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