About press coverage of Gerry Benjamin's Statements of Feb 21

Regarding Jeremiah Horrigan's article about the Joint Town/Village meeting on February 21.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130222/NEWS/302220359

Jeremiah's article misses the technical aspects of both Peter Fairweather's and Gerry Benjamin's statements. Watch the meeting video (including the Q&A following both their presentations) and read carefully through the Fairweather Report in terms of his Scenarios 1 and 2. See below for links.

Take for example, this sentence in the article: "Benjamin repeatedly explained that a second point of contention, a $1 million state grant, has been appropriated and would be available to help with the transition to a single government."

This is accurate in terms of what Dr. Benjamin said. But there is a technical aspect here -- one has to know that appropriations expire at the end of every fiscal year budget regardless of how much was spent (NY Finance Law Sec 40.3). If the next year's budget does not renew the appropriation, the funding is gone.

I hope Kitty Brown (who asked the question) and others understand this, and don't now think that appropriated funds are permanently encumbered funds. Incidentally, the next state fiscal year starts April 1st and the Governor's proposed budget is still being debated in the legislature. But even if the Citizen's Empowerment Tax Credits are approved this coming year, this is no guarantee for subsequent years.

The article's next sentence: "In acknowledging that state funding can be a risky proposition, he [Benjamin] also said, 'You can't say 'the state lies,' and therefore, we can't proceed.'” This too is accurate with regard to the words Dr. Benjamin used but again there is a technicality.

Dr. Benjamin's actual words were: "The criticism on relying on state funds is the point that KT Tobin raised earlier, that the state has been unreliable about persisting in the amount of money it gives to local governments over time. But you have to act on the law as you understand it and as you expect it to unfold -- you can't say that the state lies and therefore we can't proceed, or has lied in the past and we can't proceed -- or at least I think we can't say that."

But here's the technicality: State Finance Law Sec. 54p does not make a representation that the Citizen's Empowerment Tax Credits will continue year after year. This is because the law includes the phrase "within the annual amounts appropriated there-for,” which means "only if in the current budget." So the State would only be lying if it didn't provide the funds in a given year when the appropriation was already made. This is no guarantee in the State Law that these funds will be appropriated in future years.

So if we proceed as Dr. Benjamin suggests, i.e. "to act on the law as you understand it and as you expect it to unfold", then aside from this fiscal year and maybe this coming year (if the legislature approves the Governor's budget), it is anyone's guess as to how it will unfold.

New Paltz Town Board 2-21-13
Joint Village/town meeting followed by Town Meeting. Presentation on consolidation given near the beginning.
http://youtu.be/huZa2eMECww?t=1h18m

http://www.fairweatherconsulting.com/2013/01/24/download-the-new-paltz-government-efficiency-report-here/

FC: Revised Sewer and Water

---

From: dslent30@msn.com
To: nancybranco@villageofnewpaltz.org
Subject: Revised Sewer and Water
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 11:37:49 -0500

-->

Nancy:  This final ( I hope) revision.  It does not to appear there is any debt on sewer that should be shared.  Dave

Excerpts from the 2009 Memorandum of Opposition from the Assoc of Towns

This is not recent commentary, but is recently posted and worth reading.

Excerpts from the 2009 Memorandum of Opposition from the Assoc of Towns to the NY Government Reorganization and Citizens Empowerment Act:

"This legislation does not deal with the true costs of high real property taxes but instead purports to establish a one-stop shopping process to consolidate or dissolve local government entities."

"There is no substantial proof that consolidation results in lower property taxes. The only realistic way in which consolidation could result in cost savings is to eliminate jobs, such as police, fire and highway, or reduce or eliminate services. Legislation changing the fundamental makeup of local government needs to be studied and debated in open with full participation from the public. No good policy is made under the cover of darkness. The manner in which this legislation was introduced and poised to be passed curtails public debate and constructive input."

"Real property taxes are high in New York State for four primary reasons: Personnel Expense; Primary and Secondary Education; Social Welfare Services and Debt. These four categories account for nearly all of the difference in per capita spending between New York and the average of the other 49 states. Despite the assertions in the memorandum in support of this legation, generally speaking, property taxes are not high due the number of local government entities in New York State. Villages and special improvement districts are established to assign the cost of desired services to the people who will be receiving said services. In other words you should not have to pay for a service that you do not receive. Most local government entities have been sharing and/or consolidating services for decades and significant savings have resulted. Cooperation rather than consolidation is favored in many instances because it saves taxpayer resources while keeping local democracy in tact and government readily accessible to the people."

"The Association of Towns is vehemently opposed to the passage of this legislation in its current form."

http://www.nytowns.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/Opposition%20to%20Local%20Consolidation.pdf

joint letter to the editor 2/20/13, twelve signers

Letter to the editor 2/20/13

Four out of five members of both the Town and Village Boards have resolved to create a public vote in the near future on whether to consolidate the Village and Town of New Paltz into a single municipality operating according to Village government laws. That may or may not be a good thing. Since Villages and Towns operate under completely different systems, there is much to consider regarding how elections would operate, whether it will cost money or save money, how it will affect zoning and planning, whether we have sufficient facilities to combine all departments, what it would cost in construction and renovation if we don't, and how it would impact public and employee safety, infrastructure maintenance, and other required services. And yes, we need to know what it's going to do to our taxes. That's the bare minimum of the information necessary in order to cast our votes.

Unfortunately, after two years of study, we have answers to exactly none of this. We also have been shown a considerable amount of information purported to support claims of substantial savings, but nearly all of it is clearly due to ordinary service cuts that have nothing to do with efficiencies made possible by consolidation, and savings that have already happened with the Town and Village separate. Reviews of emails and videos of conversations between the members of the committee that prepared the financial reports show that in most cases decisions of what to include and exclude were made on the basis of what was likely to "sell" consolidation.

This is not, and never has been about personalities, or about some people being resolved to oppose consolidation no matter what. We have been very specific in our questions, working with the figures brought forth by the study committees. In every case we have been met by "watch the videos," "you don't have the skill to question what we've presented," and flat-out refusal to respond. There have been no substantive answers provided at all. None.

We have started researching the information on our own. We are doing this in a quantifiable, verifiable way that will be open to public scrutiny. Some of this is already available, with official source material, at http://newpaltzfactcheck.com/. As we develop our findings, we will present them at public forums, and we invite all interested persons to participate, challenge, and learn. In the meantime, we encourage all of you to ask these questions, and any others you may have, of the Town and Village Boards.

