Opinion
The Woodburys look for ways to save money
March 05, 2009
This might not be the year that the Woodburys unravel their tangled governmental web, but at least most candidates for village office are talking about how to minimize the extra costs.
Three years ago, voters approved the creation of an overlay government, adding a village atop a town, in the hope that the new layer would provide more protection for any possible attempts by the nearby Village of Kiryas Joel to annex land and expand. No one knows if such extra protection was necessary, but all taxpayers now know that they are paying a price for the decision.
While many municipalities and school districts are moving, albeit slowly, or studying, albeit grudgingly, the possibilities of saving money by merging operations, sharing services or even dissolving one entity into another, Woodbury went the other way.
At first, there was lots of talk about how this would not cost any more. Now, there's some talk about how the extra costs that inevitably showed up could be reduced, although not eliminated.
There is one way to bring the costs back to where they were. That would be for the voters to conclude that one government offers enough protection and can provide services more efficiently than two.
It might take a few more elections, a few more years of realizing that no area the size of the Woodburys needs so many overlapping governments with their associated inefficiencies and costs. For now, talk of minimizing the damage for the misguided vote is refreshing.
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64 comments:
The current board has done a fine job of putting a new government together. They have not waivered in their commitments to the residents, and tried to attain all their goals. When outside influences have pressured them to react in specific ways, they have resisted, choosing instead to work for ALL the residents, and to stay on track. Those who felt the board had certain "obligations" to them have now chosen a different means to get their ways, and as an observer, I say good riddance to you.
The current board has always listened to cost saving ideas, and I have all the faith in them that they will consider merging the two governments, along with reviewing the inter-municipal agreement and pursuing outside grants. All of this must be done carefully and thoroughly, using the best resources available. NOT by just throwing out an idea and asking people to latch onto it. Thanks to the Village founders, the majority of the residents of Woodbury are so confused, they have no idea what has happened in the last 5 years. Keeping a stong, steady governmental body rather than turning it over every two years seems to be the best way to go right now.
Anonymous #1, you couldn't just make your statement. You had to try and confuse the issue. Thanks to the "founders of the Village", we have the Village. Right now, we have the security that the Junction won't end up its own village and the 100 acres of forever green won't end up having apartment buildings. Just for the RECORD, ANNEXATION has NOTHING to do with the village. That's a take me to court issue for a village or a town.
Way back in 2004, when Mr. Queenan was spearheading the campaign to form the Village, it was reported in the TH-R that:
"Councilwoman Lorraine McNeill said the move "boils down to politics." She asked town residents to "keep a close eye" on who would be running for office if the village is created."
Well, lo and behold, like most politicians, Ms. McNeill has fip-fopped, and is now eating her own words, for she recently endorsed the same guy she warned against back in 2004!
I guess the old adage holds true- keep your friends close, but your enemies closer!
Why would Woodbury Junction form it's own village?? Can the poster name for me a single non KJ village in Orange County that consists solely of a development? The answer is no. The village of Woodbury was formed because people were led to believe that it would protect them from annexation plain and simple. Only AFTER was it proven that it was not did this nonsense that Woodbury Junction or Brigadoon could form a village. Thats smoke and mirrors BS and you know it and ya know what if the people in those developments want to pay extra money to have a village then fine let them, let them pay for this nonsense instead of me.
Lorraine was right, look who is running-Ralph's cronies Benny, George and Fred U. !
Nice try Don
I want to form a village of my own, in another state, in another country, on another planet to get away from you petty imbeciles!!!!!!
To the poster at 1:50pm- the whole article was about Queenan- read below:
Once the village was created, the town government would probably be relegated to a "more minor role," Queenan said. "I can't predict how that will work out, but looking at it logically, there would be no need for a full-time supervisor at that point."
Conroy, who was still trying to figure out what this move would mean for the town government, said Queenan's disappointment with the Town Board was news to her.
"If he is so concerned about zoning, why has he not come to the Town Board and discussed it with us in the two years that he's been Planning Board chairman?" she asked yesterday. "I would be very interested in finding out from Mr. Queenan what the town hasn't done to protect its land."
