It appears that Assemblyman Tedisco's opposition to acting on the legislation to increase the Metroplex bond cap and lengthen the charter of the public authority was never about fiscal responsibility or accountability of the expenditures of public revenues, but, rather was politically motivated. Perhaps, Ms. Savage was correct in her characterization (though it pains me to contemplate this).
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In that statement, the trio said their support was contingent on "several substantive and long-overdue reforms that address what we, and many others, have called for to ensure that Metroplex is not merely handed a blank check and remains 100 percent accountable to the taxpayers of Schenectady County." Specifically, the Republicans said in their statement, they included reforms they claim "will help take the politics out of Metroplex." Among those reforms are a prohibition on elected officials serving on the Metroplex board. "Metroplex is an important public authority that has aided in Schenectady County's continued economic renewal, revitalization and rebirth," read the statements. "We believe that politics should be taken out of Metroplex so it can continue its mission of attracting and retaining the kind of smart, long-term investment that grows our local economy and pays real dividends for Schenectady's future."
Substantive reforms? You have to be kidding me. Prohibiting elected officials from serving on the Metroplex board does not take politics out of Metroplex. Future nominations for positions on the board and the County Legislature's actions on those nominated will continue to be politically motivated. You want to include substantive reforms, consider the following:
Prohibition of any Metroplex Board member, Metroplex employee, or relative thereof from receiving funding or any other benefit of considerable value for a period of ten years following his/her departure from the position held with the public authority.
Discontinuation of the practices of awarding financial grants, providing unsecured loans, forgiving any or all of the mortgage loan principle, and accepting a repositioning of the Metroplex (and county taxpayers) to a subordinate position on a loan.
Full accounting of the financial contributions made to any political party and/or individual candidate running for office in Schenectady County by recipients of Metroplex funding and county contracts funded all or in part with Metroplex disbursed revenues.
The option given to any municipalilty (town, village, city) within Schenectady County to withdraw its funding support (i.e., additional sales tax percentage charged) of the Metroplex Authority and receipt of the financial benefits (if any) by the municipality.
And, while you're at it gentlemen, how about defining at what time and under what conditions the operations of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority will sunset and how the dissolution will occur?
For me, I will be purchasing as many of the taxable items that I buy from surrounding counties. My only hope for finding integrity in government now rests with NYS Comptroller Dinapoli, NYS Attorney General Cuomo, and Governor Paterson.
BTW, someone should contact Farley, Tedisco, and Amedore and inform them that it's not nice to pi55 off the conservative base.
I think that I'll consider supporting Libertarian party candidates who are running for office. Their platform contains many of the same positions as traditional conservatives. There is little difference between most Republicans and the Democrats.
Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr, now an enrolled Libertarian and running for the Presidency... worth taking a look:
I've never seen such a dog and pony show in my life.
There was substantial opposition, it sounds, from extending and refunding Metroplex ... someone has something on this terrible threesome - what they won't have is my vote. And like Brad, I'll be buying as much as I can OUTSIDE the County of Schenectady.
I'm shocked at this decision! I spoke to Bill Sherman just a week ago, who encouraged myself and anyone else I could also prompt to support Mr. Tedesco and Mr. Amedore with the decision to NOT back the increase of the Metroplex bonding limit. Bill Sherman also mentioned that letters to the editor were essential and needed to show support for both Tedesco and Amedore. Many of us had no problem with that, since most of us had written and submitted letters before Mr. Sherman's suggestion. Mr. Sherman was going to get back to me in a couple of days. It has been a week and I have not heard from him yet. Nor do I expect to.
Coupling this with the fact that the Gazette obviously refused to print these letters, proves again that it is personal, political gain that supersedes what is in the best interest of the taxpayer. A hometown newspaper that has chosen to take a bias political stand and has shut down free speech.
I am disappointed in Mr. Amedore, Mr. Tedesco, Mr. Farley and the Gazette for their misrepresentation of the people.