Mark Portier
Guy Thomas Kempe
Steve Casa
Feebe Greco
KT Tobin
Stephanie Olear
Steve Greenfield
Kathy Preston
Greg Olear
John Logan
Rebecca Rotzler
Keith Woodburn

HR email: Barry 6-18-12

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com

To: donpaltz@aol.com
Cc: rel12561@mac.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com

Sent: 6/18/2012 10:21:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

Just a reminder about our meeting tonight @7pm at Town Hall. Kevin

HR email: Barry 6-28-12

From: Kevin Barry <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>
To: Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiz@gmail.com>
Cc: Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>; Randall Leverette <rel12561@mac.com>; "yalescribe@att.net" <yalescribe@att.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 11:54 AM
Subject: Human Resources Joint Committee

This is to confirm our schedule for the month of July 2012. Meeting July 9th in the conference room of the Community Center @ 7pm and meeting July 30 in Town Hall @ 7pm. Kevin.
From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com

To: briankimbiz@gmail.com
Cc: amyblueberry@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com, rel12561@mac.com, yalescribe@att.net

Sent: 6/28/2012 2:00:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: Human Resources Joint Committee

There may be a change of location as the result of recent discussions between Sally and Susan. I'll let you know. Kevin

HR email Barry 12-15-12

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: r.lev@outlook.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com,donpaltz@aol.com, yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 12/15/2012 3:00:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)


Please provide your comments. Ross has already commented. Kevin

Attachment: Supplement to HR Final Report 12-14-12 https://docs.google.com/file/d/1GSbTPdWulGdWbghYy8LTHgiKWZ58Ps8tP2tHF6cZTiV_2BJ5s-_nZTGMiQ28/edit?usp=sharing

HR email: Marx, Kerr, Cohen, Leverette, Barry, Pollack 11-28, 11-30, 12-6,12-7,12-9, 12-10-12

From: info.highways <info.highways@townofnewpaltz.org>
To: r.lev <r.lev@outlook.com>
Cc: Donpaltz <Donpaltz@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Nov 28, 2012 1:48 pm
Subject: Human Resources meeting


Hi all,
Don’t know if you are the ones I need to talk to, would it be possible to be put on the list for future meetings. I showed up with half my crew and the camera guy only to find out the meeting was canceled. My computer is broke again but I still get Email at highways@townofnewpaltz.org
Ps thank you for what your doing,

Thanks,
Chris Marx
New Paltz Highway Department

On Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 1:18 PM, <Donpaltz@aol.com> wrote:

FYI.

My reply, speaking for myself and not the committee, to Chris Marx below.

I am in favor of another meeting of our committee.

Regards,
Don

From: donpaltz@aol.com
To: info.highways@townofnewpaltz.org
Sent: 11/30/2012 11:39:54 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: Human Resources meeting

November 30, 2012

Dear Chris,

Writing this note personally, and not as a representative of any committee, board or council.

Wanted to take a moment to extend a personal apology to you and the members of your staff. Due to a last minute decision to postpone and poor communication, your time was wasted last Tuesday evening.

The purpose of the meeting was to have cleared up some of the rumors going around and to make sure that staff had been properly respected and given every chance to provide input to the HR committee and its report. In light of some inflammatory e-mails sent in the days prior to the scheduled meeting, the majority of the HR subcommittee felt that the atmosphere was not right to meet. The meeting was postponed over my objection, but I take personal responsibility for the lack of direct communication with you regarding that decision. My apology extends fully to your team.

There has been a lot of emotion and confusion regarding the HR subcommittee of the Consolidation study, which has led to avoidable stress for your team.

The Fairweather report stated that no current employees of the Town or Village would be affected by proposed headcount reductions; and our subcommittee has always worked within that model. Any headcount reductions were to be seen in the future, as positions opened up due to retirement and the normal turnover that occurs anywhere.

Looking over the subcommittee report, the report fails to repeat the promise about current staff and current positions being off limits. It is easy, looking back now, to see how failing to clearly repeat Fairweather’s promise in writing as part of the HR report was a major oversight resulting in unnecessary stress for you, your team and other municipal employees.

Please reassure your team that there are no reductions at all envisioned or suggested that relate to any current employees of the Town or Village.

Regards,
Don Kerr

On Dec 6, 2012, at 3:56 PM, Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello. If the committee would like to meet again I will be happy to second Don's request & meet. However; I will be out of town w/ my family 12/17-1/8. If you decide to meet when I am away it is fine w/ me. However, I will be happy to attend & participate. I would like to know if the committee is in favor of meeting. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS REQUEST & PLEASE REMEMBER to PRESS ALL to your reply as I am sure EVERYBODY on our committee would like to hear from you!!!
THANK YOU!!! looking forward to everyone's REPLY.
XxAmy

From: Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>
To: Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>
Cc: Donpaltz <Donpaltz@aol.com>; kevinbarrylaw <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; yalescribe <yalescribe@att.net>; briankimbiztrustee <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, Dec 6, 2012 7:31 pm
Subject: Re: Human Resources meeting

i'm game to meet to bring this to closure.

--
Randall Leverette

From: "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>
To: r.lev@outlook.com; amyblueberry@gmail.com
Cc: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com; yalescribe@att.net;briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com
Sent: Fri, December 7, 2012 9:31:54 AM

Subject: Re: Human Resources meeting

All

If Ross & Brian are game to meet, how about Monday 12/12?

Regards,
Don

On Fri, Dec 7, 2012 at 11:59 AM, <yalescribe@att.net> wrote:

Hi, Don,

I am game to meet, but 12/12 conflicts with a Finance Subcommittee meeting. I could do it later next week, but might have to do so by phone (as with Finance), as my health issues keep flaring up.

Ross

On Dec 9, 2012, at 8:53 AM, "Amy Cohen" <amyblueberry@gmail.com> wrote:

i am available 12/10 (Monday) tomorrow-if all is game?
if we can't get a "regular" meeting room/video-grapher on such short notice-perhaps we should consider having our meeting & having some dinner @ the same time.......
dinner meeting- we could draft our press release & add any amendments to our report.
just an idea folks.
Thank You!
XxAmy

From: Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>
To: Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>
Cc: "yalescribe@att.net" <yalescribe@att.net>; "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>; "kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com" <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2012 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: Human Resources meeting

I'm in for Monday, just let me know where and what time.

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: r.lev@outlook.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com,yalescribe@att.net, briankimbiz@gmail.com
Sent: 12/9/2012 3:35:11 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: Human Resources meeting

I will see if Town Hall is available tomorrow. Kevin






From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com

To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com,r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net

Sent: 12/10/2012 10:14:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: (no subject)






Town Hall is available tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

HR email: Pollack, Barry, Kerr 11-26, 11-27-12

From: "yalescribe@att.net" <yalescribe@att.net>

To: Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>; Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>; Kevin Barry <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; Donpaltz@aol.com; Ross Pollack <yalescribe@att.net>

Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 12:01 PM

Subject: 11-26-2012, Noon

Hi, All,

I think I’m current on all the HR Subcommittee e-mails, but I still feel we ought not get caught up in defending a snapshot of where the headcount issue was some weeks ago. Nor do I appreciate some of us being attacked for attempting the task assigned us, or think it is fair to scare employees about “firings” we never intended, never called for, and never had the power to execute.

