the two meetings.)





2:00p.m. Gas Consumption

2:15p.m. Global Warming

2:30p.m. Budget Reviews, Part II – Dept Heads: DPW

3:30p.m. Implementation of Recommendations re: Sewer District Audit

4:00p.m. Executive Session

5:30p.m. Adjourn



East Hartsdale Farmers Market Jazz Series – Performances to Date

July 5 –

July 12th – The Blues Dogs with Al Frankel

July 19th and September 6th – Westchester Harp Ensemble

August 2nd – Julie Corbalis

October 11th – Ceasar Cantori



We are looking for more jazz artists! Please contact Judith Beville, Town Clerk at: 993-1500

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179 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Al is that the best that you could do.
How about having the leaves bagged where you can save so much money on overtime and also destroying the curbs and roadways.
$250,000.00 is just a drop in the bucket for your department. THis is an insult to the residents.

Anonymous said...

Yep by you not passing a law to bag leaves does not help your eliminating five positions and back door pickups. You will get the money back with overtime.
Who the hell are you trying to kid?

Anonymous said...

kudo's to the town supervisor and board and to our commissioner of public works on this common sense initiative. I approve.

Anonymous said...

keep the cuts coming. Nice start!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard about this? The Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, has agreed to hear arguments that Greenburgh's Finneran Law is unconstitutional.

Anonymous said...

I recall reading that the Finneran law is going to be amended anyway.

Anonymous said...

Could a portion of any DPW savings please be allocated towards roadway maintenance - street sweeping, median mantenance, raking-unclogging sewer grates - especially along the major thoroughfares? Since this work is not done in Unincorporated Greenburgh, I'm assuming there's no budget for it?

Anonymous said...

hahaha! Have you counted how many actually get back door pickup anymore? The garbage is lined on the streets mostly, in Hartsdale, anyway. I suspect the other parts of town won't be thrilled.

Anonymous said...

Hey, this Court of Appeals thing, if it's true, could mean major tax relief for unincorporated Greenburgh. It might mean that parks and rec programs open townwide might have to be paid for townwide, like in all other towns in the rest of the state. That could reduce our tax bills quite a bit. And if Finneran is ruled unconstitutional, can't imagine any amendment is gonna save it. Also can't imagine the state legislature even looking at Finneran until after the Court of Appeals tells us what it means.

Bernstein, if you're reading this, congrats -- now tell us what you think it all means.

Anonymous said...

Will the Town be implementing a "garbage angel" program to assist seniors and the disabled who can't move their cans?
Will we continue to pay the discarded workers because it would be really unfair for someone's job to be eliminated?

Anonymous said...

Hi 8:16 PM.
My bet: anonymous who is congratulating Bernstein is Bernstein! Who else knows about the appeal?

Anonymous said...

Make a Million dollar cut in the Police Dept. and then you're talking

Anonymous said...

To 6/27 7:51 PM,

You are missing the point of this exercise / proposal. If all you do is move the money from one activity, i.e. backdoor pickups, to another (road maitenance), out taxes aren't going to change. Can we afford another double digit tax increase in our unincorporated taxes? If we are not prepared to do with less, heaven help the people of Greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

Bernstein's success in getting the Court of Appeals to hear the Taxter Ridge case was reported several days ago by someone named Gary on the Ardsley chat line. The town then notified members of the Finneran Committee about what had happened.

Anonymous said...

The residents of the unincorporated area should all make their opinions known as to what Bernstein has been fighting for.
This will benefit each and everyone of us as far as getting our taxes lowed.
The town will not do what is necessary to lessen the burden but in backing up Bernstein we can be sure that we will get some help.

If we just sit back and do nothing the town together with the library will make us loose what we have OUR HOMES.
Bernstein is trying real hard so lets' help him out.

Anonymous said...

This Regula guy must be a comic.
Does he think that the residents will believe him that he intends to cut the budget by $250,000.00.
What he will be doing is taking it from one place but it already has been placed in another.

He's only shifting funds from one column to another.

Good try Regula give us another joke.

Anonymous said...

Paul pushing the Taxter Ridge acquisition through was the final straw -- resulting in the Bernstein litigation. Paul has made Bernstein's appeal more likely to be successful by allowing Villagers use of Veterans. ALL COURT DECISISON HAVE BEEN AGAINST USE OF FACILITIES WITHOUT TAXATION. The Town has very serious litigation, including not only Bernstein, but also Fortress Bible. These cuts are meaningless in face of the costs we are facing. We need immediate elimination of all OT, including police, unless related to a felony in the previous 48 hours.

Anonymous said...

The village people are killing the golden goose. They have the majority of votes for Council members, yet anytime TOV expenses come up, they say oh, not our problem. Let me suggest, as a TOV person, to the villagers that if you do not demand severe cuts in the Town, including police, including TDYCC, which are currently not charged to you, there will be more lawsuits, more encouragement of Edgemont to become a village etc.

Anonymous said...

I am seriously thinking of suing the town for misuse of my tax money to keep a failing establishment that being the center.
This center has not paid for their existance from the beggining.
Why should I support something that I do not use or have any intention of using.
I pay for baby sitting where as at the center it's free.
I pay more taxes for my pool ,the center pays no taxes and makes no money for it's upkeep.
I do not attend any of their functions since I work for a living.
I cook my own food which means that I do not show up at the center for a free meal.
Why must we all pay for something that is being used by the residents of Fairview..
This center has been mismanaged for many years.
It caters to friends and friends of friends.
Have a good audit about where all the funds went to for all the years that they demanded more and more money to run the place and to refurbish the building.
When no one is watching the ship or should I say doesn't give a dam about those fitting the bill the problem gets to point of no return.
Well we have reached the end of the line.
If we want answers the only way we can be heard and get answers is in the courts.
It's sad that this towns officials have to always be on the chopping block
You seem to forget that there is more to the town of Greenburgh than the Fairview area..

Anonymous said...

Let me say something to Anonymous 1:16.

You say that the villagers have the majority of votes for Council members. Who says so? I read that there are more registered voters in unincorporated than there are in the six villages combined, and that the voting records show that in the last few elections there were more votes cast in unincorporated than in the six villages combined. I guess that is why everybody on the Town Council except Diana Juettner is a resident of unincorporated, and she doesn't count for anything. There are more complaints about her in her own village, Ardsley, that there are about any other Council member.

How can the villages demand budget cuts for things that are unincorporated expenses. It is probably fair to say that every resident of Greenburgh wants budget cuts. The trouble is everybiody wants budget cuts in departments that don't concern them, but if you cut something that they care about then they scream "don't cut." Examples, the Library, the TDYCC, Fairview housing, Veteran Park.

It is these big ticket expenses that need cutting and the Board shouldn't let the loud defenders stop them.

Anonymous said...

Veteran parks runs at at very small deficit. TDYCC is supported by a very small part of TOV. The villages tolerate it sp the Board tolerates its.

The big expenditures are the police, public works and TDYCC.

Anonymous said...

What do you mean "How can villages demand budget cuts"

Tell them not to vote for superisor, or demand cuts. That easy. You vote, you live with conseqnesces.

Anonymous said...

The library expansion was actually voted on by the TOV. That is the only vote limited to TOV. The bloated police, sanitation and TDYCC have not been voted on.

Anonymous said...

I think that the Supervisor and the entire Town Board knows that if they don't do big-time cutting, especially in the bloated departments, they will not be supported in any part of the town, unincorporated and the villages. But remember that the bloated departments are in the unincorporated budget. I am sure that the villagers are pushing their mayors and board members to cut. Everybody is feeling this

Anonymous said...

I dont know what you define as big time cutting, but I havent seen any evidence of it.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 3:31

Yes the bloated parts of the budget are in teh TOV; but unless the villages, who also vote for the board, demand reductions in this part of the budget, there will be more lawsuits, etc.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 3:31

Yes the bloated parts of the budget are in teh TOV; but unless the villages, who also vote for the board, demand reductions in this part of the budget, there will be more lawsuits, etc.

