VOTE YES ON THE AMBULANCE REFERENDUM >> TUESDAY DECEMBER 14
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
I have followed this topic on and off for over 2 years now. What got my attention initially was the "unpaid Payroll Tax" issue. Money was taken out of employees paychecks, but never remitted to the IRS. Stealing from their own people and jeopardizing the future social security benefits of these employees! Disgusting! What did they do with the money? Same answer as what did they do with the money they collected for the Town's paramedic service?...."unknown", "unaccounted for", etc. Then, when confronted by the IRS, how do they react? Ready to accept responsibility and work out an agreement? Hell no. Blame it on the "previous administration" and run to former Congressman, Mike McNulty, to "make it go away." Thank God these Pols are NOT allowed to interfere with the independent agency of the IRS. [Paul Tonko sent his minions out on the last go around with the IRS. Although, he's happy to take credit for the resolution, he won't admit to being directly involved].
I looked at REMSs' 990 IRS Tax Return filings for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Based on these filings there was only one word to describe this entity....insolvent.
The Town starts subsidizing REMS in February of 2009 at a rate of $10,000/mo. In August of 2009, Schenectady County releases the property tax lien in the amount of $19,261 for REMs Cardiff Road property. The lien was probably placed when REMSs lost it 501c3 tax exempt status and was placed back on the tax rolls. I can't put my hands on it now, but I believe someone on this forum-topic mentioned that REMS also paid off their mortgage. Are they also paying down the delinquent fuel bill with Town (aka Taxpayer) money? If REMS has to pay back the monies collected for Town's paramedic service but never remitted, will the residents of Rotterdam pay themselves back with their own money plus interest?
I attend a Town Board Meeting in September of 2009 and review REMS' budget for 2010 in the Chazen report. It shows income of $193,000 and expenses of $425,000! Are you kidding me? This say's "close down shop and call it a day," "will the last one out, please turn out the lights", etc. But no, all we have here is a mere shortage of $232,000 which can be satisfied with a taxing district at 10¢ / $1000.
Now, some of you will all say that all of this is in the past and REMS has turned over a new leaf. I'm sure this Joe Vanderwerker is a nice man, but I just don't see him having what it takes to run this entity properly. In the September 16, 2010 issue of the Spotlight, Mr. Vanderwerker is quoted as saying "You're getting quality EMS service for the town, and you're going to get it forever." Forever? And, just how much is this going to cost? Then, Mr. Vanderwerken proceeds to say that "Town Supervisor Frank DelGallo's suggestion that REMS be run like a business is unrealistic because it is providing a vital service to residents." You're kdding me, right? The reason they have the financial difficulties they have now is because they did not operate like a business. Lastly, Mr. Vanderwerker says that "worries about Mohawk being the sole ambulance provider for the town." "If...they have a monolpoly on Rotterdam and if all of sudden they don't meet their commitment, there is going to be alot of irate residents." Mohawk is also a for-profit organization and Rotterdam EMS is nonprofit organization. If they start to lose money and they raise their rates, you are going to be stuck with them." News Flash: If REMS doesn't keep up its payment plan with the IRS (or deviates from it in any way), the IRS will come in and seize all the assets that it currently has liens on. Rotterdam not only looses their ambulance service, but also the assets that were paid for with taxpayer monies. Gee...I wonder if the Rotterdam residents will be irate about that? And, when REMS starts loosing money, they won't raise thier rates? Of course not, 'cuz Joe "do-gooder" Vanderwerken would never hear of that. Those evil business people are the only ones who would do that....they'll (REMS) just raise the tax rate if they get their tax district. To him that's somehow different.
