Quoted Text

Why politicize Rotterdam volunteer park committee?

    This letter is an attempt to clarify for Rotterdam residents what happened with parks and recreation committee appointments for 2011 at the Town Board’s Jan. 1 organizational meeting.
    I don't understand why anyone would refuse someone who wants to volunteer their time to make Rotterdam a better place to live. The parks and recreation committee was created as a nonpolitical volunteer committee. It's shameful that it has become political.
    I have lived in Rotterdam for 40 years. I have two adult children, ages 26 and 19. They grew up using the parks and enjoyed them very much.
    I am blessed to have a new granddaughter living in Rotterdam, who I hope someday will enjoy the parks as much as my children did.
    I wish I had been given the opportunity to help make the parks better for my grandchild and all the children in the town. I am disappointed that my nomination was rejected by Councilwoman [Nicola] DiLeva, Councilman [Matt] Martin and Councilman [William] Calder. I find it very disturbing that when new people try to become involved in town government as volunteers, they are met with such resistance.

    LISA M. DUFEK
    Rotterdam
The writer is a Democratic committeewoman.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00706&AppName=1

was there room for her? how many members make the committee? does it really matter who is on it? are they going to pick up the dog poo at the dog
park? hhhhmmmm

Bravo Nicola DiLeva, Wayne Calder and Tony Martin! There are enough DEM morons on Town committees.

just glad the dems are as screwed up as the repubs  

The Defect is just desperately looking for some position...some title...she doesn't care what it is...as long as it helps her to affirm her self proclaimed
importance...if you could have seen her at the podium trying to reverse their rejection of her, you would probably feel sorry for her.

BTW, the guidelines employed in appointments to that Commission included expressions of genuine interest by attending their previous meeting,
which she did not. That's when she went to the podium to explain her excuse for her absence.

Poor thing...she was ditched from the poll worker roster for the tax vote in the last Town Meeting before that one. She should just stick to being
a Democrat bobblehead.

Is she the same one that was crying and saying "but I voted for them ..." ?

Quoted from 147

Is she the same one that was crying and saying "but I voted for them ..." ?

Same comment heard on Erie Blvd by the unemployed during the Presidential visit.

His name is WAYNE Calder, not WILLIAM!

Quoted from benny salami

Bravo Nicola DiLeva, Wayne Calder and Tony Martin! There are enough DEM morons on Town committees.

Salami...it's MATT Martin...Tony is his father.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

His name is WAYNE Calder, not WILLIAM!

Who called him William?????

Ms. Dufek is just another example of how rotterdamains air their dirty laundry out for 'what ever reason' for everyone to see. I don't really think most folks in rotterdam care.

If Ms. Dufek had been selected for this position........would we be reading a 'letter of gratitude'?

In regard to the 2 letters to the editor submitted by Mrs. Dufek.

I want the The FACTS about this situation are very clear.       When the Parks and Recreation Commission was considering names to be recommended to the TOWN BOARD for one of the 9 members of the commission, four individuals, who had not been members of the commission, expressed interest in being considered.   All 4 were told that they needed to come to the December meeting of the board so that the commission could meet them, talk about the work of the commission and that after meeting them --- the commission would make come to a consensus on whose names to recommend for appointment by the Town Board.      
Mrs Dufek  (and 2 of the other 3) did not bother to come to the meeting and did not call or email or send up asmoke signal or otherwise give any reason why they could not attend the meeting.   The commission then decided to not consider those 3 persons among the names recommended to the Town Board for appointment.

The commission then sent a proposed resolution to all 5 Town Board members and asked that it be considered and voted on at the January 1 organizational meeting.

At no time did the commission consider party when making its recommendations.   In fact, the commission is made up of individuals from across party lines.     Furthermore,  Ms. Dileva and Mr. Calder had no role in the commission's recommendations.  Mr. Martin attended the meeting as he attends all Parks Commission meetings but he did not attempt to influence the commission in any way in regards to the recommendations.    

Additionally, none of the chairs of any of the political parties in the town were asked for their input nor did they attempt to insert their input into ANY of the doings of the Parks Commission and especially NOT the drawing up of the recommendations for appointment to the commission.

Mrs. Dufek was informed that although she was not recommended for appointment to one of the 9 official positions on the commission -- that the commission has always had ex-officio members  .. including the Supervisor and whichever town board member who is on the Parks Committee of the Town Board  ( actually -- any town board member could attend and is always welcome to) ...  representatives of the various leagues inthe town had been invited to participate in the past ... and for 2011 - we have reached out to invite the 2 high schools in town to send a student representative as an ex-officio member ... to get the input of young people in the town.    (It is also a great way to get young folks involved in the process of local government.)

At NO time was Mrs Dufek told that she was not welcome to attend Parks Commission meetings.   The public is always welcome at our commission meetings.   At no time was there even a thought about her politics or party affiliation.      The fact is she and I are in the same party .. so that contention that anything is about politics is a bunch of hot air.

As much as I love partisan politics,  I have always treated the Parks Commission as a non-partisan venue.  Our number 1 priority is doing what is right for the town residents when it comes to parks and recreational programs -- and to do that we need the input of a cross section of the town and people involved who are willing to work together and work hard.   I have tried to bring in new faces to the commission --- I even invited Mr. Salamone to join us .... unfortunately he has chosen to take employment in another state.


To answer the question above the letter to the editor --  the only person(s) who are politicizing the Parks Commission are the person who wrote the letter to editor and whomever is encouraging her to make this a political issue.   (I am not naive ... so I know she is NOT doing it in her own)   Whomever is behind this has picked the wrong issue to politicize and should read up on how to play well with others.    

I have to say cheers to DVOR for that.....she should have found something different to do or go to the OPEN meetings as you have stated....she'll get over
it....

There is trouble in Socialist Workers Paradise. I think you should be more respectful of Ms. Dufek since she got your slate elected.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

There is trouble in Socialist Workers Paradise. I think you should be more respectful of Ms. Dufek since she got your slate elected.

respect is one thing....but kiss a$$....how embarrassing......