Anonymous said...

you should have put the garbage on the curb year's ago. Does this mean now that the men will be finished at 11:00A.M. instead of 12:00?

Anonymous said...

You would save more than $250,000. It cost more that that just for five salaries to pick up the garbage. And why only five men? You wouldn't need four men on the truck anymore and you could eliminate the small trucks that go up the long driveways and whatever else they do. Maybe now the rest can work eight hours a day instead of four or five.

Anonymous said...

Bob's Taxter Ridge lawsuits have resulted in tax increases for residents of Edgemont. The town has had to defend the lawsuits. The town has had to devote atty time to the lawsuits. The town has lost revenue opportunities.
Thank you, Bob for increasing our taxes!

Anonymous said...

oh 6:29 you are getting stale, all of the towns problems are created by Bernstein, the state comptroller, the courts, the sewer district, Fortress, etc etc

Anonymous said...

the purchase of taxter is what is costing you. juettner should be held accountable in 2009 for this and the library fiasco.

Anonymous said...

And why should she should be held any more accountable for Taxter Ridge than Feiner????

Anonymous said...

Is Bob Bernstein the guy who pushed for the 20 million library construction, increasing taxes for Edgemont residents?

Anonymous said...

I dont remember if he pushed for it. I do know it was voted on. It would have been nice if Taxter Ridge had been voted on.

Anonymous said...

Bernstein was for the library because Feiner was against the expansion. If Feiner was for the library Bernstein would have been against it.

Anonymous said...

You have to blame the construction of the library to all the civic leaders that got their cronies out to vote yes.
They did a good job in having our taxes raised to the highest level ever.
Yes many were true friends of Sheehan and Juettner.
Remember they both had no use for the supervisor and by having the referendum passed was the way both of them sent a message to the supervisor.
Bernstein alone is not the one to blame.
Yes he too is a friend of Sheehan and you can also say McNally is to blame also. She too is a good friend of Sheehan.
Winning this vote by both board members was paying Feiner back and they also hoped that he would loose the election.
Surprise surprise He won and now they are play footsies with him.

Anonymous said...

I thought Edgemont voted against the library.

Anonymous said...

juettner is the liaison from the town board to greenburgh parks and rec. she also voted to untax herself by voting to charge only unincorporated greenburgh for a park everyone can use.

we are still waiting for any evidence juettner ever visited taxter ridge before she voted for it.

we are also waiting for her to provide directions on how to get there.

juettner is long past her sale date. she brings nothing to the discussion of any matter before the town board.

she should do us all a favor and just resign. its painful to watch her in inaction.

Anonymous said...

But Paul has pushed for all the parks and rec charged to B budget the hardest, why arent you naming both

Anonymous said...

There is lots to criticize abiut Juettner, almost too much to get into one blog. Voting to buy Taxter Ridge is one of those. But it isn't fair to criticize her for voting to keep the cost in the B budget because that's the law. We may not like it, but it is the law just the same.

Anonymous said...

The law you say? The Court of Appeals may have something to say about that. Why else would they have agreed to hear Bernstein's case?

Anonymous said...

AFTER READING THE SCARSDALE INQUIRER AND TODAYS JOURNAL NEWS I THINK YOU SHOULD HIRE THE SEWER GUY TO INVESTIGATE THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
HE MUST HAVE DONE A THOROUGH JOB IN HIS INVESTIGATION SINCE THE COMPTROLLER OF NEW YORK'S OFFICE RULED IN HIS FAVOR.
JOB WELL DONE.

Anonymous said...

Unless the Court of Appeals reverses the Appellate Division, it is the law, and it was the law when Juettner and the others voted to charge the cost of Taxter to the B budget. When Bernstein won in the first court, Juettner and the others voted to charge the cost of Taxter to the A budget because that became the law. When the Appellate Division reversed the first court they all voted to shift the cost back to the B budget because that was then the law. There plenty of things for which to criticize Juettner, but doing what the law requires isn't one of them.

Don't bank on the Court of Appeals to reverse. Maybe they will and maybe they won't. They could have taken the case because Bernstein made an interesting pitch, but the Court hasn't heard from the town and the villages. In the past they have shown Bernstein up pretty good.

I guess we will know by next summer.

I hope that residents want the Town Board to respect the law, whatever the law requires.

Anonymous said...

One court said all town should pay, the other one said only TOVers should use. I can live with either decision. What I find unacceptable is town position that only TOV should pay, but all can use. Not fair.

Anonymous said...

The council is NOT respecting the law by allowing villagers continued use of Veterans. And I am certain Bernstien will make that point.

Anonymous said...

Dear 1:12 -
While the investigators said he was right, and the Courts directed the Town to fix the problem, neither the Supervisor nor the Town Board has committed to making the changes. So, we're right back where we were - another Feiner idea about running Greenburgh. Feiner knows the Courts have no way to force him to do the right thing, and unless he is voted out of office, he will continue to do as he believes it right.

Anonymous said...

my guess is yet another civil suit agains the town

Anonymous said...

Bernstein's latest lawsuit asks that the town keep the town's parks and recreation facilities limited to unincorprated area residents, and for a change he is right on.

Anonymous said...

juettner lives in a village. under the initial court decision, all town taxpayers had to pay for taxter ridge including juettner. the town board voted 5-0 to appeal this decision. juettner did not have to vote to untax herself - she could have abstained. this is why she is deserving of all the criticism.

she put salt in the wounds of unincorporated greenburgh.

and lets not forget juettner voted to buy taxter ridge. she is the liaison from the town board to parks and rec - but she doesnt even live in unincorporated greenburgh. she is also the liaison to the library - another thing she doesnt pay for.

no wonder unincorporated greenburgh is broke - juettner keeps voting for more things unincorporated alone has to pay for

Anonymous said...

The problem with Finnerman, and how Paul has chosen to apply it, is that the law was enacted to facilliate the purchase of the Veterans park (the old Scarsdale Bath and Tennis) -- a facility for which admittance could easily be restricted.

Paul has chosen to use the Finnerman law to both acquire parks that can not limit admission (e.g. Taxter) and to allow villagers use of Veterans. Had he not ignored the purpose of Finnerman, my guess is the litigation would not have happened. And had the villagers stepped in and said, hey guys, there are some issues here, they might have avoided the potential problems.

Thank god for Bernstein. And I'm not Bernstein.

Anonymous said...

One of the problems with this blog is that so many people who write don't know what the hell they are talking about. Anon 6:19 is a prime example.

He doesn't know Finneran, he doesn't know what the purpose of Finneran is, he doesn't know who is using what or what the town board has done, he doesn't know when Veteran Park was bought, he doesn't know what all the lawsuits were all about, and he doesn't understand what is happening now..

But he writes anyway.

Anonymous said...

Ok, so why dont you tell us what you think

Anonymous said...

dear 6:57
i knew 6:19
6:19 was a good friend of mine
6:57, you are no 6:19

Anonymous said...

7:04 says
dear 6:57
i knew 6:19
6:19 was a good friend of mine
6:57, you are no 6:19

THANK GOD!

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:01 asks me what I think, since I said that 6:19 didn't know what he was talking about. Here goes.

1. It is Finneran, not Finnerman.
2. Finneran was passed several years after Veteran Park was bought and after Ardsley won a lawsuit giving it the right to use Veteran Park. The purpose was to keep Ardsley out of the pool.
3. Finneran says that all town parks and recreation facilities have to be charged to the B budget and only residents of unincorporated can use the town parks and facilities. The town has been violating Finneran from the beginning. it lets outsiders use the parks and facilities and charges them for it. A profitable violation.
5. Taxter has to be open to everyone. It is a joke when Bernstein says that the villages can use it because nobody uses it.
6. I have used parks in Ardsley and Irvington, but nobody asks that I should be taxed for using those parks.
7. It isn't Feiner who made these decisions it was the whole Board.
8. Bernstein is on a giant ego trip. He conned the town.

Anonymous said...

1. OK, spelling correction. Wow thats important.

2. Who pays is just as important as who has access to parks. All TOV people like me are asking for, is fairness, that those who can use parks are taxed for.