But having said that, and knowing full well that merger will be opposed, no matter what our numbers and arguments show, I don’t think this is the proper context for joining in such a fight at this time.

For one thing, Deputy Mayor Sally Rhoads said that a grand understanding between herself, Supervisor Zimet, Chris Marx and Bleu Terwilliger ended any question of headcount in the highway/DPW area, by urging that the Town and Village departments be merged at full strength. If that is questioned, I’d like Sally (who will still be overseas on vacation on Tuesday) to be present when the issue is rehashed.

But secondly, our report need only be defended by pointing out that it was correct in context. Surely Mayor West did not create our subcommittee without realizing that headcount would be explored if we were to consider substantial tax savings.

Even at this late date, I’m not sure what the Town’s full headcount was in 211. I’ve heard many numbers, one as high as ten times the Village headcount. To be sure, the Town has wide responsibilities and certain functions (police and Moriello Pool, for example) require more employees to guarantee coverage. While the Village has roughly 7,000 constituents for its functions, the Town focuses on another 7,000 (Town Outside Village residents) for some governmental matters and must serve the full community of 14,000 (including the Village) for others.

I think it wise to discuss merger as broadly as possible – not as one of eight Subcommittees – once the Finance Committee can show numbers for merged cost versus continuing two governments, and when more has been sketched in as to the shape of departments and their responsibilities. Fighting over a discarded DPW headcount estimate for 2015 is hardly the fulcrum of a good debate.

I agree with Amy and Randall. Let’s cancel our Tuesday meeting (or at the least postpone it until Sally Rhoads can explain the understanding regarding highway/DPW merger), issue a press release giving the HR Subcommittee’s current thinking, and add explanatory paragraphs to our report if/where needed.

Ross

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, r.lev@outlook.com, donpaltz@aol.com,briankimbiz@gmail.com

Sent: 11/26/2012 2:29:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: Fw: 11-26-2012, Noon

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Kevin Barry <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>
To: "yalescribe@att.net" <yalescribe@att.net>

Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 2:09 PM
Subject: Re: 11-26-2012, Noon
Perhaps we should reschedule. Kevin

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com

To: yalescribe@att.net, donpaltz@aol.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com,r.lev@outlook.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com

Sent: 11/27/2012 10:44:09 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: (no subject)

I think we should defer to the advice offered by Ross and reschedule our meeting for next week. Kevin

From: "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>
To: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com; yalescribe@att.net; amyblueberry@gmail.com;r.lev@outlook.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 10:55 AM
Subject: Re:
All,

SOMEone should inform the Clerks so that they can inform staff.
That someone will not be me.

Regards,

Don

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: donpaltz@aol.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, r.lev@outlook.com,yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 11/27/2012 12:54:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re:



Brian: Can we get some input from you. Kevin

HR Email: Barry 11-20-12 (#2)

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: briankimbiz@gmail.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com,r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 11/20/2012 6:20:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Fw: fact-checking brian kimbiz' statement


This email is full of inaccuracies and the dialogue mentioned by Jason was part of our discussion of total headcount within Village departments in an effort to update an earlier draft of the report. Kevin

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: jasonwest.mail <jasonwest.mail@gmail.com>
To: Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>; Sally Rhoads <sallymrhoads@gmail.com>; Stewart Glenn <stewartglennnewpaltztrustee@gmail.com>; Ariana Basco <basco54@gmail.com>; Joe Eriole <erioleesq@gmail.com>; Susan Zimet <supervisorzimet@townofnewpaltz.org>; Kevin Barry <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; Jeff Logan <jtlogan6@aol.com>; Kitty Brown <PlanB@hvc.rr.com>; Jean Gallucci <jpgallucci@gmail.com>; Bleu Terwiliger <bleuterwilliger@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Heather Nielson <HeatherNielson@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Nancy Branco <NancyBranco@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Roseann James <RoseannJames@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Carol Koop <CarolKoop@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Katy Bunker <VillageClerk@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Deputy Clerk <DeputyClerk@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Curt LaValla <CurtLaValla@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Kathy Moniz <KathyMoniz@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Holly Esposito <hollyesposito@villageofnewpaltz.org>; Don Kerr <Donpaltz@aol.com>
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2012 5:43 PM
Subject: fact-checking brian kimbiz' statement


Colleagues --

After waiting patiently (with no success) just more than a week for the HR Consolidation Committee to respond to some basic questions about the facts and methodology of their report, I sent an email to all of you that included this:

"While I have yet to watch the video on the NPPA-23 website to double-check, from what I understand it was at the Sep. 19th meeting where Councilman Barry proposed eliminating eight from the Town Buildings and Grounds Department and Trustee Kimbiz said that the Village could eliminate our Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, Bookkeeper and Director of Planning".

At our meeting Wednesday night, Brian went on loudly, insulting and at great length about how I am a liar, how I slandered him by writing that sentence to you all, that he outright never said what I "accused" him of, and that the whole conversation and point of the list of positions to be eliminated, etc., etc. I tried to explain that "while I have yet to watch the video on the NPPA-23 website to double-check, from what I understand..." is called a 'caveat', and the purpose of a caveat is to make the truth of one's statement conditional on the truth of something else. I believe you understand Brian's point of view from the letter he sent to Katy to distribute to all of you.

So I looked up what he said exactly. And wrote it down for you.

Below you will find a verbatim transcription from the HR Consolidaton Committee meeting of September 25th. At hour:minute:second mark 1:12:35, you can watch the following exchange between Brian Kimbiz and Kevin Barry. As far as I can see, what I wrote out isn't taken out of context or edited to make it sound like people are saying things they are not. This is part people told me they saw, and they were right. The DVD's are on file in the Clerk's Office. I should also note that Brian several times made the point that if someone has any questions about anything in the report, the DVDs and Minutes have been available. This is only now true: no records of the HR meetings have ever been filed with the Village (unlike every other committee but facilities, which hasn't met). When Katy heard there WERE minutes, she took time out of her day to go find a complete set for our records, and has had to go out of her way to acquire copies of the DVDs/ Not really that big a deal, just another concern. In any case, we now have what we need. However, that doesn't mean that the public or staff should have to plow through dozens of pages and hours of video to find answers and reliable facts that should have been in the Report that got everyone nervous in the first place. At least when the results of mistakes could be peoples' livelihoods.

