Mark Grimm

Letters from Mark

2/25/2010 Town Salary List Should Not Be Kept From Anyone

Editor:

Open government is not just a slogan, it is the only way citizens can cultivate informed judgments about their government. We should all push for as much transparency as possible.

I recently attempted to get a list of the 2010 yearly salaries of every town employee. Public employee salaries are public information. In fact, the seethroughny.net website is a database of government employee salaries in New York, though its Guilderland town salaries are not up to date.

Despite my repeated specific request, Supervisor Ken Runion’s human resource director provided me only with the hourly pay rates of town employees, not their yearly salaries. This lack of transparency prevented the clear disclosure of Mr. Runion’s actual yearly salary of $103,975. Indeed, his own salary has jumped by more than $40,000 since he took office, a hike more than twice the inflation rate for that period.

It became necessary to submit a Freedom of Information request to get the yearly salaries list. When it was finally provided, the statement listed a zero for the salary of a controversial public relations position Mr. Runion created.

In the past, the salary list was made available as an attached schedule to town board materials presented at the January organizational meeting. It is a practice Mr. Runion has stopped.

No citizen should have to arm wrestle the town supervisor to get a list of town salaries. In fact, you have every right to contact the town and insist a yearly salary list be provided to you. The reluctance to provide such basic taxpayer information that is completely up to date must be resisted by all those concerned about how their tax dollars are spent.

1/21/2010 Rapp Road Landfill issue

Editor:

Two recent Enterprise letters may have created some confusion regarding the Guilderland Town Board and Rapp Road Landfill issue.

At the May 19, 2009 town board meeting, Supervisor Ken Runion and his fellow majority members voted to approve a solid waste management plan that included yet another expansion of the Rapp Road landfill. Councilman Redlich and I strongly opposed this move because the landfill has been such a thorn in the side of nearby residents for years. Many neighbors have told me they cannot sit in their yards in the summer because of the stink.

Due to strong opposition, the Board altered its course at the July 7, 2009 meeting and pulled out of the solid waste group that favored the expansion. Instead, we voted unanimously to send the town’s trash to the Colonie landfill. This cooperation was a positive step for our town and our “loyal opposition” proved to be a very positive influence on a matter of concern to town residents.

11/26/09 United Way's 2-1-1 Call is Great Service

Editor:

There is a relatively new service offered by United Way that could be enormous help to you or someone you know. By dialing 2-1-1, you can find assistance for non-emergency health & human services in the 12-county greater Capital Region.

In tough economic times, many people just don’t know where to turn for help. Live trained specialists answer 2-1-1 calls and help you navigate the complex web of human care services that are available. United Way’s 2-1-1 helps locate answers and help for many situations, regardless of your economic or social status. Callers are not charged for the service.

In September, the most frequent calls concerned finding temporary financial assistance for those out of work, guidance with paying bills for utilities and rent, and the need for food. Other kinds of assistance include mental health support, aging issues, disability, criminal justice and legal services.

In its first six months, it handled more than 3,000 calls. The call center is open Monday thru Friday from 9 to 5.
Please spread the word about this important community resource.

11/19/09 GOP Minority Has Accomplished Much

Editor:

Congratulations to the town Democrats who were re-elected. They deserve a tip of the hat. Credit should also go to the Republican candidates because it takes courage to stand up to the party in power.

My election analysis differs from the some of the spin you have read. First of all, some perspective: the incumbents won. That’s what usually happens. The Town Board remains 3-2.

Keep in mind, positive change never comes without a struggle. Despite being minority town board members, our “loyal opposition” has made a real difference and Guilderland is better for it.

We successfully fought to restore cuts to town paramedics that I believe will save lives. We successfully fought to restore funding to Community Caregivers and to ensure senior transportation needs are met. The board’s Democratic majority reversed its decision and withdrew from a solid waste group that supported expansion of the Rapp Road landfill. This reversal occurred because of the minority’s strong opposition to town membership in the group.

The scrutiny of town government has increased substantially. We successfully moved the supervisor to comply with state law regarding the budget process. Residents would have been kept in the dark over a suspicious $540,000 tax assessment reduction for a local drug store. We also shed light on a no-bid town contract involving the husband of a town elected official. The supervisor agreed to have department heads come before the board only after our two-year successful effort to make that happen.

I have provided steadfast opposition to ongoing tax and fee hikes, and to the yearly raises for our elected officials. The election-year scramble to find funding for flooded basements, traffic studies, and flooded roadways was no doubt prompted by a strong minority board presence.

