Executive Committee of the Hamlin Yacht Club


Yacht Club Endorses Candidates

The lesser know of the Sandy Creek Yacht clubs today endorsed candidates for local office in Hamlin.

Selected were: James Martin for Town Board; Nancy Pierce for Town Board; Mathew Turcotte for Town Justice and Kathi Rickman for Town Clerk. They declined to endorse a candidate for Supervisor.

In a statement to the press Lovey Howell, present Chair of the committee, said, “We believe these candidates are the most qualified by virtue of their education, world experience, management experience in the private sector and their deep knowledge of the community.”

The Skipper added, “Speaking for the crew, and I think I can speak for the crew, these are darn nice people!” “Yeah, they are!” chimed in a beaming, but red-eyed Gilligan.

“We believe it’s time for a change!” stated the Professor. “Hamlin has been stuck in the doldrums for too long. We need some bright, modern people, with energy and enthusiasm to bring our town up to speed with the others in the county.”

“They’re all cute too!” squeaked perky Mary Ann.

When asked why they hadn’t endorsed a candidate for Supervisor, Thurston Howell III spoke up, “In the first place this town isn’t big enough for two III’s! “

“Yeah, two thirds is almost a whole!” quipped the Professor.

“Well, that one fellow has had his chance, and he’s made a mess of things, hasn’t he?” Lovey asked.

Gilligan jumped in, “Yeah, just look at the Building Inspector mess, then there’s the ATM and the cell tower money we lost and the…” At that point the Skipper pulled off his cap and began hitting Gilligan on the head with it. “I told you not to talk, Gilligan!” The contrite sailor fell silent, with a silly, sheepish look on his face.

“How about the other guy, Tonery?” a reporter asked.

“Oh, he’s too mean!” a bosomy Ginger cooed. “I heard he made fun of Santa Claus!”

“Here, here!” Howell barged in, “We can’t have a Supervisor who might be tough on anybody! What kind of a town would we have if somebody was ever told ‘No?’ I’ve got investments here!”

“The entire structure of cronyism and ignoring regulations might collapse.” Added the Professor.

“Anyway, I like the big one, he’s cute! Right Skipper?” chimed in a sparkling Mary Ann as she gave the Skipper’s arm a squeeze.

With that, everyone had a fine laugh , music started playing and the press conference ended.

Bogus Survey Results? Shocking!

This is a real, unsolicited e-mail received at the AllHamlin.com website.

Dear Sirs:
I live at 30 Huntington Parkway in Hamlin and recently received a master plan
survey. I am writing to tell you the survey is invalid because of serious
flaws in the instrument. I would request that the master planning committee
please redo the survey in a correct manner. They likely should hire a
consultant to compose a valid survey instrument to collect accurate and usable
data.

The committee, the town board, and supervisor should be embarrassed that such
a defective document was circulated. If this is an indication of their
competence, we may be in for some trouble.

I would be happy to discuss the issue with any of the candidates, either
republican or democrat.

Sincerely,

Rob Blair

Robert Blair
SUNY College at Brockport
Office of Campus Life
Union Operations
Seymour College Union

Mr Blair, who is recognized as having an expert level education in statistics will be sharing his conclusions with local newspapers.

Additionally, it has been reliably reported that certain interest groups have been stuffing the survey "ballot box." These groups, who's interests will best be served if the survey results support their ambitions, have had their members complete multiply copies of the survey, sometimes 10 each, and submit them to the town! Since there is no way to determine if a survey document actually belongs to a property owner, this process works. If the administration is dull enough to believe that there is an "honor system" out there protecting the results, somebody should tell him that when it comes to money, there is no such thing.

How could the town be so naive? Maybe it isn't naive, perhaps stuffing the ballot box was the plan all along. After all, if the "majority" of survey respondents say that a certain group or issue should be financed by additional taxes, you better believe that the Town Board will move through hell and high water to get that issue funded!