3. I dont think Village use of Town parks is profitable. I presume you are looking at variable costs, not overall costs. It is easy for non-TOV people to say the use by village people is profitable.


4. If Ardsley and Irvington choose to allow others use of their parks, their decision. But fyi, some of the parks (like Irvington Scenic Park) of the villages were acquired with funds that required they be open to the public.

5. Bob --ego ? I dont think so. BTW, he has very $$ position with NY Biglaw firm.

Anonymous said...

As to Taxter Ridge being open to everyone, yes the appellate court did note that. But did not suggest any remedy. My guess, bob will hone in on it and go for damages.

Anonymous said...

Bernstein ain't good for Edgemont taxpayers. His lawsuits cost tax dollars to defend. Not counting time, town resources. THese lawsuits make everyone hate thy neighbor, which also ain't good for anyone. Cooperation needed, not fighting.

Anonymous said...

TO: 10:15
If Bob goes for damages who will pay?
Edgemont taxpayers! Greenburgh taxpayers! Why should lawyers make money at our expense?

Anonymous said...

Cooperation? Bernstein was willing to go to mediation. Town was not. So parks and rec ended up in court.

Anonymous said...

fairness?
veteran park sits on 4 acres (out of 20) that are in the village of ardsley. the town (which owns the park) pays no taxes on these 4 acres. this means ardsley taxpayers are subsidizing the park and its users by virtue of having to make up the lost revenue these 4 acres would generate in taxes.

how sad that the parents of the children from the unincorporated areas of the town who use ardsley's ball fields across the street from veteran park will not let ardsley children into veteran park's pools.

this is especially sad as use of veteran park has been declining and the town needs millions of dollars to repair its aging pools.

even sadder are the so called leaders of unincorporated greenburgh who oppose opening veteran park - most of them do not use veteran park and many of them have their own private pools.

i guess there is no need to feel sorry for them when they start grumbling about another double digit tax increase and their rec programs are slashed on the high altar of finneran absolutism.

Anonymous said...

Yes Veterans sits partially on Ardsley property. And if it were sold, and single family homes built there, the taxes would not likely cover the school costs. There is much tax exempt property throughout Greenburgh. Most school districts are thrilled when park land is acquired, even if unusable (such as Taxter) as it helps the school district.

Anonymous said...

A writer says that Bernstein was willing to go to mediation and the town was not.

Not true. I remember that the town and the villages were in that mediation. The newspaper reported that at one point Bernstein said that he hadn't gotten an offer and that therefore the mediation is over and he ended it. It seems that if Bernstein doesn't get what he wants he won't play. That is probably why we have been burdened with so much litigation which has made things worse and worse.

Anonymous said...

Bernstein has always been in favor of settling the dispute. He gets quoted over and over again in the Scarsdale Inquirer saying a negotiated agreement is far better for the town than anything a court might order. The problem is that in order to negotiate a settlement, all sides need to compromise. Bernstein says he was prepared to compromise, but the town and villages never made an offer. Can't settle a legal dispute that way.

And these posts about Bernstein costing taxpayers money are really getting stale. The only lawyers making money off the Bernstein litigation are the lawyers hired by the villages. The town does its own legal work and Bernstein is donating his time -- pro bono.

Anonymous said...

I think anon 6-29 @ 9:29 pm, must use his butt to cushion his brain, else why does he sit on it.

Bernstein doesn't have a BIGGGGG EGOOOOO? He is all EGO. He's a 7'6" man in a 5'6" body.

As far as the big bucks in the big law firm, he doesn't work there anymore. So the big law firm and the big bucks are a thing of the past. Andthe only thing that's known for sure, is he worked fora big law firm. Big bucks, I don't think so because many of his "billable" hours were spent in "unbillable" hours feeding his non-EGOOO. Maybe that's why he's no longer at the BIGGGG Law Firm.

Anonymous said...

Bernstein's way of settling something is "my way or no way."
Or to put it another way, he demands that you give him a dollar that he doesn't deserve, but he will accept 75 cents as a compromise.

I'm sure that the villages lawyer is expensive. The town also has legal expenses because they pay the town attorney staff who must have put in a ton of time on all this. And many knowledgeable people have said that Bernstein has been subsidized by a number of Edgemont residents.

Where has it led? To bitterness and paralysis. To danger to our rec programs. To polarization in our town government so that we can't solve real problems.

Anonymous said...

If no one ever made him an offer to settle, how would anyone ever know what Bernstein's way of settling something is. Sounds like anon at 7:47 is in the camp that thinks it's better to litigate than negotiate. Maybe that will turn out for the best. But then again, maybe it won't. Either way, anon at 7:47 sounds pretty foolish.

Anonymous said...

Is it not a sad thing that you are atacking Bernstein. He's only trying to do what is right since the unincorporated area of Greenburgh is burdened with taxes.
We need help and we need it now.
Why must we pay for the parks,library,center and God knows what else.
We are not the only users of these facilities and with the majority of residents we do not use the library, center or the parks.
How about taking a survey as to who uses what.
Thats only fair.
We should all voice our opinion to the court that will be hearing the Bernstein case because the way things are being paid for is unfair.



.

Anonymous said...

Why does the town permit people to walk their dogs all over Hartsbrook pk.
They do not pick up after them and we who walk to enjoy the scenery get full of doo.
You should put up a sign that the dogs are not allowed .
If they are to go into the park there should be signs stating the dos and donts.
This park has no set rules as to what can and cannot be done.
Is this park for bike riding?
What are we paying for .It looks like a free for all.

Anonymous said...

agreed - harts brook is being neglected. the trails are poorly marked.

Anonymous said...

7:47, Even if true, what is your point that Bernstein is supported by a number of Edgemont people? If he werent, you would likely carp that he is on his own.

Anonymous said...

If anything Bernstein has taught us that we can fight the system.

Anonymous said...

The Dpw has not eliminated that amount of money .
He's removing it in one way but it will show up somewhere else.
He's just shiftting funds.
That's one of the oldest tricks alive.

Anonymous said...

Regula is one smart cookie.
Does he think that the residents will fall for his announcement.BS big time.
Kolesar study his so called cut very carefully.

Anonymous said...

Put the sewer guy on Regula's DPW. I bet he can come up with something.

Anonymous said...

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
THIS IS WHAT IS NEEDED HERE IN GREENBURGH TO SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT.

Anonymous said...

global warming?
with all of greenburgh's local problems, why is this on the work session agenda?

we dont need the return of steve "foreign policy" bass.

Anonymous said...

Instead of having global warming on the agenda why not have someone who can make the burden of electricy less.
Look into new ways to help out the residents with the high cost of electricity.
How about a suggestion that was made some time ago that was a windmill farm.
How about lighting our way with the new technology that is being offered by other states and countries.

Anonymous said...

I thought that windmills recieve substantial payments from NYS or electric companies -- how about a farm at Taxter Ridge???

Anonymous said...

Lots of luck with that one. The town, state and county all agreed to dedicate the property in perpetuity as parkland. Putting windmills on it will require an act of the state legislature -- yeah, they'll get right on that after they amend Finneran -- and even if East Irvington would agree to replace furry woodland creatures with giant windmills (that ain't gonna happen), the town would only get one-third of the revenue, the rest going to the state and county.

Anonymous said...

Well we would get back the one third that we paid out.
The other two thirds was put up by the county and state.

Anonymous said...

At todays work session Regula mentioned that to save money one had to put their garbage curbside.
Well what happens if one cannot place their garbage curbside -no garbage pickup?

He also said that bagging leaves would not save money. How much does the small back hoe and the jaws pickup machine cost to run?
Paul check into what the cost of running these two vehicles cost cost to run.Fuel and maintenance.
So regula says he's cutting his budjet by two hundred fifty thousand dollars But at the same time he's telling you he does not know how much the library maintenance will cost upon it's completion.
What he is doing robbing Peter to give to Paul..
Does he think that people that will be seeing this session on tv could be fooled y his double talk.
Get rid of him. He doesn't know what he is talking about.He's just going arround in circles.

Anonymous said...

