Vote
Paul Palumbo
For Richfield Town Supervisor
Response to 9/2 Pennysaver Attack Ad
1) Would not answer a specific question from the public in a Board meeting?
A: “The question asked had to do with a private discussion I had with the Comptroller’s office. I was not able to divulge the content of the discussion in a public meeting as it pertained to an open investigation.
2) Town Trash Days platform item?
A: "early in the 2013 campaign, I added this as something I would stand behind if it had public support. While campaigning, I did find this was not an overly popular idea, especially if it would cost the tax payers, and it certainly would have. With the transfer station so close by, the residents felt that was sufficient for their needs. I listened to the residents, and did not pursue it further.”
3) Comprehensive plan meetings – has not been present?
A: “when the comprehensive plan committee was being formed, I volunteered to be on it. However, Elan Planning, the lead contractor on this effort, strongly advised against having elected officials involved--- their feeling was that elected officials might somehow steer it or influence it, and that it might later be a conflict, as it is those same elected officials that would eventually have to vote on it. Correct, I have not been to any of the 3 meetings thus far, but I have been in contact with a half a dozen committee members on a regular basis for their report on progress. The meetings thus far have been of the very basic initial type…the real meat won’t happen until later this year.
4) Website --- who’s in charge/why is it so basic?
A: “I was tasked with getting a basic Town website running, which I did. Once it was up and running, I did volunteer to assist in getting basic content added, which I have done. I provide an update once per month, basically adding the Town Board and Planning Board minutes. The minutes are submitted within 3-5 business days after they are official. What many folks don’t realize is that minutes are not official until the following month, typically 4-5 weeks after the actual meeting date. When you visit the site, if you are expecting something like the State website or the US government website…you WILL be disappointed…. It is not intended to be of that versatility. We pay about 66 CENTS PER DAY for the website… if the residents want a more intricate site at a higher cost (a professionally managed site can easily run thousands of dollars per year), we could certainly look into it…but thus far the residents have not indicated that is a high priority for their tax money ”
5) Tax Cap concern?
A: “the tax cap is calculated by the State as a rate that all things being equal, taxes should go up due to inflationary effects on the Town expenses. So it is in fact the State that says taxes should go up….if we can do better by raising taxes less than that cap, it is a plus “.
6) Grant involvement?
A: “The Highway Superintendent and I joined the Supervisor’s grant committee early this year. To our knowledge, there have not been any meetings since that time. If there have been meetings, we’ve been purposely excluded.
7) Financial Experience ??
A: “ I have attended state certified accounting classes. To say “the only thing found by the audit was improperly set-up software” is really quite a stretch in this ad. We were all advised that our books were being done improperly, and have been doing them wrong for more than ten years. Could have done them wrong for 10 more years if the auditor had not been hired! The Town finances should have originally been set up similar to a conglomerate business; we are doing books as if we were a single company with no subsidaries. The fix is to change our books to emulate a conglomerate. The software we use is not ideal for that, so I researched changing software to one used by towns across New York State. The supervisor would not entertain changing software, but instead wished to contract an accountant for another $5000 to fix the books. Since I knew what needed to be done, I offered to work with the supervisor and bookkeeper to perform the switchover at no taxpayer cost…that offer was refused. We are still in that stalemate today ”
8) Baker’s Beach improvements
A: “I am the Board liason to the private group planning to put a pavilion at Baker’s Beach. That effort is moving right along, at no cost to the taxpayers. They are currently raising funds to begin the initial construction”
9) Summer Work Program
A: “upon taking office I did look into this. What I found is this is something handled at the county level.”
Last Revised: 9/2/15
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