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UH,[ TOWN OF GREENBURGH OFFICE OF THE TOWN BOARD 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY 10607 Tel: 914-989-1525 Fax: 914-993-1541 https://greenburghny.com/485/Watch-Live-Board-Meetings ]
UH, WELCOME TO OUR TOWN BOARD MEETING.UH, TODAY IS MARCH 3RD AFTER, UH, FIVE 30.
AND, UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS A PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO PETITION THE US GOVERNMENT TO END ICE AND C UH, BP ABUSES.
WE WERE GONNA HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT.
WELL, AT THE LAST MEETING I HAD MENTIONED THAT IT IMPLIES THAT WE HAVE HAD ICE ON OUR STREETS IN GREENBURG.
AND, UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU'VE MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE RESOLUTION BASED ON THAT DISCUSSION.
I DIDN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES, SO.
WORK THROUGH THE CHANGES THEN.
SO I, I THINK, LIKE WE SAID, REFERRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES, I THINK THAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE BROAD LANGUAGE, NOT SPECIFIC TO THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD WHETHER OR NOT WE'VE HAD ICE HERE IN GREENBERG.
UM, I THINK, I MEAN, CERTAIN, I I KNOW THAT IT'S MISLEADING.
SO HOW WOULD YOU WANNA CLARIFY THAT? UH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT IN SUCH COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GONNA BE DONE.
SINCE WE, I GAVE OUT THESE CHANGES LAST TIME.
I DON'T HAVE THE, I DON'T HAVE THE VERSION OR FROM BEFORE THAT.
IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OR THROUGHOUT THE STATE BY COUNTRY RIGHTS.
THEY REALLY MEAN NATIONWIDE, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO WHY DON'T WE SAY RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION? THROUGHOUT THE NATION PRESIDENT.
BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S ACCURATE.
RIGHT? BECAUSE WHY? WHY NOT? BECAUSE WE'RE PART OF THE COUNTRY AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE.
NOW I'M NOT INVITING IT TO HAPPEN HERE.
AND HOW ABOUT IN MANY PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY THAT THAT WOULD WORK? OR YOU COULD SAY, WELL, YOU COULD SAY THE NATION'S COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE, WHY DON'T WE PULL THIS UP? WHY, WHY NOT TYPING THIS? 'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME.
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
SO WHEREVER IT SAYS OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WE JUST GONNA SUBSTITUTE EITHER WHAT, ELLEN, WHATEVER YOU SAID I FORGOT, ELLEN.
IN MANY PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY, HOW ABOUT WE SAY HAVE VIOLATED RESIDENTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
RESIDENTS? WELL, AGAIN, I THINK THAT IMPLICATION IS, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS? NO, HE JUST SAID RESIDENTS.
BUT IN GENERAL, SO WE MAKE GENERAL AS I KNOW, BUT IT, IT, IT COULD BE INTERPRETED.
UM, SO WE TAKE OUT RIGHTS AND THEN SO OF RESIDENTS AND SOME OF THESE CASES ARE ABUSIVE, SO WE COULD JUST CROSS THAT OUT.
WELL, WHAT ARE WE CROSSING OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES? JUST RESIDENTS.
BUT THEN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
AND THEN OF RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, IN SOME CASES ARE ABUSIVE.
WE CAN COURSE IT OUT, AND THEN WE LEAVE THE, AND FOR THE NEXT, WHEREAS, BUT WE'RE LEAVING IN SOME CASES ARE ABUSIVE.
WELL, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, THIS RESOLUTION INITIALLY SAID RESOLUTION PETITIONING THE US GOVERNMENT TO END ICE AND CBP.
AND I WAS NOT GONNA VOTE FOR THAT AT ALL.
BECAUSE WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE TIME.
THAT'S JUST THE, SO I ADDED THE WORD ABUSES.
SO WE KEEP UNDERSTOOD AND ABUSIVE RESIDENTS.
AND SOME ABUSIVE AND SOME ABUSE IN SOME CASES ABUSIVE.
'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHTS AND IN SOME CASES, SO THIS IS A KEEP, OKAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY WITH IT.
WE JUST DON'T WANT THE ABUSES.
SO IT'S THE SAME SITUATION RIGHT.
WHEREAS THE TEMPLE, BECAUSE SO WHAT ABOUT THREATEN THE PEACE AND WELFARE? HOW ABOUT THREATEN PEACE, WELFARE AND SAFETY, THREATEN PEACE, WELFARE AND SAFETY.
RIGHT? YOU WANNA SAY THAT OF RESIDENT? YOU CAN SAY OF RESIDENT, RIGHT? PEACE.
WAIT, WAIT, WHICH ONE IS THAT? YOU SAID THE FOURTH, WHEREAS PEACE.
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OUT? WELFARE, THE WHOLE THING.WHERE IS, WHERE? AT THE TOWN BOARD AND TOWN OF GREENBURG BELIEVES THAT THERE ABUSIVE TACTICS, TACTICS AND PRACTICES BY ICE AND CCB AND CBP HAVE RESULTED IN KILLINGS OF CITIZENS AND THREATEN THE PEACE AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND SAFETY OF, OF RESIDENTS.
AND SO WHAT ARE WE CHANGING? NO, THAT'S NOT HOW I WAS, I, THAT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE, WAS THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG BELIEVES THAT THESE ABUSIVE TACTICS AND PRACTICES BY ICE AND CPB HAVE RESULTED, RESULTED IN THE KILLING OF CITIZENS AND THREATEN THE PEACE, WELFARE, AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS.
UH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS.
OUR COMMUNITIES CERTAINLY TAKE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS WHERE ARE YOU THE FIFTH? WHERE IS OH, THE FIFTH.
WELL, HOW ABOUT WE SAY, SAY THAT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY? HOW ABOUT WE SAY THE CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF ICE NCPB AGENTS FOR REASONS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN THEIR, THE PURVIEW OF THEIR, UM, WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
YOU KNOW? UH, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES OUTSIDE.
RIGHT? OUTSIDE THE PER OUTSIDE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS DEFINED BY, OKAY.
YOU TALKING ABOUT THE FIFTH ONE NOW? YEAH.
HOW ABOUT WE SAY, UH, REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE READING NECESSARILY, SO YOU JUST SHOULD READ IT OUT.