Councilwoman Lorraine McNeill said the move "boils down to politics." She asked town residents to "keep a close eye" on who would be running for office if the village is created.
SHOW ME WHERE anyone ever said a village protects against annexation. Show Me & I will believe. I have posted that challenge many times & still nothing. Just statements from people like you. What do you think, if you say it enough it makes it a fact? SHOW ME!!!!! Till then, it's a made up story. Smoke and mirrors.
Note, VILLAGE'S create there own zoning. Some Love High density zoning. Some profit from it. Some don't pay taxes.
Annexation was mentioned in the very first Preservation flyer during the vote on the village. In fact I wish I had it handy to show you. There certainly was nothing about creating other villages as that has never ever been an issue in all the years i have lived in this town and it will never ever be. Again you have also failed to answer a question, where does there exsist even regionally a village that is only a development like Brigadoon or what Woodbury Junction will be??
How many acres is KJ?
How can you say that creating other villages in Woodbury will never ever be? In a way your right because "The Village" offers that protection. BUT no village, anything is possible.
I am pretty sure I was given that flier. I don't remember any conversation about annexation. And I am sure it would have come up, because if I remember correct. Monroe voluntarily annexed their land to KJ. So annexation would have stuck in my mind. I have lived here qite awile myself.
yeah everyone lined up to vote for this village because everyone was concerned about little villages forming. If you buy that I have a bridge in Brooklyn i wanna sell you.
KJ is 1.1 square miles. That's 704 acres.
I have everything the Preservation Party ever put out. The one they put out before the village, the one they put out after the village was created and they were running for office, a copy of the presentation they did at the Senior Center in August 2004 (with Mr. Queenan's fake budget), etc. Yes, copies of everything. Give me your address, PO Box #, etc. and I will send you copies of your very own. If you read it carefully, they say the town can get the services from the village for a $1. Yes, Caruso and Queenan knew from the begining that services would go to the village and the town would have nothing. Only problem, they couldn't get control of the village in 2006. Now they are trying again this year. Are these really the people you want?
Quote It
My name is Ralph and I live in a cave,
And this is where I learned to behave,
Crouching behind my rock and peering out into the world,
I resent all intruders and my wrath is unfurled,
How dare you do something that is not my way,
You must do as I want-do as I say,
Be a good student like my little Don,
follow me blindly when I say "come on"
I am important in my dark little place,
Can't you tell from the expression on my face?
I only want what is right for us all,
I learned it from the writing on my cave wall,
Come inside and sit at my feet,
And learn what I believe and how to repeat,
Say the mantra over and over again,
Say the mantra when I say "when",
I will rule Woodbury from my mind's cave,
And then all of you will know how to behave!!!!
You don't need a bridge just use the illegal sidewalks over in KJ or better yet why don't you see if that little village that popped up in Monroe 1.1 SQ milescalled KJ, if they will lend you some of their grant money !!!!!!
There is literature that says that a village would stop annexation, and it was endorsed by Ralph, Mike Q. and others. They were wrong, and they changed their approach. But that literature was not the Preservation Party literature because there was no Preservation Party back then. If Ralph is a member of that party, you can't condemn the people that are running. If you do, then you also have to condemn the Common Sense party because Mike Q. belongs to it and he played a part in this, too. Annexation can be accomplished with or without a village. The courts decide it. The village we have now protects against other village like those that might be formed by dissidents like you who want everything your own way. Look at the big picture.
The real question is do we want a Mayor that had not tried to lower taxes by getting rid of two layers of government. We need lower taxes and she still does not have a plan for that. All I know is my taxes are going up and we have 10 people running the town when we need only five. We need leaders not mayors that cant make decisions without every minute asking for legal advise. Mike Q and Stephanie should ask themselves how much money they cost us by all the meetings about working together and they don’t. How much did we pay the two “Riches” for legal advice? Why are we given the Village employees 5% raise? Both suck!
