I find it interesting that the REMS supporters only want one side of the story to be told and REMS didn't publicize the amount of debt that they owe. Is this really a fair vote when the people voting don't know the whole truth.
Mohawk Ambulance campaigning against Rotterdam EMS district Saturday, December 4, 2010 By Justin Mason (Contact) Gazette Reporter
ROTTERDAM — Mohawk Ambulance has launched a massive public relations campaign to convince Rotterdam voters to reject a proposed tax district for the nonprofit Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services Inc. Spokesman Tom Nardacci confirmed Mohawk is behind a series of fliers that arrived at Rotterdam mailing addresses throughout the week. He said the for-profit ambulance company also rented space on a pair of billboards urging residents to vote down the tax district. “There is no need to create a special tax district or provide any government subsidies to have reliable and high-quality ambulance service,” he said in a statement released Friday. “The extra tax burden is simply not necessary because there is an alternative that will not cost anything but in fact will generate new revenues for the town.”.............>>>>...................>>>>................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2010/dec/04/1204_ems/
As a Rotterdam resident for over 40 years, I [think] the powers that be in this town know they are going a little too far in the matter of REMS [Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services] vs. Mohawk Ambulance. In the past, residents have let it be known that they prefer to remain with REMS. Now, more than ever, we need to let these people know that we have a final say in this matter. I have had several experiences with REMS and cannot believe that anyone could give us better service. They go beyond just getting people to the hospital; they are a group of caring people that do not take this as just a job. I have also had experience with Mohawk Ambulance. The service was OK, but the fee was ridiculous. I know they are supposed to give us a rate that sounds good, but what if in the future they decide to raise it? And they could do this every year. We would have no alternative. I just want to know why Mr. [Supervisor Frank] Del Gallo and Mr. [Deputy Supervisor Robert] Godlewski are so determined to keep this going? What really scares me is that there are people in Rotterdam who have no idea what this is all about. I hope they will get the information they need and vote “yes” on Dec. 14 at Town Hall, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dorothy Wroblewski Rotterdam
Quoted Text
Mohawk a better bet for Rotterdam than REMS
REMS [Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services] is being subsidized by Rotterdam at $10,000 per month. In addition, it needs $500,000 for new ambulances and owes $315,000 to the IRS. I don’t think 10 cents per $1,000 of valuation for each house will do it. Mohawk Ambulance will give the town $100,000 per year with no subsidy, a net gain of $220,000 for Rotterdam. We don’t need another tax district in town. Vote no on REMS. Eugene Szymanski Rotterdam Junction
btw --- how much money is Mohawk Ambulance spending to influence the referendum ????
Very good question. I would also like to know how much of OUR $10K per month and ALS money REMS is using to influence the referendum. Let's see, they bought lawn signs, they've been using OUR publically funded Fire Stations for meetings. One can only wonder what's next.
There's nothing more ridiculous than an insolvent not-for-profit using OUR tax dollars to campaign to get MORE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS!
How dare Mohawk use private money to inform the public of an option that won't cost us a dime in new taxes.
You see.....when you own and run a business, you have to work HARD! VERY HARD!! You must be creative and competitive. You must know how to charge for services, be fair, offer a superior service and yet make a profit.....without the support of the taxpayers! You pretty much go it alone! There are consequences for bad business practices.
When you are siphoning money from the taxpayers.......you basically don't have to do squat!! Yet you are still guaranteed a constant flow of money..........FROM THE TAXPAYERS!! IMHO, some non profits are too lazy and unqualified to run a business. So they skim off the government teet! It's so much easier!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
There is a huge billboard on Carman Road and Curry that says Vote NO.
I am totally baffled by those of you who seem to support ND. I am watching the town meeting now. She is more than abrasive--she is out and out rude to those she serves with and just as rude to other public service employees--not to mention she really is quite ignorant of the issues. So am I , but at least I don't have a board seat and I live out of town. Vote her out next.
There is a huge billboard on Carman Road and Curry that says Vote NO.
I am totally baffled by those of you who seem to support ND. I am watching the town meeting now. She is more than abrasive--she is out and out rude to those she serves with and just as rude to other public service employees--not to mention she really is quite ignorant of the issues. So am I , but at least I don't have a board seat and I live out of town. Vote her out next.
And who on rotterdam's town board are you comparing her to? It appears that you are singling her out....no?
Just curious......but who would you support if ND ran against ST or JM or JS in the next supervisors election in rotterdam?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I find it interesting that the REMS supporters only want one side of the story to be told and REMS didn't publicize the amount of debt that they owe. Is this really a fair vote when the people voting don't know the whole truth.
While they don't publicize the amount of debt they have, I did ask questions about that at the SSFD meeting. The debt that they had for the gas has been paid off and the amount that was needed for the IRS has been cut in half, at least.
I still disagree that one tax-funded organization should have signs on it to vote to approve another tax district. Also, I wish I could ask where is the code enforcer or the police officers who are authorized to enforce town code by taking down signs on town land, but I guess signs for special elections such as this are not covered in the town code, or at least this section.
Section 270-151.1
Quoted Text
A. The Town Board of the Town of Rotterdam has determined that the unrestricted proliferation of political signs throughout the Town of Rotterdam can be aesthetically detrimental to the environment, may be distractive to motorists and thereby create a traffic hazard and may contribute to littering of public and private property when not timely removed. The purpose of this section is to preclude these undesirable consequences by placing reasonable restrictions on the placement and erection of political signs.
B. For purposes of this section, a "political sign" is any sign which bears the name and/or political party of a candidate or candidates for public office. "Public office" includes federal, state, county, city, town, village and school district offices.
C. No person shall place or erect a political sign on any property owned by the federal government, State of New York, the Town of Rotterdam, New York, or any other municipality, special Town water or sewer district or school district, including the paved and unpaved rights-of-way of roadways, located in the Town of Rotterdam, New York.
E. No signs shall be placed on the sides of overpass or underpass vehicular bridges or railroad bridges, on poles carrying utility lines, traffic signals, streetlights or telephone lines and on direction or traffic signs.
H. The Town Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer, Zoning Officer and all police officers are empowered to remove any sign which is erected or placed in violation of the provisions of this section and to dispose of the sign in any appropriate manner, including trashing. Removal shall be without the necessity of prior notice to the candidate or anyone else. [Amended 7-9-2003 by L.L. No. 9-2003]
I. A person violating any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalties contained in § 270-180 of this chapter.
As far as signs on town land, here's a question for you, which will happen first: A. Wayne Calder taking office or... B. Wayne Calder taking down his last election sign?
My other question is, would it be against the law for a resident to enforce this code by removal of the sign as per section H? As per section B, I would guess that the REMS signs don't qualify as political signs, since they don't reference a specific candidate.
Logged