WELL ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS TOMORROW NIGHT 'CAUSE THERE IS NO MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY, THAT'S TRUE JUSTICE.
WE COULD PROBABLY, FOR CLARITY, FOR ANYONE WHO'S LISTENING, DO WE WANNA ALSO INCLUDE, UM, YOU SCHWARTZ'S, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS ABOUT THE, UH, ICE'S ROLE IN TERMS OF, UM, UH, ELECTIONS, UH,
I'M SAYING WE COULD JUST, UH, PUT IN LIKE ANOTHER, LET'S, LET'S DO THIS FIRST.
CAN WE STAY FOCUSED ON LET'S STAY FOCUSED ON THIS.
IT'S RELATED, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.
HOW ABOUT, UM, THE CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF ICE AND CBP, UH, AGENTS.
THREATEN THE LIVES OF SAFETY, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE DEPLOYED WELL, AS OPPOSED TO IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WELL, I WOULD TAKE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THE, I WAS TRYING TO DEFINE IF THEY'RE HERE APPROPRIATELY, THAT'S ONE THING.
RIGHT? BUT IF THEY'RE NOT, WHICH THEY'VE BEEN DEPLOYED FOR INAPPROPRIATE PURPOSES.
I THINK WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT IN THIS RIGHT SECTION.
SO WE COULD SAY, UM, HOW ABOUT THIS BELIEVES THAT, UM, THE TOWN BOARD OF TOWN RIVER BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE OF THESE ABUSIVE TACTICS AND PRACTICES, THE CONTINUED, THE CONTINUED UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR INAPPROPRIATE DEPLOYMENT OF ICE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, JOE? IT IS UN A RECOMMENDATION.
THE ARGUMENT IS YES, IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AS YOU KNOW, JOE DOESN'T GET INVOLVED IN POLICY.
SO, CAN WE READ THAT LINE AGAIN? MM-HMM
THE TOWN BELIEVE THAT THESE CONTINUED UNCONSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYMENT LICENSE AGENTS IS THREATEN YOUR LIGHT.
THE LIVES SAFETY AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF RESIDENCE.
I CROSS STOP THE LAST, I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANYTHING AT THE RESIDENCE.
SO THEN IT WOULD BE, WHEREAS THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE OF THESE ABUSIVE TACTICS AND PRACTICES, THE CONTINUED UNCONSTITUTIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF ICE AND CPB AGENTS IS THREATENING THE LIVES SAFETY AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS.
IS IT THERE WAS, IS IT AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL DEPLOYMENT? YES.
BUT THEN YOU JUST, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DEPLOYED.
THIS IS WHAT THE, THE CURRENT WAY THAT THEY'RE THE SO DEPLOYING THEM UNCONSTITUTIONALLY IS DEFINED BY THEM ACTING OUTSIDE OF THEIR THEIR'S.
THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE SAYING IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO DEPLOY THEM FOR TO DEPLOY THEM? NO, IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
TO DEPLOY THEM TO, TO ABUSIVE TAXES.
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YES.BUT WE, I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
SO IT'S NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO DEPLOY THEM.
SO WHERE'S THE TOWN BOARD? NO, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN VIOLATING RESIDENTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
THE TOWN BOARD OF TOWN GROUND BELIEVES THAT THESE ABUSIVE TACTICS AND PRACTICES, THE CONTINU THE CAUSE OF, YEAH.
SO THE PRACTICES, AND YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CAUSAL IS IS BEING THERE.
WELL, IT, WELL, IT'S ALREADY THERE.
IT'S THE FIFTH ONE IN THE FIRST LINE.
FIRST LINE BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE OF ABUSE, ATTACK AND PRACTICE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE CURRENT, THEIR CURRENT PRACTICES ARE, WHAT DID JOE JUST SAY ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL? JOE SAID, VIOLATING RESIDENTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS PRACTICES, COMMA, VIOLATING, RIGHT? YEAH.
THAT'S THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL PART.
DID YOU GET THAT DOWN? CONTINUE.
I YOURS WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA WORK FROM YOURS THEN, THEN, THEN, JOE, REPEAT THAT ONE LINE AGAIN, PLEASE.
I JUST ADDED IN BY VIOLATING WHERE RESIDENTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, I'M NOT SURE I ADDED ON TO YOUR DISCUSSION.
WHEREAS THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE OF THESE ABUSIVE TACTICS, TACTICS AND PRACTICES VIOLATING CITIZENS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
WELL, IT'S NOT JUST CITIZENS RIGHTS, IT'S RESIDENCE RIGHTS.
'CAUSE SOME ARE CITIZENS AND SOME ARE NOT.
YOU DID THE FIRST TIME I DID, DID, MAYBE I SWITCHED IT.
DID
THREATENING LIVES AND SAFETY AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
THE LIVES, SAFETY AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
NO, WELL, WE'RE RE RESIDENT CIVIL RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS, OF RESIDENTS OF SUCH RESIDENTS.
BUT IS THIS A GOOD USE OF WORK SESSION? I'M SURE.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE AND WE, I, I, BUT OKAY.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE LAWS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND TO, OKAY.
SO YOU DON'T WANNA SAY OUR RESIDENTS OF RESIDENTS.
I WOULD NOT, I WOULD SAY THE RIGHTS, NOT THE, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THE LIVES.
AND TO SAY FOR THE PEACE AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE HERE BY PETITION.
OH, I THOUGHT WE WERE UP HERE.
WE STILL ON, WE'RE, THIS IS REPETITIVE THOUGH.
WHAT THEY HAVE HEAR MY PETITION IS GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT.
I THINK THAT REASON I NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE, THAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS AND TO SAFEGUARD THE PEACE AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WE HEREBY PETITION THE US YEAH.
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
AGAIN, BY TAKING THE FOLLOWING STEPS.
UM, THAT I WOULD JUST SAY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
LIKE, I WOULD JUST TAKE OUT TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND JUST SAY, BY TAKING THE FOLLOWING STEPS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SAY THAT WE PETITION US GOVERNMENT TO, TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS.
TACTICS INCLUDING ADOPTION OF MORE RIGOROUS ADVANCED TRAINING, RIGHT? YES.
I AM FINE WITH THE REST OF IT.
THINK I MENTIONED LAST TIME, INSTEAD OF SAYING THE
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AFOREMENTIONED ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THERE'S ONLY TWO MENTIONED HERE.'CAUSE IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IT'S NOT IMPORTANT.
