GIANT TSUE-NOT-ME POISED TO HIT HAMLIN!

GIANT TSUE-NOT-ME POISED TO HIT HAMLIN!

Lame Duck tells paper, "I'd like to have it done this year!"
...another genius MARTOON!

...another great Martoon.

The turned-out Supervisors of Hamlin and Kendall have decided to hose down the voters on their way out. Both lame ducks have sprung a plan to sell their water departments to the Monroe County Water Authority.

The vanquished Supervisors have obviously been cooking up this scheme for weeks or months- most likely ever since the primary results came in!

The losers have cobbled together a plan to give their joint water district, and ALL of Hamlin's water assets to Monroe County for an astonishing $1. That’s correct, one dollar.

While a complete and reliable list of assets has not yet been presented it will include, at minimum, a $55,000 loader the two towns recently bought.

“Here is your brand new loader Mrs. Brooks! We hope Mr. Brooks makes good use of it!”
“Thank you! Here is your one dollar Mr Warner. Here is your one dollar Mr. Becker. Don’t spend it all at once!”
“We won’t! Bye!”

This is a very, very serious issue and one can only wonder what our Town Board members are thinking.

Boss Warner wants to ram this deal home and do it without supplying the Board with any hard facts. Warner’s entire career has rested on his ability to drag people into his office, march around blustering and buffaloing, saying nothing, until the victim is too tired and confused to resist. Like leaving a hypnotist’s office the poor soul wanders down the hall somehow persuaded that the Supervisor is right. It is a marvel!

No one knows how this scheme will affect taxpayers. It will be worse still for some local residents who will lose their full-time jobs.

This is an important, complicated decision and the Town Boards have an obligation to every single resident to make sure they have all the facts, all the data AND that it is TRUTHFUL!

Boss Warner has always operated with hidden agendas. That’s why his clique has been thrown out of office. He clearly has an agenda in this matter too. Most likely his scheme is to dedicte most of promised construction credits the County has offered to ensure that his loyal friend and supporter, Judy Hazen, gets a waterline. Additionally, Warner has been observed spending a lot of time huddled with Jim Breslawski, the discredited former Planning Board Chairman, at Breslawski’s farm on North Hamlin Road. Why would the Town Supervisor spend half his mornings in meetings with non-resident Breslawski, one of Hamlin’s largest landowners? Is the timing a coincidence? Not likely...

Warner wants to steam-roll Hamlin taxpayers on his way out the door. It is up to our Town Board to stop him! It may be that a proposal to sell all of the community's water districts and support hardware to Monroe County is a good idea but the taxpayers deserve a thorough accounting of the impact, the true costs and the effects on residents of the transaction.

These are just a few of the things the Town Board MUST look at:

* An exact, and VERIFIED balance sheet for the Hamlin Water Department. They, and the resident, deserve to know how well or poorly the system has operated and the revenue it has generated. If the HWD is profitable, we deserve to know why the Town would GIVE IT AWAY? Future earnings are worth something!

* An exact and verified list of the materials and hardware (including vehicles) which will be handed over to the County for one dollar. This MUST be verified. There can be no excuse for somebody “forgetting” an expensive piece of equipment. “Whoops!” is not acceptable!

*A complete accounting of the local jobs that will be lost and any compensation package the town will offer.

* An analysis of the impact this change will have on the quality of service in our community! The importance of this issue cannot be overemphasized! At present, all Hamlin Water Department employees live in Hamlin! When a customer has a problem the response comes from Hamlin! If the problem is not resolved, and this includes BILLING problems, access to a solution is right here in town. When all of these services are moved out to Rochester how will the residents be affected? This is important!

These are just the basics! Our Town Board must act professionally and effectively in this matter. They must demand and scrutinize all the facts. They cannot be negligent.

THERE IS NO RUSH! Just because Boss Warner wants to serve up some pork on his way out of office is not sufficient reason for the other elected officials to put on an apron and help.

The Blog! urges all concerned residents to attend Monday’s Town Board meeting and speak up. We don’t need to get soaked by a couple of lame-ducks.

Rejecting the bid for Town Justice by publisher Peter Tonery, the citizens soundly recorded their desire that The Blog! continue regular publication. As a Justice, Tonery would have been barred from publishing the highly political news site.

"I know he wanted that Justice job, but this was just too important for the community." said Alfred Campbell, Chairman of the Hamlin Republican Committee and one of the leaders of the effort to retain The Blog!

