Democracy Fails in Hamlin- Again
On Jan. 3, the Hamlin Town Board appointed Ms. Mary Hueser as Deputy Town Supervisor. Ms. Hueser is well know and liked throughout the community. As Deputy Supervisor she would have all the power and authority of the Supervisor in the event that Austin Warner fell ill or was incapacitated. Ms. Hueser would be able to write checks, sponsor and write legislation, and amend the Town budget, among other things. She would enjoy full “command and control” over Hamlin.
There is only one problem. Ms. Hueser has never recieved one single vote from any Hamlin resident for any political office! If Supervisor Warner was unable to perform, a person who has never been elected to any office would assume political control of the town. This is not democratic. It is very poor practice.
Every other town prohibits such an appointment! Everywhere but Hamlin, the Deputy must be a person who has been elected, and usually, it must be a member of the Town Board. This only makes sense. A person who is “a heartbeat away” from the most powerful position in the community ought to at least have gotten some votes from the public.
Where are Hamlin’s mainstream Republicans? This appointment is another, glaring example of the Good-Ole-Boy network which controls the town. Our elected officials seem concerned only about promoting and protecting a small circle of friends. Only members of this in-crowd are permitted to reach public office. Is the average Republican satisfied with this situation? Republicans didn’t vote for Ms. Hueser either! Isn’t it time for the average, indifferent Republican to pick up a pen or phone and contact the Town Board? Legislators and chief executives should be elected, not appointed.
That’s what democracy means.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
What will they do?
At the Planning Board meeting on Jan. 3 members were urged by the public to apply conditions to the new gas station planned for Tops Plaza. The PB must issue a Special Use Permit and is entitled to apply reasonable conditions on the construction and operations of a business requiring one.
Steve Truelson, owner of Bob’s Grocery and gas station, spoke about the impact this will have on his business. He pointed out that the parent company to Tops is in Denmark while he lives and works here in Hamlin. He stated that the Tops parent company was worth billions of dollars and if they start a price war at least one of the local gas stations would likely close. He estimated that each of the nearby gas stations will lose revenues of between 25 to 50 %! He asked the PB how the loss of a locally owned and operated business would be good for competition.
Several neighbors expressed concerns about an increase in traffic, noise, and odors from gas fumes. They also voiced concerns about foot traffic across their property and the littering that goes with it. Other neighbors were very concerned about the additional lighting and the overall aesthetic effect this fuel station will have on the community. John Picard of Lake Road asked how the Planning Board saw fit to permit another gas station while there are already three within a thousand feet of Tops. He wondered how this idea could fit into any reasonable concept of a town's "Comprehensive Plan."
Not surprisingly, the PB sat motionless and unmoved by the public’s concerns. Several PB members undertook to claim that the situation wasn’t their fault and that the PB was powerless to do anything about the situation. Like the Zoning Board, which rubber-stamped five variances for the project, the PB fully intended to whisk this SUP through untouched. The Zoning Board had told the public that the Planning Board would fix the situation and the PB turned around and claimed they "couldn’t do anything" once the Zoning had acted!
This is wrong. The PB has almost unlimited authority to apply conditions to a SUP and effect solutions for the neighborhood. However, to do that the PB would need to be creative, proactive and genuinely concerned about the impact the business will have on the neighborhood. They are not.
Instead, inventive and practical ideas came from the public. More and better landscaping to screen the business and deter foot traffic was suggested. Also, limiting the Top’s signage and hours of operation to "level the playing field" for Hamlin’s local businesses. All these ideas flowed from the citizens.
Peter Tonery admonished the PB members for their failure to provide solutions. He said that they knew ways to solve problems but didn’t try very hard. He said it was dishonest of them to say they "couldn’t do anything" when they were granting a SUP. He said the board failed the community by not "publicly advocating for change." He pointed out that virtually the entire west side of Lake Road was zoned commercial and this type of problem was bound to continue. He challenged them to work for change.
As a result of the demands of the public the PB took the unusual step of tabling the matter and setting a workshop to explore solutions. The blog will continue to watch and report the progress of their efforts.
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall.
Breslawski Gets Reprieve
PB Chairman James Breslawski was granted a reprieve of sorts by the Town Board. Breslawski, is not permitted to serve on Hamlin’s Planning Board since he resides in Clarkson. His voter registration, which states that he lives in Hamlin, has recently been challenged with the Monroe County Board of Elections. The TB, apparently growing uncomfortable with the situation went into Executive Session at their organizational meeting on Jan . 3 (This was, once again, an illegal act in violation of the NYS Open Meeting Law, but the Hamlin TB routinely violates the statute.) Upon returning to an open meeting Councilman Paul Rath read a resolution which will permit Breslawski to keep his position "until a replacement is named by the TB." However, the TB, probably at the insistence of Councilwoman Shirely Hollink, conditioned the resolution saying, "Pending a decision on residency by the Monroe County Board of Elections."