I thought about following Brian's yearlong example and surprising him at a VB meeting with a poorly thought-through attempt at public humiliation. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to do him any good, and makes the VB meetings toxic. However, I will, of course, be expecting a sincere, public apology live on camera at our next meetings. After all, what I told Brian I would do if he were right and I were wrong. I assume he will return the courtesy. though i do have to admit, I WAS wrong. Mr. Kimbiz did not, in fact, recommend eliminating four positions. He proposed eliminating five, with no mention of using attrition, and (because he mentions that they came from a list he wrote before the meeting), he cannot be simply brainstorming or tossing around ideas. This was a current tally.

The five positions are: Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, Bookkeeper, Parking Enforcement Officer full time, Parking Enforcement Officer part time.

Mistakes should not be treated like crimes, but when this committee -- and Brian in particular -- were forewarned about the possible impacts of their work on morale, working environment and ability to get the work done, we need a higher standard. Especially when one of those responsible moves this discussion BACK on camera, and wrongly makes it personal.

In the wake of the aftermath this report created, Supervisor Zimet has been having the exact same conversation with staff as I have been, including a formal meeting with the entire Highway, Buildings and Grounds Dept. And I've heard second hand that the HR Committee is going to be withdrawing their report. When I know more specific details, I'll send them on.

This is verbatim from the DVD. All emphasis is in the original.
KEVIN BARRY "Now, Brian [Kimbiz], you were making a point [which they seem to have sidetracked from just before this part] and that was; you could see which positions [in the Village] being cut?"
BRIAN KIMBIZ "Oh, uh [looks for the right paper]...three of the Treasurer's Department."
KEVIN BARRY "A triple bye? OK, let's look at that. I mean, I have your list here, which is that whole, see that whole Treasurer's Department there?"
BRIAN KIMBIZ "Right, well this is shy one employee already, because [gets cut off]..."
AMY COHEN [cutting in]"'cause you hired somebody..."
BRIAN KIMBIZ "No, because that person...OK, see if we , if we're counting parking enforcement, which was it's own Department and is now under the Treasurer's" [Parking Violations was folded into Treasurer between 2004-2007]
KEVIN BARRY "I had that down as four full-time people."
BRIAN KIMBIZ "It shows four full-time, but one of those is part-time now."
KEVIN BARRY "So three full, one part?"
BRIAN KIMBIZ "Three full, one part. And then the two parking enforcement officers."
KEVIN BARRY "I didn't even touch on that. An then the Town has five and our recommendation is three."
BRIAN KIMBIZ "So cutting the Department in half."


A lot of people are getting this email because a lot of people saw you on TV, and read your letter. I want everyone who might possibly care to know that I am done with this little spat now. And that come Hell or high water, no one's losing their job unless there is absolutely rock-solid proof that we simply don't have any reason to pay someone to do certain things. Not if I have anything to do about it, and since it turns out I have quite a bit to about it, I'll be letting the staff know whatever I do. Please listen to the meeting yourself if you think this is out of context.

In any case, despite Brian's claims, clearly the rumor I had heard was completely true. Mr. Kimbiz DID, in fact, say on TV that he recommended cutting the Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, and Bookeeper positions. While he is correct that he did not say he recommended eliminating the Director of Planning, he did also recommend cutting everyone involved with parking enforcement. Which I hadn't heard. The problem with all this Brian, is not that you made these recommendations (for all we know it's exactly the right move), but in making them without giving good reason; for not feeling it important enough to provide that reasoning when asked; in not understanding that while it often can take people time to reply, in this case, delaying that information harms other people who have limited ways to protect themselves from us when our actions affect their livelihood. And thinking it appropriate to wait until you had a camera and an audience to do what you did at the Board meeting. Argue with me all you want outside, call me to scream at me if you want (I.ll pick up.). But don't ever try to put on your little private show trial like that again. Those meetings are the hub around which this entire multimillion dollar organization rotates. The Board of Trustees meets only 3 times a year. We only have around nine hours a MONTH to make sure we're carrying our share of the burden. When that limited time is taken up with this kind of petty, personal grudges, it eats up time and emotional energy that we all need for other things.

Send me all the angry emails or letters you want. Stand outside my apartment every morning just so you can bitch me out first thing every day. I don't care.

But leave it at the door when you come into Village Hall.

Jason

HR email: Barry 11-20-12

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: briankimbiz@gmail.com, r.lev@outlook.com, donpaltz@aol.com,yalescribe@att.net, amyblueberry@gmail.com
Sent: 11/20/2012 5:56:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Fw: more misinformation from Brian Kimbiz

I suggest we prepare a written response to this email. Brian- please forward to us for our review the letter which Jason claims you distributed . Kevin

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: jasonwest.mail <jasonwest.mail@gmail.com>
To:
Cc: briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com; sallymrhoads@gmail.com;stewartglennnewpaltztrustee@gmail.com; basco54@gmail.com;erioleesq@gmail.com; supervisorzimet@townofnewpaltz.org;kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com; jtlogan6@aol.com; PlanB@hvc.rr.com;jpgallucci@gmail.com; bleuterwilliger@villageofnewpaltz.org; HeatherNielson@villageofnewpaltz.org; NancyBranco@villageofnewpaltz.org; RoseannJames@villageofnewpaltz.org; CarolKoop@villageofnewpaltz.org; VillageClerk@villageofnewpaltz.org; DeputyClerk@villageofnewpaltz.org;CurtLaValla@villageofnewpaltz.org; KathyMoniz@villageofnewpaltz.org;hollyesposito@villageofnewpaltz.org
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 2:21 PM
Subject: more misinformation from Brian Kimbiz

Dear Village Board, Town Board and Village Staff --

I don't know why Brian threw Jean Gallucci under the bus and blamed her for advising him to eliminate positions.

I just got off the phone with Jean, and she is furious. Since she doesn't use email often, I figured I'd let everyone know that, no: our former Clerk-Treasurer did not recommend eliminating the office she ran and helped design. She also did not advise anyone to fire her husband. That one should have seemed obvious.

In fact, Jean tells me she didn't advise the HR Committee on a thing.

I would normally try to assume the best, and think that maybe Brian got confused somewhere. Except he took the time to write a letter and have it distributed. If he did so without bothering to find out if Jean did, in fact, give this advice, then frankly, it would be par for the course for the caliber of his work.

Trust me: from now on I will be watching you like a hawk and publicly exposing every lie you tell. You have pick choices moving forward as far as I can see.

