Some people can talk a lot but actually say nothing. I am beginning to feel that way about our mayor and council.
After hearing friends and family of the mayor and council sing their praises for their accomplishments at the last meeting, I attempted to find out some specifics about the town's fiscal status.
Here is what I was able to gather from the blizzard of words and subject changes that I experienced:
The Town is flushing its way to the future. In the 2006, the town took money from the sewer department and loaned it to the schools. The money in the amount of $500,000 annually was returned in 2008 and 2009. However, the money was returned to the general fund, not the sewer department. Additionally, the town has been assessing annual management fees to the water and sewer department between $150,000 and $200,000.So how does this affect us?Now, the sewer department does not have the resources for necessary upgrades, such as the Route 54 improvements. So again we must take out the town credit card (debt) and worry about the bill later. I think we should all take the time to thank our water and sewer users, since they will pay for the mayor and council's shifting of funds in the form of higher rates in years to come. There existed an attorney general investigation about which no one speaks. I brought up the fact that there were some audit findings in 2006 and 2008. I was concerned specifically about the findings in 2008 and the potential for future investigations. After all, there were minor findings with the airport grants in 2006, yet -- in 2007 -- there was an investigation by the state attorney general into those grants. The town was subpoenaed to provide documentation to a grand jury. When I mentioned this item, there were no toothy grins or clever responses. There is a surplus of what they are not telling you. I identified that the town audit reports show that over the last two years, we are spending more of our surplus than we are taking in. Our expenses are growing while our revenue decreases.The mayor said this is untrue and cited the town's bank accounts as having $11 million. This sounds impressive. However, the state mandates that the town maintain reserve funds. The actual portion that we can use is far less, and it is these discretionary funds that we are depleting.If the mayor and council's performance teach one thing, it is that our council meetings are long on spin and short on reality.My running mates -- Mike Ammirato, Jim Scarpato and Carmen Villani -- and I will change this formula. Instead of changing the subject, we will actually answer your questions and give a full assessment of what is happening.This November, let's make the right choice.Joseph IngemiDemocratic candidate for mayor