Lastly, I just reviewed REMSs' 2009 990. Signed by Mr. Joe Vanderwerken. According to this document, REMS has NO policies and procedures for reviewing and approving the form 990 tax return prior to filing with the IRS, NO policies and procedures in regards to conflicts of interest, NO whistleblower policy, NO written document retention and destruction policy. These are all policies relating to corporate governance and you have to have these policies in place for good governance. Also of interest to me was the amount of program service revenue reported for 2009. $768,005. That's just over 2X the amount collected in the prior year ($374,497). Does this include the $120,000 from Rotterdam? Maybe it includes the monies collected for Towns' paramedic services? According to the return, REMS had 49 employees in 2009. Now, they say they'll increase to 60 if tax district passes. I wonder if they have done the math on the additional payroll and benefit obligations?
So they want the monies from this tax district to upgrade their equipment. Will the IRS put liens on this property too? And, if REMS goes under, we loose this equipment too?
If REMS goes under, is the REMS Board personally liable for the unpaid IRS debt if assets are insufficient to cover the obligation? Perhaps that's the real motivator behind the rhetoric?
I'm voting "NO" today. "NO" more taxes! The most dangerous thing we can do, is give an entity the power to tax!
If the tax district is approved and REMS is awarded the contract, it will be because the voters were duped. REMS has never functioned with the best interest of the residents of Rotterdam due to it's fiscal mismanagement.
I know I have tried my best to communicate all this information to as many Rotterdam residents as I could. You can't imagine how surprised they were to find out about all this goings on. I hope they all go out tomorrow and vote this down!
Excellent first post Sharon. Kudos on your details and summary!
Quoted from 845
I have followed this topic on and off for over 2 years now. What got my attention initially was the "unpaid Payroll Tax" issue. Money was taken out of employees paychecks, but never remitted to the IRS. Stealing from their own people and jeopardizing the future social security benefits of these employees! Disgusting! What did they do with the money? Same answer as what did they do with the money they collected for the Town's paramedic service?...."unknown", "unaccounted for", etc. Then, when confronted by the IRS, how do they react? Ready to accept responsibility and work out an agreement? Hell no. Blame it on the "previous administration" and run to former Congressman, Mike McNulty, to "make it go away." Thank God these Pols are NOT allowed to interfere with the independent agency of the IRS. [Paul Tonko sent his minions out on the last go around with the IRS. Although, he's happy to take credit for the resolution, he won't admit to being directly involved].
I looked at REMSs' 990 IRS Tax Return filings for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Based on these filings there was only one word to describe this entity....insolvent.
The Town starts subsidizing REMS in February of 2009 at a rate of $10,000/mo. In August of 2009, Schenectady County releases the property tax lien in the amount of $19,261 for REMs Cardiff Road property. The lien was probably placed when REMSs lost it 501c3 tax exempt status and was placed back on the tax rolls. I can't put my hands on it now, but I believe someone on this forum-topic mentioned that REMS also paid off their mortgage. Are they also paying down the delinquent fuel bill with Town (aka Taxpayer) money? If REMS has to pay back the monies collected for Town's paramedic service but never remitted, will the residents of Rotterdam pay themselves back with their own money plus interest?
I attend a Town Board Meeting in September of 2009 and review REMS' budget for 2010 in the Chazen report. It shows income of $193,000 and expenses of $425,000! Are you kidding me? This say's "close down shop and call it a day," "will the last one out, please turn out the lights", etc. But no, all we have here is a mere shortage of $232,000 which can be satisfied with a taxing district at 10¢ / $1000.