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST PUT A COMMA AFTER TO C, B, P.
SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS IS ASKING FOR, TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF TACTICS AND PRACTICES EMPLOYED BY ICE AND CBP ADOPT PROCEDURES TO PREVENT ABUSIVE TACTICS AND PRACTICES BY ICE AND CBP.
INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF OUR RIGOROUS AND ENHANCED TRAINING TO INSTRUCT ICE AND CDP AGENTS MM-HMM
TO RESPECT CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO USE APPROPRIATE AND MEASURED RESPONSE.
AND TO CONSIDER A FORM OF INTEGRATION, UH, ENFORCEMENT THROUGH THE RESTRUCTURING OF ICE AND CBP.
IS THAT YOU OR AI DOING THAT? IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST SAYING CONSIDERATE.
I MEAN, IT'S, YEAH, THAT'S ALL.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S NOT REALLY A, DOESN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH, IT'S NOT GONNA HAVE MUCH OF EFFECT, I DON'T THINK.
YOU WANT ME TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AND SEND THEM AROUND? YEAH, IT'S AROUND, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.
IF READY FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION? YEAH.
I JUST WANNA, UM, ASK, UM, I HAD ASKED THE BOARD IF WE COULD HAVE, UM, DISCUSSION ON, UM, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, THE CITIZENS' BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO CREATE IT.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA KNOW IF, UH, WE COULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BECAUSE I, I REALLY FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE REALLY WANT TO TIGHTEN UP OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND RUN THE MOST EFFICIENT PO TOWN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING SOME, UM, INTEREST FROM VOLUNTEERS AND I WANNA KNOW IF, UM, THE BOARD WOULD WANT ME TO CREATE THE COMMITTEE ON MY OWN, OR IF YOU'RE STILL INTERESTED IN HAVING THIS CITIZENS, UH, BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT TO THE ENTIRE TOWN BOARD, UH, I'M WILLING TO BASICALLY, UM, UM, STRUCTURE IT IN ANY WAY, UM, POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IF WE CREATE THE COMMITTEE AND IT REPORTS TO THE TOWN BOARD AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER, UH, WE WILL HAVE THE BEST POSSIBILITY OF GETTING MAXIMUM BENEFITS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
IF IT JUST REPORTS TO ME AND EVERYBODY IGNORES IT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE AS EFFECTIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU HAVE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEES ALL OVER, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WESTCHESTER HAS IT, SOME MUNICIPALITIES HAVE IT.
THERE'S NO REASON THE TOWN SHOULDN'T HAVE IT.
WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION OF OUR COMPTROLLER? WE WOULD WORK WITH A CONTROLLER.
YOU KNOW, I'M AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE TOWN.
I HAVE TO, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, COMING UP WITH A PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND I, I FEEL THAT, UH, INVOLVING THE CITIZENS OF, UM, OF GREENBURG, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN BUDGETARY MATTERS AND PROCUREMENT, PROCUREMENT MATTERS COULD HELP US, UM, COME UP WITH THE BEST POSSIBILITY TO, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SAVE MONEY.
I CAN RESPOND AND, UM, TO OVERSEE, UH, SPENDING.
NO, I, THERE'S ONE THING I WANNA ASK.
I'M JUST, I'M STILL, I'M SURE I'M STILL CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT'S THE ROLE OF OUR COMP CONTROLLER.
THE CONTROLLER WILL WORK WITH THE CONTROLLER AND MYSELF AND I.
IS SHE EXPECTING TO TRAIN, TRAIN YOUR COMMITTEE? THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T.
THE, IF WE GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TRAINED.
THE COMMITTEE IS GONNA WORK WITH HER.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED WHO WANT TO BE INVOLVED WOULD BE, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN BUDGETARY MATTERS TODAY.
I, UM, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM SOMEBODY, UM, WHO, UM, IS A RETIRED PROCUREMENT OFFICER, AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE, AND HE LIVES IN TARRYTOWN, AND HE SAID THAT HE, UM, EXCUSE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED.
THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON ALSO OF PROCUREMENT, UH, WELL, SOMEBODY WHO HAS EXPERTISE IN PROCUREMENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED.
SO I FEEL THAT IF WE WOULD PUT OUT A REQUEST, THE TOWN BOARD, THAT WE'RE CREATING A CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN, IN BUDGETARY MATTERS, WE REVIEW THE RESUMES AND THEN THE TOWN BOARD COULD DECIDE ON WHAT THE SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE IS AND WHO THE, UH, BOARD WHO THE MEMBERSHIP WOULD BE.
I COULD ADDRESS THAT, BUT DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? I DID, I DID WANNA SAY SOMETHING.
I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE OTHER CITIZEN BUDGET COMMITTEES AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, AND I WOULD THINK IT'D BE INTERESTING
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TO SEE WHAT THEIR MISSION STATEMENTS ARE AND HOW, WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS.IF WE COULD COMPARE SOME OF THOSE SO WE HAVE SOMETHING TO BASE HOW THIS WOULD WORK ON, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
COULD YOU GATHER THAT INFORMATION? I COULD TRY AGAIN.
I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, UM, A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT IF YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER A FORMAT, HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU EXPECT ON THIS COMMITTEE, HOW LONG THE COMMITTEE WOULD GO ON FOR, AND, AND HAVE THAT PREPARATION INSTEAD OF, YOU'VE BROUGHT IT UP SEVERAL TIMES, YOU KNOW, JUST AS AN IDEA.
BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE US SOMETHING SUBSTANTIVE, I THINK IF YOU DID SEND SOMETHING, I DID SEND IT TO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ MY EMAILS, BUT THE THING IS, I DID, UM, I DID, UH, SEND A DETAIL FROM I'M, I CAN SEE THAT IT WAS AN OUTLINE OF, SO IT WASN'T, BUT IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T CLEARLY OUT, LIKE BROKEN DOWN TO WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
IT WASN'T JUST, SO, YOU'RE JUST CLEAR.
AND I GUESS WE, AND PART OF THAT, PART OF THAT I WILL ADD, UM, COUNCILMAN HENDRICKS, THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BACKGROUND EXPECTATION OF THE CREDENTIALS.
