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An end to a long career
Marv Cermak

Nick Barber wraps more than 30 years service with Schenectady County Tuesday when he retires as Real Property Tax Services Agency director.
A prominent Republican county legislator many years ago, Barber managed to survive the Democrats' takeover of county government in recent times, but the Democrats made him hang by his fingernails even though he dropped out of the GOP.
While his agency appointment expired several years ago, Democrats refused to reappoint him to another term. They searched high and low unsuccessfully trying to find a party loyalist with the credentials to take Barber's job. They even cut his pay.
Before Barber was appointed director, he was a county legislator for 10 years. I recall well that he was one of the most competent and helpful elected representatives who served during my long coverage of public affairs.
It's interesting to note that Karen Johnson, who really has class, was the only person from the 12-member County Legislature Democratic majority to show up at Barber's recent retirement party.
Some say Legislature Chairwoman Sue Savage is interested in Barber's now-vacant job. However, insiders insist Savage wants a six-figure job in the new Cuomo administration to replace the $106,000 position she left to run against state Sen. Hugh Farley........>>>>............>>>>.........Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/defa.....60.php#ixzz19PXEgnIc

Some were hoping he would become the new assessor in the city, he's a real nice guy and a good head on his shoulders. Direct opposite of Mastro.

Right. But the Solo Assessor won't leave. He was blasted at the City Council meeting by Joe Allen who said he treats the taxpayers with disrespect and lives in Latham. That Landslide Savage wants the job is a total outrage. What are her qualifications? Let's see how this trial balloon flies with the DEM amen corner in the County Building.

WOW!! Savage will take 'any tax paid' job! Did she 'ever' work in the private sector?

The County Building is abuzz over this latest bombshell from Marv Cermak the Dean of local reporters. This is so typical of these horrible DEMS. Hurray for me-screw you!

      Poor Landslide can hardly get by on her lobbyist spouses huge salary. She can barely pay her Niskayuna taxes and country club dues-boo-hoo. She may have to get a real job in the private sector. Horrors! Anyone who supports this power grab is finished in politics.

God help the taxpayers if Savage got Barber's job.    I'm sure her first task would be to remove the information about tax exemptions and other related records that are public by law.  Oh, sure, the information would still be made public, but only if the taxpayer goes to the county office in person, i.e., having to take time off from work, perhaps having to hire a sitter, etc.  

Look at the city of Schenectady's info under Stratton.  There used to be a good site to refer to.    After Stratton, any assessment info was really removed from internet - and it was extremely difficult for the taxpayers to access information.  I mean, it is easy to go into city assessors office and look information up, but they they removed the assessment rolls from the tables in the hallway (which had plenty of room) and people had to go in that LITTLE area at the counter and they had I think one copy, but separated into three printouts, perhaps it was alpha by street,  which anyone with a brain knows that you cannot compare only the houses on either side of you but often a block over, etc.  The assessor's office will use "comparables" from blocks away if you grieve even if there are ample sales on your own street.  So it was difficult because you'd look in the book say, street names beginning with A-H then when you were done, you might have to wait a half hour for the person looking through I-Q along with the other people ahead of you waiting for that book.  Then go to yet another printout for sale prices.

The STratton version of the assessment is not easily searchable and here were are approaching the 2011 grievance time, property values in the city have nosedived but the city under Stratton has sales info only through summer 2009!  What did people do when grieving their assesment in May 2010 - thanks to Secret Stratton, the taxpayers did not have updated information provided by the city.  

So, if she were to get that job, you can bet that accessing information will still be available but it will be much more difficult.

Maybe they can move pathetic Mayor SOS to the County Building where he can screw up the County tax maps and Landslide Savage can take over the City assessors office from Mastro? A real win-win. If Landslide takes this post she would have to resign from the County Legislature. Another win-win. Nobody wants her in the County Building.

This is the way the pathetic city does it...........the document gets created WHEN it is asked for! You would think that for ALL ofthe tax paid city workers, they would have every single document up to date and at their finger tips. The fact is....they don't know where nothin is and when they can't find it.......they create it!!

So does this mean that savage will not be running for a state seat again?

I guess she now knows that she will never win another election again.....so she'll scratch and claw for an appointed position!
Awwwwwww.....

Another working together special! Remove a competent, intelligent person, respected by all and replace him with a lifelong lob who just got destroyed and couldn't even win her own County. This is like what we see with many nonprofits. They set up a search committee, interview dozens of people, waste  time and than give the job to a relative or nit wit deputy.

      BTW "working together works" is meaningless sloganism. An attempt to make plutocracy seem palatable when the current DEM economic collapse calls for checks and balances that only multiple parties can bring. If anything is clear the current crop of DEMS cannot get out of a paper bag.