The state has already agreed to windmills on park land in the adirondacks, so I dont see the problem, and they should get 1/3 of any revenue. This is a win win and we should move forward.

Anonymous said...

I guess all that talk about Taxter being the last major parcel of unspoiled acreage in Westchester County south of 287 was a pile of hooey. What does the Westchester Land Trust think about windmills over there?

Anonymous said...

With the Con Edison hike the fuel prices we are all in need of windmills.
This should have been on the agenda some time ago.
We need the town boards help in aiding us with all the hikes that will be coming our way.
I asked about puting a windmill in my back yard but it would be too expensive for one person alone.
Paul think about this. It will not only serve our area but it will service many others.

Anonymous said...

Danny Gold will not allow windmills in his backyard. In order to do anything with Taxter Risge you must first ask The Earl of Taxter (Mr. Gold) for his permission. He controls the property. The Town Board is scared of his East Irvington Storm Troopers.

Anonymous said...

Danny Gold won the first round but this time he'll go down with a ten count.
We the residents of westchester need help as far as electricity goes.
Who cares at this point what Danny Gold thinks. There is this dump of a parcel that he introduced Feiner too and a marriage took place with the state and county.
Now a divorce with Gold and friends has to take place to serve one of the biggest needs in our area.
Many homes are serviced with electricity only .Many areas do not have gas so it would be hard for them to heat and cook.
Hey Paul give us a break this is the timefor you to step up to be a LEADER in this town.
You have listened to the wrong people right along and because of this you have become a follower.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Regula how much does the cost of running and maintaining the two machines plus the truck that are used to pick up the leaves.
You also have three men sitting in each cab throughout the process. What are the costs???
Do you want us to believe that if the leaves are bagged that will not save the taxpayers money.
Do your math again and see that it will be a great savings.

Anonymous said...

This is hilarious!!
We might have less police protection and emergency medical care....and this guys answer is: lets stop back yard pick ups !!!!!

this Town is a joke!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Paul I am an expert in studing body language and I came to the conclusion Regula is lying big time.
He has no intention of saving tax payers money.
Do his employees have something on him that he has to make sure that jobs a secured.
He says that the town saves money by picking up leaves curbside.
Tell me how many curbs are left after they finish the pickup.
Bagging is not a money saving proposition. HOG WASH.
Checking the guy with the sewers his body language was sincere.
He was honest and straight foward with his presentation.
I think that the DPW should have someone in charge that is for the people and not one that is out to see what he can get.
Sorry but I call it as I see it.

Anonymous said...

I can't understand what the DPW commissioner,assessor [what does she know]and the town attorney could come up with something different on the sewer problem.

Sorry it is what is is.
Nothing is going to change in what they decide against the ruling of the state.

The gentleman did a good job in bringing this to the towns
attention he must be some good investigator to find all this out.
Thanks we are looking forward to a great return in monies for the mishandling of the sewers.
He should check other dealings also.
We may have been overtaxed on other projects also.
Give him a job.
Looking at the back part of his shirt he does have one.
Shucks.

Anonymous said...

I took a few days off to read what other folks are writing.

Here are my reactions. Mostly in COMMUTER language.

"We're all bozos on the same bus" says the Firesign Theater.

Bernstein seeks and gets far too much attention for his actual accomplishments. Unfortunately this is inevitable particularly since many residents were weaned on the Brokerage ad, "when Smith Barney? talks, everyone listens..." However, in case you haven't noticed, financial stocks are in the dog house mostly due to mismanagement.

Residents are not interested in all the local stops: because they get on at the express stations. In other words, he's a lawyer and going to court, filing appeals and preparing briefs is what lawyers do. Bob knows the process and he knows there is no such thing as riding the express in the legal system. You get there when you get there and it's not where you start but where you finish. Nevertheless, he exploits each filing and garners a few newspaper quotes all the while knowing that the results are many months or years away. When the train arrives in the station (or as George Carlin said "your final destination"), then let's give him his due or Bronx cheer (observe Bob's anthropology treatise on Hartsdale Avenue) but lets not get caught up by debating every twist and turn along the way. There are real, current problems facing residents; problems which need to be dealt with NOW by the Town Board and by residents and not eventually by judges with their own calendar.

We foolishly bought Taxter Ridge knowing that no one was ever going to use it. Blame not only the Town Board but also the County and the State government -- all of whom thought the milk train was going to run forever. Now, none of the partners can afford to buy the others out so we are stuck with it. Who in Greenburgh is stuck paying for it will be decided by the Courts but of absolutely no value is continuing the discussion over who can use it -- the answer is no one.

There WAS a mediation ploy along the way and like the Crestwood Station, passengers switched trains. However, in the spirit of this blog topic, what writers passed over was that this mediation came at a high price. In Seinfeld terms, it was a show about "nothing" but the cost to taxpayers was at least $25,000.
The Town spends far too much on outside consultants, hired guns and traffic studies -- all to appease whoever speaks the loudest.
For example why is the Town spending money studying the Tappan Zee bridge even before the State knows what it plans?

There does need to be substantial budget cuts and a reduction in staff. Furthermore the Town Board needs to make a start, now and not wait until 2009. It may seem petty but it is symbolic of a Town Board which talks about cutting and then passes on the opportunity to demonstrate this talk.

Case in point. Two Town Board work sessions ago the Town Board spent 30 minutes discussing the renewal of the sculpture curator's contract for the quarterly display of outdoor sculpture in Hartsdale at the train station. Only $4,000 including $800 for transportation of the exhibits. What the Town Board discussed was whether the artists were Greenburgh residents (mostly not) and what the Town's insurance liability was. None of this need be discussed if the Town Board just said that this is a frill we cannot afford in harsh economic times. And, forgive my skepticism, this display does not help the downtown merchants. So, does $4,000 matter?

Next up on the work session agenda was a sales team selling a Hudson River association of river fronting municipalities. There is some undetermined cost to the Town to belong but membership will bring a lot of benefits from increased tourism. Give the residents a break. More of the Town Board's waste of time and more of fiddling while Rome burns.

Those of you who thought, well, what does $4,000 matter against the enormity of the Town budget, should also know that the Town also spends about $65,000 on a "Department", the Council on the Arts (a woman) who selects and hangs the pictures in Town Hall and the Multipurpose Center. And, she also runs a poetry contest. Times are tough, taxes are rising and this need no longer be a taxpayer burden. Poetry contests can be handled by the area schools and/or the library. The pictures can be hung by the artists. Need you be reminded that the Town is paying someone to hang "for sale" pictures and photographs. For no cost, the area schools can display the works of school children.

What needs to be made clear to the Public is that not everything is what it looks like. For example, garbage in downtown Hartsdale is picked up not by the DPW but by the Parks Department. The salary of the driver for the cybermobile was paid not by the Lanza's or by the Library but by the "generosity" of the Community Center budget. Of course, many residents are aware of the EMS being run by and through the Police Department but how many other of these anomalies exist?

What about the continuing use of stipends? Why does the Town Clerk receive $5,500 annually as the Custodian of Elections? Why does the Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk receive $2500 and $1500 respectively for records management?

What about Resolutions passed by the Town Board for no reason other than to curry favor with voting blocks? A few years ago, Steve Bass and Francis Sheehan got the Town Board to pass a local law requiring Town construction projects (above $250,000?) to hire firms which would ADD a union (already existing Wicks laws protecting unions add 30% to the job cost) Apprentice to the job. This means that the cost for this coffee go-for will ultimately be paid by taxpayers. Let's review these kinds of patronage Town laws and repeal them. Incidentally, Mr. Bass was able to hold off on this urgent law until AFTER the Library construction contracts were awarded because he was a "friend" to the Library.

Finally (for now), the $250,000 proposed cut to eliminate back door pickup, who thinks that back door pickup will now be eliminated?
Raise your hands high so I can count.

Al Regula, king of the hoochie coochie, is the original back door man in muddying the waters.

Anonymous said...