THE CREDENTIALS OF, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WAS LOOKING FOR IN THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF YOU CAN GIVE US, BRING A DOCUMENT TO, WELL, IT WAS LACKING IN SOME INFORMATION IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU, SO WE'RE SUGGESTING, SO CREDENTIALS THAT VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN COM, YOU KNOW, COMPARISON OF PROCESSES AND, AND MISSION STATEMENTS FROM SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL ONES, JUST TO SEE HOW THEY FUNCTION, HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU ARE, HOW LONG YOU, HOW THE CONTROLLER OR OR FINANCE OFFICER, WHOEVER IT IS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY, HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THAT COMMITTEE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING THAT, YEAH, SO MY OPINION IS THAT I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH YOU FORMING A COMMITTEE THAT CAN WORK WITH YOU TO COME UP WITH YOUR BUDGET.
UM, AND IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SINCE YOU'RE THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THEY WOULD ASK YOU, I WOULD HAVE AN OBJECTION IF YOU EXPECT THE CONTROLLER TO SPEND TIME EDUCATING RESIDENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO DIG AND FIND WHERE THE ISSUES ARE FROM PAST PRACTICES LIKE SHE DID THAT LED TO THE FORENSIC AUDIT BEFORE THE BUDGET WAS DUE, YOU ASKED HER AND YOUR SECRETARY COULD HAVE DONE THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE TAX INCREASE IS FOR EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN NEW YORK STATE.
THAT'S BUSY WORK TRYING TO TIE HER UP SO SHE CAN'T DO FURTHER EXPLANATION AS TO HOW MESSED UP OUR FINANCES ARE IN THIS TOWN, AS REVEALED IN THE FORENSIC AUDIT.
SO IT'S MY VIEW THAT YOU WANT TO CREATE THE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT WILL PREOCCUPY HER, ANSWERING LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
BUT AGAIN, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH YOU CREATING A CITIZEN'S BUDGET COMMITTEE TO HELP YOU.
AND IF THEY HAVE ISSUES ABOUT THE BUDGET, SINCE YOU ARE THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, YOU ANSWER THEM.
AND MAYBE YOU CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY OF OPERATING.
BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT WE ALLOW THE CONTROLLER, AND I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CONTROLLER ABOUT THIS, ALLOW HER TO DO HER JOB IN A WAY THAT WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS IT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET.
AND MY GUESS IS THERE'S MORE, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK THERE'S THE TOWNSEND, UH, POOR FINANCIAL SITUATION SITUATION.
I'VE BEEN MEET, MEETING AND SPEAKING WITH, UM, THE CONTROLLER, AND I'M, I FEEL THE TOWN IS IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE AND WE'RE GONNA USE A FORENSIC, UM, UM, UH, WHAT IT NOT AS A WEAPON, IT'S NOT, IT SHOULDN'T BE A WEAPON.
IT SHOULD BE BASICALLY, UM, SORT OF A ROADMAP TO RUNNING A BETTER TOWN.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT, UH, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.
AND I ALSO FEEL THAT, UM, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEE, IF, UM, IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, UM, ON THE COMMITTEE, AND THE CONTROLLER IS ALSO, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN BUDGET MATTERS, I THINK IT COULD BE, IT'S GONNA BE, HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING EFFECTIVE.
I FORMED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, A COMMITTEE, UH, MIKE SIEGEL HEADED IT ON, UM, ON INSURANCE.
AND WE INVOLVED A LOT OF CITIZENS AND GOT A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS FROM RESIDENTS.
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YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT IS JUST A CONCEPT THAT I THINK WOULD, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE HELPFUL.BUT AGAIN, WHATEVER THE BOARD WANTS, I'LL, I'LL ASK PEOPLE TO, UM, SEND IN THEIR RESUMES.
I COULD SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY.
I'LL DO WHAT THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDING IN TERM TERMS OF COMPARING, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, BUDGETS, UH, CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTY.
AND THEN, UM, WHEN I GET CLOSER AND I HAVE SOME NAMES OF PEOPLE, THEN WE COULD, THE BOARD COULD DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THIS A TOWN BOARD, UH, COMMITTEE OR JUST A COMMITTEE THAT, I MEAN, IF YOU COULD PREPARE A, I MEAN, WHAT YOU PUT OUT WAS A, A STATEMENT THAT WAS ON THE, THE WEBPAGE THAT WAS, YES, IT HAD A LOT OF DETAIL, BUT IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, IDEAS.
BUT IF YOU COULD FORMULATE IT INTO, WE, INTO MORE OF A, A DOCUMENT FOR US TO CONSIDER, ONE THAT WE HAVE PHYSICALLY TO LOOK AT AND PUT IT ON, WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA WITH THE INFORMATION THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN HABER ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CONSIDER RATHER THAN A, THE, THE SHOWING THIS, OF PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE WEBPAGE AND THEN COMING TO US ON THAT.
SO, AND ALSO I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE THAT I THINK WOULD MAKE SENSE IS WE USED TO HAVE A WATERED DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD COMMITTEE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MEMBERS WERE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GETTING INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE FORENSIC, UM, YOU KNOW, REPORT, WHICH DID POINT OUT, UH, THE NEED FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WATER, UM, AND THE WAY WE DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, WATER ISSUES, I THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO, UM, UH, AGAIN, RESTART, UH, RECREATE A, A NEW, UM, COMMITTEE DEALING WITH, UH, WATER DISTRICT, UM, YOU KNOW, ISSUES.
UM, SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I, I WILL COME UP WITH A FORMAL PROPOSAL ON THAT.
PAUL, IF YOU THINK THE TOWN IS IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO RESTORE THE $32 MILLION FOR THE COURTHOUSE? FIRST WE HAVE TO FIND A LOCATION FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, AND SO FAR NOBODY HAS COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT, WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA, BUT THERE IS A PLAN TO HAVE IT STAY AT WHERE THE CURRENT LOCATION IS.
AND WE ALL WERE PLEASED WITH THAT PROPOSAL.
BUT WHEREVER IT'S GONNA GO, IT TAKES MONEY.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO RESTORE THE $32 MILLION FOR? I, I, FIRST OF ALL, I, YOU KNOW WHAT, I, I, I DON'T LIKE THE PROPOSAL THAT, UH, THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE CONSULTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, I I FEEL IT'S GONNA BE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND MY SUGGESTION WAS TO GET A EXISTING BUILDING, AN EMPTY BUILDING, UM, UM, AND MOVE THE COURTHOUSE TO A, A BUILDING THAT, UH, WOULD A VACANT BUILDING THAT IS ALREADY THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD SAVE MANY, MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND, UM, AND THEN ADDRESS, UH, THE PARKING ISSUES AT THE COURT.