Do they think that the average taxpayer is so dumb that we can't see through a faulty, rigged process?

If Warner had wanted a fair, blind survey then he would have hired an outside company to produce and tabulate it. A professional company has the means to identify fake submissions, protect anonyminty and tally the results accurately.

Do you, the taxpayer, want to know where the surveys go when they are returned to the Town Hall? They go into a box on Supervisor Warner's desk!

Hmmm. What's that count again?

Goll-ee, Mr. Editor, I dint' know Hamlin was in the 3rd world!


Stop the presses!

Scorned and embittered supervisorial candidate Tonery has submitted this open letter to the venerable Democrat & Chronicle for the edification of his prospective consituency. (NOTE: We at Blogspot are not responsible for the opinions, facts, details or veracity of what we print.)
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October 21, 2003

The Editorial Staff of the Democrat & Chronicle


Dears Sirs and Madam,

In the interests of setting the record straight: When Austin Warner came into office in 1999 he inherited a surplus of about $320,000. Over the next two years he worked it down to $12,000. By raising taxes the following two consecutive years he managed to pull the revenues up.

However, nearly 50% of the “surplus” comes from the Time-Warner cable TV franchise tax imposed exclusively on local cable subscribers. This “sin tax” was refused by all previous administrations as being unfair. Warner embraced it and promoted it, saying publicly, “Hamlin is the last town in the county to have it!”

The D&C declares, “he is doing a solid job of handling its finances.”

The $82,000 Warner “recovered” was identified under Kruger’s administration by an outside company for a finders fee. Kruger left office, and the dept was on the books for two years until and audit pointed it out. Only then did Warner contact NiMo and ask for the payment. The D&C notes Warner’s, “attention to detail.”

Hamlin’s involvement in the Sweden/Clarkson/Brockport Recreation Center is anything but a “cost saving” strategy. It would cost residents $85,000 a year to belong! In a survey done two years ago by the Hamlin Recreation Department, more than 90% of respondents said they wanted local facilities and supported our own Community Center. Warner was the solitary advocate for membership in Sweden, and formed a clandestine committee to explore the issue, one which excluded the Recreation Committee Commissioners.

Hamlin is a town of about six square miles. The Sweden Recreation Center is about eight miles away from the center of Hamlin. To get there, a resident would have to drive through Clarkson, cross the two-lane canal bridge, drive through the Town of Brockport, and cross Route 31, about two miles away. The Recreation Center is opposite the Wal-Mart in Brockport! It is a ridiculous proposal.

Would the residents of Fairport be willing to drive to Webster for their recreation services? That is what you suggest we should do.

If you assume the responsibility for political endorsements then you are obliged to confirm the facts underling your decisions. It is not enough to read someone’s campaign flyer. The D&C suffers a false authority born out of a lack of competition. The Editorial Board knows practically nothing about Hamlin, but determines itself qualified to recommend a leader. What can be worse for the local political process than lazy journalism?

Sincerely,
Peter Tonery


PS: For the record: The D&C sent an email to me at 3:16 PM on 10/20/03 (yesterday) asking, “What line(s) are you running on?” Now that’s research!
They still got it wrong.
***
NEW STUFF BELOW
***


Getcha Free New Identity Here!


A new kind of “Open Government”

In these days of rampant identity theft homeowners are urged to protect themselves. Experts suggest that you shred bills, returned checks and bank statements so they are not plucked from your trash. They even advise that you remove subscription labels from old magazines before they are recycled.

But, here in Hamlin, that might not help.

The reason is the Warner Administration has adopted a new form of “Open Government” which puts many of us a risk.

The attached photos show several containers outside the Town Hall. These wer put outside yesterday. Outside for everyone to enjoy! Outside for the public to casually page through, or if you like, take a handful of files home for yourself to enjoy later.

What are in the piles? Town records. Specifically, old Building Department records. Documents which include: Building inspection reports on people homes and businesses; site plan maps, correspondence between the Building Department and various governmental agencies; letters from attorneys; copies of deeds; transfers of property. Your basic stuff.