"It is vital that Tonery continue to publish the website," added James Nesbitt, Chairman of the Planning Board. "The Blog! provides the communitiy with so much essential information- I don't think we could get along without it."

"It is the lifeblood of Hamlin," said outgoing Supervisor Austin Warner III. "I read it religiously."

The problem for incumbents is that they have to campaign on their record. Their record is the public history of their job performance.

Office holders frequently do favors for their constituency. Little things like calling the Highway Supervisor about a lawn ripped up by plows or getting an answer to a question about a water bill, simple things that provide a small service to someone in the community. This earns them some good will and support.

But that is not the job. The job of a Town Board member is to write legislation. They write or repair local laws to better serve the community. This is their only power, this is their duty. The fact that they have contacts and influence inside government is helpful for correcting small, personal issues for citizens, but it is not why they are elected.

Paul Rath’s record as a legislator is dismal.

ACCOUNTING
Rath, a Certified Public Accountant, has never managed to improve the bookkeeping methods of the Town. Hamlin’s accounting methods are archaic and impossible to understand. For years Supervisor Warner has misled and misdirected funding for departments and projects because the budget is impenetrable.

Save for Pat MacIntosh, there is probably no one in local government who actually knows how our tax dollars are spent! And she’s not talking.

Rath has always been in a position to demand a change in accounting. As a CPA he might have demanded an open, transparent accounting process. He’s mentioned it, but never championed it. He never proposed to change it by law.

Hamlin’s budget is as secretive and old fashioned as it was when he first joined the Town Board. The proposed 2006 budget lists an item called “Personnel.” In this category one finds:

Personal Services for $47,529
Equipment for 0
Contractual Exp. for 6000
Total: $53,529

What does this MEAN? Is this open record keeping? Can the public learn anything about how thier money is spent with accounting like this?

Hamlin’s entire budget looks like this! No detail, no explanation, no transparency. No method for tracking payments. This is a “blind budget,” made purposefully to block public scrutiny.

Paul Rath has done little or nothing to improve it. Paul Rath, the CPA. One wonders how his business would prosper if he treated his clients like he treats the citizens of Hamlin.

OPEN GOVERNMENT
As last Wednesday’s meeting demonstrates, Paul Rath is a defender of government closed to the public. That meeting, described below, concerned a proposal to give the Hamlin Water Department to the County. Warner sprung the proposal on the Town Board with no warning. He claimed the “Executive Session” privilege by suggesting it concerned “personnel matters.” The only issue concerning employees was the fact that three local jobs would be lost. THAT is not a “personnel matter” under the Open Meetings Law.

Rath knew that. The moment he learned that the meeting was about public matters, and not protected, he should have acted to cancel it. Paul Rath should have done his duty and made a motion to come out of Executive Session, regardless of the Supervisor’s desire to keep the matter hidden from the public.

According to the Town website, of the 25 meetings from October 2003 (the first date minutes were posted) until October 2005 12 went into Executive Session! Almost 50% of all Town Board meetings ended in secrecy! Six times the reason given was a "personnel matter", three were "litigation matters" and three times, no reason was given! Paul Rath made the motion to go into Executive Session twice, and seconded the motion two other times. All other times he voted "aye", agreeing to the session. Normally it was Warner who made the motion (7 times.)

Almost all of these Executive Sessions were illegal. Lame Duck Supervisor Warner was infamous for lying about the validity of Executive Sessions but where was Rath to stop him? Doesn’t Paul Rath believe in the principle of an “open and honest government?”

Nobody, not one Town Board member, has EVER acted to terminate an illegal Executive Session. They do not respect or support transparent government. Paul Rath and the other Board members seem to believe that election to office enables them to hide decision-making from the voters.

Mr Rath, government and its processes belong to the public. You are not better than any other citizen. It is your duty to promote and protect open government. Mr. Rath, YOU are not royalty.

ACTION
Hamlin faces many serious challenges as a community. Controlled growth is probably the most serious and the one the Town Board has the most direct, immediate power to affect.

Paul Rath has done nothing to address it.

When the DeMarco project reared its ugly head, the stupidity and laziness of the Town Board was revealed. The DeMarco parcel had been zoned for high density housing back in the 1970's. All that time the Board was asleep at the wheel. At anytime they could have acted to rezone the land to prevent a proposal for low-income housing.

Nobody ever acted.

That’s not the worst part. Since the developer dropped the project the Town Borad has still not acted!

At any point after the developer dropped the proposal the Town Board could have rezoned the land and blocked any future problem. They didn’t. They never even talked about it!