WE COULD, UM, ADDRESS THE SPACE NEEDS OF THE COURT.
UH, THE COURT IS DIFFERENT THAN, UH, THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS BECAUSE, UM, UM, THE POLICE, THERE'S ALL THESE STATE REQUIREMENTS THERE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF EARTHQUAKE, THERE'S ALL THESE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURTS.
SO, UM, I'VE BEEN LOOKING, I'M SORRY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT, YOU DON'T HAVE THE COURT, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FOR THE COURT.
YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THESE, UH, REGULATIONS THAT LIMIT OUR, THAT MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO, WELL, THERE ARE SOME RECOMME THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT FOR, FOR THE COURT IS IT'S, YOU COULD MOVE THE COURT INTO, UH, A BUILDING.
WELL, I, THEY CAN, WHERE'S THAT MONEY? I'M, THAT'S WHAT I, I APOLOGIZE.
I'M LOOKING AROUND AND I'VE, I, I'VE BEEN SHARING IDEAS WITH, WITH THE JUDGES AND, AND WITH A NOTE.
SO, SO JUDGE, SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FUNDING, JUDGE? I'M STILL ANSWER, WAITING FOR AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
SO ONCE YOU FIND A LOCATION, AND I BELIEVE THAT AFTER THE PRESENTATION BY, WHAT WAS IT? RUN RON, RUN, RUN AT RILEY.
I SPOKE TO PEOPLE, I DON'T, MY COMPUTER OPEN.
OH, THEN YOU SPOKE TO PEOPLE, BUT NOT EXPERTS, BUT PEOPLE.
BUT NO MATTER WHERE IT GOES, IT STILL HAS TO BE BUILT AND PAID FOR AND WHERE, AND PAID FOR.
WHAT IS YOUR PROPOSAL TO RESTORE THE $32 MILLION THAT'S NO LONGER THERE? OKAY.
WELL, BASICALLY ANYTIME THERE'S, UM, A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, UH, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO DO A BOND.
AND, UH, THEN THERE WOULD ALSO BE A REFERENDUM, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC.
BECAUSE THIS HAS TO BE A, IF WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONIES ON CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, UH, THE VOTERS HAVE TO, UM, UH, SIGN ON.
AND JUST LIKE WE DO WITH BONDING OF OTHER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WE WILL PUT THIS UP, UM, AND PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE, WE GOING BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS AGAIN
[00:30:01]
FOR SOMETHING THEY'VE ALREADY PAID FOR.IF, IF WE, IF WE DO A A CA, IF WE, WHEN WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE FIND ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THE COURT OR THE POLICE, WE HAVE TO GO TO THE PUBLIC.
WE, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GO TO THE PUBLIC.
ISN'T THAT TRUE, JOE? IF THE BOND LASTS MORE THAN FIVE YEARS? YES.
BUT THE THING IS, WHAT IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY? YEAH, BUT IF WE HAD THE MONEY, THEN WE WOULDN'T.
ARE WE BONDING BEYOND FIVE YEARS? WELL, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY IN A FUND BALANCE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO REFERENDUM.
AND THAT IF A BOND IT, WHAT STARTS THE PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM IS A BOND OF FIVE YEARS OR LATER.
AND SO IN YOUR BUDGET MESSAGE TO, IN 20, IN 2019, YOU SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO CREATE A FUND SO THAT IT, THERE WOULDN'T BE A COST WHEN WE'RE READY TO BUILD.
AND WE HAD $39.4 MILLION SET ASIDE, INCLUDING FROM THE VILLAGES.
THE VILLAGES ARE ALL PART OF THIS, UM, AS WELL AS THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
THE TAXPAYERS ARE ALREADY PAID $39.4 MILLION FOR A COURTHOUSE.
AND I'M ASKING NOW THAT THERE'S ONLY 7.4 MILLION, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO RESTORE THE $32 MILLION? THAT'S NO LONGER THERE? NO, AGAIN, THE MONEY THAT, UM, THE MONEY WAS USED FOR, UM, UH, A GOOD PURPOSE, WHICH WAS TO KEEP THE TAX RATE LOWER.
YOU KNOW, THE MONEY WA DIDN'T DISAPPEAR.
IT BASICALLY WAS USED TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE.
SO THE PUBLIC BENEFITED WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE, UH, MOVED THE FUNDS, UM, FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE.
AND AS I'VE INDICATED BEFORE, WHO'S THE, WE, I'M SORRY? WHO'S THE, WHO'S THE, WE, I JUST WANNA KNOW EVERYBODY ON THE TOWN BOARD.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S NO NEED.
THERE IS NO AUTHORIZATION BY THE TOWN BOARD.
YOU, UH, MR. SHEHAN, UH, VOTED FOR THE BUDGET.
I DID IT SAID RESERVE IT FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
AND YOU ALSO, UM, MR. SHE IS, UH, IS LIA LIAISON TO THE, UH, CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
AND YOU VOTED TO RESERVE HOUSE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT REALLY GETS ME A LITTLE UPSET OR A LOT UPSET IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY, I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO UNILATERALLY MAKE ANY DECISIONS, UH, WITH EXCEPTION OF THE EDGEMONT INCORPORATION UNIT PETITION, WHICH I, I COULD RULE ON.
EVERY BUDGET IS VOTED ON BY ONE OF ALL THE TOWN BOARD MEMBERS.
AND YOU, I BELIEVE, KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
YOU ALSO HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS, WHICH I'M NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND.
UM, UH, UH, LAND USE MEETINGS.
AND ANOTHER SUGGESTION THAT I HAVE IS YOU'VE SAID I CAN'T ATTEND BECAUSE, UM, IT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETINGS LAW.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF, UM, KRISTA MATSON, WHO'S MY ASSISTANT, SHE'S NOT A MEMBER OF THE TOWN BOARD, WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND, UH, THE WEEKLY WORK SESSION MEETING, THE, THE WEEKLY LAND USE MEETINGS.