What is the matter with this town? At a time when there is a legitimate risk of identity threat, the municipality puts hundreds upon hundreds of records out in the parking lot for all to share. The files are filled with people’s names, addresses, phone numbers and correspondences. It is mind boggling.

Setting aside the horrific breech of customer confidentiality, there is an equally troubling question as to why these records are so suddenly being dumped.

We all remember the events at Enron and Global Crossings when incriminating documents were destroyed to prevent their discovery. Why are these records, some of them dating back to only 2002, being thrown away now? Is there a relationship between the sudden firing of the Building Inspector and the rush to destroy documents from his department?

Gursslin has said that he was never confronted with charges or allegations of wrongdoing so he believed his dismissal was arbitrary and capricious. If it is true that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, then it might benefit the town to destroy hundreds of records in anticipation of litigation. Is this possible?

Whatever the motivation, the sudden public dumping of a large number of documents- into the public parking lot for all to grab- is a distinct violation of public trust and government responsibility.


Helpy Selfy

Clarification

The D&C said that, “Warner’s administration favors farmers and farming issues.” That is true, but it oversimplifies a complicated issue. There are only about eight farmers who live and work in Hamlin as full time businessmen, and that is the only true measure of a farmer. Having been one in the past, or doing it as a hobby, will keep you off the list.

However, some of these part timers have an undue influence over both political thinking and political decisions in Hamlin. The Chairman of the Zoning Board, Norm Baas, is the prime example. He is retired from farming yet is relentless in lobbying local government about ideas and issues that are based on an old, out-dated perception of Hamlin. Baas, who has served on the Zoning Board for 25+ years, promotes the notion that ours is a little farming community. He can’t accept the real composition of the town as a commuter suburb.

Besides Baas there are two full time farmers who serve on other support boards. One of them, Jim Brezlawski, in partnership with his brother, owns perhaps the second largest farm in Hamlin. Jim has served on the Planning Board for close to ten years. Jim also lives in Hilton, not Hamlin.

There is nothing necessarily wrong with having 25% of Hamlin’s farmers serving on our support boards even though they represent only .5% of the workforce. However, it is realistic to think that their issues will be well promoted in local government. Perhaps at the expense of the interests of the other 99.5% of the population.

************************

The second clarification regards the All Hamlin Party. The Part was not, “created by the Democrats.” While some Dems, like Jim Martin were involved, it was organized primarily by independents. The All Hamlin Party is a political organization whose entire focus is on and about Hamlin. We have no larger agenda, our goals are to make the community a better, by having a smarter, more responsive local leaders. It should be known that the All Hamlin Party made overtures to several local Republicans to enlist them to run for public office. In some cases, they declined for fear of the backlash from the Hamlin Republican Committee. The All Hamlin Party is Independent and open to everybody.

Outing The Supervisor

It was a relief to see that Supervisor Warner has finally come out of the closet about his secret government. He states in this morning’s D&C, "the Land Use Committee meetings were closed because Tonery, who was invited to attend the meetings, had two letters published in the Suburban News, criticizing the committee's actions after each meeting."

You bet I did, and the actual letters may be found on our web sites: hamlindems.com or allhamlin.com, link to "Opinion Letters," (Click on, "Is This Representative?" and "Secret Government.")

The first letter challenged the composition of the committee. Originally, there were NO farmers and NO representatives from Huntington Park or Hillcrest or Lake Breeze in the group! As a direct reaction to the letter, Warner expanded the enrollment to include representation for these people!

At the same time, he closed the meetings to the public. That’s what the second letter was about.

As usual, Warner has tried to change the debate- he says that I criticized, " the committee's actions after each meeting." That's not even possible since, beginning with the second one, they were closed to the public! What I actually criticized was Warners's poor decision-making. Nobody knows anything- to this day- about what has happened in those meetings!