Why arent we adressing police overtime? Once again today at the Hartsdale station, a police car was sitting in what would be an illegal spot for anyone else, blocking traffic, accomplishing nothing -- but oh wait, drawing a salary. Can we have the white plain police teach the greenburgh how to direct traffic to get it moving? Or just cut the police, because they are not accomplishing what they are supposed to

Anonymous said...

Samis, can't you do any research before pressing the send button? It's "when EF Hutton talks, people listen." And along those same poorly researched lines, what's your basis for saying Bernstein seeks far too much attention for his actual accomplishments? Feiner uses the gblist to do that for himself. What does Bernstein use?

Anonymous said...

to 2:28. Feiner is the elected CEO of the Town. Bernstein is nothing except a giant ego-machine who thinks that he is the CEO of the town. That's why it is OK for Feiner to send things out (though I wish he wouldn't) and not so good for Bernstein to puff himself up by fooling the public. He did it for five years and was finally slapped down by the court.

In short, Samis is right. Let's wait for the Court of Appeals to decide and not get all heated about who owes what to whom.

Anonymous said...

Hey Samis,

Did you see the sewer guy at the work session yesterday? He came up with the possibility of double billing. Two sets of bills for the same thing. He also said that over 8,000 people might have been effected by the towns inability to run the sewers. What do you have to say about that?? Samis seems to be very quiet on this issue. Why?? Does it make your Supervisor look like he can't manage the town???

Anonymous said...

Hey 3:04, let's give the devil his due. Without Bernstein, there'd be no Taxter Ridge case, and without Bernstein, the Court of Appeals, New York's highest court, wouldn't be hearing it. There aren't too many lawyers out there who've singlehandedly gotten their own case all the way up to the Court of Appeals. Don't know where all your anger comes from, or why you think Bernstein acts like the CEO of the town, but some of us in unincorporated think he's doing one helluva job representing our interests when nobody else seems to be.

Anonymous said...

Dear 2:28,

When you see a question mark (as you did) follow a word or phrase (not sentence) I have written, you can assume that I am not entirely certain. Thanks for the correction.

At the same time, note for yourself that the button is not "send" but "publish your comment".

Feiner, as has the Town Council(Bass and Sheehan), used the gblist. Bernstein has his own email list. What's the problem?

Bernstein, as head of the ECC, uses this position to get The Scarsdale Inquirer to follow his phone and email story leads. But what is the news value in the varying steps to the final Court decision. Is the news that the Court is going to listen as important as their verdict? This court hearing/appeal/reversal process is unending (not Bernstein's fault or choice); meanwhile the Town has to operate each day.

To 3:11,
As for the sewer district, if I were a homeowner, perhaps I would be interested. However it is not justifiable from passing leanings or my being circumspect for you to conclude that I'm not interested in everything that goes on about Town.

If I were following the sewer district story, I would assuredly make more of the bullying role that Sheehan undertook to intimidate Dominick into not proceeding. At least this issue has a beginning, a middle and an end -- all in the same lifetime.

And to 3:28,
Without Bernstein, the sun rises and sets, the earth spins and the stars come out at night. It is nice to know that Bernstein likes to do battle through the Courts but there is also a cost to the Town during this duel of epithets hurled at ten paces or further online. However, Bernstein's travail is not exactly "that splendid little war" and the participants and onlookers are wearying of the fray. But the overlooked point is -- perhaps applicable to both sides -- is that if it were such a slam-dunk, then the matter would have long ago vanished. Apparently both sides have dry powder and a well-stocked legal larder.

The bad public relations that Bernstein gets is of his own making. Were he not so quick to tell everyone, friend and foe alike, that: he is right and they are wrong; it would have been more convincing in retrospect if he did not have to be continuing this maybe pyrrhic victory as far as the Appeals Court. That is the problem: if Bernstein allowed from the start that the Court might not agree, people might be more tolerant or sympathetic along the way. Instead, the gospel according to Bernstein apparently needs higher and higher Courts for that slam-dunk to score as a point for unincorporated.

A little humility, taken along with a spoonful of sugar, goes a long way in helping the medicine go down.

Or so they said at EF Hutton.

Anonymous said...

Samis, the reason it's news that the Court of Appeals is hearing Bernstein's case is that normally you have to ask permission to get a case heard in Albany and permission is not usually granted. Bernstein didn't just ask for permission. He filed as of right on constitutional grounds, which requires a showing that a substantial constitutional issue was directly at stake. The Court of Appeals hardly ever allows appeals like that to go forward. But it did here.

You may not care, Samis, because you don't pay any property taxes, but those of us in unincorporated who do pay the taxes sure do.

I'm not Bernstein, I'm not on his e-mail list either, I don't even know if he has one, but I approve of this message.

Anonymous said...

Feiner said he was going to speak about the sewer audit after the town bd. work session. The town bd. has had its work session and still no comments. Where are you Paul???????

Anonymous said...

Dear 6:04,
Yet the Court of Appeals does grant permission to many, many others. If there was no one else in line ahead of Bernstein's appeal, the case would be heard within weeks.

The best you can say is that the Court agreed to hear his appeal. This certainly doesn't denigrate Mr. Bernstein; neither does it make it news for the masses and deserves merely a summary notation in the trade paper.

You and I differ in that I am not interested in what Bob has for breakfast every morning.

Anonymous said...

hope it was a klondike bar!

Anonymous said...

How can Regular say that he is saving the residents money by taking away back yard pickups.
Why can't he look at another way of saving money like have residents bag leaves.
He does't even want to try it out for the coming year to see if it is a saving or not.
You cannot say that something is not working unless you try it out.
He is just being pigheaded and will not try to save money.
His plan is taking with one hand and placing it into the other.
Who is he trying to fool.
He has fooled the public for some time but now it caught up with him.
Give it up Regula .

Anonymous said...

Samis, you ignorant slut, you don't seem to get it. Even if there was nobody else in line at the Court of Appeals, it wouldn't hear the case unless it thought there was a substantial constitutional issue that was directly involved in the decision below. That's the way the Court of Appeals works. And win or lose, like him or hate him, that's why this is such a big deal for unincorporated Greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

It is not true that there has to be a "substantial" constitutional question for the Court of Appeals to allow an appeal. The complaint just has to allege a credible constititional question for there to be an appeal as of right. Bernstein alleged a violation of due process because of the taxation and so there is a constitutional question alleged and there is an appeal as of right.

It is the same allegation that Bernstein made to the Appellate Division and that court didn't buy it. What makes you think that the Court of Appeals will come to a different decision? Is it because Bernstein is puffing away? Bernstein will get a third strike, but he will go on and on because he can't stand being a failed nobody.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Bob. Your litigation is BORING.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm no lawyer, but I know anon at 9:44 doesn't know what he or she is talking about. I just googled "what is the legal standard to appeal as of right to the New York Court of Appeals?" The first entry is entitled "Appeals as of Right." It says, "The constitutional question must be both directly involved in the Appellate Division order and substantial."

So Anon at 9:44, the mere fact that Bernstein alleged a due process violation because of the taxation wasn't enough. Sure looks like he had to show a lot more than that.

I'm excited for Bernstein because for the first time ever, the rights of unincorporated Greenburgh will get a hearing before New York's highest court. Maybe we'll get a ruling that will reduce our taxes and put an end to the dysfunctional way things work in Greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

as you said - you're no lawyer.

i suggest you read the appellate division decision - the court rather easily dispensed with the alleged violation of the ny state constitution.

Anonymous said...

OK, so why wont Feiner live with the Appellate decision and stop allowing village use of Veterans??

Anonymous said...

Bob is upset because his name is not in the newspapers!
The Finneran law will probably be amended anyway in 2009. Howie Kaplan's committee, made up of unincorporated Greenburgh leaders, is close to making a recommendation.

Anonymous said...

Courts make mistakes. Remember that one court dismissed Bernstein's suit because he "lacked standing". Even the Appellate Division can be, and has been, overruled.

Anonymous said...

Oh the law is going to be amended? While the court is considering it? On the basis of another of Feiner (Villages first) handpicked committee's recommendations.

Anonymous said...