UH, YOU HAVE, UM, BECAUSE SHE'S, UH, YOU ALREADY HAVE, UH, THE TOWN ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE THE BUILDING INSPECTOR, YOU HAVE THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, YOU HAVE THE COMMISSIONER PLANNING.
SO USE, SO, SO IF MY ASSISTANT WOULD ATTEND AND NOT ME, THEN SHE COULD REPORT TO ME WHAT WAS WAA SAID, AND GIVE ME, UH, UM, SORT OF LIKE, UH, UH, A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS.
UM, AND THEN I COULD SHARE IT WITH ELLEN AND JOY.
AND THAT WOULD, AND I WOULD BE THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD RATHER ATTEND MYSELF.
BUT IF I CAN'T DO THAT, THIS IS A WAY, THIS IS A COMPROMISE THAT I THOUGHT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, TODAY, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T REMEMBER MY QUESTION.
MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS YOUR, YOUR PLAN, YOUR CONFLATING, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR RESTORING $32 MILLION FOR THE COURTHOUSE? WELL, IT'S NOT, NOW YOU'RE SAYING IT'S NOT MY PLAN.
AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, 'CAUSE YOU KEEP SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE VOTED FOR THE BUDGET.
EVERYONE HAS AGREES THAT WE VOTED FOR THE BUDGET, AND THAT BUDGET SAID RESERVE FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT WE AUTHORIZED YOU TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THAT MONEY, BUT THEN RE THEN TO RESERVE IT FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
HAVE, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY DOCUMENTS? I HAVE NOT.
I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO UNILATERALLY TELL ANYONE, UM, UH, WHAT TO DO.
SO BASICALLY, WAIT, THAT'S NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
I, I, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO RESTORE THE $32 MILLION? I, I INDICATE THAT WE VOTED FOR, YOU KEEP SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT SOUNDS GREAT.
WE ALL VOTED FOR THE BUDGET THAT SAID RESERVE FOR THE COURTHOUSE TO THE AMOUNT OF $39.4 MILLION THAT
[00:35:01]
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO BOND.AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED FOR.
AND I'M ASKING YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT WE AUTHORIZED YOU TO NOT RESTRICT THAT MONEY? I, THE, THE FINAL BUDGET, WHICH YOU VOTED FOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE DID, IS THE DOC, THE ONLY THING THAT HAS LEGAL STANDING, I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO UNILATERALLY, UH, UH, DICTATE, UH, TO THE CONTROLLER OR ANYBODY ELSE, UH, WHAT TO DO.
SO HOW, HOW DID THAT MONEY GET BECAUSE OF BOARD, HOW FRANCIS, SHE IS THE BUDGET, THE LIAISON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PAUL.
SO YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BLAME.
SO WE KEEP RE WE NO, WE KEEP GOING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND REMINDING YOU IT'S ALREADY WRITTEN IN THE, IN THE BUDGET BOOK AND EXPLAINING TO YOU THAT YES, YES, ALL FOUR OF US AGREED THAT WE, YES, WE, WE VOTED ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE LINE ITEM STATED THAT THAT MONEY WAS GONNA BE RESERVED FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
YOU, YOU KNOW, ALI, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID YOU CAN'T DO IT, SAID, HEY, THIS NEEDS TO BE MOVED HERE BECAUSE WE, BECAUSE YOU DECIDED I WANT TO KEEP THE TAXES LOW.
AND NOT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO KEEP THE TAXES LOW, BUT YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE MONEY AND THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.
SO AS, AS, AS WAS ASKED, DO YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT WE APPROVE FOR THAT MONEY IS NOT TO BE RESTRICTED TO THE COURTHOUSE AND TO BE PLACED TO LOWER THE TAX RATE.
DO YOU HAVE THAT? AND I SAY YES OR NO.
ALL I COULD SAY IS I REMEMBER HAVING CONVERSATIONS OR WITH FRANCIS CHIAN ABOUT THE BUDGET BEFORE I PRESENTED THE BUDGET, BECAUSE I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HIM A NUMBER OF TIMES HEARING BUDGET.
I VOTED FOR THE BUDGET THAT SAID RESERVE A COURTHOUSE.
WE DISCUSSED, I BELIEVE WE DISCUSSED THIS.
WE DISCUSSED WHAT WE DISCUSSED EVERY, WE DISCUSSED ASPECTS OF THE BUDGET BEFORE IT WAS PRESENTED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ALSO, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT, UM, UH, YOU WERE FULLY AWARE OF, UM, OF, UH, THE COURTHOUSE FUND, THE, UH, THE COURTHOUSE FUNDS BEING, UH, USED, UM, FOR, TO KEEP THE TAXES DOWN.
BECAUSE PAUL, I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER CALLING YOU PAUL, LET'S SEE, I SAY, YOU CALL ME.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU CALLED ME IN YOUR LIFE? I, I, I CALLED YOU.
WELL, I KEEP, I KEEP RECEIPTING.
WELL, YOU CAN I REMEMBER, CAN I, MAY I ASK A QUESTION? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SAY BY SOME UNBELIEVABLE STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, THAT YOU HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH FRANCE THAT YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE YOU HAD, BUT THERE IS NO RECOLLECTION OR SUBSTANTIATION OF THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN WRITING.
EVEN IF YOU HAD THE CONVERSATION, EXCUSE ME.
EVEN IF YOU HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH FRANCIS, THAT'S ONLY TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO IF, IF IN FACT THERE WAS THAT CONVERSATION, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAD WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SO WE COULD ALL KNOW WHAT YOUR INTENTION WAS WITH THOSE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS THAT IN THE BUDGET WERE DESIGNATED, AND FOR WHICH WE ALL VOTED AS COURTHOUSE MONEY.
SO THAT EVEN IF WE HAD TO GO TO BOND, IT WOULD BE AT 39 MILLION, $400,000 LESS.
BUT INSTEAD, THERE WAS MONEY THAT WAS MOVED.
IT WAS NOT RESTRICTED AND MOVED INTO THE BUDGET.
ALL WE KNOW IS THAT WE VOTED FOR THAT UNRESTRICTED MONEY TO GO INTO THE BUDGET DESIGNATED FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
OKAY, WELL, IT'S NOT WORTH ARGUING BECAUSE WE, WE DISAGREE AND, AND BASICALLY GO, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT GOING, IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT WAS DONE OR NOT DONE GOING, GOING FORWARD.