They say that fish can only remember things for five minutes. Fish, and the Hamlin Town Board.

Rath failed with DeMarco. Rath failed to get the new Master Plan completed. Rath failed to improve accounting. Rath failed to contest or promote open government. Rath failed to challenge Warner’s divisive and damaging policies.

Rath has failed at virtually every obligation which a Town Board member is elected for.

What is that old adage about leadership? “ Lead, follow or get out of the way.”

Maybe it should end with, “Or don’t get reelected”

SELLING HAMLIN OUT- IN SECRET!

On Wednesday night the Hamlin Town Board met secretly with representatives of the Monroe County Water Authority. The meeting was scheduled to discuss other matters and Town Board members were surprised when Austin Warner called for an “Executive Session.” Both the public and the Town Clerk were kicked out of the meeting!

What followed was a proposal to turn the Hamlin Water Department over to the Monroe County Water Authority!

This idea is not new. Warner discussed it as far back as 1999 when he created the Hamlin Water Committee. That group was charged with persuading Dave Rose, then Highway Superintendent, to use the Highway Department to install waterlines, something Rose had resisted for decades.

Back then, Warner claimed that giving Hamlin’s Water Department to the county was a bad idea. He said that it would not save any money, that we would lose important local services, that it would cut jobs, that County waterline installation was too expensive, and most importantly, he said the County would PAY NOTHING to Hamlin for it!

How does Hamlin benefit from having its own Water Department? First, the service residents receive is excellent. If you have a problem with your water you can be sure someone FROM HAMLIN will be at your door in 30 minutes or less! Second, it was proven, even to the reluctant Rose, that our Highway Department can install waterlines cheaper then the county or outside contractors. If the county takes over, all the work will go to their contractors and the town will lose tens of thousands of dollars in revenues. In addition, the Highway Department might have to cut jobs. That, in turn will impact snow plowing. Third, water users will likely pay more in county fees and service charges.

Let’s look at each of these issues:

SERVICE: Our Water Department employees are RESIDENTS. They live in Hamlin, work in Hamlin and pay taxes in Hamlin. If you live in town, then you are never too far when a call goes out for help. Our Water Department employees have provided many services to residents that aren’t “in the manual.” They’ve helped senior citizens change a washer in a faucet; They’ve advised newcomers to the lakeshore about how to winterize their lines to prevent freezing; They advise home builders on the location of waterlines and easements. That is hometown service.

WATERLINES: Warner had the right idea when he decided that the Highway Department should install waterlines throughout the community. He asked local expert John La Rue to be on the Water Committee. La Rue new the price for virtually every aspect of installation and defeated every objection Mr. Rose made. The Town DOES install waterlines cheaper than outside contractors. More importantly, by having additional summer work, and revenues, the Highway Department can afford to maintain staffing levels sufficient to keep our roads plowed during winter blizzards.

If the County takes over our water, Hamlin will lose at least three local jobs! Three local people, Hamlin residents, forced onto unemployment.

FEES: The Town adds only about TEN CENTS per thousand gallons to the cost of water for providing local service! This charge is added onto what all of us pay for water from the county, so our “savings” would only be ten cents per thousand! But what about other fees? The county charges “rental fees” on meters and there are always new surcharges from someplace for something. NOBODY in Hamlin will save money on their water bill as a result of switching to the County.

What is the motive? Why would Austin Warner spring this idea at this point in time? He has less than two months left on the job. Giving the Department to the County has always been an option, why propose it just as he walks out the door?

This is the $64,000 question. Nobody knows for sure what Warner is up too. If having a local Water Department was good for the five years and ten months of his “reign,” why is it a bad idea now?

Warner has told Water employees, “The Department is not making enough money.” He admits that it is profitable! That means it is self supporting and offsets taxes! If the problem is that the “profit margin” is not high enough he needs to think it through. Gouging residents is probably not the role of local government. A little profit is probably just right.

This is important: Warner is not SELLING the Department, he is GIVING IT AWAY! In other situations the MC Water Authority has pledged or contracted to contribute millions to a community. They have done this in places which could add big profits or where a given town could provide access to other communities further away.

In Hamlin’s case the County has “promised” to “help” with funding new waterlines. Why “promise?” What not “agree?” Why not have a contract stating what they WILL do? Has anyone ever tried to deposit a “promise” in the bank? Is that the best the Supervisor could do for Hamlin? A “promise” to “help?”

