Quoted from JackBauer

Pat - I assume you'll be filing a FOIL request to find out what the city is paying this individual and what his official hours are?

(One accusation does not the truth make...  However once we have that data, we could be reasonably certain that if we showed up at a certain time that their official hours covered, they would be there...)

(I doubt a city historian makes much money - probably a part time job, but if no real work is needed and being done, then the pay grade should fit the effort)

I don't believe that the City Historian job is a full time job.  At one time - a number of years ago - it was
really a nominal title with a small stipend.  
If my memory serves me right, the same person is historian for the city and the county and also works
for the Historical Society.

As for Councilman Allen, he is one of 4 councilman that we could ALWAYS count on to actually come
and help out whenever Mont Pleasant had a neighborhood clean up or other project.   Kathy Lewis, Barbara
Strangfeld and Mark Blanchfield  round out that group.   And I don't mean just showing up when the Gazette
or Times Union photographer was there ... I mean actually coming and working most of the day.  Also,
Karen Johnson came to help at least one year -- of course she was on the County Leg at that time.

So for that I take my hat off to those folks.   Public service is more than just playing a part in front of
and for the cameras.    Those folks mentioned get that.  

Thanks for the postitives and yes RP is for Ron Paul : )

As for the historian, I should clairify that the woman I spoke to wasn't meaning he worked part time, she meant he was supposed to be there but only comes in to pick up his paycheck, she seemed none to happy about that.

DV-sorry if you feel I offended your pastor, but there are things about him I'm sure you don't know about, you could google him and put in Schenectady detective and find out one. Oh heck why bother, he propositioned the officer.

And then there are the things that cannot be googled that people would be appalled at. But I will not post them here as he has to live with the knowledge of what he has done.

I can tell you that he gave my mother grieve over putting a headstone my my baby sisters grave, who had died many years ago when the former priest was there, a priest who truly cared for all and loved God. But I came up with money and money talks dosen't it. I was just glad I could do that for my Mom who wasn't able to attend the funeral as she was still in the hospital.

I know it Christmas and God asks us to forgive, but sometimes its just so hard when you come up against a man of the cloth who is so cold hearted and deceitful. Will not post anymore about him as he is not worth the time.

Anyways a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas to all !

Fr. Urban has a very clouded & colorful past. Unfortunately for the Albany diocese, he's a "yes" vote for the current administration, that's why he's still pastor, and one reason that particular parish wasn't closed during the latest round of closures.

I would hate to see St. Adalberts closed, hope to be able to attend mass there again in the future. My Mom loved going there, such a beautiful church, she told me stories about how when she attended school there allthough the nuns were stern they had hearts of gold. They used to visit people who were ill and cleaned houses and cooked meals. Both my grandparents funerals were there. Used to love midnight mass on Christmas and the Polish songs.

There was a wonderful priest there for awhile, Father Kostek then went to St. Lukes church, he baptised my children : )

Quoted from rpforpres

I would hate to see St. Adalberts closed, hope to be able to attend mass there again in the future. My Mom loved going there, such a beautiful church, she told me stories about how when she attended school there allthough the nuns were stern they had hearts of gold. They used to visit people who were ill and cleaned houses and cooked meals. Both my grandparents funerals were there. Used to love midnight mass on Christmas and the Polish songs.

There was a wonderful priest there for awhile, Father Kostek then went to St. Lukes church, he baptised my children : )

I ran into Fr. Kostek not long ago - he's down in the Archdiocese now and misses this area. But since his parents are gone, and his duties are down there, he doesn't get here frequently.  A good man

St Adalbert's is such a beautiful church it would be a real shame if it were to be closed too.

Quoted from 147

Fr. Urban has a very clouded & colorful past. Unfortunately for the Albany diocese, he's a "yes" vote for the current administration, that's why he's still pastor, and one reason that particular parish wasn't closed during the latest round of closures.

The parish wasn't closed because our local planning committee -- of which I was a member -- did not feel
it was justfied to close any of the parishes in our group.   In fact, Saint Joseph's -which was a part of our
local group - even took on St. Margaret of Cortona's as a mission.

The Church of Saint Adalbert's membership has remained stable and grown slightly in the past decade.
We remain an active and vibrant faith community.

As for Father Urban - he has remained our pastor for 37 years because of his dedication and commitment
to service.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The parish wasn't closed because our local planning committee -- of which I was a member -- did not feel
it was justfied to close any of the parishes in our group.   In fact, Saint Joseph's -which was a part of our
local group - even took on St. Margaret of Cortona's as a mission.

The Church of Saint Adalbert's membership has remained stable and grown slightly in the past decade.
We remain an active and vibrant faith community.

As for Father Urban - he has remained our pastor for 37 years because of his dedication and commitment
to service.  

Funny, I heard it was love of his fellow man.

Quoted from 147

Funny, I heard it was love of his fellow man.

I believe you heard correctly. For both Urban and Hubbard it is the dedication and love for their fellow man!

Quoted Text

Schdy lawyer did use banked time – so what’s the big deal?
December 21, 2010 at 4:09 pm by Lauren Stanforth, Staff writer

After L. John Van Norden returned to his desk Monday after a six month absence from Schenectady’s corporation counsel job, his office responded to the Times Union FOIL request for how Van Norden was getting paid while he was gone.

The records appear to reveal nothing more than Van Norden using 79 days of sick leave and 26 days of vacation time so he could get paid his $96,000-a-year salary.

The question is – why was Brian U. Stratton so resistant two weeks ago to simply explain the pay in the first place? Stratton would only define Van Norden’s pay as accumulated leave, and refused to answer further questions about it. All the newspaper was asking for were the documents that were sent over Monday – and pretty standard documents at that.

Van Norden Employment      
http://blog.timesunion.com/localpolitics/

Maybe because 2 weeks ago, Stratton didn't know himself. Or maybe, it took 2 weeks for the City Admin to find a way to "legally" figure this one out. IMHO, the City has no idea what is going on under their watch and when stuff like this comes out, everyone starts running around like Chicken Little. The taxpayer money is being spent and no one knows where it's going?! The jig is up fellas, Lauren has your number.

BTW, 79 days of sick leave? Really, who wrote that into the contract....oh, we're dealing with a lawyer...forgot.

Quoted Text

The records appear to reveal nothing more than Van Norden using 79 days of sick leave and 26 days of vacation time so he could get paid his $96,000-a-year salary.

Eunice has Van Norden beat.  6 months paid leave is nothin.  I guess State disability isn't necessary when you work for local government.  Like FDG said, we should be grateful she worked ONE DAY.  

Schenectady County is dysfunctional.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.  

When you can take 90+ days off with full pay for a medical scare it's no wonder the city is going broke trying to pay for the benefits and pensions negotiated by the city officials.

Read over SICK LEAVE Section B. It states that after 5 days, there needs to be a written statement by the physician certifying the absence. To be followed up and confirmed throughout the sick leave period. The employee must keep the supervisor advised of the continued necessity for the continued absence and furnish satisfactory proof of illness upon request.

So it appears that Norden just kept on receiving his checks, with a wink and a nod from the city officials. That was evident when the TU approached the subject. They all, including the mayor, just gave the 'deer in the headlight' look. It appears that the FOIL that the TU requested, took this long to obtain due to the city official's lack of record keeping. The TU had them scrambling!

Now here are some questions.....
How long has Van Norden been employed?
How much sick time does Van Norden have left?
How much vacation time does Van Norden have left?