Letters & Comments

 

To the Editor:

In dreary December how welcome are the festive lights in Grafton Center. The trees of the town park are aglow, the gazebo sparkles and the Christmas trees in the windows of the senior center twinkle. Amid busy lives and an even busier season dozens of people young and not so young made the time to beautify our community. Kudos to every one who participated in creating this gift for all of us to enjoy.

What a vision Donna Walker had when she conceived the notion of a miniature Festival of Trees. Thanks to all who participated by entering trees and to those who supported it with prize donations.

Hats off to the Grafton Fire Auxiliary for volunteering to spearhead the decoration of the town park. It is immensely gratifying to see so many members of our town cooperating and pulling together to create this seasonal beauty for us.

Thank you.

Anne Kiely

Grafton

Dear Eastwick Press,

I am a regular reader of your weekly paper. I find it to be very accurate and informative. For whatever  reason, I did not pick up the November 29  issue. My apologies.

On Monday, morning December 2, I started to receive phone calls in regard to a special Town Board meeting  held on Tuesday, November 19, to adopt the budget. The calls were  pertaining to a small salary increase for one of our part-time workers. I was dumbfounded. I was asked several times why I did not advocate for a salary increase for this exceptional worker. Totally caught off guard, I asked, “What are you talking about? I most certainly  did advocate for this individual. As a matter of fact a Councilperson made the motion and before you could blink your eye, I  seconded the motion. I also stated that no one deserves a raise more than this  individual. I was then asked, “Haven’t you read the Eastwick Press?” My response was, “No.”

Later in the day I had the opportunity to read the paper and to my horror, Supervisor Higgins stated that Board Members Marie Claus  and Rick Ungaro rejected the idea of a salary increase for the part-time worker who cleans the town hall and works at the Town transfer station. I’m wondering if Supervisor Higgins and I were at the same meeting.

I certainly don’t recall Marie Claus rejecting the idea of a pay increase for this worker. What I do recall is what every good Board member should do. Marie Claus asked questions pertaining to the number of hours worked in the  position and how it would impact the budget that the Board had just adopted 5 minutes  prior to this discussion. Also in attendance at the special meeting to adopt the budget was former Supervisor Tyler Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer pointed out to  Supervisor Higgins that he did not need to request additional funds from the Board for this very small increase. Mr. Sawyer took the time to show Supervisor Higgins there was money for the salary increase within Higgins’ own budget. The Board then approved it unanimously.

Furthermore

I find it disheartening that Supervisor Higgins would say that at the November 18 Town Board meeting changes were made to the 2014 preliminary budget  in an aggressive, speculative, rash and uninformed manner.

At the November 12 budget workshop I felt a sense of true teamwork between the Board members. I myself presented to the Board several budget line revisions. My suggestions then fell into the hands of Councilman Mike Crandall who took the role of mediator with the other three Board members. It is my opinion as a resident first and a Board member second, the Board did exactly what we were supposed to do – only take what we needed to operate by trimming some of the cushion from the budget.

I would also like to say I thought it was absolutely ludicrous that Supervisor Higgins would not allow the Highway Superintendent to speak at the workshop when asked by the Board members, particularly when he controls better than half of the Town’s budget.

In regard to cutting appropriations, here is an example –  for independent auditing and accounting contractual expenses $5,700 was budgeted and after speaking to the independent auditor at the budget workshop  this line was reduced to $3,000. Another example is control of dogs contractual expenses. In 2012 actuals were $93. Actuals through September 30, 2013 were $140 so why would you budget $1,700? After speaking to the DCO the Board reduced it from $1,700 to $1,000. So if that is aggressive, speculative, rash or uninformed I am guilty.

In regard to revenues, I find it amazing that Supervisor Higgins would use $65,000 as a projected mortgage tax revenue, particularly when that number is based on homes bought and sold and refinanced. If Supervisor Higgins knows something about the real estate market perhaps he could give his Board members a tip. In the past the Town of Grafton has used a conservative $55,000 as the projected mortgage tax revenue, $10,000 less than what Higgins had budgeted. In regard to sales tax revenue the Board was very conservative at  $205,000 when the total estimated 2013 sales tax would be close to $239,196.  With a modest 1% growth rate the total estimated 2014 sales tax should be $241,588.