So, if the idea harms residents, puts local people out of work, fails to lower the cost of water- WHY would he do it?

We can only speculate.

Some residents think Warner has been promised a job with the Water Authority after he retires in exchange for the gift.

Some, and this has come from several well connected sources, believe he wants to hand out a little pork while he still has the power.

Apparently there has been a proposal to install a waterline down Brick Schoolhouse Road. The plan has languished because there simply are not enough residents to make it affordable. NYS would not approve the water bond and the district would be rejected.

But not if the County “helps!”

Who lives on this part of Brick Schoolhouse Road? Why none other than Judy Hazen! Hazen, of course, is Republican Town Leader and commander-in-chief of the Warner Republicans! Judy Hazen is the boss of the “Good-Ole-Boys.” Hazen was the person who threatened members of the Hamlin Republican committee at primary time saying, “If you don’t carry a petition for Pat MacIntosh, you are OFF this committee!” While Warner’s planned succession failed miserably, it would be normal for Warner to disregard the good of the entire community just to provide his loyal supporter with a perk.

Can anyone doubt it?

So next Christmas, when company is over and a waterline breaks in the cellar, call the Monroe County Water Authority. You can speak to a nice friendly tape machine, like when you call Niagra-Mohawk. Leave a message. They’ll get back to you.

* * * * *

***UPDATE**** It is widely reported that the reason "The Department isn't making enough money," is because Candidate Pat MacIntosh MISSED A DEADLINE for a water bill payment and that triggered a PENALTY OF $4000!!!

The Blog! will be seeking the records on this!

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PS: This illegal “Executive Session” dealt with obvious public information! Once again, no member of the Town Board had the courage, the ethics or the moral fiber to stand up and STOP the meeting. No protest, no dissent. Warner declared an illegal act and the Town Board members consent to participate. Like the guy who drives the car for the bank robbers- they are just as guilty.

For larger version click on this link- Open_Country2-1.JPG

This letter was submitted by Ms. Jeanine Klopp, Asst.Chair of the Hamlin Democratic Committee.


In a time of great uncertainty it is comforting to know that there are dedicated people committed to ideas and values which will make our community a better, safer place to live. These are the principles of the Hamlin Democratic Committee, adopted by resolution in July.

Preserving our rural and agricultural environment
We believe Hamlin must act aggressively to establish limits on development and protect agriculture. Local government must produce a smart, strong and forward-looking Comprehensive Plan which developers and residents can use as a road map for growth, even as it is the foundation of preservation.

Justice for all
We believe that all local laws should be applied and enforced fairly. That every resident is valued and considered equal. We believe that whenever a resident has a problem, or seeks help, local government will respond quickly and with respect. There should be no exceptions.

Open Government
We believe government belongs to the people: that the public has an inalienable right to open meetings and transparent management. We believe it is the duty of local government to actively inform citizens of the issues and decisions it makes, to reach out to the community in a reliable, truthful manner. We believe in welcoming and encouraging residents to take an active role in the town’s management and in the planning of its future.

Prudent and Responsible Administration
The mission of government at any level is to promote and protect
the, “health, safety and welfare” of its citizens. This includes spending tax dollars frugally and intelligently. It means ensuring that every transaction the town enters into is carefully scrutinized to maximize the benefits for the community.

The Importance of Family
Economic forces have created great strains on the American family. Most homes in Hamlin now have two wage earners. Over 85% of our workers drive sixty minutes or more to their jobs every day. Hamlin is where families reconnect, where they relax and recreate. Local government should focus its attention and resources on providing the services which best, most effectively, serve the needs of our working families.

For too long local government has lost contact with what is genuinely important to citizens. It is time to remedy that. This Declaration of Principles is also our political platform. If you believe that these ideals have value please consider supporting our goal of improving local government.

To learn more visit our website at hamlindems.com or attend one of our meetings held on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Town Hall.

Jeanine Klopp

Assistant Chair
Hamlin Democratic Committee

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The Blog! invites other political parties and organizations to submit their letters of purpose.

For years The Blog! has been warning residents about the stubborn campaign, waged by Zoning Board Chairman Norm Baas, to ruin the rural character of Hamlin. In direct opposition to the facts, published research, expert opinion and government studies, Norm Baas has insisted that Hamlin must have smaller lot sizes in our agricultural districts.

His destructive plan is about to be achieved.

The alleged “Comprehensive Plan” Committee, which has been in existence for OVER three years, has finally produced a proposal! The ONLY item of significance in it is the recommendation to shrink the lot sizes.

