What Might Be, Could Be, Will Be!

January is on the horizon and a new day will dawn for the Town of Ulster. The residents and their concerns will no longer take a back seat to the 'Friends of Woerner'. The priorities of the Quigley Administration place the residents first, and although a monumental task, putting the finances of the town in order will be tackled from day one!

After reading the 'Freeman's' report on the intricacies of the new budget, one line item sticks out, 'Debt Service' $164,288 an increase of 35.66%. This increase is not the whole story, one must look at the past 4 years to understand how unacceptable this number really is. The main topic used to define the failure of the Woerner policies was the near disappearance of the fund balance, ($1.3 mil in 05 to $14,000 in 09), over the same period the Town Bonded for $1.3 mil. Most of the spending and added expenses were created during 2006 & 2007, years of an economic boom where revenues were also the highest in the last 20 years, making the need for this added funding further proof of the failures of Woerner's economic policies.

This is just one of the issues which will confront Supervisor Elect Jim Quigley. Fortunately, with his experience and credentials he is equipped to address the town's financial problems, eliminate bad practices and control spending in the current economic landscape.

He will need the support of all residents and his 'Open Door' policy welcomes all to Town Hall for both input and criticism.

A small town begs its citizens be involved, good government should represent the interests of all residents, with the doors of Town hall finally opened to all this will soon be a reality!

Woerner Won't Go Quietly Into That Good Night!

Just a few minutes into Thursdays Town Board Meeting was all one needed to see this is going to be a rough transition for Supervisor Elect Jim Quigley. Nick Woerner is already attempting to 'have it his way', behind closed doors, like most of his tenure as Supervisor. Fortunately Mr. Quigley intends on living up to his campaign promise of 'Transparency' and quickly put Mr. Woerner in his place.

Woerner's decision to have Councilman Joel Brink assist in the transition can only make the process more complicated than instructions for a backyard 'Jungle Gym' as Joel knows little of what's what, where it is and what it's for! Apparently Nick is reinforcing the voter's decision to replace him by acting as pompous and detached from the needs of the town as he was while in office.

Furthermore, Mr. Woerne's inviting former Town Attorney Andy Zweben to assist Mr. Quigley's transition team on a pro bono basis makes about as much sense as his voting 'NO' for his own budget proposal! It begs to question does he really think people are that naive?

I'm sure issues will arise, and with Mr. Zweben not being under oath, one must wonder if there will be more questions after his responses than before!

In any event, Mr. Woerner should look at the outcome of the election, (almost 2:1 against), and reflect on his actions as supervisor, he can choose to remain arrogant and angry or accept and learn from his mistakes. The latter would make a successful return to local politics more possible than the attitude he has adopted and the behavior he is determined to display.

After congratulations are conveyed and accepted it is clear the real winners are the residents of the town of Ulster.

Good Luck, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Morrow, Ms Baldeli-Hendrick & Judge Kesick.

As for Mr. Woerner, a Mortician's License is in order, you've shown a real aptitude for burying things, a political career for starters and sadly the Town of Ulster and the people who entrusted it in your care.

Congratulations are In Order!!

Jim Quigley, Supervisor, Town of Ulster
John Morrow, Councilman, Town of Ulster

Chris Hendrick, Councilwoman, Town of Ulster

& of Course Our Finest Town Justice, Sue Kesick!!
Congratulations to all! Hard work, honesty and determination are qualities shared by the entire Quigley Team and the Town of Ulster can raise up once again and claim it's rightful place as the Center Piece & Jewel in the Crown that is the Hudon Valley!

Ulster County Legislature Races:Congratulations to the Republican Party a Majority Once Again!
District 5 winners, Fred Wadnola & Jim Maloney,
District 4 winners, Walter Frey, Mike Sweeny, Bob Aiello & Dean Fabiano
District 8 winners, Jack Hayes Jr, Cathy Terrizzi & Ken Ronk
District 1 Terry Bernardo
District 7 Carl Belfiglio & Laura Petit
and any one we might have missed

A Special Congratulations to 'Judge' Don Williams, we couldn't have asked for a finer individual!
Congratulations to 'County Clerk' Nina Postupack, One of the hardest working officials Ulster County h"as ever had.
Above all Congratulations to all the hard working residents without who's efforts none of these victories would have been possible. After all is said and done, It is all aout YOU the 'VOTING PUBLIC', they are your representatives and your public servants.

PS On aspecial Note, Congratulations Mario Catalano, the best effort ever by a Republican Chairman in Ulster County, We at Ulster is Your Town Too applaud your effort!

Since the Gloves are OFF!

We reference our own post just prior to this, "More Facts Your Just Can't Make Up"

It was a difficult decision to make public Mr. Artist's Personal Trouble. The decision was not easy,  however after reading disparaging comments made by  Mr. Woerner & Mr Secreto in both the Kingston Times & The Freeman regarding the personal difficulties of Ms Hendrick, a pending foreclosure, (this information was given to 'Ulsterisyourtowntoo' in a personal interview at a much earlier date and held back with consideration of her family), we felt they have made anything 'fair game'!