Perhaps what is most disturbing is that Warner believes he is justified barring both the public and the press from participating in such an important process, "without the fear of being in the paper next week."

What are they doing? What are they discussing that it has to be hidden from us? What exactly does Warner "fear?"

Maybe it's us who should be afraid.




Twice as funny!

The funniest statement in all of this morning's D&C article has to be the one from George Todd, "Todd wants to stay in office to continue the work of the town's recreation committee..."

Why is that funny? Because he rarely, if ever, attends the Recreation Committee meetings! He doesn’t go even though he is the official Town Board liaison. Anybody who knows about local government, knows that Todd has a very poor record as a liaison to anything! As far as advocacy on behalf of Recreation, the record is even worse.

For example, the Recreation Department has been trying for over two years to get dugouts built for our baseball players- and it never gets done! The town board never discusses it, never presents a resolution, never approves funding or never does anything. Why? Because George is the liason and he doesn’t go to the meetings! Todd's job is to report and advocate for the issues and concerns of the Recreation Department, but it's hard to do that if you don’t attend their meetings!

As noted elsewhere on this blog, Mr Todd did offer one solution for the dugout problem. He suggested that Hamlin accept some discarded bus shelters that his company was throwing away. Dirty, damaged and out of date- they'll look perfect on the Hamlin ballfields! Our kids will love 'em!

Thanks but, no thanks.

A local contractor has even offered to build the dugouts, for free, in exchange for a sign acknowledging the gift. The town is hung up on a regulation prohibiting advertising on public property! Come on! It's not an ad, it's a notice of a gift!

These are the people who claim they have "experience" in local government and want to stay in office. Thanks, but no thanks.




A Rose by any Other Name...


...will still smell the same. Stale.

Dave Rose has done everything in his power this election season to keep his head down, his name out of the public eye and his record as far from Austin Warner as possible. Dave's campaign strategy seems to be to hide, and hope nobody will notice him slip into office.

And really, who would notice? After all, Dave has been a fixture in Hamlin government for what seems like a 100 years. Pretty much his entire career has been spent drinking from the trough of the Hamlin taxpayer. If you care to look at the record, Mr. and Mrs. Rose have been the biggest earners, and enjoyed the most perks, from local government for decades. When he retired, Dave saw an opportunity to stick to the payroll by running for Town Board. While he denies it, most observers think it's the Supervisor's job he really wants.

While this Rose has been hiding in the shadows, insiders know there is a very prickly point about his candidacy: He was the reason there was such a public and divisive primary!

Ed Evans, saturated with the antics of Austin Warner and weary of the do-nothing town board, decided to retire. Dave rose up, said that he would run for office if nobody else wanted to. (A reassuring statement about the quality of candidates from the Hamlin Republican Committee!) Rose also assured everyone that if someone else wanted the seat, he would step aside.

Apparently, anyone except Evans! When Evans had a change of heart, based upon his supporter's encouragements, he went back the HRC and asked for his ballot spot back. Rose wouldn't give it up. Rose and Warner, who saw Evans as a traitor, were intent on composting Ed.

Here's the point: If Rose had stepped aside, as he claimed he would, Evans would never have run a primary. A primary he came close to winning, despite the fact that he didn't campaign!

Warner, as committed as ever to shooting himself in the foot, told Rose to block Evans. Rose agreed, wanting to nurse off the taxpayers for at least a few more years. It was a brilliant strategy!

The flower that is Dave Rose will soon be emerging from the shadows. Keep watching.

"Reasons? We don't need no stinkin' reasons!"

As many people know by now the Hamlin Building Inspector, Larry Gursslin, was fired by the Town Board on Monday night. While there are reasons why the Building Department needed changing, this was not the way to do it.