CAPITOL Raising Metroplex bond cap backed Republican state lawmakers attach controversial conditions BY BOB CONNER Gazette Reporter
The three state legislators representing Schenectady County agreed Friday to support a bill that would raise the bonding authority of the Metroplex Development Authority from $50 million to $75 million. But at the same time they proposed conditions that put them, all Republican legislators, into conflict with the Democrat-controlled county Legislature. Assembly Minority leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, last week opposed raising the bonding cap and raised other objections. The bill was proposed by the county Legislature and introduced into the state Legislature by Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna. On Friday, Farley, Tedisco and Assemblyman George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, issued a joint statement saying they would propose a bill accepting the bonding increase but also making other changes to the Metroplex operation. The legislation would bar political party chairpersons from serving on the Metroplex board, along with county elected officials and managers. “Our reforms will help take the politics out of Metroplex,” the statement said, and “would be prospective and not change the content of the present board. We believe these necessary reforms will increase the accountability of Metroplex.” Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, accused the Republicans of trying to oust Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen, who is also the county’s top economic development official. Republicans denied this, and later Friday provided the bill language, which bars county managers from the board “except for the Schenectady County commissioner of economic development,” who is Gillen. County Attorney Chris Gardner noted that Gillen, like other board members, is periodically up for reappointment. Gardner said there may be legal problems with this legislative language for Gillen. But Michael Cuevas, the Assembly minority counsel, denied that. Savage said she thinks Tedisco changed his position Friday when people objected to it. The bill language also raises Metroplex’s bonding authority to $75 million. Gillen said in a statement, “I am pleased that the Schenectady delegation has agreed to support an increase in the bond cap. … As far as my future and whether this new legislation would have an impact, I have no comment other than to say that I have not decided whether or not to seek reappointment as chair of Metroplex when my current term expires.” Farley said there was no intention to target Gillen. While the county Legislature requested the original legislation introduced by Farley (S-7721), it has not yet passed the formal home rule message that the state Legislature requires. A special county meeting is set for Wednesday. Gardner at first said the county would likely insist on the original bill, and a statement issued by Savage implied the same. But Savage later declined to say exactly how the county would proceed. Similarly, David Smingler, Farley’s spokesman, declined to say what the senator would do if the county Legislature passes a homerule message supporting the original bill. “I can’t predict the future. Wednesday’s a long way,” he said. The amended legislation, which Savage had not seen Friday evening, does not yet have a bill number. Farley’s original bill was approved Wednesday by the Senate Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. But it has no Assembly sponsor because Tedisco and Amedore did not take it up. Any local measure with Farley’s support is likely to pass the Senate. In the Assembly, Savage could appeal to her fellow Democrats who control that chamber, and seek to bypass the two local Republican assemblymen. While the normal procedure is for local measures such as this to be introduced by local members, it is not required. Assembly rules permit bills to be introduced by report of a standing committee, and Democrats control all committees in that house.
GOP pushes changes at Metroplex State legislators propose higher borrowing limit, new criteria for board
By BOB GARDINIER and JIMMY VIELKIND, Staff writers First published: Saturday, May 24, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- Senate and Assembly Republicans have proposed legislation to increase the nine-year-old Metroplex Development Authority's borrowing limit, though it comes with caveats for reform.
The authority was created in 1999 to help Schenectady County's economic development and revitalization by offering loans to proposed and existing business for expansions or improvements. It has been headed since 2005 by Ray Gillen, who also serves as commissioner of the Schenectady County Department of Economic Development and Planning. The initial legislation capped the authority's borrowing or bonding limit at $50 million in addition to dedicated annual county sales tax revenues it receives. This new legislation would increase the bonding limit to $75 million, sponsors said. "Metroplex is an important public authority that has aided in Schenectady County's continued economic renewal, revitalization and rebirth," said Assembly GOP Leader James Tedisco and fellow Republicans Sen. Hugh Farley and Assemblyman George Amedore in a prepared statement. "We believe that politics should be taken out of Metroplex so it can continue its mission of attracting and retaining the kind of smart, long-term investment that grows our local economy and pays real dividends for Schenectady's future." To that end, the legislation contains language to ensure that board members are not or haven't been political chairpersons in the past four years. The legislation also states that board members cannot be elected county officials -- Gillen is appointed -- and should not be management confidential exempt employees, which he is. Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, applauded Metroplex's record under Gillen. She said county lawmakers requested the increased borrowing cap, but not the language changes. "Despite their claims that they want to remove politics from Metroplex, they are injecting politics into the process by adding language that we did not request," Savage said of Farley, Tedisco and Amedore. "The proposed changes also seem hypocritical in light of the fact that one of the Metroplex board members recently appointed with the backing of these legislators, while not a political chairperson himself, is the law partner of the Rotterdam Republican town chairman," she said, referring to Patrick Saccocio, who was finally appointed in February after a delay instituted by Savage. She raised an alarm in a statement Friday afternoon, saying the proposed amendments would have removed Gillen, a move she called "foolish." Reached by phone late Friday, Tedisco said all current board members are grandfathered in. "Every person on the board is grandfathered in. And if he is appointed again, he can serve again and can serve as director," Tedisco said. "Ray Gillen will continue ad infinitum. We think he's done a good job, and we think Metroplex has done a good job. We don't want to touch the board, but this is prospective for the future to take as much politics out as possible." Gillen said he was pleased with the legislation. "They want to continue the successful record that we've had for the past four years," he said. The bill must be approved by the Democrat-controlled state Assembly and Republican-led state Senate to become law. Jimmy Vielkind can be reached at 454-5043 or by e-mail at jvielkind@timesunion.com.
