| Author | Message | ||
     doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 476 Registered: 3-2003 |
The report says that all meetings were scarcely attended by the public although held pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act. Once again, the Village may have met the bare legal requirements in advertising the meetings, but there should have been at least a couple of stories about what was going on in the Gaslight or News Record. The last couple of years the public has been told that the main reason for the tax increase has been health costs. Now consideration is being given to providing medical coverage and pension benefits for the Village President and Trustees, which after all, are part-time positions. Most recently there has been in the news a story about how Bennett added to his state pension by counting the salary he earned as part-time municipal attorney for several municipalities. Although this is not exactly what we're talking about here, it is getting very close. I would assume that most trustees already have health coverage and pension plans. And Bets, it does seem that there is a lot of shadow dancing going on in attempting to change the allocation of school taxes. I would still like to know what has to be done even if the voters approve it in a non-binding referundum. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 477 Registered: 3-2003 |
Trustee Theroux doesn't post online but maybe one of the other trustees can answer. As a assistant to Mims Hackett, does trustee Theroux receive state health benefits and pension benefits? This question is not meant to embarrass anyone but I think is important in understanding the proposal. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 518 Registered: 6-2001  |
For some reason, Trustee Theroux is also advocating health and pension benefits for "domestic partners." Can anyone tell me why she might be pursuing this? | ||
| woodstock Citizen Username: Woodstock Post Number: 524 Registered: 9-2002  |
Perhaps she thinks it's the right thing to do? Or maybe she's a closet pinko commie liberal. Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 519 Registered: 6-2001 |
Incorrect. Next? | ||
| Silvio Dante Citizen Username: Silviodante Post Number: 9 Registered: 8-2003 |
bets - does Scary Mary swing both ways? | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1225 Registered: 5-2001 |
It would be simple (and altruistic) to make any changes in the charter take effect after the completion of the current trustees terms. Relected trustees, and any new trustees of course, would then be the first to benefit from any change, if it was past. Would this alleviate the "conspiracy" theories" of Bets and others? Nope, probably not, but it would be the right thing to do. Oh and btw, maybe Ms. Therous is committed to assuring that domestic rights are afforded to all loving and permanent partners, even those that our President, in his wisdom, feels are damaging to the "sanctity" of marriage. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 478 Registered: 3-2003 |
My question really wasn't meant to single out Trustee Theroux, although I guess it had that effect. I think it is a valid question, whether applicable to Trustee Theroux or any future trustee. I just think that opening the door to the possibility of health and pension payments for the Village President or Trustees is not something we should do. The first reason is financial. Another is the possibility of overlapping coverage. As a matter of fact, wasn't there something in the news recently about public officials who had overlapping converage? | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 479 Registered: 3-2003 |
LL: Our posts crossed. Most of my concerns have involved future trustees and I think raise some serious and valid concerns. Although I may raise questions, they stem from real concerns and not because of any conspiracy theory. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1226 Registered: 5-2001 |
Doublea.. the Bets and Silvo posts were both offensive and provocative, purposely. You asked for legimate information, gave the perfect opening to the anti-MAry brigade and got caught up in the crossfire. Apologies to you if you felt included in my "conspiracy" theory. NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 480 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hope you're enjoying your coffee measuring cup. I followed my own advice and called, but they would only send me one. Nice of them nevertheless. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1227 Registered: 5-2001 |
Double..you must of gotten mine..I never received a scoop. In fact, I called yesterday, and they said that they would research it. Can you believe? Just send me a bleeping new one? I am destined to never, ever have a well measured cup of coffee again. BooHoo. I should probably change my signature below! NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 520 Registered: 6-2001 |
It's your prejudice that implies that domestic partners must be homosexual. I am in a heterosexual domestic partnership myself. Now try to think of a reason why Trustee Theroux (Therous? relected??) may want coverage for domestic partners. | ||
| bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 521 Registered: 6-2001 |
And I agree with LL's proposal to make any charter changes go into effect after the current terms of all the trustees expire. (Meaning whomever is elected in May 2005 would be the first to benefit, then May 2007, etc.). I still forcefully object to any insurance or pension beneifts. | ||
| NCJanow(akaLibraryLady) Citizen Username: Librarylady Post Number: 1229 Registered: 5-2001 |
maybe Ms. Theroux is committed to assuring that domestic rights are afforded to all loving and permanent partners, even those that our President, in his wisdom, feels are damaging to the "sanctity" of marriage. Bets. where does that say that domestic partners must be homosexual??? Maybe you are the one with homophobia, eh? (Oh and BTW, reducing yourself to pointing out typos really doesn't increase your credibility). NCJ aka LibraryLady On a coffee break..or something like it. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1006 Registered: 4-2002 |
Bets: You seem to be the only person who wants partisan elections. If we did change them the primary would be in June. Right now that would mean whomever won the democratic nomination in June would probably win in November. The actual turnout in November would not be the meaningful number. It would be the one in June. I did not say you had to go alone. I just think it is not important and it NOT what I want to spend my volunteer time on. I do wish we had a 100% turnout in May or for that matter all elections. If you think the charter review committee is part of a conspiracy, I hope you have the guts to go tell them on Thursday. At the very least why don't you ask them why the meeting is not on a Monday and can a second date be picked. I am happy that it is not being done at the regular meetings. This will allow more time for discussion. I did not participate in any of the charter review committee meetings nor did I offer any input. I answered a few questions while waiting for the train one morning. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1007 Registered: 4-2002 |
Bets, Doublea: By the way, a progress report was given at conference agenda at least half a dozen times in the past year at trustee meetings. Each time it was listed on the agenda. Again, if you have a problem with the timing of the meeting or want to find out when and where they were advertised, contact one of the members of the committee and ask them or go to the meeting next Thursday. In fact, if you can't make it, list your questions on MOL and maybe someone else from here will ask them for you at the meeting. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 481 Registered: 3-2003 |
Mark: I think something as important as this could have been mentioned in The Gaslight or the News Record or on the Village website. Specifically, the issues that were being discussed, since they are so important. If they were specifically mentioned at the conference agenda, I missed them. You know that I watch the BOT meetings, and if it was reported that the method of allocating education costs was mentioned half a dozen times, I think I would have caught it. All I'm suggesting is what a lot of other people, and not just Bets and me, have requested - better communication. To just list on the conference agenda "Charter Commission update" really doesn't mean much to the majority of residents. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 833 Registered: 5-2001  |
Mark, I agree with doublea. Can you clarify what the purpose of the meeting on Thursday is for? Is this a presentation to the BOT AND the public, where there will be an opportunity for public questions/comment? Is it anticipated that a vote will take place by the BOT on Thursday whether or not to adopt the charter change? | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 482 Registered: 3-2003 |
I went through the 2003 Conference Agenda minutes and this is what I found: September 15, 2003: "Trustee Rosner commented that the Charter Review Committee had finished meeting, however, the Board had not yet received a report. Village Counsel Matthews responed that he is in the process od drafting the report for the Committee. Trustee Theroux requested that the item be "moved along" as it has been "out there for such a long time." Mr. Matthews stated that he would get it moving." December 8, 2003: "Charter Committee Update. Village Counsel Edwin Matthews explained that due to problems in his office, this review had not yet been typed. He then promised to have it for the Charter Review Committee by the beginning of the year." That is the full extent of what I was able to find in the 2003 conference agenda meetings. I didn't look at 2002, but I suspect they wouldn't have been any more helpful. |