As a resident of Grafton I thank the other Board members for making these revisions because none of us as Board members would have ever expected to find the $12,500 mathematical error in the budget that Supervisor Higgins presented and tried to adopt at November 18 Town Board meeting.

Aggressive, speculative, rash and uninformed, perhaps Supervisor Higgins needs to look into the mirror.

Rick Ungaro

Town Board Member

Hello,

I very much enjoy the Eastwick Press and would like to think that the information follows a road map that leads to accuracy. In the case of the November 19th “Grafton Special Town Board Meeting” article published in last Thursday’s paper I find there to be inaccuracies. I’m not only disappointed in the printed recollection of events but discouraged that it was included without having an Eastwick Press reporter present. The meeting was held in the small conference room; 5 Grafton residents were in attendance.

My recollection of the conversation is what I believe to be much more accurate than the article in print. Supervisor Higgins brought up the subject of a pay increase for the part time worker who cleans the town hall. He said it was based on a conversation he had with Road Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck. Supervisor Higgins claimed it would be difficult to get someone to clean the town hall for the amount they currently paid. Councilwoman Messenger made a motion to increase the pay,  immediately seconded by Councilman Ungaro. Marie Clause never stated she rejected the idea, instead she asked a few questions concerning the number of hours in the position and if the raise would be for only the cleaning hours or would it also include the part time hours on the recycling portion. The group then discussed how that increase would compare to the 1.5% increase the Highway Employees were to receive. Fortunately, Mr. [Tyler] Sawyer was at the meeting to interject pertinent information about the funds already being in the budget that would cover the small amount. After light was shed on the questions it appeared that the entire Council agreed with the increase.

At the first Budget Meeting Cathy Goyer asked why a pay increase was not included for the same part time employee that cleans the town hall, Supervisor Higgins said he had no idea and moved on.

I realize how difficult it may get for the reporters of the Eastwick to attend all meetings in multiple towns, in this case they would have heard something much different than what was put in print.

Sincerely,

Linda Laveway

16 Trail Riders Way, Grafton

Editor’s response: Obviously, we would have preferred to have a reporter at the November 19 Grafton Special meeting. To do this we needed to be informed in a timely manner about the meeting. 

The description of the meeting in the Eastwick was clearly attributed to the Grafton Town Supervisor. Publishing reports by government officials is a courtesy we have extended to officials in other towns as well. Clearly, when we do not attend a meeting we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the report of that meeting. We understand, even hope, that if there are inaccuracies the record may be expanded by interested parties, as in this case, by Laveway’s letter to the editor. Just keep in mind – we cannot vouch for the statements in this letter either.

To the Editor:

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Buckley and Reinhard children for their generous donation to the Grafton youth. Your presentation was something special to witness. It was symbolic of how children can bring a community together and restore faith in our future. My hope is these funds will aid Grafton youth to become positive role models and active participants in Grafton volunteer organizations.

In our fast paced world, it is very easy to overlook the benefits of community based volunteer services and the need to recruit new members. All too often our youth are dismissed as potential future members because they don’t fill an immediate need or the belief is their participation will be short-lived. I say, “What about our children’s needs?” And the need for them to experience first hand what it is like to become actively involved in their community or grow to appreciate those who serve in these organizations or decide on a career path. Our youth programs offer that fundamental opportunity and exposure. We may discover there is a budding librarian, historian, firefighter-paramedic or public servant living in Grafton after experiencing one of many volunteer organization programs.

It is reassuring to know the Grafton Fire Auxiliary will be sponsoring one of these programs on December 1, 2013. The description of the event at the November 18 Board meeting was enlightening. It represents a coming together of the community at large and an opportunity to reconcile our differences. There is no doubt the event will bring a smile to those who participate.