1) Grow up and spend the last few months of your career in public service finally doing your job, ending on a high note.
2) Continue the way you are and look forward to months of my mercilessly cutting you down live on TV every time you try to fuck with someone like this again. And unlike you, I will have references and footnotes. Trust me when I tell you I will win every single political and PR fight you try to pick.
3) Wait out the last few months of your term by sitting silently while the grownups talk.
4) Quit.

Pick one. Personally, I have no preference.

And don't ever treat the staff, volunteers or electeds as callously as you have ever again.

Jason

2012-10-15 finance committee

24:33
The discussion about the Law item line A1420.4 starts back at 7min. The estimated cost for 2011 merged government is at this time at $75,000 and Dave argues that it should be higher, considering that the 2011 Town Actual was $115,484. Ross comments that there will be only one planning board and one zoning board so the need for lawyers will be less, and Sally picks up that reasoning and reiterates that with merger, you don't need two planning board attorneys and two zoning board attorneys. At 24m33sec, Dave responds "Yes, you can say you have just one zoning board and you have one planning board. But let's face it. The activity coming before those two boards will be equivalent to what the boards handle separately today. You're not going to have less developments, you're not going to have less requests for changes on variances and so forth -- even though those boards are combined into one board, that board in itself will have more work to do, so therefore rather than having a meeting once a month or twice a month, they're going to have more meetings than that.

HR Email: Kerr, Barry 11-19-12

From: "Donpaltz@aol.com" <Donpaltz@aol.com>
To: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 6:13 PM
Subject: keeping communication lines open

Kevin

Lot of activity since last meeting of HR subcommittee. I got a call from Carol C. last week that left me a bit unsettled, and notice that you have been uncharacteristically quiet.

Is there anything that you would like to discuss before the 11/27 meeting? Happy to do so. Let me know - I am free this evening or Tuesday.

All good on this end in that regard Thank you.

Regards,
Don

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: Donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 11/19/2012 8:49:11 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: keeping communication lines open

Don: Computer at work infected with a virus. Will call you tomorrow. Kevin

HR Email: Kerr, Barry, Cohen, Leverette, Pollack, Kimbiz 11-14, 11-15, 11-16,11-18, 11-19,11-20-12

From: donpaltz <donpaltz@aol.com>

To: yalescribe <yalescribe@att.net>; briankimbiz <briankimbiz@gmail.com>

Cc: r.lev <r.lev@outlook.com>; kevinbarrylaw <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; amyblueberry <amyblueberry@gmail.com>

Sent: Wed, Nov 14, 2012 4:30 pm

Subject: meeting date? Monday 11/22, Sunday 11/28 , Tues 11/30

Colleagues,

Please weigh in on your availability. Thank you.

Regards,

Don

From: "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>

To: yalescribe@att.net; r.lev@outlook.com; briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com;kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com; amyblueberry@gmail.com

Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 4:53 PM

Subject: Note to self - tear off desk blotter calendar "October" page - corrected> Mon 11/19, Sun 11/25, Tues 11/27 for meeting?

Pardon the incorrect dates in prior message

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com

To: donpaltz@aol.com

Sent: 11/14/2012 7:09:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: Re: Note to self - tear off desk blotter calendar "October" page - corrected> Mon 11/19, Sun 11/25, Tues 11/27 for meeting?

Monday or Tuesday is good for me and I talked with Chris--he will attend our meeting. Kevin

On Nov 14, 2012, at 4:58 PM, Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com> wrote:

monday or tuesday work for me!

Randall Leverette

From: Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>
To: Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>
Cc: Donpaltz <Donpaltz@aol.com>; yalescribe <yalescribe@att.net>; briankimbiztrustee <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>; kevinbarrylaw <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wed, Nov 14, 2012 6:58 pm
Subject: Re: Note to self - tear off desk blotter calendar "October" page - corrected> Mon 11/19, Sun 11/25, Tues 11/27 for meeting?

I am currently out of town; i am available tues after thanksgiving assuming we are meeting after 7- thank you!!Amy

From: "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com;r.lev@outlook.com
Cc: yalescribe@att.net;briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com;kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, November 15, 2012 1:53:59 PM
Subject: Re: Note to self - tear off desk blotter calendar "October" page - corrected> Mon 11/19, Sun 11/25, Tues 11/27 for meeting?

All

Seems like Tuesday after Thanksgiving 11/27 works all around.

Kevin reports that Chris Marx can be present. Brian - do you want to check in w/ Village Clerk & Book Keeper?

Thanks all around. We need a room and we'll be set.

Regards,
Don

From: yalescribe <yalescribe@att.net>
To: donpaltz <donpaltz@aol.com>; amyblueberry <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; r.lev <r.lev@outlook.com>
Cc: briankimbiztrustee <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>; kevinbarrylaw <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 2:10 pm
Subject: Re: Note to self - tear off desk blotter calendar "October" page - corrected> Mon 11/19, Sun 11/25, Tues 11/27 for meeting?

Was about to send note saying 11/27 works for me, as well. Do you want Bleu, too? -- Ross

On Nov 15, 2012, at 2:39 PM,Donpaltz@aol.com wrote:
Ross,

Sorry to jump the gun and glad that 11/30 works for you too.

Will be on the road today after hitting 'send'.

Any department heads that would like toprovide input should be permitted to do so, IMHO, but I am only one vote.

Regards,
Don

On Nov 15, 2012, at 2:43 PM, Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com> wrote:

11/27 works for me. I think we should have all who need to be there so we can get all of our questions resolved.


From: Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>
To: Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>

Cc: Donpaltz <Donpaltz@aol.com>; yalescribe <yalescribe@att.net>; amyblueberry <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; kevinbarrylaw <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 6:07 pm
Subject: Re: Note to self - tear off desk blotter calendar "October" page - corrected> Mon 11/19, Sun 11/25, Tues 11/27 for meeting?

27th seems to make sense for me as well. Additionally I think the form idea is good because we can just include them as supplemental info to the report.

Brian Kimbiz
Trustee
Village of New Paltz


On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 5:32 PM, <donpaltz@aol.com> wrote:

Brian,

I am OK with a form, but if anyone wants to address the committee, seems good to allow them to do so.

Regards,
Don

In a message dated 11/17/2012 5:10:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,amyblueberry@gmail.com writes:
what kind of form?THANKS!!XxAmy


On Sun, Nov 18, 2012 at 1:42 PM, <Donpaltz@aol.com> wrote:

All

Heading out for the day shortly.

Tasks to prepare for the post Thanksgiving meeting.

a) meeting place - Kevin or Brian > can you book us a room
b) Invitation and department head form > 1st draft attached as a starting point. If someone wants to edit the draft in any way they are welcome to do so.
c) Invitation to Bleu and others should be made Mon or Tuesday. As soon as we have a location.