The firing was unceremonious and rude. Supervisor Warner had tried to make it effective on the night of September 29 during a “special” town board meeting. Ed Evans and Paul Rath intervened successfully to insure that some kind of process would be followed. The only concession that Warner would make was to set up another special meeting for the following Saturday morning, even though he knew that Gursslin was on vacation and that both Rath and Evans would be out of town. Now, in case you think this wasn’t a set-up, Evans and Rath, along with Hollink, would have been available for a meeting on Friday afternoon but George Todd would not. If Todd weren’t present Warner wouldn’t have his three votes to fire. He made the meeting for Saturday. (Details of that meeting are written below.)

Gursslin has said that in the intervening time, Warner pressured him relentlessly to resign. He even took Gursslin out for coffee and told him that if he returned to work he wouldn’t be paid! Gursslin refused to quit, saying that if there were problems or issues he was entitled to be confronted with them and allowed to respond. Warner didn’t want any part of that.

Why would Warner choose such a messy, clumsy and ugly action? Interviews with many people associated with the town all point to just one thing: Warner got it into his head that Gursslin would be fired, fired immediately, and NOTHING would change his mind. There were no charges, no jury, no trial- Warner went right to the execution.

It was as if the Supervisor was obsessed with the idea and nothing would stop him or alter his decision. Not due process, not the fact that Gursslin was on vacation, not the procedures established in the Employee Handbook- nothing.

What made Warner so angry and determined? No one knows. The best assessment came from one Board member who said, “He just got it into his head that Larry was going to be fired, and that’s it.” This doesn’t explain much, but it’s the best we have.

Gursslin only had two months left on his contract. Wouldn’t it have been more sensible to simply let it expire? If the town was going to contract with Greece for inspection services (which it has) the explanation would be reasonable. There would be no mess, no purposeless humiliation for Gursslin and no questions about motives.

Nah, that’s too simple.

On Farming:

Recently, I had an enlightening conversation with my neighbor who is a farmer. We were discussing his business and some of the problems farmers face. One of the most nagging issues, I was surprised to learn, is complaints from neighbors about routine farming operations. He said that suburban homeowners who have moved into the area complain about dust, noise, working at night or spraying. He said that people had no qualms about coming right up to him and telling him to stop his activity or even threatening to sue!

This situation describes one of the more complex social issues a town like Hamlin faces. New residents are rarely, if ever, told by the seller of a home, that they are moving into an “Ag District” and there will be farming operations nearby. New homebuyers aren’t informed that the activities are permitted and that the farmer is protected.

One of the key reasons why people move into Hamlin is its rural setting. However, what makes it rural is the fact that it is agricultural. The farmers keep our town green.

The idea of a “social contract” is one that gets too little attention. If a person chooses to buy a home next to a business, like a store or doctor’s office, they expect to see and tolerate the commercial activity that comes with it. They understand and accept the “terms” that come with living beside the business. Some suburban residents don’t recognize that farming is a business too and by choosing to live next to one they have to accept agricultural activity.

Who would consider going to the store next door and demanding that the manager move all their customers cars, turn out the lights and stop doing business? It doesn’t sound very normal. Yet normal people think it’s ok to say exactly that to their neighbor the farmer.

Wheat, corn and cattle don’t cover Hamlin so we all can have a nice view. They are a businesses’ product just like cameras or copiers. If you buy a home in an Ag. District you accept the social contract that comes with it- your neighbor, the farmer, has the right to run his business. Be glad of it too, because farming is what keeps us rural.

Have a nice vacation!
(PS: You’re fired!)

As first reported below, the Town Board acted SATURDAY MORNING to terminate Larry Gursslin, Hamlin’s Building Inspector.

This was a “Special” Town Board Meeting which was scheduled only last Monday night. That gave the community four days notice, which is not legal. On Monday, Supervisor Warner had been told that both Councilmen Rath and Evans would be out of town on family business. Warner was also informed that Gursslin would away on vacation.

He scheduled the meeting anyway. Supervisor Warner, Councilwoman Hollink and Councilman Todd all supported the plan to terminate Gurrsslin and they were available.