WHICH EVERYTHING HAS TO BE, LET'S LOOK AT WHILE WE'RE GONNA GO DO GOING FORWARD.
SO THE GOAL IS TO FIND, UM, UH, A LOCATION THAT WE COULD ALL BE, UH, PLEASED WITH TO FIND, UM, I SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT, TO, TO FIND.
I, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW BEFORE YOU START SEARCHING AROUND, 'CAUSE WE'VE SEARCHED FOR 50 PROPERTIES, I THINK THAT THE, THE PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE THAT WE'RE EVER GONNA FIND.
AND YOU COULD DRAG THIS OUT ALL YOU WANT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY NOW THAT THERE'S $32 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN DRAWN OUT OF THE, THE COURTHOUSE FUND.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PLANNED EXISTING PROPERTY BE USED.
WE ALWAYS WERE TOLD EARLY ON, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO HAVE THE COURTHOUSE NEXT TO THE POLICE
[00:40:01]
STATION FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF LOGISTICAL REASONS.AND THE POLICE ARE READILY AVAILABLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THE COURTHOUSE.
AND WE ALL AGREED, I'M NOW LEARNING, OH, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
BUT YOU SAT IN THAT SAME SEAT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT YOU SPOKE TO THE CONTROLLER AND YOU DECIDED, YOU DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT TO USE THE MONEY FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
THERE WAS SO MUCH MONEY THERE.
WHY DON'T WE USED TO USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE? AND I WANTED THAT'S SO YOU MADE THAT DECISION.
BUT THAT'S EVERYBODY ON, I WASN'T EVEN HERE WHEN YOU'RE ON, THAT'S NOT, HOLD ON.
IT'S VERY MISLEADING FOR YOU TO SAY IT WAS TO KEEP THE TAXES DOWN AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA SAY, COVID, PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING.
RIGHT? YOU STARTED THIS SCHEME.
IT'S NOT A SCHEME OF ALLOWING, ALLOWING THIS MONEY TO BE ON A BUDGET LINE RESERVE FOR COURTHOUSE AND THEN NOT RESTRICTING IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO IT AUTOMATICALLY FELL TO FUND BALANCE.
YOU STARTED THIS BEFORE COVID AND THEN YOU DID IT.
AND THAT WAS IN 2019 FOR THE 2019 BUDGET.
THE 2019 BUDGET IS VOTED IN 2018.
NOBODY EVEN KNEW ABOUT PANDEMIC AT THAT TIME.
THE 2020 BUDGET, WHICH YOU DID IT AGAIN, IS VOTED ON IN 2019.
I'M SORRY, DID I HAVE THAT WRONG? 2019.
THE 2020 BUDGET WAS VOTED IN 2019 PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC STARTING OF MARCH 20TH, 2020.
SO YOU SAY IT'S TO KEEP THE TAXES DOWN, BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH MONEY IN THE FUND BALANCE, UNBEKNOWNST TO US BASICALLY RAIDED FROM THE COURTHOUSE, THERE ARE BRAND NEW CARS.
IT WASN'T JUST KEEPING TAXES DOWN.
IT WAS LIKE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY.
LET'S DO SIDEWALK HERE, LET'S DO SIDEWALK THERE.
LET'S DO, LET'S DO YOU VOTED FOR THE BUDGET.
YOU, YOU'RE THINKING THAT WE HAD THE MONEY IN THE COURTHOUSE.
THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BE THE LIAISON TO THE, UH, CONTROLLER OFFICE.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU BEING THE CHIEF FINANCIAL LAW? I'M, I'M NOT, I DON'T THINK I DID ANYTHING WRONG.
I'M PROUD OF THE DECISIONS I'VE MADE.
SO THE THING IS THAT I'M LOOKING, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE STEP.
YOU THINK THE TOWN'S MISMANAGED.
SO IF YOU THINK THE TOWN'S MISMANAGED AND YOU THINK THE BUDGET IS SO HORRIBLE AND THE FINANCES ARE DEAD, THEN YOU HAVE FAILED AS LIAISON TO, UH, TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THE LIAISON FOR MANY YEARS.
I'M WHY EVERYONE, EVERYONE, SORRY.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE GUESTS AND WE HAVE A WE HAVE A MEETING, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED.
FRANCIS, IF YOU CAN JUST SAY YOUR LAST COMMENT SO WE CAN MOVE ON SO WE CAN, UM, ADDRESS A GUEST.
YOU ARE QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK POST AS STATING THAT YOU KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN ADVANCE OF WHAT CAME OUT IN THE AUDIT REPORT.
AND YOU CALLED THE AUDIT REPORT A WASTE OF MONEY.
IF THAT'S THE CASE THAT YOU KNEW IN ADVANCE, YOU KNEW OF ALL THESE, OF ALL THESE ISSUES, WHY DIDN'T YOU ADDRESS IT AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER? WELL, WHY DON'T YOU, UH, BRING IT UP AS I'M JUST ASKING.
NO, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I DID, PAUL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DID.
YOUR FINGERS AND NO, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
YOU, YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT DID I DO, WHAT DID I DO? NOTHING.
I CALLED FOR THE FORENSIC AUDIT.
YOU CALLED, I WAS THE ONE THAT INITIATED, USE IT AS A WEAPON OF POLITICAL WEAPONS.
YOU ASKED ME WHAT DID I DO? YOU ASKED ME WHAT DID I DO AS LIAISON TO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE A CONTROLLER WHO'S NOT INTIMIDATED BY YOU, WHO IS NOT GOING TO MOVE MONEY AROUND.
OH, BY THE WAY, WHAT WAS SOME OF THAT MONEY USED FOR THE COURTHOUSE TO FILL PLUGS IN THE BUDGET? PLUGS IS A REALLY BAD WORD TO AN ACCOUNTANT, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE FORENSIC REPORT.
SO YOU KEEP SAYING, OH, IT'S TO KEEP TAXES DOWN.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE YOUR WISHLIST OF WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO FILL.
FILLING PLUGS, WHICH MEAN MISSING MONEY.
OH, WE GOT MONEY FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
SO WHAT DID I DO? I CALLED FOR FORENSIC AUDIT.
I SAID TO EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, DO YOU SUPPORT THIS? IT WAS UNIF UH, UNANIMOUS.
