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Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 606
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 6:57 pm: | 
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I will preface my statements by saying that I'm NOT and expert and the only background in experience I can offer is purely my studies in political science - so I may be wrong.
At Monday night's BOT meeting I had to come and go and then I came back. I missed most of Mr. Goldberg's comments to the BOT so I went back on Tuesday and watched the tape of the meeting. As all the discussion regarding the "funding" of the Tony Smith sculpture unraveled, there were a couple things that just didn't make much sense to me with respect to the CDBG and the shuffling of funds that was occurring...
And this is why:
If what John Gross said was true, and that the $250,000 CDBG grant had originally been part of the Village's budget, but since the sculpture wasn't eligible for the grant the Village switched the $250,000 originally in the budget for SOPAC to use for the sculpture, and then replaced that money with the grant, isn't that "supplanting"?
If that is the case... I don't believe it is legal.
This is an interesting quote from the President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition:
"Concern is raised periodically about CDBG funds being used to supplant local funds that should be allocated for community development purposes. The CDBG statute expressly addresses supplanting by stating that Congress intends that CDBG funds “not be utilized to reduce substantially the amount of local financial support for community development activities below the level of such support prior to” the enactment of CDBG. However, supplanting can only be prevented if HUD is capable of monitoring how funds are used and take action if it occurs."
Any thoughts?
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AntoninaKC
Citizen
Username: Antoninakc
Post Number: 207
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 7:05 pm: |
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(Sorry I have no thoughts on this subject) but..
Where are you going to law school? |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 607
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 7:15 pm: |
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I'm still making decisions - I'm finishing off my Masters in Public Administration through next Spring and then I have to narrow the law schools down... lol  |
Lewisinsov
Citizen
Username: Lewisinsov
Post Number: 6
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 8:14 pm: |
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Sheena - As I mentioned earlier, in the BoT meeting of 11/14/2005 (http://www.southorange.org/minutes/2005/11-14-05sm.pdf), John Gross acknowledged that the CDBG funds were required by Federal Government ruling to be used for debt service in respect of the SOPAC bonds.
It seems pretty clear cut to me that the CDBG grant may not be used for anything else. As John Gross stated, this is because the Federal Government doesn't want to front the money.
I guess the Feds don't trust the local boards to spend money in accordance with their promises. Wherever could they get such an idea???? |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3552
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 8:22 pm: |
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Sheena - Good question. I hope someone will pursue it further.
Lewisinsov - Rereading those minutes makes me realize how absolutely meaningless most of those notes really are - a majority of the comments are from "Trustees" (Rosen & others), who have now been PROVEN to be "misinformed".
Perhaps all Public Remonstrances should now be held in John Gross' office, since the BOT has now been officially rendered irrelevant. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1862
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 10:11 pm: |
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Come on now -- stop making a mountain out of a mole hill.
This like getting a loan for college, then using your "college savings" to pay for a car.
THAT is, IMO, not the issue. The issue is whether we should be spending this much money on this sculpture now. Unless the fundraising lady has a fat bankbook to show us soon -- the answer is NO!
Pete
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2604
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 10:17 pm: |
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We've been discussing this on the Tony Smith thread (I think). It is fraud committed against HUD. And it is, apparently, illegal. I don't know what is more distressing - that our esteemed administration tried to do this, or that they thought they could get away with it.
In this age of corporate scandal and misappropriation of funds, it's disappointing to realize that even our village attorney and the various professionals on our BoT didn't think there as anything wrong (morally or legally) with this. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2605
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 10:26 pm: |
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Pete, I would hope our administration are held to a higher standard than a college kid. And I would hope we would expect a higher level of fiscal responsibility than a 20 year old.
And actually, it would be more like spending your college grant money on a new car, and borrowing more money to cover the added expense. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3553
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 10:40 pm: |
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...and then LYING about it.... |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 492
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 8:28 am: |
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But Sheena, it was okay because....
www.howard-levison.com/bot03132006_CFO_COO_Explanation.wmv |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 657
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 9:26 am: |
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How bout if Calabrese, Rosen, Gross, etc. who lied about the $250,000 funding refinance their homes and pay the $250,000. THey believe in the sculpture and it was their "mistake" they should as an act of good faith pay for their error and not put it on the backs of the people they serve |
Kristen Williamson
Citizen
Username: Kris219
Post Number: 185
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
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Sheena,
Thanks for making it clear that you are not a law student, because you sure are acting like one. I can't believe you would misrepresent yourself like that, so thanks for clearing it up before I had to tell on you for lying like that. WHEW! |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1517
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 9:55 am: |
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Our own "Legally Blonde (This Week.)" |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 608
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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lololol ohhhh Kristen - you put such a smile on my face. Elle Woods would be so proud.
call me later  |
Kristen Williamson
Citizen
Username: Kris219
Post Number: 186
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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At least Elle is ACTUALLY in law school. JEEZ SHEENAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3582
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 5:00 pm: |
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Sheena,
I just looked up "supplant" on www.dictionary.com & it actually says:
- To usurp the place of, especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics. (emphasis added)
Seriously! 
(http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=supplant)
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