Several members of the public were made aware of the meeting and attended. There was no agenda posted and no “Open Forum” was allowed. The Supervisor opened the meeting, described the exits and immediately asked for a motion to go into executive session. Executive session is closed to the public. The ordinary citizens would have been forced to leave the proceedings. George Todd moved for executive session, but Councilman Rath, who had canceled his family plans to be at this meeting, intervened. He stated that he wanted to say something before the meeting was closed. He then read into the record some interesting aspects of the steps leading to this meeting. (The meeting minutes are not yet available. Rath’s entire statement was delivered to the Town Clerk for inclusion in the record.)

Rath said that the only notice Gursslin had received about this “Special” meeting was left on the Building Inspector's voice mail by Supervisor Warner. Warner told Gursslin that he had to decide on his priorities,”your vacation or your job!” Warner told Gursslin to be at the meeting if he wanted, but it would not be delayed by the fact that he (Gursslin) was on vacation and out of the office.

Rath pointed out that when a person is on vacation they are “getting away from work” and that includes checking the voice mail at the office.

Rath went on to say that there exists a clear and defined process for resolution of employee issues. He stated that the process is written in the Town of Hamlin Employee Handbook and then he read into the record the steps that the town is obliged to follow before termination of an employee.

Rath read the policies aloud and asked the Supervisor directly if they had been followed with Gursslin. Warner only stared at Rath. After waiting a few moments, Rath asked the Supervisor if he was refusing to answer, to which Warner replied, “Yes.”

Rath clearly established that the “Special Meeting” was simply an ambush, designed to fire Gursslin without the man being able to defend himself or even answer the charges against him.

After Rath read his statement, Warner immediately asked for a second to Todd’s motion for executive session and did not seek further discussion. The motion was seconded and the public left the room.

Approximately 45 minutes later, the boardroom was reopened and the public allowed to return to the proceedings. The Supervisor read a statement that the Building Inspector would be invited to attend the next Town Board meeting to confront allegations against him and have the opportunity to answer them.

This is the method defined in the Employee Manual, and read into the minutes by Rath. It took 45 minutes of debate to get to this resolution.

The Moral of this story? If you work for Warner, you better not go an vacation!


**********************************************

Informed sources inside the town hall contend that Councilwoman Hollink was the principle motivator in the rush to fire Gursslin. It seems that the B.I. would not give Hollink a permit for her B&B because she had announced that it was closed. To reopen meant new inspections and conformity to new codes. Hollink claimed that her old permit allowed her to renew on the old terms. The B.I. said that since the old permit had expired, and she’d announced that the business was closed, the process had to begin from the start, as proscribed in the Zoning Code.

Based on this, Hollink undertook one of her infamous propaganda campaigns. She lobbied everyone she knew to convince the Supervisor that this was “the last straw” and that the town needed to act immediately. She got her way. It was only Paul Rath’s insistence on following established procedures that keep Gursslin from being fired while he was on vacation.

Tasty!

Good Rumors!

The hottest rumors running around town are that the Town Board, in a closed meeting last Monday night, voted to fire the Building Inspector! Apparently, after allowing the situation on Wautoma Beach Road to fester and grow for so many months, the Supervisor decided that it would hurt his campaign to keep the problem around any longer!

The ironic thing is that the Hamlin Dems had just posted, that day, a platform plank stating that they will study outsourcing the Building Inspector,s job to save the taxpayers a bundle of money! Surprize! That is the solution now offered by the TB!
How remarkable! What timing! Who said they aren’t original!

The other rumor is that the Town has sent out a letter to the Ed Evans supporters who had lawns signs. The letter states that since the property owner had a sign supporting a Republican, then the Republican committee will place a sign for another, different Republican on their lawn- unless the homeowner contacts the committee and tells them “NO!’

Classy!

Warner must be so desperate to convince the public that he is liked and well supported, that every Republican in Hamlin is forced to become a de facto sign sponsor!