(While taking three years to produce almost nothing would be noteworthy in other circumstances, it is commonplace in Hamlin. It is SOP and a analysis of the “product “ will be forthcoming!)

According to members of the Committee, past and present, virtually every meeting began with a tedious monologue by Baas about reducing lot sizes. Mind you, he NEVER offered supporting data, never provided any evidence to prove his assertion, he simply, tirelessly, echoed his opinion over and over and over. Perhaps just to shut him up the “Committee” agreed to his position.

However, they did “compromise.” Instead of the two acre parcels Baas wanted they settled on three.

Now, what do the experts in NYS say? The official recommendation of the Agricultural and Markets Department, the Planning Federation and the Department of State is that the BEST way to protect farmland from development is by having minimum lot sizes of TEN ACRES!

These aren’t baseless suggestions either. They have been implemented in many communities and the proof is there. Towns with smaller lot sizes transform into suburbs much more rapidly. Larger lot sizes are a disincentive to both seller and buyer. People who want a “farmette” or country living life style will be willing to purchase the bigger lots. If a farmer has to sell ten acres to a builder the sacrifice to his ag business is significant. That is the FORCE which protects agriculture. It is proven.

But don’t bother Norm Baas with the facts. He is stubborn, old fashioned, out of touch with contemporary planning stategies- and obsessed by this one idea.

Norm is twenty five years behind the times. Oh, and he’s the Chairman of Hamlin’s Zoning Board.

A man who won’t do any research, who holds destructive opinions and refuses to substantiate them- HE is in charge of zoning in Hamlin!

Readers of The Blog! are urged to be alert to the public hearings on this awful proposal and turn out to oppose it!
*** *** ***

Please click on the link below to read about an enlightened NYS farming community which recently INCREASED its minimum lot sizes to ten acres. Their local government is mostly farmers!

PlanningNews.jpg

WHEN "GOOD GUY" IS NOT ENOUGH

FEMA's Brown was a "Good Guy"

In last month’s Republican Primary a new generation of voters joined forces with a broad cross section of more traditional Hamlin voters to oust the Warner administration from power. The vote against Pat MacIntosh was a staggering 67%! Fully two-thirds of the Republicans who were involved, informed and motivated enough to cast primary votes sent a clear message: “Out With The Old!”

It was the first chime from the bell announcing the end of the “Good-Ole-Boy” era.

There will be a new Supervisor that is certain. Dennis Roach has the credentials, the education and the experience to be Hamlin’s first “modern” leader. Roach has had a long professional career in the navy and private sector. Individuals who advance in the military must show ambition, determination, competitiveness and a commitment to education.

These are exactly the virtues that have been missing from local government for too many years!

Hamlin confronts many serious issues in it’s future. The most important of which is the speed and shape of development. For almost a decade the Chairman of the Zoning Board, Norm Baas, has advocated reducing the minimum lot size in agricultural, low-density districts. This is precisely the opposite of what dozens of studies, in NYS and across the US, prove is the method to preserve and protect farmland. ***

Meanwhile, for years the Chairman of the Planning Board, Jim Nesbitt, has pushed a clandestine plan to find government money for his pet issue: Getting tax-payers subsidize the Brockport Yacht Club! With Warner’s consent, Nesbitt quietly created the specious “Sandy Harbor Management Committee,” a bogus, wasteful expansion of local government. The Committee was invented as an “official” entity to disguise the goal of obtaining grants to pay for the dredging needed to allow sailboats out to the lake. The Yacht Club, in a painfully obvious reversal of the “Personal Responsibility” virtue claimed by conservatives, reasoned that if other boaters use the inlet then the taxpayers ought to fund the dredging! The BYC pretended it didn’t know that power and pleasure craft don’t require dredging! Nesbitt’s shabby committee hit a moral low point when it claimed that one of it’s goals included “ Homeland Security,” thereby enabling it to apply for Federal grant money!

The new Supervisor will be saddled by a Town Board comprised of men who have had their government jobs for too long. Rose, Todd and Rath are conditioned by too many years of service to an apathetic and dysfunctional administration. Hamlin’s town Board is renowned for its lack of imagination, initiative and willingness to work. While they “liaison” with local organizations, they have never studied or discussed critical planning and development issues.

However, they are all “good guys!” No question about that. Each of these individuals is bright, friendly and out-going. They just don’t DO anything. Being a “good guy” is not very hard. Studying, committing to on-going training and analyzing complicated ideas is. Voters must consider if “good guy” is sufficient reason to support local officials who hold the future of the community in their hands.

