From what I heard (just got a call from a reporter), the town board is going to be looking into this more, getting ideas from the community, starting a Community Committee.  I'll leave you hanging there since I don't have much more information, other than I was asked if I would be interested in serving on such a board, since my name was brought up during the meeting.  There was also another name that was brought up, but I don't feel I should release that name, as hearsay.  

Just wanted to let you know, and also, FYI, the agenda meetings are no longer on Monday nights, for anybody that was wondering.
Here's a link to the town schedule of everything going on.
http://www.rotterdamny.org/calendar1/calendar.asp

Town board meetings are the 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights of each month, with the agenda meetings being held on the THURSDAY prior to the meeting.  So, for next Wednesday's meeting (1/23), the agenda meeting was last night.

Now, the following is a guess on things going on with this board, as I have had no conversation with anyone from the Town Board regarding this.  I would figure that the first thing that is going to be considered is the possibility of raises for the board.  Second, I would hope that this is NOT going to be a one-issue committee.  I an hoping that it is something that the town will continue to use in the future, whether I am officially asked to be on it (and whether I accept the position of sitting on it) or not.

BTW, I did find that schedule above, but I still can't find the agendas.  Can someone please post a link to the agendas on the town website?  The link I'm finding is still last years and does not even include the last 2 board meetings (1/1 and 1/9).
Thanks.

Quoted from Admin

I found the January 2008 Calender on the town website. Hope this helps. This is all I found.

http://www.rotterdamny.org/calendar1/calendar.asp

Thanks, but I'm looking for the links to the agendas, not to the meeting schedule.

I couldn't find anything else either. Maybe they just don't have the website current to date.

Quoted Text

Now, the following is a guess on things going on with this board, as I have had no conversation with anyone from the Town Board regarding this.  I would figure that the first thing that is going to be considered is the possibility of raises for the board.  Second, I would hope that this is NOT going to be a one-issue committee.  I an hoping that it is something that the town will continue to use in the future, whether I am officially asked to be on it (and whether I accept the position of sitting on it) or not.

I would hope that it isn't about the possibility of raises for the board. There should be a public hearing regarding these raises while they are planning the next years budget.

Quoted from JoAnn

I would hope that it isn't about the possibility of raises for the board. There should be a public hearing regarding these raises while they are planning the next years budget.

I am assuming this is going to be a board to discuss possibilities.  If I am considered and sitting on this board, I will DEFINITELY push for a public hearing, possibly on more than 1 instance, spread out over time enough for people to actually comment.

Like I said, I think this is just ONE of the things will be brought up.

The raise should be a part of a public hearing when the budget is being discussed. They don't need a community committee to discuss raises for heaven sakes. That is always part of the public hearing agenda.

Just like, I don't think that the raise for the new assessor was discussed at a public hearing either. It appears that they just slipped that one in. Not a good move! Dems or reps....They need a watchdog!!

Anytime that there's a resident concern about an issue the board likes to form a community committee so that it looks like they're trying to do what the residents want and then they do very little. Just ask anyone who was on the now defunct water board how much good it did to discuss the towns water problems in the 2 years that it was in existence.

Quoted from Shadow

Anytime that there's a resident concern about an issue the board likes to form a community committee so that it looks like they're trying to do what the residents want and then they do very little. Just ask anyone who was on the now defunct water board how much good it did to discuss the towns water problems in the 2 years that it was in existence.

Rotterdam certainly has alot of effluent or is it affluent flowing about.....

Quoted from Shadow

Anytime that there's a resident concern about an issue the board likes to form a community committee so that it looks like they're trying to do what the residents want and then they do very little. Just ask anyone who was on the now defunct water board how much good it did to discuss the towns water problems in the 2 years that it was in existence.

I couldn't agree with you more shadow. They clearly get all of the input they need at meetings. Or perhaps even through verbal and email concerns. Committees are nothing but a token action by the local government.

We have an open transparent government, right? Then no need for committees.

You'll love Wednesday's meeting agenda.

http://rotterdamny.org/calendar1/calendar/eventimages/TB%20Agenda%2001%2023%202008%20(Website).pdf

Check out Resolution 71.08

71.08 Authorize Supervisor to constitute a citizen committee to survey and study appropriate salary range and terms for all elected and appointed town officials for the purpose of making any appropriate recommendations to the town board as part of the 2008 budget preparation process.

I am in agreement with the other views posted about committe formation.  THIS one certainly is unnecessary.  I think it's ludicrous to suggest that a committee to study salaries is appropriate.  

There are real issues in this town that need addressing.  Stop managing the minutia and get down to business on something that matters!

All that said, I challenge every single person that has weighed in that a committee isn't needed to actually ATTEND the meeting and speak against the resolution.  It's all well and good to say there will be public hearings...but you know what?...few ever turn out.

I am in total agreement with the general concensus about a committee to discuss the salaries for the town board members. There shouldn't be one. I appreciate the fact that they are looking to the residents for their input. But  the formation of a committee is nonsense is my thought.

Their job is to adopt a yearly budget. That is the time the board should discuss raises that would be included in the budget. It should also be at that time there should be public hearings for discussion.

There is obviously a division with in the board itself on if raises should be given or not. It is also obvious that it is their responsibility to work together and come to some resolve. Mr. Silva is thinking on a larger scale of a full time supervisor which would bring a much larger wage. Mr. Mertz and Mr. Signore are looking for $5,000/year and Mr. Della Villa and Mr. Tomasone voted "no".

So I say to the board, to work this raise issue out and propose different options for public discussion at the meetings. Again, forming a committee is nonsense.

I'm in total agreement with all the above posts and as usual forming this community committee is just smoke and mirrors to keep the residents occupied so that they think we really have some input when in fact the board will do what they want anyway.

I posted what I hope to be my final comments on this issue (except those I make at the meeting Wednesday) to my blog.  This raise issue is a distraction from the problems we should be focused on.

http://rotterdamny.blogspot.com/