I would like to know if Sandy Capriglione is related to Tinny. Did her husband ever work for the town? Have any of her relatives worked for the town?
Cut and paste the literature!!!
Supervisor Salary = $53,000
Town Council Salary = $8,100 X 4 = $32,400
TOTAL Supervisor + Council = $85,400
Mayor Salary = $12,000
Trustee Salary = $2,000 X 2 = $4,000
TOTAL Mayor + Trustees = $16,000
Does more need to be said?
How much money did Mike Queenan spend on leagal fees for the Woodbury Police Department. I heard it was over 200,000 dollars.
For the Woodbury P.D. Contract which never got negotiated !!!!
Sandy Capriglione and Tinny are related.
Quote of the day: QUESTION; "What will the impact be to the services we presently receive?"
ANSWER; "All the residents of the Village of Woodbury are residents of the Town of Woodbury. The village will contract to the town for $1 a year for each service and all our residents will continue to receive the current services and benifits that are enjoyed today, without any change or additional expense."
Note: It says the village will contract to the town, not from the town.
I just can't wait for the whole thing to be over....and please pick up your idiot signs that pollute the entire landscape of Woodbury, we already have enough garbage Woodbury! the last thing we need are those signs hanging around until the summer, god knows that the Highway Supervisor is soooo busy, he probably won't be able to pry himself away from brown nosing big bad John long enough to remember to send the crew out!
It's not the job of the Highway Dept. to take down the campaign signs. Each candidate is responsible for removing his or her signs.
The Village is mandated by law to take over certain services but through an intermunicipal agreement they can lease those services back to the town. We end up with a village board that receives a stipend, similar to the planning and zoning boards. But along with the building department comes zoning and planning. The current village board and Mike Q like high density zoning. They like to give bonuses to the developers. i.e. The Junction got 300 extra homes. (BONUS) & Legacy Ride got 127 extra homes (BONUS). By the way, they were two different developers. Does anyone see a pattern?
Two different developers but one common goal. Don't forget that the water for WPS is coming from Legacy Ridge by agreement between developers.
Morons.
Define high density zoning. Is it one house per half acre? quarter acre? Is it like the zoning on DePalma Drive? Adrienne Drive?
To "The Junction got 300 extra homes. (BONUS) & Legacy Ride got 127 extra homes (BONUS). By the way, they were two different developers."- Why not tell the whole story- what are the Town and other developments getting? Water, sewer capacity, upgrades!! Guess it's just easier to slant things in your favor, right? Sure hope those Preservationists don't get into office.
With the high density zoning from years past on DePalma Drive, Adrienne Drive and Midland Avenue areas, are the owners that live in those developments the same people supporting the Preservation Team?
Why is it different for cluster developments to exist when they actually benefit the residents of Woodbury?
Their you go again confusing the issue. The concept of CONSERVATION CLUSTERING is fine. Its about the extreme increase in the amount of EXTRA homes giving to the builders. The Junction 148 homes increased to 481 homes. Legacy Ridge 160 homes to 287 homes. GOOD NEGOIATING.
Oh great one (Uncle Betty) again you missed the point I was trying to make, we know it's not the highway departments job to pick up the signs, but we all know that the candidates won't take responsibility and remove them, especially if they lose! sorry, oh great one! We know your never wrong!!
Can someone send the highway department over to Swiller/Uncle Bettys place and clean up that shit hole of a manision he has!
Uncle Judy
Wow, you must all be afraid Mike Q will win. That's why you are attacking him...
We know the nay sayers bashing Mike Q and Lorraine are non other then Cliff Weeks (oh by the way the men in the police department think your an idiot and have no respect for you.) They also think your wife is incompetent. I wouldn't depend on their votes.
Oooooooh, scary, Cliff's peers don't like him, wa,wa ,wa..
Perhaps if some rational people even read this blog, they would see that most things written about Mike Q & Lorraine are based on fact, whereas the crap you're slinging around is pathetic. We'll see on election day who the voters are willing to put their trust in...until then, carry on with your mudslinging and nonsense, as it actually makes for some good laughs seeing how far you jerks are willing to go!