Dennis Roach is obviously a smart, pro-active individual motivated by a genuine desire for public service. Unfortunately for him, he will likely inherit a disinterested, dysfunctional Town Board.

It’s unfortunate for Hamlin too. One step forward, three steps back.

==================================================================

*** Read a story from the Spring 2005 "PLANNING NEWS" published by the New York Planning Federation about the Town of Flemming, outside Auburn. The community is 90% agricultural and recently passed a new zoning ordinance making the minimum lot size in Ag. District TEN ACRES! The Supervisor, a third generation farmer, said, there is "strong support from the local farm community" for the new law.

NOTE: This is a LARGE .jpeg file so give it a moment to load.

PlanningNews.jpg

HE'S BAAAAACK!!

Local chicken farmer Jim Breslawski is back at it. Like some horrible bad penny he reappeared last night at the meeting of the Hamlin Republican Committee. Our beloved and fearless leader, Supervisor Warner, actually nominated Breslawski for membership on the committee!!!

Paul Rath, finally mustering some juavos, challenged the nomination saying that since Breslawski didn’t live in Hamlin he was not eligible for membership. The enraged, red-faced SlawMan hissed, “I DO live in Hamlin. That’s all been taken care of!” Then he swore at Rath a little bit and finished by saying, “I have been reinstated.”

I don't think so...and it's news to the MC Board of ElectionS!

How was Jim “reinstated?” He simply filled out and mailed in a new voter registration card claiming he lived at 1534 North Hamlin Road!

He did this ONE MONTH after the Monroe County Board of Elections ruled that he DID NOT reside at 1534 North Hamlin Road and revoked his right to vote in Hamlin!

ONE MONTH!*

Once again, everybody in town knows that JB lives at 26 Deer Track Lane in CLARKSON!

Jim just doesn’t care.

Is this rational behavior? Does it make sense to risk felony prosecution for voter fraud? Does Austin Warner have even half a brain?

Arrogance and blind, stupid stubbornness is the likely answer.

Bawwkk! Stay tuned!

[*Go to The Blog archives for Thursday, March 24, 2005 to see the letter from the Board of Elections, dated 3/18/05 and read about JB resiging from the Planning Board as a consequence. Jim's "new" voter registration was recorded in the BoE offices on 4/13/05!]

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The sodas are in a cooler on my front porch. Help yourself. They're really old and warm. Mostly flat.

More on the marathon 2 1/2 hour HRC meeting coming. Judy Hazen and Butch Warner's power play largely failed. It gradually dawned on them that alienating 95% of Hamlin Republicans was not a good move.

The Editor

HE'S BAAAAACK!!

Local chicken farmer Jim Breslawski is back at it. Like some horrible bad penny he reappeared last night at the meeting of the Hamlin Republican Committee. Our beloved and fearless leader, Supervisor Warner, actually nominated Breslawski for membership on the committee!!!

Paul Rath, finally mustering some juavos, challenged the nomination saying that since Breslawski didn’t live in Hamlin he was not eligible for membership. The enraged, red-faced SlawMan hissed, “I DO live in Hamlin. That’s all been taken care of!” Then he swore at Rath a little bit and finished by saying, “I have been reinstated.”

I don't think so...and it's news to the MC Board of ElectionS!

How was Jim “reinstated?” He simply filled out and mailed in a new voter registration card claiming he lived at 1534 North Hamlin Road!

He did this ONE MONTH after the Monroe County Board of Elections ruled that he DID NOT reside at 1534 North Hamlin Road and revoked his right to vote in Hamlin!

ONE MONTH!*

Once again, everybody in town knows that JB lives at 26 Deer Track Lane in CLARKSON!

Jim just doesn’t care.

Is this rational behavior? Does it make sense to risk felony prosecution for voter fraud? Does Austin Warner have even half a brain?

Arrogance and blind, stupid stubbornness is the likely answer.

Bawwkk! Stay tuned!

[*Go to The Blog archives for Thursday, March 24, 2005 to see the letter from the Board of Elections, dated 3/18/05 and read about JB resiging from the Planning Board as a consequence. Jim's "new" voter registration was recorded in the BoE offices on 4/13/05!]

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The sodas are in a cooler on my front porch. Help yourself. They're really old and warm. Mostly flat.

