Lots of buzz lately about the proposed Dollar Tree (DT)  MILLION-PLUS SQUARE FOOT warehouse locating within 200 feet of an established Schodack neighborhood. Over 50 homes in Birchwood Estates (Richwood Drive, off Route 9 south of the 9 & 20 split) are now threatened by the Dowds administration’s unchallenged decision about their future. With expected Planning Board approval, they’ve encouraged this new business, under the guise of building our tax base.

DT will receive tax abatement under the County IDA program, where most of the tax revenues will go. Warehouses typically have lower assessed value because the structures are inherently less valuable. If DT’s approved, everyone in Birchwood Estates will likely challenge their assessments: their property values will plummet by approximately 30 to 40%. What the Town expects in taxes from DT could ultimately be a revenue loss for Schodack.

DT would locate directly over our aquifer. The building and blacktop will cover over 60 acres in the recharge area. Birchwood Estates gets its well water here, where the soils are sand and gravel. Anything rain washes off pavement, trucks, and rooftop will go into the aquifer. By their own admission, DT will only be filtering out the solids in their detention ponds. Any dissolved substances, like road salt and de-icing compounds, go directly into the aquifer and their wells.

Noise created by this 24/7 facility is unfixable. DT expects 165 trips daily, many of them double tandems, if approved by NYSDOT. DT has proposed mitigation, but when fork-lift back-up alarms sound at 3:00 a.m. do we really believe 200 feet of distance and a 10 foot noise-abatement fence will block the beeping?

This project will change our town irrevocably and steer future development in one direction.

Last November, I wrote a letter to the Advertiser stating that Schodack Democrats support businesses in town, as long as they comply with our laws (e.g.Aquifer Protection) and don’t destroy neighborhoods. Who knew this project was then pending and had been for some time prior to last year’s election?

This situation is a direct result of one group of people in charge with no one in elected office to challenge their decisions. Birchwood Estates pays the consequences.

Elizabeth Gable, Schodack resident and Town Democratic Committee Chair

 

 

At its July meeting, the Schodack Town Board appointed James Church, a crony of state senators Joe Bruno and Roy McDonald, to the Schodack Planning Board. It was done without even the slightest hint of an unbiased, nonpartisan approach to finding the best-qualified town resident to fill the seat.

The move is not without precedent. Last month Peter Goold was appointed acting town assessor, when town assessor Sharon Martin took a job with the county assessor's office, just like her predecessor Frank Curtis. Goold's appointment had been rumored since he lost his patronage job with the state. While Supervisor Dennis Dowds said the position was posted and several candidates were interviewed, it was a foregone conclusion that Goold would get the job so he could build up his government pension.This political game of musical chairs left an opening on the Planning Board. So behind closed doors, the Republican bosses decided who they wanted to fill the vacancy -- someone who would not make waves and who would rubber-stamp whatever the powers-that-be desired. Who could they reward with a paid position with retirement benefits? Politically-connected James Church.

It was the same with the newest Town Board member, Mike Kenney. He was appointed to the Town Board at a meeting that did not even include his appointment on the agenda. His name was not posted on the town website for more than a month. Kenney's qualifications for the job? He is Country Legislator Alex Shannon's nephew - actual nepotism at work.Can board members be independent of the town Republican bosses who got them their jobs? Hardly. Just look at the evidence: decisions are made behind closed doors and inevitably prove to be what is best for the party, the bosses and their friends and family members.There is little or no public discussion, but somehow as if by magic, all board members rubber-stamp each and every item on their agendas.Those who run the town are using our tax dollars like money from an ATM to line their own pockets while our taxes go ever-higher. It will only stop when more residents question what is going on and hold our elected officials accountable.

You can find more coverage of the questionable activities of Schodack's governing bodies here at our blog.

Linda Underwood

In a move that has been rumored for months, the Schodack Town Board appointed Peter Goold as acting Town Assessor from July 2011 through July 2012 at an annual salary of $50,000. The measure passed after an executive session but no public discussion. Mike Kinney was absent and Frank Curtis abstained due to his position at the County Assessor's office.

The measure was not on the agenda, but another resolution (2011-185) amended resolution 2011-155 adopted on May 12, 2011 appointed Sharon Marti, Sole Assessor on a part-time basis to increase hours from 30 hours to not to exceed 70hours.

The resolution does not stipulate what time period Ms Martin may not exceed the 70 hours in. Nor does it explain why, if she is the "Sole" Assessor, Peter Goold is the "Acting" Assessor.

At the same meeting, and also not on the agenda, Nadine Fuda was appointed Building Inspector through the end of the year at her current rate of pay. Another 211 waiver was filed with the State Civil Service Commission to retain Bernard Peter as Police Chief even though he has not passed the required civil service law.

Clearly, town Republicans aren't even making an attempt at being transparent when it comes to hiring people or giving them raises.

Linda Underwood