Regards,

Don
 [ATTACHMENT MISSING]

In a message dated 11/18/2012 2:57:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com writes:
Don,

The form looks great! I will try to think of additional questions but you really hit quite a few of my questions right on the head. One basic grammatical change I would make would be;

Change, "In the course of the community conversation about consolidation, many potential efficiencies have been discussed" to "In the course of the community conversation about consolidation, many areas of potential increased efficiencies have been discussed."

I would be happy to book Village Hall. What is the decided date the 26th or the 27th? One confirmed I will ask Katie to book the room and send out a memo to all potentially interested parties. Are we asking just department heads or all employees? In addition to the form for department heads maybe we can come up with a quick survey to be filled out anonymously by all employees. This could provide us with some interesting insight from the ground up. What do you guys think?


Most Sincerely,

bk

From: "Donpaltz@aol.com" <Donpaltz@aol.com>
To: briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com
Cc: amyblueberry@gmail.com; r.lev@outlook.com; yalescribe@att.net;kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 6:30 PM
Subject: Re: Draft form attached - if someone would edit, it would be appreciated.

All

Consensus was for Tuesday 11/27 - Brian please book the room.

Trying to balance the desire to avoid unilateral action vs. the calendar - many will be leaving town for Thanksgiving, municipalities will be closed and our meeting is the day after everyone returns.

Would like to make invitations via Clerks at Village and Town Halls on Tuesday morning - we can specifically invite Dept Heads but indicate that it is a public meeting and that staff is free to attend.

Regards,
Don
From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: Donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 11/20/2012 2:14:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: Draft form attached - if someone would edit, it would be appreciated.


I suggest that we meet at 6:30pm to address some of the community issues being raised by our report and the attacks made against Brian. Anyone can pull a piece of data from the report and create hysteria, but these people are missing the point of the report. The report offers a cohesive plan for potential efficiencies in future governmental operations, which include hiring a comptroller who will be capable of enhancing our information technology platform, eliminating positions through attrition and retirement when appropriate, and use part-time workers and outsource work when possible to eliminate future benefits costs. Our report does not recommend firing anyone. Kevin

From: "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>
To: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 4:04 PM

Subject: Re: Draft form attached - if someone would edit, it would be appreciated.

Agreed. Committee members should be on the same page before we are in front of staff.
Will you invite other members who are able to arrive at 6:30pm?

Regards,
Don

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 11/20/2012 5:18:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: Re: Draft form attached - if someone would edit, it would be appreciated.

Done. Kevin

HR Email: Marx, Barry 11-8-12

From: Superintendent of Highways <highways@townofnewpaltz.org>
To: Donpaltz@aol.com
Cc: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com; r.lev@outlook.com
Sent: Thursday, November 8, 2012 8:53 AM
Subject: positions

Christopher Marx
Superintendent of Highways
Town of New Paltz
845.255.5050

Don,

I don’t know where the eight positions came from. In conversations I have said that possible cuts could be made if the town outsourced some of the time consuming jobs such as mowing of all the ball fields and cleaning of the buildings. As you know the town laid off two people in the B&G dept. already, leaving the staff at six.
The thing that puzzles me is that out of all the committees that are working on consolidation only one has asked for a department heads opinion, and that was the finance committee, and then only once. When I was present at your meetings it was on my own . I believe that consolidation is a good thing but not getting the facts from the people that do the work every day is a big RED FLAG to me and shows me that things are being rushed and all sides are not being looked at.

I am impressed with most of the people on this committee that you sit on and all of your backgrounds are impressive to me , but as far as knowing what it takes to keep the infrastructure running in this town, you all need a lot of work. It is my opinion that from what I’m getting out of these meetings is that we are going to sacrifice services to at the expense of safety and the decline of our already stressed infrastructure.

Please don’t take this as a personal attack, you don’t know how much I appreciate you contacting me. If you want to talk further on this I’m at your disposal.

My office telephone is 255-5050, cell xxx-xxxx, home xxx-xxxx.

Thanks again
Chris.


From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: r.lev@outlook.com
CC: donpaltz@aol.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, yalescribe@att.net,briankimbiz@gmail.com
Sent: 11/8/2012 1:06:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: positions


Randall: I just spoke with Chris Marx who apparently was confronted this morning by an employee in his Buildings and Grounds department, who was holding a copy of the New Paltz Times which reported our subcommittee was recommending cutting 8 people from the Town's building and Grounds department. I reminded Chris of a conversation I had with him in the breakroom of Town hall several months ago about potential position reductions in a merged Buildings and Grounds and Village Department of Publc Works and his belief that up to 8 positions could be eliminated. He confirmed this conversation. I told Chris that our subcommitee was not recommending 8 immediate cuts from his current department alone as reported by the newspaper and that our subcommittee also felt positions eliminations in a merged government should occur through attrition and retirement. I told him to get a copy of our report from the Town Clerk and then contact me if he had any questions. In retrospect, I probably should have had Chris review the report before it was finalized. Kevin

HR Email: Barry 10-2-12

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com,r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 10/2/2012 11:56:03 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Subcommittee Report

Any feedback prior to our 10/4 meeting? Kevin

HR emails: 8-23, 8-27, 9-18, 10-1, 10-18, 10-22 Barry, Cohen, Kerr, Kimbiz (HR Committee Task List)

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com, r.lev@outlook.com,yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 8/23/2012 11:53:10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

Attached please find the frame work for the report from our work as a subcommittee.  I thought now is a good time to start the process of getting to the finish line.

Kevin

Attachment: Draft HR Committee Task List https://docs.google.com/file/d/1Z0wlL1mBOMu5ZW6w5Z2RNvRx0QbZVyyPZkwCUckmG6cp0TiA7TTZT4s-CnCk/edit?usp=sharing

REDRAFT 8-27:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1xVdNwkG789k1Zk3ew4hxqW_Wu04CggQvInkgIuoRY0nixyFUt-sPVPIhW-rj/edit?usp=sharing

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com, r.lev@outlook.com,yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 9/18/2012 1:57:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

Redraft for internal discussion purposes only.

Attachment: THIRD DRAFT 9-18-12: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1aLzMxRc0oCmcp-nAb-H05khuGoQLcpp-I7KNTR-5_FJpFxv8y374-HL7FtX9/edit?usp=sharing


From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com,r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 10/1/2012 2:50:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

This draft incorporates data from the Village. Please contct me with any corrections, changes or edits you may have.