I was gonna say the same thing- Queenan isn't being "attacked"- most of the posts are factual.
Say what you want, Queenan's going to win, it will be funny to watch those who defend the Village now, will be the first to want to abolish it after this happens, You're all full of sh-t and you're all out to save your own asses! oh and by the way, Uncle Betty..You are the biggest of the bunch, get that big sail of yours ready, cause when the wind blows in a different direction make sure you catch it quick! you friggin phoney!
To "The Junction got 300 extra homes. (BONUS) & Legacy Ride got 127 extra homes (BONUS). By the way, they were two different developers."- Why not tell the whole story- what are the Town and other developments getting? Water, sewer capacity, upgrades!!
Extortion/Pay-Off $
Show me where.
there was a girl who was pretty
and she wanted to rule a city
but try as she might
all she got for her fight
was a town and not a city!
There was a girl who smelled pretty
that wanted to rule the city
but oh take a whiff!
It is her husband cliff!
who thinks he is so very witty!
There was a girl and her husband
who pretended to be everyone's friend
but behind your back
they will talk about YOUR lack
and do it to the very end!
I guess desperate times are leading some to desperate measures, like the last four posters...don't worry children, it will all be over soon and you can take your marbles and go home...there, you can all look in your mirrors and see what awful people you really are.
What a bogus comment "stick to the issues" You then go ahead and bash the mayor & her husband trying to create bad feelings in our PD. Rise above yourself, stick to the issues. I am not voting for them or Common Sense Party.
It's simply amazing that people that don't have the guts to sign their names also don't have the guts to speak to the issues or accept the facts-rather, they slander, taunt, and get down right vicious all for the sake of getting their candidates elected. Thank goodness only a handful of people read & contribute to this dismal, pathetic site.
Anonymous people keep attacking the Community Party and the Common Sense Party candidates.
This only helps Ralph Caruso.
So who do you think is behind it?
Nice try, blame Ralph yet again, The poster that wrote about small minded people had it right, they will do, lie, steal, cheat, slander, promise whatever is needed to preserve the little bit of power they have. Funny how politics makes some people change! Last year you wouldn't give you certain people the time of day, Now they are your as-hole buddies, Hopefully next week you will get what you deserve, because when it comes right down to it you don't give a shit for anyone but yourselves, and we all know it you friggin phoneies!
To the 2:00 poster, I have friends at the PD, nobody needs to create any more bad feelings, they have enough to go around for all of them, why don't you ask them, and not one of the bosses! ask the regular cops. It's not a happy place!
Ralph wants to get rid of the police department. Mike screwed around with the labor negotiations and Cliff pisses off the people he works with.
Lovely choices for the cops.
This Blog sounds like their is trouble in PARADICE. Was There a divorce?? All this fighting is good for business
"Ambition destroys the feelings of it's possessor"
Sure does.
No matter what Ralph wants or says we have a pretty good police force in Woodbury and I feel safer becasue of it.
Cliff just needs to cool it
Sounds like Cliffs' biggest supporter has just spoken....why didn't you sign your name chief???
There is no way that the last poster could ever be the Chief of Police, if it was, he would go on and on about how his police force is the greatest in the area and he would also make sure you know that Cliff is the best of the bunch.
Ya know it baby.....
Morons.
Enough already!! Stick to the issues assholes!!
Last I heard, Ralph wasn't running for office.
Oh, wow. The voters will be smart enough to vote for Queenan, but they weren't smart enough to listen to him when he flip-flopped on the village. Looks like Woodbury voters have their smarts screwed up. And for those of you who really are smart, Ben, George, and Fred are hardly friends of Ralph. Why don't you call them and ask them? And Queenan may have some good ideas, but every legislator I've asked says it can't be done. Nancy makes the promise of trying; maybe she should be talking to the voters to see what they want. And if voters vote without smarts, then I predict Stephanie will get in because she is the prettiest.
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What does all that mean??
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