More on the marathon 2 1/2 hour HRC meeting coming. Judy Hazen and Butch Warner's power play largely failed. It gradually dawned on them that alienating 95% of Hamlin Republicans was not a good move.

The Editor

The Thing That Wouldn’t Die!

The local Republican rumor-mill is buzzing with the story that Austin Warner thinks he has enough political currency to try for a power grab inside the Hamlin Republican Committee!

It seems Warner wants to take control of the party by becoming the new Chairman! Al Campbell, the present chair was hand-picked by Warner, plucked fresh from the Knights of Columbus at SEAS. Warner wants the job now that he is “retiring” as Supervisor.

He is like the trick birthday candle that won’t go out!

Doesn’t Warner realize that he has completely blown his authority inside the party? He just finished leading Steve Minarik, Pat MacIntosh and Gerry Hutchison into the Little Big Horn of Republican primaries! Despite this, he thinks that he has sufficient influence to make himself Chairman.

WAKE UP, AUSTIN!

YOU BLEW IT!

Hamlin’s Republican voters just decided who has the authority to speak for them. Dennis Roach collected 54% of the vote- more than MacIntosh and Hollink combined! That vote was a crystal clear mandate. The power in the Hamlin Republican Committee belongs to the victors.

That’s what democracy is about.

Is it astonishing pridefulness that permits Warner to think he still has some authority? Who would support him? Does the little clique of GOB’s who rigged the nomination for MacIntosh last spring still believe they rule the party?

Does Warner think he has any credibility with Monroe County Republicans after turning in such a disaster in the primary? Steve Minarik must be furious that he bought into Warner’s salesmanship and backed such big losers.

Warner played all his cards and was trumped on every one. He tried to bluff the voters but they kept raising him. Roach and Marchetti took all his cash. Warner is busted and out of the game.

Republican voters sent a powerful message to their Committee, and the members had better heed it: The winners of the primary DON’T NEED YOU!

HUZZAH! HUZZAH!
Zoning Board acts to community’s benefit!

In Monday’s ZBA meeting the request by the developer for “Country Estates” to have .3 acre lots was denied!

This is good news for Hamlin. The developer asserted that the homes he planned to build on these tiny lots would sell for $175,000- righhhht.

Too bad for Hamlin the ZBA failed to make their determination based on the most important reason for refusal: Hamlin does not need any more “cheap” housing.

Residents want limitations on new development and this 70+ unit project would not have been an asset to the community. THAT is a legitimate reason for refusal.

As expected ZBA Chairman Norm Baas did his usual head-shaking routine about how the board was going to be sued, demonstrating once again how little he knows about his job! Baas showed both his ignorance of zoning matters and his unshakable prejudice for granting variances regardless of their impact on the community.

Good job Zoning Board! You did the right thing. Maybe next time you can do it for the right reasons.

FOOTNOTE: It is ironic that the first significant variance request was denied right after the Zoning Law was modified to MAKE IT EASIER TO GRANT THEM!

NEW TODAY!
Political Cartoon by Jimmy M. Bell
Cick on link...
EmperorDOA.jpg

The benefits just keep piling up!

Friday night, 9/16.

Nine PM.

Gas prices:
Tops 3.09
Bob’s 3.01
Prince’s 3.11
K&K 3.09

Thank you Hamlin Planning & Zoning Boards!

When the Tops Corporation asked for five variances and approval to build a gas station within 1/4 mile of three others, the Boards assured the public that the benefit to them would be lower gas prices. With plenty of winks and nods, these geniuses assured Hamlin residents that another gas station would benefit us.

Plenty of citizens, including the other station owners, small business persons who live and work in Hamlin, told board members that the actual result would be a loss of revenues to their businesses of about 25% EACH! With plenty of nods and winks the public looked at each other and said, “Somebody’s gonna fold.”

Most benevolent Planning Board Co-Chairman Jim Nesbitt pontificated on the challenges he faced when Tops started selling cards in competition with his wife’s gift shop. His expert economic advice to the other gas station owners was essentially, “You’ll live...or you won’t.”

That’s how Hamlin’s local government works. They sure know what they’re talking about.

And we REALLY appreciate the lower gas prices too!

. . . . . . USS Hamlin Disaster goes to the bottom

SHIP OF STATE SCUTTLED

A new generation of Republican voters spoke with an overwhelming voice in last night's primary election. The message was clear and decisive.

WE WANT NEW LEADERSHIP!

Tired of the dissmal "Good-ole-boy" organization which has crippled local government for nearly a decade, Republican voters came out in unprecedented numbers to stage a dramatic, and uncontestible, coupe.