We were proud to report earlier that all opponents had conducted themselves with civility, we are just as disappointed that Mr. Woerner & Mr. Secreto have chosen to place personal gain above decency at the expense of a resident who is obviously facing difficult challenges outside of the 'Public Arena'. 

We'd really like to know how you feel, all comments will be posted.

More Facts You Just Can't Make Up!

After reviewing the latest campaign Finance filings of the Candidates for Town of Ulster Supervisor one contribution sticks out like a 'sore thumb'!

On Nick Woerners latest filing there for all to see is a major contribution of $2, 500 by none other than his Deputy Supervisor, Craig Artist. 

This contribution in and of itself is not unusual, what is unusual however is that fact that according to 'Public Records' Craig Artist is "a deadbeat dad". Apparently Mr. Artist has foregone his child support payments, designated by the courts, to further his and Mr. Woerner's political futures. 

We'd Love your thought's!

It’s Exactly the Reason:

The following letter appeared in Friday’s Freeman ‘Letters to the Editor’ section under the title: ‘Mismanaging Ulster’.

We think is sums up the Election in the Town of Ulster as well as any!

                                                                                                   

Dear Editor,

When this young man, (Nick Woerner), was first elected supervisor of the Town of Ulster, many residents were hopeful that he would do a great job.

He appeared to be a young man who had expressed a desire to be a good communicator and to work with the people of our town for a better government. Little did we know that he would spend down almost all of the Town's reserves to the point last year where he raised taxes by 21% in an attempt to cover his losses.

As an example: in the 4 years he has been supervisor, he has used, (or misused), over $900,000 of the Highway Dept. Reserves and applied those funds to offset taxes, while at the same time refusing to allow the Highway Superintendent to purchase ‘Needed Equipment’.

This year the Highway Dept. reserves are once again being used to lower the Town property tax. The supervisor has bonded $1.3 million to replace aging highway equipment. He should have allowed the Highway Superintendent to purchase some of this equipment each year using the highway reserve fund balances. So we taxpayers will now have to pay for this ‘error’ over the next 30 years.

To add insult to injury, he is using money from the Landfill Closure Fund to offset taxes for 2010. This is against state law as per the State Attorney General and the Consolidation of Towns. This money can only be used for capital projects.

We have apparently made a huge error voting this young man into office. He has successfully spent almost all of the town reserve funds. He has placed the town at risk of going bankrupt.

This is just one example of his inability to manage, resulting in over $2.9 million in unnecessary bonding that taxpayers must now pay for.

As for being a good communicator, he has failed miserably. He never returns phone calls, not even to other government depts. I have spoken to many people who say the same thing.

These are just a few of the mistakes this young man had made and the list goes on. To protect our town, we must send him home and replace him with a true manager. 

Robert J. Crane 

After a few months of searching for information to relate to our friends and neighbors so that they might make a more informed decision on November 3^rd, facts have at times been difficult to find and even then harder to understand.

It is time for the people of the Town of Ulster to have their say, this seemed like as good a place to start as any!

Facts You Should Know!

Prior to October 2008 the assessed valuation on Chambers Phase 1, 72 units, was $1.799,000.00. The PILOT, (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), negotiated for Phase 1 was 9% of gross rental income or $35,000.00 in annual Tax Revenue. This PILOT was again re-negotiated down to $7,200.00 or $100.00 per rental unit. Costing our taxpayers $27,800.00 in lost tax revenue.

You Do the Math.

                          $35,000.00                              -$7200.00 

                     ($27,800.00)  

Furthermore

On October 2^nd 2008 a resolution was enacted to authorize Deputy Supervisor Craig Artist to negotiate the Chambers Property Value Assessment. The result was a reduction from $1.799 million to his suggested valuation of $156,000.00. This resolution was seconded by Councilman Rocco Secreto and reduced the Special District Taxation for Water, Sewer, Fire, Library & Lighting and decreased the Town's tax revenue by 92%. 

• If we compare the Assessed value of your home against the assessed value of 72 Units at $156,000.00, What’s Up????????????????????????
• The Senior Center located on Rte 9W in Saugerties NY, identical in design to Chambers of Lawrenceville is assessed for $1.2 Million and is only 60 Units????
• How is Craig Artist qualified to negotiate such a sensitive assessment??
• Mr. Artist, also owner of Lawn Doctor, is paid by Chambers properties for seasonal groundwork and landscaping, a clear conflict of interest.
• Why was our most competent Tax Assessor, James Maloney, excluded from the  negotiations in violation of the NYS Constitution??? 

These are just a few of the questions we feel should be answered when decisions severely impacting the Tax Revenues of the Town of Ulster are negotiated and settled.