Kevin

Attachment: FOURTH DRAFT 10-1-12: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1tZSCqwU6-dPtHfwD-Ko3w33LGvdd_aSZbYovfS7_4PWKHM7OiWXo3RqC2IkD/edit?usp=sharing

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com,r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 10/18/2012 12:35:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

Attached for your review please find the most recent draft of our subcommittee report. Please note that I have taken the liberty to add an additional section for discussion purposes. You will find the additional paragraph on Page 9 just above the "Recommendations" section. I have also added the substance of the information to Paragraph 5 of section III "Recommendations", at the bottom of page 9. Please contact me by telephone (454-5705) if you want to discuss the additions and the manner in which you would like to conclude our subcommittee work.

Kevin

Attachment: FIFTH DRAFT 10-18-12: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1ceo-9KdHKfYWXq7OWDepDzMIOhfNzJaNUw6jPy7J6htNVFeHWSemF0ts2Ssn/edit?usp=sharing

From: Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>
To: Kevin Barry <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>
Cc: Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiz@gmail.com>; donpaltz <donpaltz@aol.com>; Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>; yalescribe <yalescribe@att.net>
Sent: Mon, Oct 22, 2012 9:58 am
Subject: Re:


Hello. This document looks good. Perhaps we might consider adding more detail. However, i do feel comfortable w/ this draft. There are several details which might have been added (ie;employee must work for X amount of days BEFORE they are eligible for ie; (PAID)sickdays,vaca days,personal days etc.........
Also as i review our meetings on video i see that we never discussed "end of the year bonus". I believe this bonus should be based on performance and evaluation. Currently as there are no evaluations being done (except in police dept) bonus is based length of employment.
What is the plan for our conclusion? or is this it?
THANK YOU!!!Amy

From: "donpaltz@aol.com" <donpaltz@aol.com>
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com; kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Cc: briankimbiz@gmail.com; r.lev@outlook.com; yalescribe@att.net
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 10:13 AM
Subject: Re:

All

I suggest that we have one conclusive meeting so that all are on board and on the same page.

Respectfully,
Don


From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 10/22/2012 10:44:54 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re:


Town Hall is available this friday @ 5pm and later. I suggest we meet for 30 minutes to finalize our report. Kevin

From: "Donpaltz@aol.com" <Donpaltz@aol.com>
To: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: 

Kevin
That timing is tough for me - I would not be available a minute past 5:59pm on Friday. 10/30 is 5th Tuesday of month. No regular meetings will be on schedule .
Don

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: Donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 10/22/2012 12:06:05 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re:

How about 4:30 Friday

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: Donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 10/22/2012 12:42:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re:

Please confirm for Friday @4:30. Kevin

From: "Donpaltz@aol.com" <Donpaltz@aol.com>
To: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 1:14 PM
Subject: Re:

4:30pm Friday works for me

10/25/2012 9:41:41 P.M.,briankimbiz@gmail.com writes:

Good Evening All,

I think after all this work it is time we meet once more to wrap this up. I know it is short notice but it would be great if we could meet before Monday so we can get our final report to the finance committee. I don't expect it but it would be nice. I am free tomorrow evening, Saturday and Sunday day. Let me know if any of these could work for you. It may be tough to get cameras on such short notice but we might be able to pull it off people feel very strongly about doing so. Let me know.

Additionally I just want to thank you all for your hard work and great ideas. I would also like to especially thank Councilman Barry for putting this together and really pushing us to reach our goal.

Brian Kimbiz
Trustee
Village of New Paltz

From: "Donpaltz@aol.com" <Donpaltz@aol.com>
To: briankimbiz@gmail.com; kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
Cc: amyblueberry@gmail.com; r.lev@outlook.com; yalescribe@att.net
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 10:46 PM
Subject: Re: Finishing the HR Committee Work

All

Brian's message pushes me off the fence in favor of one conclusive meeting. Unless weather cancels flights, I will be at JFK airport Monday night. Perhap[es we could meet at 6pm Tues, prior to the Joint Town/Village meeting?

I would like to be quick, but would rather be right and unified.

Kevin, lets hold off on the Friday one-on one.

Regards,
Don

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: Donpaltz@aol.com
Sent: 10/25/2012 11:14:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: Finishing the HR Committee Work

Tuesday at village hall? Kevin

 

HR email: 8-20-12 Cohen, Barry, Kerr, Fagan

From: Amy Cohen <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; To: Kevin Barry <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; Cc: Brian Kimbiz <briankimbiz@gmail.com>; donpaltz@aol.com <donpaltz@aol.com>; Randall Leverette <r.lev@outlook.com>; yalescribe@att.net <yalescribe@att.net>; Subject: Re: Sent: Mon, Aug 20, 2012 11:25:35 PM  Hi!! Just a heads up; we were waiting @ town hall 4 meeting but door was locked and nobody had the key!! Meeting has been canceled for tonight! xXAmy

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com

To: amyblueberry@gmail.com CC: briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com, r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net Sent: 8/20/2012 6:43:52 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: Re: Amy I just arrived. Videoographer told me his key was in rosendale . They always arrive early for setup

On Aug 20, 2012, at 7:24 PM, Donpaltz@aol.com wrote: Kevin & Brian, As the volunteers and paid videographer were standing in the rain at 7:05 pm for lack of a key .... it occurred to us that the dual chair arrangement is not working as well or as efficiently as was hoped.  There was confusion again as to the meeting location, and when we all got together at the right location, it was only to be rained on. Not a positive volunteer experience. FYI..... Regards, Don

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: Donpaltz@aol.com, briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com
CC: amyblueberry@gmail.com, r.lev@outlook.com, yalescribe@att.net, bobusiavideo@mac.com

Sent: 8/20/2012 6:44:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: Re: as we were standing in the rain outside Town Hall tonight ........

Thanks for your positive remarks. Kevin

From: bobfagan <bobusiavideo@mac.com>;
To: <Donpaltz@aol.com>;
Cc: <kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com>; <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>; <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; <r.lev@outlook.com>; <yalescribe@att.net>;
Subject: Re: as we were standing in the rain outside Town Hall tonight ........
Sent: Mon, Aug 20, 2012 11:41:13 PM 

We are not responsible for opening the doors.  We usually can, but in this case, we could not.   -Bob Bob Fagan

On Aug 20, 2012, at 7:49 PM, Kevin Barry wrote:

Bob you always open the doors for setup. You rep said the key was in another workers possession

From: bobfagan <bobusiavideo@mac.com>
To: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com 
Cc: "Donpaltz@aol.com" <Donpaltz@aol.com>; "briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com" <briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com>; "amyblueberry@gmail.com" <amyblueberry@gmail.com>; "r.lev@outlook.com" <r.lev@outlook.com>; "yalescribe@att.net" <yalescribe@att.net> 
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 8:02 PM

Subject: Re: as we were standing in the rain outside Town Hall tonight ........

Yes, that is true when the doors are not already open by the town clerk, we will open them.  And I am sorry we didn't have the key available for tonight's meeting.  All I'm saying is it's not in our proposed contract to be responsible for that.  Generally a village or town government representative is usually designated to open the doors of town or village halls.   

