Rotterdam town councilman resigns after budget-season clash Tuesday, October 14, 2014 By Ned Campbell (Contact) Gazette Reporter
ROTTERDAM — A Rotterdam town board member has resigned in the wake of a budget season clash.
Mike Viscusi, a Conservative, resigned Monday for "personal reasons," Town Clerk Diane Marco said today.
The resignation followed an argument between Viscusi and Deputy Supervisor Wayne Calder at the end of last week's Town Board meeting, according to Republican board member Joe Villano.
During the meeting, Villano proposed 15 budget cuts totaling more than $1 million, including reducing Calder's salary from $25,000 to $11,500. Viscusi, who had caucused and voted with the Democrats, motioned to reduce Calder's salary to $15,000. The motion passed by a vote of 3-1, with Viscusi, Villano and Republican town board member Rick Larmour voting, Democratic Supervisor Harry Buffardi voting no and Calder recusing himself. None of the other proposed cuts passed.
"At the end of the meeting there were some rough words exchanged between Mr. Viscusi and Mr. Calder, and I can’t exactly say that I’m shocked that Mike has resigned from the town of Rotterdam," said Villano, who sat to the right of Viscusi during meetings.
Viscusi had the deciding vote on the five-member board that consisted of himself, two Republicans and two Democrats.
With Viscusi off the board, the Democrats will have to give the two Republicans "a seat at the bargaining table," Villano said.
"There is going to be a new normal in the town of Rotterdam," he said.
Viscusi was elected in fall 2011 to his first four-year term, which was due to expire Dec. 31, 2015. The Town Board must vote on a replacement for Viscusi who would have to run for election in November, Marco said.
Viscusi did not immediately return a call requesting comment.
"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,"
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Too bad there's no video of what went on after the meeting.
"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,"
I think there was an article in the tu online about a run in with the cops in 2013 in regards to assualting someone. Either sunday or Monday. Maybe that's the "personal reasons"
I think there was an article in the tu online about a run in with the cops in 2013 in regards to assualting someone. Either sunday or Monday. Maybe that's the "personal reasons"
Could you post that, I can't seem to find it.
I think (and this is purely speculation on my part) that the "blowup" with Calder after the meeting has more to do with his resignation. My guess is Calder made some serious threats.
"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,"
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