Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Former official could return
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Rotterdam Assessor Craig Surprise could soon be replaced by his predecessor.
    Surprise will leave his position at year’s end and could be replaced by John Macejka jr., the assessor he replaced nearly two years ago. Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said he hasn’t spoken to Macejka personally but knows he’s interested in returning to Rotterdam on a part-time basis.
    “He indicated he’s interested,” he said Tuesday.
    Del Gallo said Macejka, who is the full-time assessor in neighboring Guilderland, would take on the role in Rotterdam as a parttime worker. Members of the Town Board adopted a budget earlier this month that reduces the assessor’s pay from $66,610 to $33,305, making Surprise one of the only workers to get a pay cut next year.
    “We’re going to bring a part-time guy in,” Del Gallo said.
    Calls placed to both Macejka and Surprise were not returned Tuesday.
    Board members narrowly accepted Surprise’s resignation during their meeting last week. The resolution did not appear on the board’s agenda and was voted on at the tail end of a meeting that extended for nearly four hours.
    Lone Republican Gerard Parisi, who voted against the resolution, said the resignation included some sort of agreement with Surprise that appeared to contain a payout by the town. He said he didn’t have time to review the multi-page resolution, which was signed by Surprise and briefly circulated among the board only moments before they voted.
    “I wasn’t provided enough time to look at it and I wasn’t provided a copy,” Parisi said Tuesday. “I really don’t know what was in it.”
    Del Gallo’s run for office in 2009 included a pledge to reform the assessor’s office. In campaign literature he disseminated before the election, he pledged to restore “dignity and respect” to the office.
    “The current assessor, Mr. Craig Surprise, does not treat residents or businesses with proper respect,” the campaign flier stated. “That’s wrong.”
    Surprise is also involved in litigation with Del Gallo, who has challenged his property assessment for two consecutive years. The most recent challenge filed in Schenectady County Court in late July alleges that Surprise wrongly boosted the assessment of his business and residence despite there being no improvements that would justify such an increase.
    Surprise was in the second year of a six-year appointment to the position, which oversees a property tax roll of about 13,000 parcels. He was appointed after the Republican administration of former Supervisor Steve Tommasone opted against reappointing Macejka, who oversaw the work of the private appraisal firm GAR Associates during the revaluation in 2007.
    At the time, Macejka blamed Tommasone for playing politics with the assessor’s office. By appointing Surprise, he said the Republicans were looking to gain influence in office.
    Within four months of taking office, Surprise uncovered what he considered to be a number of serious discrepancies in the town tax rolls. Under his advice, the Republican-dominated board commissioned a private study of the revaluation and then used the findings of the study to file a lawsuit against GAR.
    To date, the lawsuit remains pending in state Supreme Court. Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski mentioned the lawsuit during last week’s board meeting as a reason to include more funding for the town attorney’s office. .........................>>>>...........................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00903&AppName=1

Welcome neighbor policy will be coming back
and favors "for friends and family"


welcome back to 1979 and dead end growth   -   again!

Quoted from TippyCanoe

Welcome neighbor policy will be coming back
and favors "for friends and family"


welcome back to 1979 and dead end growth   -   again!

The poor poor rotterdamians. Some wonder if they knew that this is what they were going to get when they voted in these clowns. An apparent 'flip flop' back in history only to repeat itself.

Rotterdam is an inbred, incestual town run by the 'friends and family club'. And apparently it doesn't matter what political flavor you are.....as long as you 'play along'.

Rotterdam doesn't know how to put one foot in front of the other to move forward!

Poor bastards! IMHO

Throw out the pot and bring back the kettle.

No Surprise here.

Just too Funny - and SOOO Rotterdam.

The very same rotterdamians that are bitching about high taxes are out supporting and endorsing yet another tax for rems that isn't needed!

'forgive them Lord....they know not what they do'!

Poor bastards!

The wicked witch is dead!  Hail to the Chief!!!!!!!  Looks like FDG, Matt, Bob G and Nikki are back on the Revitialize Rotterdam Track after last week's bloody coup.  Taaa Taaa GP we hardly got to know ya!!!!!!!

Surprise Surprise Surprise !!!   Finally some dignity restored to the Assessor's office.  Thanks FDG and BG--

Talk about recycle and retread....can't this crew come up with someone more qualified and professional?

Quoted from 612

Surprise Surprise Surprise !!!   Finally some dignity restored to the Assessor's office.  Thanks FDG and BG--

huh, I didn't know only two people could passa resolution...

Quoted from clubhouse

Talk about recycle and retread....can't this crew come up with someone more qualified and professional?

And next to Surprise, he is...  More importantly, they hired someone who is familiar with the town and competent at the job while earning half the pay and doing it on a part time basis. That is a very good job done by the FOUR members of the board who voted to pass the resolution. Good job Matt, Nicki, FDG and Bob.

A nice clean-up of a prior administrations mess.

The current Assessor insulted many a town resident inlcuding myself with his arrogance and lack of respect to those making inquiries to his office.  I really can't comment on his competence, but more his lack of public service work ethic.  

I don't believe John treated residents like that.  We need to stay focused on fair and up-to-date assessments for all not just a few.

I give a thumbs up for FDG living up to a campaign promise and finding a way to replace Mr. Surprise.  If Mr. Surprise had changed his attitude, he wouldn't have been in this position.

Why was his contract for six years?  Any replacement's contract should only be for two years.

I think I saw a Puddy Cat! Should have been done long ago.

Quoted from huskyhowls

Why was his contract for six years?  Any replacement's contract should only be for two years.

           I believe the appointment was for 6 years, not a contract for 6 years.  Big legal difference . . . .