-Bob

---

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: bobusiavideo@mac.com
CC: Donpaltz@aol.com, briankimbiztrustee@gmail.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, r.lev@outlook.com,yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 8/20/2012 7:07:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Subj: Re: as we were standing in the rain outside Town Hall tonight ........

I am not questioning your contractual provisions,but in practice it has been your reps that arrive early for setup at least one-half hour prior to our meetings. Kevin

HR email: Barry 8-20-12

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com, r.lev@outlook.com,yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 8/20/2012 10:06:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

Attached please find a summary of employee benefits as reported in the employee handbook.  These figures are subject to change based upon different terms in union contracts.

Actual benefits for each employee are shown as "YTD Accrued" in the condensed vacation/sick/personal time status report attached.

Also attached please find the roster for health and dental benefits afforded active and retired employees.

I have a Court appearance at 6:30 in the Town of Ghent.  I will be arriving late to our meeting.

Kevin

Attachment: Employee Benefits Summary https://docs.google.com/file/d/1fQcvMCXwKAxDc7XlF-kMAF8Sdla8g6dJLMTmpjflcs3FxQ3XnoiLdxMjguJZ/edit?usp=sharing

HR email: Barry 8-13-12

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: amyblueberry@gmail.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, donpaltz@aol.com, r.lev@outlook.com,yalescribe@att.net
Sent: 8/13/2012 10:55:25 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

Attachment: https://docs.google.com/file/d/11nOpXPbOQyT7LFE-INaqsq2eMaBaEt7ED0y2qlfi2w17HTrMWhpK_z55u32g/edit?usp=sharing

letter to the editor by mike russo 2/15/2013

NP Times Letter to the Editor – Mike Russo 2-15-2013

When an auto dealer tells us “this car is terrific, it gets amazing gas mileage, it never breaks down, and this is the lowest price you’ll ever see”, we know we are hearing sales puff.  But sometimes we get taken along anyway because their enthusiasm for the car makes us want it too.  Indeed the best sales people may well be those who actually believe in what they are telling us – their own exuberance and faith in their product may persuade us, even while reason whispers for us to take what we hear with a grain of salt.

I wish this same element wasn't in play when it comes to the financial information we have been receiving from many of our elected officials and Fiscal Committee members regarding their current consolidation report.  But their tendency to perceive and relate the economic implications of consolidation in the rosiest shades of optimism has been troubling.

Case in point at the Information Meeting held on February 11:  Former Supervisor Lent and Trustee Rhoads said repeatedly that if merger of Town and Village occur, we will get a $1 million Citizen Empowerment Grant EVERY YEAR. Why? Because it’s in the law, they say.

Well, that sounds great. Unfortunately it is inaccurate.

 “The New Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act,” was enacted “to provide a process for citizens to petition for a public vote on dissolving or consolidating local governments.” It improves and clarifies a process for consolidation and dissolution. There is no mention of grants or tax credits in this Act.

Separate changes to the State Finance Law (Section 54-p) were initiated to provide a “citizen empowerment” tax credit incentive for local governments to consolidate or dissolve.  However, this is a budgetary measure as it includes the language “within the annual amounts appropriated there-for.” This means that the tax credit incentive can only continue every year if provision for such tax credits is included in the state budget every year.  Incentive programs like these go by the wayside regularly whenever the Legislature or Governor no longer wants to fund them.

The question should be: “How long will this tax credit program be funded?”  It was funded last year and in this current budget year of 2012-2013. Governor Cuomo includes it in his proposal for budget year 2013-2014, but this is yet to be approved by the Legislature. The Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act itself was a pet project of Governor Cuomo when he was still Attorney General.  It’s typical for ambitious politicians to introduce flashy programs to promote themselves, and add to their list of achievements, and certainly we all are aware of the aspirations of our present Governor.  He wants the initiative to be a success. But let’s consider how the tax credit program may play from the point of view of State Senators and Assembly Members, who will decide every year whether to fund it.  Over half of towns in New York State have no villages. How long before members of the Senate and Assembly get an earful from many towns about how unfair it is that a neighboring town is getting a huge tax credit and they’re not?  Consider just our neck of the woods: Esopus, Gardiner, Lloyd, Plattekill, Rochester, Rosendale – none of these towns have villages with which to merge and get a piece of the large tax credit pie offered by this program.

So there’s a fairness problem with regard to this program that is likely to erode the support of many legislators. As well, this program excludes New York City, so it’s unlikely that the city’s representatives will provide any bedrock support for the tax credit program. Add to that the current budgetary stress of the State government, and there’s good reason to wonder how long this program will last. Will the $1 million tax credit remain in the budget for one more year or three years or five years? Will it be amended such that it is chopped in half next year, or limited to only one or two years per municipality? It’s anyone’s guess.

My point here is to urge those who are pressing very hard for consolidation to quit painting a picture of the best of all possible worlds – in this case a wonderful world where the state gives our village/town a $1 million tax break every year, when in fact the likely picture is different. There is very good reason to question the longevity of the tax credit.

Another example from the February 11 meeting:  The Fiscal Committee estimates that the merged Town and Village could operate at the same level of Board costs (stipends and contractual) as the Town alone. Mr. Lent told me that it was possible because all the time spent on each Board discussing issues involving the other Board would be eliminated. Well, that’s an interesting argument and the way Mr. Lent tells it, you want to believe him, but if the two boards have similarly-sized workloads, it would mean that over the years approximately half of each board’s time has been taken up with New Paltz intergovernmental issues. From my inquiries to several people who have served in Village and Town government, this was not the case – over the years, in general, Village-Town issues have been at most modest topics amidst all trustee or council work. It seems more reasonable to anticipate that the workload for a merged Village/Town board might be somewhat less than the combined workloads of each board, but certainly more than either board currently handles. Furthermore, there has been some talk of having a six member Board plus Mayor/Supervisor.

My point here is the same as above:  I put it to the Fiscal Committee that they should be conservative in their estimates of savings; not extremely optimistic as is the case with this and many of their spreadsheet figures. 

HR email: Barry 8-13 (List of Town Employees)

From: kevinbarrylaw@yahoo.com
To: donpaltz@aol.com, briankimbiz@gmail.com, amyblueberry@gmail.com, yalescribe@att.net,r.lev@outlook.com
Sent: 8/13/2012 10:40:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: (no subject)

As requested

Kevin

Attachment: List of Town Employees

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1dfMaf4n5yhElYYLLcU0xYgazjqoF2-uO-jdkjBjQ0duz77iG9YNWsqNB7dXc/edit?usp=sharing