The implication is that if the Board of Elections determines that Breslawski is not legally registered in Hamlin he will be replaced. That is the suggestion, but who knows. These "Law and Order" Warner-Republicans violate rules and regulations so often that residents can never take their word on anything. Supervisor Warner seems willing to move Hamlin and earth to keep Breslawski in power, apparently simply for financial support to his campaign. Well, that is the way of Good-Ole-Boy government.
The citizens of Hamlin deserve better. A lot better.
At the Planning Board meeting on Jan. 3 members were urged by the public to apply conditions to the new gas station planned for Tops Plaza. The PB must issue a Special Use Permit and is entitled to apply reasonable conditions on the construction and operations of a business requiring one.
Steve Truelson, owner of Bob’s Grocery and gas station, spoke about the impact this will have on his business. He pointed out that the parent company to Tops is in Denmark while he lives and works here in Hamlin. He stated that the Tops parent company was worth billions of dollars and if they start a price war at least one of the local gas stations would likely close. He estimated that each of the nearby gas stations will lose revenues of between 25 to 50 %! He asked the PB how the loss of a locally owned and operated business would be good for competition.
Several neighbors expressed concerns about an increase in traffic, noise, and odors from gas fumes. They also voiced concerns about foot traffic across their property and the littering that goes with it. Other neighbors were very concerned about the additional lighting and the overall aesthetic effect this fuel station will have on the community. John Picard of Lake Road asked how the Planning Board saw fit to permit another gas station while there are already three within a thousand feet of Tops. He wondered how this idea could fit into any reasonable concept of a town's "Comprehensive Plan."
Not surprisingly, the PB sat motionless and unmoved by the public’s concerns. Several PB members undertook to claim that the situation wasn’t their fault and that the PB was powerless to do anything about the situation. Like the Zoning Board, which rubber-stamped five variances for the project, the PB fully intended to whisk this SUP through untouched. The Zoning Board had told the public that the Planning Board would fix the situation and the PB turned around and claimed they "couldn’t do anything" once the Zoning had acted!
This is wrong. The PB has almost unlimited authority to apply conditions to a SUP and effect solutions for the neighborhood. However, to do that the PB would need to be creative, proactive and genuinely concerned about the impact the business will have on the neighborhood. They are not.
Instead, inventive and practical ideas came from the public. More and better landscaping to screen the business and deter foot traffic was suggested. Also, limiting the Top’s signage and hours of operation to "level the playing field" for Hamlin’s local businesses. All these ideas flowed from the citizens.
Peter Tonery admonished the PB members for their failure to provide solutions. He said that they knew ways to solve problems but didn’t try very hard. He said it was dishonest of them to say they "couldn’t do anything" when they were granting a SUP. He said the board failed the community by not "publicly advocating for change." He pointed out that virtually the entire west side of Lake Road was zoned commercial and this type of problem was bound to continue. He challenged them to work for change.
As a result of the demands of the public the PB took the unusual step of tabling the matter and setting a workshop to explore solutions. The blog will continue to watch and report the progress of their efforts.
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall.
Breslawski Gets Reprieve
PB Chairman James Breslawski was granted a reprieve of sorts by the Town Board. Breslawski, is not permitted to serve on Hamlin’s Planning Board since he resides in Clarkson. His voter registration, which states that he lives in Hamlin, has recently been challenged with the Monroe County Board of Elections. The TB, apparently growing uncomfortable with the situation went into Executive Session at their organizational meeting on Jan . 3 (This was, once again, an illegal act in violation of the NYS Open Meeting Law, but the Hamlin TB routinely violates the statute.) Upon returning to an open meeting Councilman Paul Rath read a resolution which will permit Breslawski to keep his position "until a replacement is named by the TB." However, the TB, probably at the insistence of Councilwoman Shirely Hollink, conditioned the resolution saying, "Pending a decision on residency by the Monroe County Board of Elections."
The implication is that if the Board of Elections determines that Breslawski is not legally registered in Hamlin he will be replaced. That is the suggestion, but who knows. These "Law and Order" Warner-Republicans violate rules and regulations so often that residents can never take their word on anything. Supervisor Warner seems willing to move Hamlin and earth to keep Breslawski in power, apparently simply for financial support to his campaign. Well, that is the way of Good-Ole-Boy government.
The citizens of Hamlin deserve better. A lot better.
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