The entire Finneran Committee is made up of unincorporated residents (with only one village representative). Most of the members of the committee don't like Feiner. They like the parks and think Bob Bernstein is creating chaos.

Anonymous said...

The point that bloggers from all sides keep making (implicit) in their posts is that the race isn't over until it is over aka the fat lady sings.

Which is my point. All this fighting over what the Court will decide is (again the cliche) water under the bridge. It is the ego fed need to keep this forest fire burning that Bernstein instructs his troops that he's already won which is what I find annoying -- not the course of human events.

Since everyone agrees that only the Court can decide, what's the point of blowing smoke until the decision. Bernstein files, he wins, he loses, he appeals, he appeals higher -- old news. Hasn't anyone caught on yet that this is a lengthy process.

We're not going to hear the final result for likely a year.

And to 9:23 on July 2, another reference from the glory days of SNL is called for: Franco is still dead. Just like the Bernstein lawsuits months (years) later are still crying out for column inches.

Anonymous said...

Bob didnt create the chaos. Paul did.

Anonymous said...

I may not be much of a local historian but it is my understanding that the large land mass that is Greenburgh preceded Feiner. And on this land mass existed incorporated villages and unincorporated sections and that some of these sections were wholly contained school districts and that other sections contained overlapping school districts. All this existed before Feiner came to office. Furthermore, that living in these political subdivisions were residents from all walks of life, of all nationalities, of all races, of all religions, of all persuasions and, that furthermore, the economic underpinnings of these political subdivisions varied greatly causing feelings of entitlement and/or superiority and that the concept of paying one's fair share of the load was believed, but remains unproven, to be carried by genetic makeup. And this too preceded the coming to office of Feiner.

And given that chaos has been demonstrated to be the existing order of the day, you still further the supposition that Bernstein's role is to make water from wine and restore order?

Anonymous said...

No Bob is trying to achieve fairness and compliance with NYS law. Before Paul, Finnerman was enacted to allow the acquisition of Veterans and payment only by TOV and use by TOV. With Paul, we find cockamanie use of the law to acquire property which can not be limited to TOV use. Had the only significant use of Finnerman been Veterans, and had use of Veterans been restricted to TOV people, I doubt Bob would have litigated. So yes, I see Paul creating the chaos. Hal, if you paid property taxes you might care.

Anonymous said...

Yes indeedy, if the only significant use of Finnerman had been Veterans, then we would not have had all this litigation. But as someone told me, if the queen had balls she'd be king.

The Finneran law isn't limited to Veterans. It covers all parks and recreation facilities heretofore and hereafter created. That's what it says, and no matter how much you all talk about Veterans you are, as Hal Samis nicely put it, blowing smoke. Hal knows what he is talking about, which cannot be said about those who call him names.

Wake up.

Anonymous said...

That may be but Finnerman says facilities paid by TOV have to be limited to TOVers. Why are villagers still using Finnerman.

Anonymous said...

the bernstein lawsuit before the court of appeals does not concern veteran park - it concerns taxter ridge park and preserve in east irvington. the issue is who responsible for payment of the town's 1/3rd interest in the park, unincorporated greenburgh only or all town taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

To the person who complains about the police car parked at the hartsdale trainstation in a illegal spot. Would you rather they take a spot from us when it is already hard enough to find a place to park?

Anonymous said...

No I would rather the police WALK OR STAND AND DIRECT TRAFFIC. Let one car drop off an officer for the morning rush hour, then that person can check for permits, and then get picked up. Same for afternoon.

Anonymous said...

Could the chief explain what is happening on Central Ave. at lunch time.
Traffic is backed up on the northbound side from the four corners passed Marion Ave. every day.
We had a person directing traffic many years ago why not give back that service.
This intersection needs someone to move the traffic along.
Chief how about showing us that you care some what for the residents and the motorist by checking this problem .

Anonymous said...

Could it be possible that directing traffic is beneath the performances of the Greenburgh Police dept.

When did this job become one that has no intrest in the well being of residents.

Boy we had many intersections named after the police person who directed traffic for many years.This will not be done with what we have on the force today.

What a sad state of affairs.

Anonymous said...

The fact is Greenburgh spends millions for police and doesnt monitor what gets done. And Feiner doesnt care. He is the CEO and CfO and just doesnt care. Why should he? If its in the B budget, TOVers dont count.

Anonymous said...

isnt sheehan the liaison from the town board to the police department?

all he cares about is the farce known as the comprehensive plan.

sheehan - wrong for greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

Let's stop knocking the town. We live in a Great town, with great services and a government that responds to our concerns.

Anonymous said...

Again as I watched the rerun of the work session,how in the hell can the town overcharge the residents for the sewers.
How come it took a resident to bring this to light?
What kind of comptroller did we have at that time?
How much money was made under the table by those in charge?
The comptroller and assessor were at fault to let this happen.
What else were we paying for that was illegal.
Thanks sewer guy what ever your name is we will back you one hundred percent .
The state comptroller ruled on your findings against the town then they should pay back what they overcharged and they had better straighten it out asap including interest.
.

Anonymous said...

The current assessor is just as bad. She has been there for over a year and continually claims that the assessment rolls are 100% correct.

Anonymous said...

Dear sewer guy: I watched the reruns of the Town meeting to. My impression was that the town is treating the sewer problem seriously.

ed krauss said...

To 9:23PM 7/02. You're at best an ambulence chaser, if indeed you are a lawyer. 9:44 PM proved your passionite posting showed you know not what you know not. In fact, look up the vulgar definition of the word "SLUT." It is used to descibe a promiscuous woman. Hal may be many things but he's not promiscuous in the vulgar sense. As to the non-vulgar definition,"not restrictd to one partner," he's not married and therefore is free to date many partners.

7/3 9:06PM What "Great" town are you referring to when you say "our? board responds to our concerns?"

I am but one of many who've expressed my concerns, in question form, verbally and in writing to the Town Clerk. And silence has prevailed. The last one about when they found out about the 17% tax increase and WHY the comptroller felt it was "light" was not addressed by any of he councilpersons whom I told I would FOIL and prove them to be the liars they are...and still no response.Mind you this was a question submitted to the Town Clerk, according to the new rules established by the very people who did not answer my question. Mr. Feiner "addressed" the question, but wasn't even in the same galaxy with his non-sequitur masquarading as an answer.

How about responding to the oncerns of a sewer disrict overcharge brought to their attention for YEARS! yes YEARS!?

How about the myriad of legitimate questions from Ella Preiser, of great concern to us all? NEVER ANSWERED!!!!

So MR/Ms. 9:06 PM 7/3, what Great Town do you live in?

Finally, sorry Hal but I still maintain this town needs professional management. Yes some large corporations are hurting, nevertheless most professionally run corporations were built by professional management not the Amateurs, who've been elected to be in charge for lo these many years.Professionals build successful organizations. As with everthing in life and in business, there are some "academically" qualified pros who are great, good, average and below average. ALL of the amateurs we've elected have no credentials to oversee a $70,000,000 "business." They have no background in finance, administration, management, systems and procedures, just to name a few.There is nothing more obvious than their gross mishandling of our fund balance. But their are other, many other, not so obvious bloopers.

So, Hal, I disagree with your comparing the managment teams of Fortune 500, 1,000 or 5,000 having "bad hair days," to the decades of incompetents pissing away millions of or tax dollars with impunity.

As to TERM LIMITS,there is no question in my mind that our founding fathers did no intend to have citizens stay in office, or use elected office as a life long career. Changing the water in the bath tub, periodically, keeps one clean. Term limitting elected office retards complacency, encourages accountibility, brings fresh ideas (not "on the mind, out of the mouth," unvetted like you know who) to the table.
And, staleness is apparent when the primary objective is after day one of getting elected, start mapping out your campaign for getting re-elected.

The electorate? Only start worrying about them about 3-4 months before the next election. Otherwise, do whatever the hell you want to do, because people are very involved with making a living keeping their heads above water and peripherally aware of what's really going or not going on with the town.

Like the universal campaign slogan for challengers is and has been, "it's time for a change!" And boy do we ever need a change in this town.

