Warner's Final Flush

Hamlin’s political rumor mill is drenched with the story about how lame-duck supervisor, Austin Warner the XIV, will permit the proposal giving the town’s water system to Monroe County to come up and BE VOTED ON during next Monday’s meeting!

Warner denied repeatedly during the alleged public hearing last Tuesday that HE would bring up the proposal. He also said that he would not allow it to come up for a vote.

Would the departing supervisor LIE? While it’s shocking to imagine, it IS possible!

Warner will just play dumb when the resolution is presented and seconded. During “discussion” he’ll protest a little bit, but this will be for show. The entire charade has been planned!

The story goes that last Tuesday, prior to going to St. Elizabeth’s, a secret meeting of the Town Board, minus Paul Rath, was held in the Town Hall. To begin with, this meeting was illegal- and it puts what follows in the proper context.

At the gathering, Warner declared that the Water Plan vote MUST be taken in the December 12 TB meeting. He told the board members that he wanted it done because it would be too much of a hassle, and might not even happen, if it were put off until the new administration comes into office.

It was acknowledged that Paul Rath would not vote for the proposal, but everyone else would! George Todd said that he would only vote for it if Warner and the others swore they, and the Hamlin Republican Committee, would support him for reelection in ‘06! Dave Rose who supports the plan, worried that the vote would look like a betrayal to the incoming administration, which has asked for a delay, so he demanded a way to cover his butt! Shirley Hollink will vote yes- but nobody can figure out why. While she hates Austin, she apparently hates the voting public who failed her, and new administration, more!

Dave Rose, because he is second to last in the roll-call, is disguising his support! Here’s how the vote will go: Hollink- Yes; Rath- No; Todd- Yes; Rose- No; and the tie-breaker!, Warner- YES! Motion carried! Hollink gets revenge on the Republicans who didn’t support her; Todd gets a confirmation on his reelection bid; Rose comes out smelling like one having disguised his support with a meaningless “no”; and Warner is the big winner- delivering the Hamlin water system into the clutches of Monroe County while paying off his only two loyal supporters: Judy Hazen and Jim Brezlawski! (He will likely then be able to get the political appointment many think he’s been promised too!)

Shhhh! Listen! Do you hear the sound of a distant toilet flushing? Oh, that’s just our local water system!

Hamlin's long-time Water Supervisor, Eric Peters, had an informative letter in the Hamlin Herald this weekend. He claims that switching to the MCWA will be more expensive for 56% of residents! In addition, all new homes coming on line, and seasonal lake front homes, will be whacked with huge increases for ordinary services.

Supervisor Warner, who claims to be on a virtuous crusade to "bring water to all residents," has yet to produce even one document to support the plan. A simple balance sheet showing cost/benefit would be a good start.

According to research, the Board of Directors of the Monroe County Water Authority is made up entirely of people who have strong connections to both the Real Estate and construction businesses! It has long been claimed that the actual, and demonstrable, goal of the Authority is to open up more and more land to development. (Goodbye deer!) Additionally, the MCWA has a stated goal of becoming a "regional" water supplier. In other words, they want to own the water system from Buffalo to Syracuse, south to Pa.

Former resident Jim Martin, who has studied the MCWA record, notes that out in Darien the MCWA owns some lines which the Erie County Water Authority must use to feed Six Flags. The MCWA has a meter on those lines and charges Erie County a fee to use them! Martin has posed an interesting question: If the MCWA actually just wants access to build new lines into Orleans County, which is their pattern, why don't we permit them to pass through Hamlin, using our lines, and charge them for it! It might result in lower water bills for everyone and the rapid rise of a reserve fund to cover repairs and improvements! Good idea!