Farley casts sole vote of dissent citing Center City move
Last week’s tone of the Schenectady County Legislature debate on Schenectady County Community College’s 2011-12 budget returned, as the college received approval from all but one.
SCCC President Quintin Bullock presented the proposed 2011-12 budget to the legislature on Monday, Aug. 1, which totals $26,256,842 and is a 9 percent increase, or around $2.17 million, compared to the previous school year’s budget. What became a point of contention for Minority Leader Robert Farley was the Center City move proposed by the college. Farley, R-Glenville, said voted down the budget for the move alone, which accounts for 3.13 percent of the college’s budget. Democrat legislators disagreed with Farley’s assertion on the move being an inconvenience for students and costing too much.
There was a public meeting held before the vote during the Legislature’s Wednesday, Aug. 10, meeting, but no opposition was expressed. Legislator Karen Johnson, D-Schenectady, said a previous discussion to move a different department to the Center City yielded a much different reaction from the college community.
“The last time we had this discussion about moving the Music Department, several sessions we had between 20 to 40 students here,” said Johnson. “It is all fine, well and good that Mr. Farley is an advocate for the students, but they have been involved in this discussion … and they know the way to this building. To me, the college has done its homework and it has figured out how to make this work.”
The new Center City building was tapped to offer the college’s new Certified Nursing Assistant program and also host courses in criminal justice, business and computing. Increasing enrollment has led the college to explore for additional space. An $11.2 million grant launched the CNA program at the college. Without the additional space, college officials said it wouldn’t be able to run the program. Center City also allows SCCC to offer courses when the main campus might not be open, such as times on Saturday and Sunday.
“Everybody wins here. Lets not micromanage it. Lets not put this into the realm of obstructionist politics,” said Legislator Brian Gordon, D-Niskayuna. “Lets do the right thing for the college, for the students and for the county.”
Farley said he thinks the Center City movement will be more of a benefit for downtown Schenectady than the students. As previously stated, he said it will be an inconvenience for the students and will create scheduling problems when students are signing up for classes.
“I’m not going to be supporting (the budget). I may be the only one, but I got to make a stand for the students,” said Farley. “We have a community college that is supposed to exist for the benefit of educating our students. I don’t think this helps us educate them, we’ll see.”
Farley also said it is the legislature’s duty to ask questions about the budget and to raise any concerns. Just going along with whatever the college proposes for their budget, he said, isn’t the right thing to do...............................>>>>......................>>>>..........................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1313453604
The DEMS tried this crap with the music department and it was not supported by the faculty nor the students. The problem is that the DEMS supported Death Ray building this huge Taj Mahal, no ice rink, no soccer and are trying to fill it with SCCC and the Y. Then they pay rent to any business that wants to relocate. As Death Ray stated, "to increase lunch traffic". Karen Johnson should have reclused herself. As a Proctor's employee she has a vested interest in seeing the students over there. Then they might cross the street for a latte? lol
The new Center City building was tapped to offer the college’s new Certified Nursing Assistant program
These programs were always offered at the medical facilities that hired CNA's. The had their own programs. This was just a money/power grab by the county to re-route the flow of $$$$$. They needed more revenue! Plain and simple!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The CNA program is to ready for the boomers 'aging in place' (a rhetorical spin on a sh*t meaning)..not to mention the new county nursing home... so twice the bite....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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The DEMS tried this crap with the music department and it was not supported by the faculty nor the students. The problem is that the DEMS supported Death Ray building this huge Taj Mahal, no ice rink, no soccer and are trying to fill it with SCCC and the Y. Then they pay rent to any business that wants to relocate. As Death Ray stated, "to increase lunch traffic". Karen Johnson should have reclused herself. As a Proctor's employee she has a vested interest in seeing the students over there. Then they might cross the street for a latte? lol