A MAJOR OVERHAUL.

Anonymous said...

ed - when you helped get feiner and juettner on the town board you should have exacted a term limit pledge

what has juettner done (other than mess things up) to deserve another minute on the board.

btw - didnt feiner agree to only serve on the board for a limited term?

please find mike kolesars - that will help undo your legacy of juettneritis.

Anonymous said...

Did the town board or their department heads break any laws by refusing to address the sewer overcharge issues?

Anonymous said...

I wouldnt be surprised if the Finnerman committee comes up with recommendations at least partially supporting Feiner, as they apparently are taking at face value Feiner's assumptions, such as residents can not have guests. Unless they are allowed to have their own counsel, I would suggest they strongly caveat their recommendations, as to why they are making recommendations. I suspect that the committe is not considering many important criria, including the value that access to the parks gives to homes, and that that value should not just be given away.

The fact is I have no expectation of fairness from any Feiner appointed committee, and only look to Bernstien for help.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:40 is typical of the bitter bunch that spouts anger and is usually wrong.

The Finneran Committee was not appointed by Feiner. It was appointed by the Town Board, unanimously.

From what I have heard from some on the committee, Anon 2:40 doesn't even come close to knowing what he is talking about.

What we are getting is what we always get from this bunch. Anger, hate, vindictiveness, and an insistence on creating bad vibes instead of trying for some good ones.

The result will be that we won't have the recreation programs that we like and we will pay more for what we have left because our revenues will be down. Thanksalot.

Anonymous said...

Feiner has bullied the council into his position. and nonresidents continue to use veterans.

Anonymous said...

You better beilieve it .the town board together with department heads broke many laws concerning the sewer problem.
You ain't heard nothing yet.
The fun is just starting.
Let's see what they will decide amongst themselves.
My lawyer has been retained just in case I do not like what they decide.
We all know that certain department heads like to shove things under the rug. The board will do the same.
This problem will not go away that easy.
Thank you sewer investigator we should have more residents like you to see what else has been done to steal our money.

Anonymous said...

So what is new that the town council thinks they are above the law. They continue to allow Village use of Veterans.

Anonymous said...

The Finneran Committee couldn't agree on a recommendation to amend Finneran and even if it came up with anything, the state legislature won't consider any changes while the Court of Appeals is looking into whether the law itself is constitutional. In the meantime, the town continues to allow nontaxpaying residents of the villages to use Veteran Park, and it continues to require only unincorporated residents to pay for the costs of a community center that serves all economically disadvantaged residents town-wide. Feiner's defense is that the town legally runs two recreation departments that unincorporated must pay for, each with its own commissioners, one for the general population and one for the economically disadvantaged, and if it bothers unincorporated residents paying a 21% tax hike this year that they have to pay for two separate rec dep'ts, that's just too bad.

Anonymous said...

PAUL YOU KEEP SAYING THAT THE UNINCORPORATED AREA MUST PAY FOR ALL SERVICES.
YOU HAD YOUR WAY UP TO NOW BUT THINGS WILL CHANGE. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
PREPARE YOUSELF FOR MANY MORE LAWSUITS.
YOU WROTE ON THE BLOG THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE NO MORE WELL BE CAREFUL WE WILL TRY TO ENFORCE THAT GREENBURGH GOVERNMENT IS NOT NEEDED.

Anonymous said...

How can this new assessor say that her books are 100% in order when she knows of what went on with the sewers.
What world does she live in.
I feel that she is in lala land .She can shake hands with Juettner.
She has known about the sewer investigation since she got the job .For whom is she covering up.
She cannot change what was ruled
with the findings of the state comptroller's office.
If the investigation moves to other districts can she still say that she's 100% right. NO WAY JOSE.

Anonymous said...

Paul do youself a favor get someone as the assessor for this town that is alive and well.
There some good people out there that could surely fit the bill.

Anonymous said...

Regula has been arround too long. He feels very comfortable in this position and because of this he does not want to make changes that will save the residents money.
How can he say that if leaves are bagged there will be no savings.
We will save the wear and tear of two machines that he uses and a third maybe the vacumn truck.
Here you have three machines that cost a good penny to operate and maintain.
Bagging leaves will also save the roadways and curbs.
Overtime would go out the window.
right now he stated four or five Saturdays of overtime for his men to pick up the leaves.
When they work the overtime do they receive Double time .
The bagging of leaves will eliminate the overtime and save the residents money.
Putting the maintenance and the overtime the residents will be saving big time.
He wont try this out because he doesn't care about the residents . He has been here too long we need a change.

Anonymous said...

Oh my God. I just saw someone who lives in Ardsley in Veteran Park. What do we do now? We have to put new grass over the place where this foreigner walked. We have to renovate the multi-purpose center. And definitely we have to fumigate the entire place.

We TOV residents better go to check if our vaccinations are still OK or whether we need new preventative madications and care.

How can the Town Board permit such a menace to the health of our residents. And how can our Town Board allow such wanton destruction as this Ardsley resident has caused to Veteran Park by his very presence. I didn't see the destruction, but that is because I immediately ran out of the place so that I wouldn't be infected by the Ardsley plague.

Please Town Board, protect us.

Anonymous said...

Heah, just charge parks and rec to A budget.

Anonymous said...

Cant we solve this whole a and b thing by consolidating all services and allowing all GREENBURGH rsdidents acess to all parks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey 8:39, can we charge the villages parks and rec to the A budget also? There are more TOV people who use village parks than there are villagers who use TOV parks.

Anonymous said...

8:37, that was actually part of Suzanne Bergers compromise, to have the Town take over maintencance of all parks, and charge to all Town. Instead, the greedy Villagers want to use Town parks and not pay.

Anonymous said...

9:45, you can't seem to read. The villagers don't use the TOV parks except for the small handful who have been invited in by the Town Board and who won't miss it when they can't use them.

It is your mean attitude that is the problem. No village resident will treat you the way you treat them when you and other TOV residents use the village parks. That is because in the villages we act in a neighborly fashion.

Anonymous said...

If the Villagers dont really use the parks, then it would be simple for the Council to exclude them. Sounds easy to me. But the council wont do it. I suspect that will be mentioned in court filings.

Anonymous said...

So I can use the Dobbs Ferry pool and the Irvington Maselon (name??) park? I dont think so, if I live in unincorporate Greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

To the last two bloggers.

You can use almost all the village parks, not all. I think that the Dobbs Ferry pool, which is not large, has a capacity problem. The Irvington park has a restrictive covenant from the person who donated the land and there is nothing Irvington can do about it, but their other riverfront park is open to all. So big deal, there are a few parks and facilities you can't use. But you can use most of them and you don't hear village residents yelling "pay up" as to the many parks and facilities that you can use.

Sure the Town Board can exclude all non-residents from town parks. The thing that makes TOV people sound so mean and petty is that they demand that non-residents can't step into the town parks. What's the big deal if some non-residents do make some use. It doesn't add snything to the cost, and it would be a nice reciprocal bit of neighborliness since almost all village parks are open to TOV residents.

Yes I know. It is "you don't psy, stay out." That is why so many village residents have come to disrespect the TOV. You know nothing about being human beings.

Anonymous said...

Excuse me, but Veterans park is overcrowded on hot Saturdays. But no one cares. The problem is the TOVers have no to stick up for us. Why is it we are mean we are saying our facilities are overcrowded and should be limited to residents? There are a lot of issues with parks and recs but the village residents control the votes. If the village residents had insisted on fairness and prudent spending, much of the animosity would not exist.

Anonymous said...

Many Town parks are open to the public, such as Harts,Glenwoods and Taxter, including village residents. Typically parks which have pools or tennis are restricted to residents. But the TOVers have no one to speak for us, other than Bernstein. Feiner has created this situation. What is his solution? I would like to hear.

Anonymous said...

Dear 2:35,

It seems that the Villagers only disrespect teh TOVers when we, the TOVers ask for fair treatment. For that you view us as less than human?

Anonymous said...

Response to the last three bloggers.