Barbara J. Messenger,

Grafton Town Board Member

To the Editor:
The Town Board meeting of Thursday [Monday], Oct. 21, goes well beyond disappointing. What Supervisor Higgins did to myself as well as other tax paying residents was reprehensible as well as unprofessional.
During public comment I would expect Town residents to have the ability to ask questions or make comments pertaining to the operation of our Town. During public comment as I began to speak I was interrupted not once but twice by Supervisor Higgins. He sarcastically informed me that there would be no answer to my question, I would only be allowed to comment. Astonished, I made my comment regarding the meeting minutes not being uploaded to the new Town website and why the Board is not following Resolution #54 that was put forward in 2012 authorizing the agenda to be posted seven days prior to the meeting – voted 4-0 in favor. Currently a blank agenda is posted to the website the afternoon of the Board meeting. Needless to say I was never given an answer. Others went on to ask actual questions. Supervisor Higgins choose to answer the questions from certain people while others were not even recognized at all. Connie Alderman raised her hand on several occasions to comment, and Supervisor Higgins never recognized her and subsequently adjourned the meeting while hands were still raised during public comment.
Following the meeting Supervisor Higgins informed me that residents must come to his office if they have any questions concerning the Town, he will not answer in a public forum. Furthermore, Supervisor Higgins said he is contemplating ending public comment entirely. He said that there are individuals in the audience he does not wish to answer questions for, therefore all residents will be treated the same and he does not feel obligated to answer questions from Town residents at Town Board Meetings.
What type of Town Leader is at the helm of our forefront?
Linda Laveway
Trail Riders Way, Grafton

Editor’s Note: It may interest this letter writer, and others, that State law does not require public comment at Town Board meetings and that the comment period is at the discretion of the Supervisor.

To the Editor:
As part of this fall’s election campaign, false statements are being made about the Grafton Assessors office which need to be corrected. Let’s set the record straight.
My salary and my clerk’s salary were set based strictly on our experience, proficiency and knowledge. There was no increase in salary for extra work related to a revaluation and no agreement to complete a revaluation by 2012.
When formulating the 2011 budget, there was some talk about a revaluation, and some money was put into the contractual line of the budget for data collection in case we were able to get started on a revaluation during that year. We did not get started that year because the Town Board did not authorize a revaluation that year, and the money budgeted for data collection was never spent. Allegations that money was wasted or that my Clerk and I accepted money for work that was not done are baseless and irresponsible.
The Assessors office cannot begin work on a revaluation until the Town Board passes a formal resolution authorizing it. A resolution authorizing a revaluation was not passed until a few months ago, at the July 8 meeting this year.
My Clerk and I are honest hardworking people serving the Town of Grafton, and we ask that political statements about us stick to the facts.
Sincerely,
Craig Surprise, Grafton Assessor 2010-2013

To the Editor:
Mrs. Goyer presented a dismal picture of our Town website in last week’s issue of the Eastwick Press. Unfortunately she did not tell the whole story, so here is the rest of the story.
After being appointed supervisor in late March, I was informed by Town Board Member Rick Ungaro (in May) that he no longer wished to participate in maintaining the existing Town website. The Secretary to the Supervisor, Mr. Joseph Allain, volunteered to step up and fill the vacancy created by Mr. Ungaro. In short order it was determined that any updates to the existing site needed to be passed through the owner of the website. (It should be noted here that the website Mr. Ungaro set up was not owned by the Town, hence the $500 set-up fee and ongoing monthly charges.) This third party involvement caused needless delays in postings and resulted in continuing expense to the Town.
Mr. Allain approached me about creating a new website that could be controlled from the Town offices, I discussed the idea with the Board members individually and received no negative feedback. I then told Mr. Allain to proceed with the project. In less than a week he set up a new website. The cost to the Town was merely his time, no set-up fee and no update or monthly fees. This website is now maintained by Mr. Allain. Postings can be made immediately without involving or waiting for a third party action.
This new website is a work in progress. Mr. Allain is currently awaiting the Town Board minutes which he will post when he receives them from the Town Clerk. The changeover of the website was announced at the August Town Board meeting and again there was no negative feedback from any Board member.
The new website is located at www.townofgraftonnny.org.
Please visit the site, inspect it and call the Town Hall to give Mr. Allain any suggestions you may have for it; please remember it is still a work in progress.
I must also address the quote that Mrs. Goyer used when she wrote that I said, “It will be looked at when we have the time.” She failed to mention the rest of the sentence which was “We are very busy right now straightening out the mess left by the previous administration.” I believe that most of our Townspeople are aware of the numerous problems left over from that administration.
I would like to ask Mrs. Goyer to turn all her wonderful energy away from negativity to productive projects thus aiding in moving the Town forward. Cathy can be a very capable force, and she could be a real asset to the Town and our people. C’mon Cathy, let the chip fall off your shoulder and work as part of the team.
Thank You,
Frank Higgins
Supervisor, Town of Grafton