I can’t believe the arrogance of county legislators who oppose tabling state legislation to increase the Metroplex Authority’s bond cap from $50 million to $75 million (a 50 percent increase), and extending the Metroplex charter by five years, without first having the state comptroller complete an audit of that authority. Any person interested in the fi duciary responsibility of those handling public money knows, an accounting of said money must be done before he/she can make a reasonable assessment of what future revenue should be made available. After past expenditures have been justified, future limitations can be established — but not before an audit. What are those opposed to tabling the matter afraid of? If all money has been spent in the best interests of the taxpayer, the delay will have no adverse effect, since Metroplex still has $8 million left before it reaches the cap. Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, Assemblyman George Amedore and county Legislators Joseph Suhrada and Angelo Santabarbara are correct in their stand on this matter; hold the increase in the bond cap and the extension of the charter until after the state comptroller has finished his job. The only way to handle any public authority’s financial future is to hold them accountable for their decisions with our money. GEORGE S. VAN SCHAICK Rotterdam
The new Metroplex home-rule bill unveiled Friday by Schenectady’s three Republican state legislators — Assemblymen Tedisco, Amedore and Sen. Farley — isn’t as bad as the Tedisco/Amedore proposal of two weeks ago, which called for delaying the extension of the authority’s life and raising its bond cap less than is necessary. But it’s still playing politics in the name of getting politics out of Metroplex — something that hasn’t really been a problem in the past. When Metroplex was conceived in the late 1990s, it was seen as a way to get beyond city and county politics and focus on economic development, especially downtown. Thanks largely to being given its own funding source from an increase in the sales tax, it has been able to avoid the politics (at least until now). And thanks largely to the talents of Chairman Ray Gillen, and the cooperation of local elected officials, it has had a transformative effect, with many new projects that have brought jobs, tax revenue, life and hope back to the city. Nobody should be looking to mess with that kind of success. On Friday, it seemed Tedisco, Amedore and Farley were trying to do just that. They issued a press release calling for more transparency and greater accountability, suggesting that there is a problem with these things at Metroplex, when there is no evidence of it. In fact, Metroplex is quite open, and posts its budget, meeting minutes, financial reports and other business on the Internet. More significantly, the legislators called for changing the rules for who could serve on the board in a way that would not only eliminate local political chairmen (or those who have been so in the past four years) and county elected officials, but county management confidential exempt employees. The only current board member to have been a party chairman is Gary McCarthy; the only current county legislator to have served on the board is Karen Johnson. (Both have been good, nonpartisan board members.) And the only current board member to fit the third category, management confidential exempt, is ... Ray Gillen! Were Tedisco and Co. targeting him? The press release didn’t answer that question. While it said the changes would be prospective and would not affect the current board, the members serve limited terms and must be reappointed. So, Gillen could have been forced out after his current term expires. But Farley later said the bill language would exclude from the management confidential category the position of couwnty commissioner of economic development, Gillen’s job. Apparently, Gillen gets to stay indefinitely. It is also good news that the legislation would increase the bond cap, from the current $50 million to $75 million, and extend the authority’s charter another five years, allowing it to continue borrowing. On the other hand, it would exclude some qualified people from consideration for the board. Not only is it responding to problems that don’t exist, it may be creating some.