To 9:23 PM. If you want to restriict the use of a park because it is overcrowded, that is fine. But if you read the blog postings, it is never about overcrowding. It is about paying. or to put it another way, if you agree to be taxed you can use the parks. It is that last part that is mean and pettty and happily the villages don't have such a petty view about TOV residents using village parks.

To 10:06 PM. The parks that you say are open are open because they were financed with federal funds and federal law requires open admission. And has it hurt these parks that non-residents can go into them, or cost the town extra money? I don't think so. There is a lesson there.

To 10:52 PM. Villagers disrespect the TOV because so many TOV residents, like you, confuse fair treatment with a one-sided view of neighborliness. That is the Bernstein effect.

Anonymous said...

ok - its saturday, its 90 degrees - all villagers must leave the pool at once. on you way out, you will get a discount coupon for a klondike bar when you come back on a saturday when its pnly 89 degrees.

problem solved.

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute, if Village parks are open (such as Irvington Scenic Park) or closed (such as Irvingotn Malleson park) becuase of legal restrictions or closed because of crowding, such as Dobbs Ferry pool, that is entirely fair, but when it comes to Town Parks, none of the same applies. And the indoor pool at TDYCC recently opened Sundays becuase of overcrowding.

What TOVers resent, is constant taxation without representation. And we when complain, you consider us less than human.


I suspect these insults come from a fear that the courts have said what the town has done is unacceptable. One court said the town must charge all, the other that admission must be limited to residents.

Anonymous said...

8:16 you are wishfully thinking,. or rather you are doing the Bernstein dance, which is creating your personal reality.

Sure, a court said that the town must charge all. That court was decisively reversed by the appeals court which said that unincorporated must pay all.

If you would start facing realiry instead of relying on false fluff, we might get towards a solution.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and that second court said Town must restrict use. Which so far "Villages First" Feiner refuses to do. There are two courses of action acceptable to me, as a TOVer. One, charge parks to A budget. Two, restrict useage.

Anonymous said...

12:39 just proved my point. It is not about overcrowding, it is about being taxed.

It's OK by me if keeping people out just for the sake of keeping people out is what you want, but it stinks just the same.

Lucky for you, villagers are not as mean and nasty. They let non-residents use most of their parks and don't bitch about it or ask for payment.

I'd love to hear the unincorporated area sqeals if Ardsley closed all of its parks and rec facilities to the residents of the unincorporated area. Ardsley is too nice and neighborly to do that, but unincorporated would deserve it.

Anonymous said...

What parks does ARdsley have? Do they let others use their indoor pool? I dont think so. Do they have tennis courts or pool. Ardsley are the biggest moochers. They dont share anyting, jsut want to use everyone elses. And not pay.

Anonymous said...

dear tov - didnt you just steal the old town hall site for your library?

juettner, the fraud, will pay for this in 2009.

Anonymous said...

I didnt steal anything. And Feiner knew all about this. Had he not agreed, I doubt the library would have incurred the 20M or whatever in building the new library. The libary relied on Feiners allowing this.

ed krauss said...

7/6 1:32

It's always wise to load before you shoot.
Ardsley does have tennis courts for which they charge non residents slightly more than residents. Never the less non residents can play.

Ardsley does have parks (that's plural) which non resident can and do use. In fact the Ardsley Little League which plays its games at McDowell Park- completely maintained and paid for by Ardley (and whose parking lot is used by Veteran Park attendees on crowded days). It also has Ardsley school district kids who live in Greenburgh
participate (without paying extra) in their LL program.

Ardsley's Middle School pool was used by the Ardsley summer camp program in which, again, Ardsley school district kids participated along with their Ardsley classmates.

In conclusion, Ardsley is a moocher like you're an "informed" blogger.

They don't mooch, and you sit on your brain while shooting your mouth off with not a scintilla ofknowledge.

The use and allocation of funding of the Town parks and rec is a complex issue, too convoluted for a simple mind like yours. So stick to issues where thinking is unnecessary. Like should we pick up trash in the back of houses, get a town board definition of what "OPEN GOVERNMENT" is, and who will win more games the Yank or the Mets.

Anonymous said...

Why is it the Affordable Housing in Greenburgh will have no control over residents, and will likely not be civil servants, while the one in ARdsley will? Sounds like discrimination to me.

Anonymous said...

Ed, the Town has more than enough little league fields. If ASD wants to have it by school attendance, their perogative. And Veterans would have have more than enough parking if the Town didnt keep trucks there. So when is Ardsley going to open up their pool to all of Greenburgh? I cant wait.

Anonymous said...

the pool you speak of is in the ardsley middle school which mostly serves students outside the village of ardsley.
why should anyone from another district be permitted to use it?

does bronxville open its science labs to neighboring school districts?

please spend some time looking at a map and reviewing the difference between a municipality and a school district.

Anonymous said...

I don't live in Ardsley, but I know that Ardsley is a model for good neighborliness. Ed Krauss is absolutely right.

It doesn't surprise me that some of the grumblers, like the guy who wrote at 11:49, refuses to acknowledge it. People like him always look at the hole, not the doughnut.

Anonymous said...

I took a survey today of some highway and sanitation men.
Paul they are fed up with need I name him.
They told me if the residents were not nice they would not do their job to the fullest.
Why are you waiting so long to make this change. The public tells you they are disgused with him what else must you be told.
He's been the boss too long. It's time for a big change.
Now he wants to save money by stopping certain pickups.Give us a break.
Get rid of him before he starts more disention amongst the workers.
He does not know what he is talking about that bagging of leaves will not save money.
How much does he spend for the upkeep of the machinery that picks up the leaves.He is so good in selling you all on the board a good line of good,
Watch out he'll probably sell all of you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Anonymous said...

7:01, I agree with you, but then why are Village people allowed to use unincorporated parks? They dont pay taxes for these parks.

Anonymous said...

Sell the dam parklands and bring in much needed revenue.
Your department heads have gotten a little too big for their britches.
They have been arround too long.
Spend spend is their motto.
We cannot spend anymore.
Are you waiting for these parks to bring in revenue that will help the upkeep. FORGETABOUTIT.
You bought Hartbrook PK. What for.
This property could have brought in so much money that our taxes would have been nothing.
You cut your nose to spite your face.
Listen to those that want parkland and you will see in a few years that it was the wrong thing to do.
Businesses are going out out every day.
Have you checked Central ave?
Just wait until the big complex opens up in Yonkers,
Yonkers will benefit from the residents of this town big time.
The problem is that the board forgot to look at the whole picture
or say to themselves what if this happens.
No you all went ahead with your money spending plans without thinking of what may be coming down the pipe line.
You thought only for today and forgot about tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

With the investigation that is now going on with the sewers I'd like to know was Regula working for the time in question.
Please answer this question.

Anonymous said...

Dear 11:21,

The better question is: what town is Regula working for?

Sheehan was working but his questions were accompanied by not so veiled threats.

The police were working (overtime) but they were chasing the Edgemont burglar (aka the third man) through the sewers of Vienna.

Anonymous said...

Dear Hal,

Do you think that the sewers of Vienna are better managed than the way Regula managed them here??????

Anonymous said...

What is this Celebrate Greenburgh on the 19th at Veterans Park? Is it open to village residents?

Anonymous said...

If Regula was working at the time that the sewers were initiated he must be fired.
Most of the mismanagment of the sewer construction was under his watch.
I'm sure that he was involved especially if he is working twenty years plus for the town.
What else has he done that would cost the residents more money than expected.
Paul this man should be investigated with all the dealings that he has had.
If you think that he has managed the library correctly think again.
Why wait for more dirt to come out in the wash.
In today's world whatever you have done in the past will come out to hit you in the butt.
Regula leave before the S--T hits the fan.

Anonymous said...

Where in the hell is Regula saving money when he has already warned us of the maintenance of the library.
His savings is on paper.
He will be shifting from one side to another side of the ledger.
We never really looked into this department's spending until now.
Let's go back some and see if what he purchased was delivered and what else was ordered and payed for but never delivered.
If you talk to some of the retired workers they would make your hair stand way up with all the wrong doings.