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Message |
    
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1402
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:20 pm: | 
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Harold Colton-Max, chair of the CBAC, just read the CBAC's comments on the operating budget and had some very interesting comments. Tune in. |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 402
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:26 pm: |
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Was I right, did Calabrese ask the Director of the Art Gallery to confirm that there was a Tony Smith sculpture in Munich? |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1403
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:30 pm: |
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Yes. That was interesting too.
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joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 58
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:40 pm: |
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And did you hear the T-shirt wearing spokeswoman compare Tony Smith to Rodin?
Both of them are rolling in their graves.
Three new copies of Tau will be made.
We are buying one.
Ours will be no higher than the roof of the gazebo, which is about ten to twelve feet high.
The gazebo will go, and the sight-line and light blocker will be in its place.
Can I take the gazebo off their hands?
It would just fit my yard.
And it is pretty to behold.
jd |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1404
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:53 pm: |
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CBAC's comments suggesting that the agreement with New Market be renegotiated was really interesting. CBAC said as a result of the delay in the projects, there is a budget strain. Furthermore, the pilot agreement signed with New Market should be renegotiated because of the increase in value of the New Market property.
This is something that many of us had been questioning for some time now.
And it's not new, but there's $435,000 in the budget for SOPAC. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3370
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:00 pm: |
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I missed some of the gushing over the Tony Smith statue, but I heard her try to explain that "it's not a copy"...however two others identical to it will (or already do) exist. Nice logic.
I missed the bottomline cost to us taxpayers. I heard talk of upcoming fundraisers etc, but how much will this discretionary purchase of a "gift" cost us?
I wonder if the people who already made a contribution for the statue appreciated that their money was being spent on T-shirts and goody-bags for the BOT |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1405
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:06 pm: |
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There were a lot of things going on this evening -back to the budget - I think that the CBAC said there is a $950,000 increase in debt service this year. We're talking about serious bucks here, with debt service and SOPAC. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8657
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:09 pm: |
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Munich?
Well, that changes everything.  |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 403
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:09 pm: |
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So Sterling Properties has taken over the Shop Rite project completely, having bought out the partner. Wouldn't that trigger the need for a new agreement? And why is Calabrese reporting on this? Isn't his store within 200 ft of this project, and would he have a conflict?
And his friend (Saiyd?) is now renting out space to the Community Coalition on Race? Sounded like Calabrese brokered that one. Boy oh boy! |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3371
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:28 pm: |
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jayjay,
I missed the "Redevelopment Update" - did Calabrese provide any update on the Rug Store property? |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 404
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:31 pm: |
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MHD-
I didn't hear any update on that, but I may have just missed it as I had to leave the set for a while. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2563
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:06 am: |
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No update on the rug store property. Bill's property is more than 200 feet from the new market site. No new agreement is forthcoming or required.
SOPAC is about $360,000, not $435,000 (frozen at last year's figure).
Bottome line cost of the statue to the village is $250,000 according to the presentation last night.
Space rented to the CCR is at below market rent. It is temporary space till they find other space.
Other large increases to the budget included the increasing pension contribution to the state pension fund for police and fire. We are now required to contibute $750,000 which is about a $350,000 increase over last year. There were no contributions required to the fund as recently as three years ago. Due to mismanagement and unsound actuarial practices, the towns are getting screwed by the state. Basically, they assumed higher returns on the money that was generally considered acceptable. This lowered the amount the state was supposed to be putting into the fund and eventually it caught up to them (well, really us).
Energy costs and increasing health insurance premiums are the other major increases.
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J. O. Schmuck
Citizen
Username: Parkingsux
Post Number: 315
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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Given the BoT's non-update on Sayid's buried basement with contaminated SOPAC fill (does he say anything in closed session or does any elected member care to question or comment his presentation during public session?), it is quite clear to see that the collective avoidance circumvents the best interest and concerns of the residents.
The comment about Sayid and the CCR is a joke.
Munich is wonderful this time of year. 
BTW: can someone clip the article in yesterday's WSJ about investing in Germany during the down market..... priorities do come first when it relates to my own self interests....
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CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 594
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:00 am: |
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I'm a fan of the arts but if the town is facing a 350,000 increase in the contribution for pension funds I really don't think it is appropriate to spend $250,000 on a sculpture whether it is by Smith, Rodin or DaVinci. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3373
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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CageyD - I agree completely. The Village also claimed they didn't have the $300,000 for a DRMC which will attract quality businesses and shoppers to our town. However, they somehow have $250,000 for a copy of a statue that will attract pigeons to our town! |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 441
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:39 am: |
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Allan/Eric, what ever happened to the SOPAC presentation?
At both budget workshops and CBAC reviews it was stated that SOPAC needed an additional $2-4 million to complete construction. Additionally, we were told that the status of fund raising is only $400,000 of the $4 million target.
We have asked for but never received (if ever filed) SOPAC's IRS filing (Form 990) which would indicate financial creditability.
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J. O. Schmuck
Citizen
Username: Parkingsux
Post Number: 316
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 12:19 pm: |
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If not mistaken, a 501(c)3 has to announce the availability for public review of its financial statements in a newspaper. I wonder which paper that would be? Let me suggest....The Kabul News, GmbH! |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 22779
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 12:42 pm: |
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I find it very hard to believe that Calabrese's business is not within 200 feet of the New Market site. Maybe not the New Market itself, but the site extends to the Post Office, correct? The back door of the Prescription Counter to the Vose Avenue site has to be within 200 feet. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3374
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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bets,
I have thought the same thing. If you have a LOOOOOONG tape measure, I'd gladly meet you down there to measure it personally. |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 22780
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 1:17 pm: |
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 I don't have one quite that long, but we could always use a string and then measure that? Do you know whether Calabress still has part ownership in that building? Because the northwest portion of the building is even closer! |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1363
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 1:18 pm: |
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I'm not surprised if SOPAC is behind on fundraising. I see no evidence that they've started any significant fundraising in the public. So far, I've been given a cute refrigerator magnet, but never asked to invest a donation in this vision for the future. (why didn't the magnet come attached to a fund-raising brochure??)
If you don't ask, you don't get. I expect to write a check each year, but if you didn't ask me in 2005, that year is gone forever.
Where are the offers to join now, be a founding patron, get your name on the plaque, etc? What is the paid director doing with her time?
I am so eager to be a fan and patron of SOPAC, but will have to become a stronger doubter if they don't eventually start dealing with the public in both fundraising and communication. |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 405
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 3:25 pm: |
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No mention of the Theroux fiasco at last night's BOT meeting. Anyone know what's up? Isn't this a loose end?
Also, thank you, Mr Rosen for trying to get the BOT's to commit to timelines on the actions discussed at the first informal meeting. (I noticed how Mr. Taylor tried to deflect your recommendation. ) |
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