IMMEDIATELY YOU HELD IT OVER SO IT WOULD BE DELAYED.
THE PERSON, 'CAUSE I WANT PERSON, PERSON I'M LOOKING FOR PAUL, I DIDN INTERRUPT YOU.
THE PERSON WHO CALL YOU KEEP POINTING FINGERS AT ME AND YOU MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT MY CHILDREN.
HOW DARE YOU, HOW DARE YOU ABOUT MY CHILDREN? HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? YOU HAVE AN ARGUMENT.
[00:45:02]
YOU ARE, I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT.YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU POINT A FINGER AT ME AND SAY, WHAT DID I DO? I CALLED FOR THAT FORENSIC AUDIT.
YOU WANNA HAVE A CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEE? WE HAD PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT THAT BUDGET AND LOOK WHAT THEY FOUND.
AND APPARENTLY YOU KNEW ABOUT IT ALL, ALL BEFORE WE DID THAT.
THAT'S WHY YOU WERE CALLING IT A WASTE OF MONEY TO DO THE AUDIT.
'CAUSE YOU KNEW, BUT YOU WEREN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL I INITIATED IT AT, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONTROLLER DIDN'T QUIT.
'CAUSE WHEN SHE SAW OUR BOOKS, SHE WAS, SHE WAS EMBARRASSED AND SHE DIDN'T WANT HER NAME AND HER REPUTATION AS A CONTROLLER TO BE AFFECTED BY IT.
AND SO WHEN YOU POINT AT ME, WHAT DID I DO? THAT'S WHAT I DID.
I CALLED FOR FORENSIC AUDIT AND NOW WE HAVE THE DATA.
YOU ARE THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
WHAT DID YOU DO? OKAY, MAY I, MAY I SAY I'M GONNA SWITCH TOPICS.
I'M GONNA JUST CLARIFY ONE THING WITH REGARD TO THE COURTHOUSE AND THE CONSULTANT.
RONETTE RILEY, WHEN YOU, YOU KEPT ASKING ABOUT RELOCATING OR LOCATING THE COURTHOUSE SEPARATELY.
SHE LOOKED AT THAT HER TEAM WE, THAT WE PAID, LOOKED AT THE VIABILITY OF CONSTRUCTING THE EXISTING FACILITY, DOING THE WORK AT THE EXISTING FACILITY VERSUS GOING TO OUTSIDE AND SEPARATING THEM.
AND SHE RECOMMENDED THAT WE STICK WITH THE, THE LOCATION THAT WE HAVE NOW AND KEEP THE TWO TOGETHER.
I RECALL HER SAYING WE COULD DO WHATEVER WE WANTED.
SHE COULD MAKE IT WORK EITHER WAY.
THAT'S MY, WELL, SHE DID SAY SHE COULD, BUT SHE SAID SAID THAT THE BEST.
SHE SAID SHE COULD DO IT EITHER WAY, BUT SHE FELT, AND THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL BASED ON HER, THE THE REPORT THAT SHE DID WAS KEEPING THEM TOGETHER.
AND, BUT, AND ALSO, JUST, JUST ONE LAST THING.
IT ISN'T THE, THE COURT, THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER.
THAT I KNOW THAT IS THE, AS THE LIAISON TO THE COURT.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT TOGETHER.
ON THAT NOTE PLEASE, PAUL, PLEASE CAN WE, SO WE'RE MOVING TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OH, CAN I, CAN I JUST ASK, COULD KRISTA ATTEND THE, UH, THE LAND USE? UH, THERE, THERE WOULD BE NO VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETINGS LAW.
AND SHE SHOULD BE TREATED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER, THE OTHER DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT HEADS.
IT'S A DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING ATTEND.
NO, I'M JUST ASKING IF IF THAT WOULD BE, UH, POSSIBLE THAT, THAT THAT'S THE WAY.
SO WE SO YOU GOTTA PROLONGED THIS MEETING UNTIL YOU CAN ANSWER.
I'LL DISCUSS IT WITH THE GROUP BECAUSE EVERYONE ON THAT, IN THAT MEETING HAS AN EXPERTISE.
SHE HAS, SHE'S, SHE'S PROBABLY THE ONLY
SHE WENT TO YALE AND SHE IN ZONING, SHE THETA WITH YOU.
NO ONE TOOK AWAY, NO ONE TOOK AWAY TO SAY THAT.
CAN WE PLEASE, WE HAD THIS GENTLEMAN, HE'S OVER AN HOUR.
CAN WE PLEASE MOVE? CAN YOU MOVE THE AGENDA PLEASE? OKAY.
SO WE WILL PUT THAT ON NEXT WEEK.
AND, AND LET ME, LET ME MAKE ONE POINT.
I WAS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
ANY OF THE MAJOR POLICIES IN THIS TOWN, I WAS PART OF THE ETHICS CODE.
I WAS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
PAUL, I WAS THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER AT ANY POINT YOU COULD HAVE JOINED.
THAT WAS SETTING POLICY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR THE TOWN YOU NEVER ATTENDED ONCE WITH THE LAND USE MEETINGS, I WAS BY MYSELF FOR I THINK 14 YEARS.
YOU COULD HAVE ATTENDED AT ANY POINT.
IT WAS SOON AS GINA WAS THE SECOND PERSON.
NOW I CAN MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT THIS.
TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND WEAPONIZING.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH WHAT WE DO.
AND YOU COULD HAVE DONE THAT THREE HOURS A WEEK.
AND YOU COULD HAVE MET WITH THEM TOO, TOO.
AND YOU, YOU HAD 40 HOURS A WEEK.
WELL, WELL, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT JUST DAWNED ON ME THIS MORNING FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WE MET ALMOST INITIALLY, WEEKLY, THEN BIWEEKLY, THEN MONTHLY, THEN QUARTERLY FOR EIGHT YEARS WE MET.
AND YOU NEVER SAID I WANT TO BE PART OF THAT.
I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE.
BUT YOU'RE BUT YOU'RE A TOWN LEADER.
CAN YOU PLEASE MOVE? WE HAVE THIS GENTLEMAN WAITING.
THEN WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOUR FOR THE PURPOSES PURPOSE OF, UH, DISCUSSING,
[00:50:01]
UH, PERSONNEL MATTERS INVOLVING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS AND TO SEEK LEGAL, UM, ADVICE ON VARIOUS MATTERS.