Austin Warner's hand picked successors, Pat MacIntosh for Supervisor and Gerry Hutchison for Town Board, were crushed by challengers Dennis Roach and Mike Marchetti.

The two men, campaigning as a team, swept the vote grabbing a huge 50% total in a three way race for Supervisor and four way contest for town board.

Supporter's gathered at "North of the Border" resturant to celebrate.

"This is a tremendous victory!" said former Town Board member Ed Evans. "It shows that Hamlin Republicans were fed up with the abuse of power. They have given these new leaders a huge mandate."

"These election results will revitalize the Hamlin Republican Committee," said Sue Evans. "Many of the good people who were driven away will be anxious to return."

Despite a torrent of money from Monroe County Republican Chairman Steven Minarik the MacIntosh campaign was a complete bust. Estimates of MacIntosh's spending run as high as ten thousand dollars, unprecedented for any campaign in Hamlin, astonishing for a primary.

"I think the County GOP did their survey and were shocked that local Republicans were not willing to blindly support the endorsed candidates." said one local Marchetti supporter, "Minarik tried to buy Hamlin and found out it wasn't for sale!"

The lame-duck administration of the Hamlin Republican Committee trekked to the turf of the victorious challengers to offer their bewildered congratulations. One observer remarked, "It's hard to imagine what they have to say to Denny and Mike. They didn't back them and threatened anybody who did with being kicked off the committee. I suppose it's gracious."

Political observers anticipate that the desiccated remains of the Warner Republicans will soon be forced to exit the HRC.

"They backed the wrong horses," said a lifelong resident and Republican. "They overplayed their hand. They are now obsolete. Roach and Marchetti don't owe them anything. The voters have spoken overwhelmingly. The old guard is gone."

. . Only Steve Minarik's inedible head and feet remain after his Cane Corso attack dogs turned on him. The animal later died of rabies.

LIAR FLYER, Part 75

If anyone needed more proof that Pat MacIntosh’s campaign is being managed and funded by Steve Minarik, they only have to look at the stupid “attack flyer" Republicans received yesterday.

And it is, REALLY STUPID! The attack is about Shirley missing two budget votes in five years. Of course, it doesn’t reveal that Austin Warner orchestrated one of those absences, calling a special meeting specifically on a date she was going to be out of town! Hollink objected, and asked for an earlier date when she would be in Hamlin, but Warner and the Town Board overruled her!

Her other absence was to attend the funeral of her mother-in-law! Nice of PatMac to criticsize Hollink for THAT!

Naturally, they failed to mention that PatMac never attended ANY MEETINGS about ANYTHING, save the ones on the budget! PatMac’s “attendance” was non-existent!

Why didn’t Minarik attack Shirley on REAL issues? Hollink has been a determined opponent of the Hamlin library since it began. Hollink has always participated in illegal “Executive Sessions” where public business is conducted in private. A “real” campaign” would pick on real issues. This is just the usual Minarik smear stuff.

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$$$$$$$$$$$

When MacIntosh’s campaign ends, the cost will approach $10,000!

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!

For a PRIMARY!

What is going on here? Steve Minarik didn’t even know how to spell Hamlin until two months ago! Now he’s dumping ten grand into a PRIMARY?

Something is very, very fishy. If PatMac is elected, Hamlin government will owe a tremendous dept to Minarik.

What will it be? What will it be?
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DOGS OF WAR

This pattern of four “nice-nice” mailers followed by two nasty vicious attack pieces is standard, CLASSIC, Steve Minarik campaign style. He always shoots off his mouth about “negative advertising” but he practices it more than anyone, everyone else combined.

Republicans can expect to receive a flyer today attacking Dennis Roach. Roach has extremely good credentials and plenty of experience to be a town Supervisor- in ANY town. Roach retired from the Navy as a Warfare Captain. From there he administered several organizations for the military and then, as a civilian, managed educational programs for both SUNY Brockport and Gates/Chili.

Roach has a Masters degree in Public Administration. How will PatMac and Minarik attack THAT?!

The Blog predicts that Minarik will accuse Roach of “inexperience,” that he doesn’t “know the community” and that he’s “soft on Democrats.”

Roach has been a Hamlin resident for almost ten years, he has a world of practical management experience and believes that good government is inclusive.

It will be interesting to see how the Minarik/MacIntosh attack dogs try to sink the Captain.

RELEASE THE HOUNDS! We'll see if they can swim.