Now, some of you will all say that all of this is in the past and REMS has turned over a new leaf. I'm sure this Joe Vanderwerker is a nice man, but I just don't see him having what it takes to run this entity properly. In the September 16, 2010 issue of the Spotlight, Mr. Vanderwerker is quoted as saying "You're getting quality EMS service for the town, and you're going to get it forever." Forever? And, just how much is this going to cost? Then, Mr. Vanderwerken proceeds to say that "Town Supervisor Frank DelGallo's suggestion that REMS be run like a business is unrealistic because it is providing a vital service to residents." You're kdding me, right? The reason they have the financial difficulties they have now is because they did not operate like a business. Lastly, Mr. Vanderwerker says that "worries about Mohawk being the sole ambulance provider for the town." "If...they have a monolpoly on Rotterdam and if all of sudden they don't meet their commitment, there is going to be alot of irate residents." Mohawk is also a for-profit organization and Rotterdam EMS is nonprofit organization. If they start to lose money and they raise their rates, you are going to be stuck with them." News Flash: If REMS doesn't keep up its payment plan with the IRS (or deviates from it in any way), the IRS will come in and seize all the assets that it currently has liens on. Rotterdam not only looses their ambulance service, but also the assets that were paid for with taxpayer monies. Gee...I wonder if the Rotterdam residents will be irate about that? And, when REMS starts loosing money, they won't raise thier rates? Of course not, 'cuz Joe "do-gooder" Vanderwerken would never hear of that. Those evil business people are the only ones who would do that....they'll (REMS) just raise the tax rate if they get their tax district. To him that's somehow different.
Lastly, I just reviewed REMSs' 2009 990. Signed by Mr. Joe Vanderwerken. According to this document, REMS has NO policies and procedures for reviewing and approving the form 990 tax return prior to filing with the IRS, NO policies and procedures in regards to conflicts of interest, NO whistleblower policy, NO written document retention and destruction policy. These are all policies relating to corporate governance and you have to have these policies in place for good governance. Also of interest to me was the amount of program service revenue reported for 2009. $768,005. That's just over 2X the amount collected in the prior year ($374,497). Does this include the $120,000 from Rotterdam? Maybe it includes the monies collected for Towns' paramedic services? According to the return, REMS had 49 employees in 2009. Now, they say they'll increase to 60 if tax district passes. I wonder if they have done the math on the additional payroll and benefit obligations?
So they want the monies from this tax district to upgrade their equipment. Will the IRS put liens on this property too? And, if REMS goes under, we loose this equipment too?
If REMS goes under, is the REMS Board personally liable for the unpaid IRS debt if assets are insufficient to cover the obligation? Perhaps that's the real motivator behind the rhetoric?
I'm voting "NO" today. "NO" more taxes! The most dangerous thing we can do, is give an entity the power to tax!
If the tax district is approved and REMS is awarded the contract, it will be because the voters were duped. REMS has never functioned with the best interest of the residents of Rotterdam due to it's fiscal mismanagement.
I know I have tried my best to communicate all this information to as many Rotterdam residents as I could. You can't imagine how surprised they were to find out about all this goings on. I hope they all go out tomorrow and vote this down!
VOTE YES ON THE AMBULANCE REFERENDUM >> TUESDAY DECEMBER 14
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
VOTE YES ON THE AMBULANCE REFERENDUM >> TUESDAY DECEMBER 14
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Congratulations to Sharon...this is one of the best summaries on the disaster that is REMS that I've ever seen. Hopefully enough taxpayers are now paying attention and listening...it sure was getting lonely shouting from that rooftop all by myself...thanks for the company Sharon !
Now...
EVERYBODY GET OVER TO TOWN HALL TODAY AND JUST SAY NO.
the sewage treatment plant is a town facility on town property ... if you think it is ok for the anti-REMS sign to be there ... then next year all the incumbents can put their campaign signs there, too
I haven't been on that part of Mariaville Rd since mid summer .. so I don't know anything about the campaign signs up there.
There are no anti-REMS signs...only anti TAX signs...and wait until you see the Sunrise Blvd. neighborhood...it's beautiful!
Congratulations to Sharon...this is one of the best summaries on the disaster that is REMS that I've ever seen. Hopefully enough taxpayers are now paying attention and listening...it sure was getting lonely shouting from that rooftop all by myself...thanks for the company Sharon !
Now...
EVERYBODY GET OVER TO TOWN HALL TODAY AND JUST SAY NO.
And the audit which might clear up Sharon's analysis of the shuffling of monies isn't scheduled until after the vote. INSTRUCTIONS: Place cart in front of horse, see diagram A.
Anyone go over there yet to vote? What is the story on the traffic, lines, parking etc?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
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