Note that the Gazette Editorial does not contain a by-line. Whose opinions are published in the editorial and why are they opining from a position of anonimity? Are the positions offered those of the publisher, the editor, or someone else?
If the public wishes to express their views in a Letter to the Editor, they must provide their name, town and a phone number. The name is published in the newspaper. Shouldn't those who express their opinions from within the Daily Gazette ranks be held to the same standards? Perhaps, they are concerned about the reaction or, perhaps the words and views expressed are not their own, but have been prepared for them.
And, MT, to your point, there is no need to rush the legislation through the NYS Legislature during this legislative session which ends in late June. The Metroplex has 20 years remaining on it's charter and $8M (plus any money that they may be able to recover from bad investments) yet to "invest". It certainly appears that our government leaders and the Metroplex Chairman and Board of Directors are expediting the legislation to be passed before the audit results are released.
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But it’s still playing politics in the name of getting politics out of Metroplex — something that hasn’t really been a problem in the past.
Apparently, the author of the Gazette editorial does not follow the actions of the county government or attend meetings of the County Legislature. Ms. Savage delayed action on the endorsement by the Town of Rotterdam of Patrick Saccocia to be seated on the Metroplex Board of Directors for 8 months. And, when the vote was forced by public outcry, she voted against Mr. Saccocia. For the record, Mr. Saccocia is a registered Republican. Ms. Savage and the majority party of the County Legislature are Democrats.
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It is also good news that the legislation would increase the bond cap, from the current $50 million to $75 million, and extend the authority’s charter another five years, allowing it to continue borrowing.
This statement by the anonymous author sums up the problem that plagues Schenectady County, New York State, and our nation. There is no fiscal restraint by those who we entrust to represent us in government. And the faceless and nameless cheerleaders condone such continued behavior.
When Metroplex was conceived in the late 1990s, it was seen as a way to get beyond city and county politics and focus on economic development, especially downtown. Thanks largely to being given its own funding source from an increase in the sales tax, it has been able to avoid the politics (at least until now). And thanks largely to the talents of Chairman Ray Gillen, and the cooperation of local elected officials, it has had a transformative effect, with many new projects that have brought jobs, tax revenue, life and hope back to the city. Nobody should be looking to mess with that kind of success.
I'm also dismayed by the action of the GOP trio (though I didn't particularly support any but one of them anyway and it's likely not who you think) but I'm wondering why Mr. Suhrada gets a pass? Didn't he introduce a compromise increase? Seems you should either support waiting for the audit results or you don't. Anything else is a cop out so they can all say they support economic development.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. You are either concerned about ensuring fiscal accountability or you're not.
You are correct that Joe Suhrada, in an attempt to compromise, offered an amendment to increase the bond cap to $60M rather than the $75M proposed by the Democratic majority. I must state that Legislator Angelo Santabarbara expressed to me his preference that the legislation be tabled until the audit results are known. He did, however, ultimately vote in support of Mr. Suhrada's amendment. When the amendment was rejected, both Suhrada and Santabarbara voted in opposition to the legislation as initially proposed with the $75M cap.
Legislator Buhrmaster voted for the original version of the legislation after voting for the amendment proposed by Suhrada that was defeated. I find it interesting that Mr. Buhrmaster is running for Congress on a platform of lower government spending and lower taxes.
I applaud both Assemblymen James Tedisco and George Amedore on their stance opposing the Schenectady Metroplex bonding increase [May 15 Gazette]. The proposed increase to the Metroplex bonding shouldn’t be approved at this time. It would be in the best interests of taxpayers to wait until the audit by the comptroller’s office is complete. Empire Zone recipients should also be revisited to ensure that all beneficiaries of this program have met the criteria the Empire Zone program has set in place. Schenectady Metroplex, as well as the Empire Zone, in its present existence, is in need of strict fiscal oversight and greater transparency. After the May 19 statement by Philip Fields (chairman of the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee), showing [slower growth] in county sales tax revenue and a shortfall in the county budget, it should give pause to county residents and raise questions as to the successes and failures, as well as who are the select few who benefit from taxpayer-funded Metroplex money. Apparently it’s not your average taxpaying county resident. JO-ANN SCHROM Rotterdam
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