We worked cooperatively with the Democratic majority when agreement was merited. About 90 percent of the town board votes had no dissenting vote. We unanimously approved tax breaks for homeowner improvements and for historic barns. We unanimously approved funding for the West End water project, a project that has been “talked” about for decades. We have approved a number of union contracts, and the majority and I approved the Glass Works Village project.

Even though there are substantial differences between Councilman Redlich and me, you would be hard pressed to find a minority anywhere with this record of accomplishment in just two years. The claim we have not been “constructive” simply does not hold up to the facts.

Despite their victory, some partisan letter writers have continued their negative attacks in the Enterprise. We should all reject this destructive culture.

I will continue to work hard to improve the lives of Guilderland residents and businesses and hope you will support those efforts.

10/15/09 Guilderland Fire Districts

Editor:

I hope many of you are taking the opportunity this month to visit your local fire house at its annual open house. The events offer some wonderful fire prevention education for our kids. The Guilderland Fire Department has a fantastic puppet show that gives a number of safety tips your children cannot afford to be without. They performed at the Fort Hunter Fire District open house I attended with my family Saturday. Our open house also had a fire safety RV that actually simulated the appearance of smoke and provided practice with escape routes to follow in case of a fire. What an impressive exercise that was.

These events also serve to remind us that Guilderland fire prevention is almost entirely a volunteer enterprise from civic-minded people in our own community. Please take a moment to let them know you really appreciate their service and, if you are able, consider volunteering either as a firefighter, administrator or auxiliary member.

9/17/09 New Shabbos House Dedicated

Editor:

A very momentous occasion took place on Fuller Road this Sunday. A new Shabbos House was dedicated before a standing-room-only crowd. The new facility, which serves as a “home away from home” for Jewish students at U-Albany, is the dream come true of Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin. Their remarkable inspiration and hard work, along with the contributions of so many others, will have a long lasting impact on the lives of so many young people. The old facility was terribly cramped and did not have many practical features that were needed to run such a community-centered place.

The new facility will provide a richer experience and offer expanded living space for the Rubin family. I was especially struck by the words of one mother who said she couldn’t put into words how much it meant to her to have such a place for her daughter while away at college. The Rubins put it just right: “The new building is beautiful, but the real beauty of Shabbos House are the people who celebrate within it.” Mazal Tov!

8/27/09 Enterprise Letter: Lack of Town Oversight on Police Leadership

Editor:

Supervisor Ken Runion contends the town board is not responsible for managing the police department. That may help explain why his former police chief did so much gambling at Turning Stone while on town time and Mr. Runion did nothing about it. The head of the state’s Committee on Open Government, Robert Freeman, dismissed Mr. Runion’s faulty contention in the Enterprise last week: “A governing body, like the town board, has responsibility for management of all entities under its umbrella — including the police department.”

Mr. Runion’s latest maneuver is one more attempt to distance himself from the problems caused by the culture of secrecy he has embraced. We must continue to resist this secrecy and shed light on every aspect of town operations. I have supported abolishing any rule that would prevent any town employee from coming to a town board member with a concern. I have also supported having town department heads come before the board to explain to the public what they do. I have proposed bi-partisan representation on a police interview committee to ensure the most qualified candidates are chosen. Unfortunately, Mr. Runion, and fellow board members Pat Slavick and Paul Pastore, voted these proposals down.

Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis had it right when he said, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” Please support the battle to open up Guilderland government. So much of your quality of life is riding on the outcome.

8/7/09 Enterprise Letter: Orchestrated Attacks Are Sheer Hypocrisy

Over the past four months, the Enterprise has printed numerous letters that attacked me personally. Do not be misled by this orchestrated smear from the Runion Attack Team. More than two thirds of the letters came from the same five people. Four of the remaining writers are on the town payroll with combined salaries of about $278,000. The nastiness says more about the people behind this calculated smear than it does about me.

Many of the writers have adopted the same comfort level with deception and distortion that Supervisor Ken Runion routinely embraces. In short, be very skeptical of any “claims” they make about what I have supposedly said or done. I stopped responding to these letters individually because readers are simply tuning out these nasty submissions.
It is important to expose Mr. Runion’s hypocrisy here. Earlier this year, he said he had lost his “adrenaline” for his job because of the substantial criticism of his administration. Yet he allows his surrogates to wage this unprecedented nastiness with letters he is so often unwilling to submit himself.

I cannot tell you how many people have said to me, “Mark, keep up the fight for us.” That support is very much appreciated. My quest to make Guilderland government fairer and more open will continue. Those who control the government will always have people anxious to do their bidding. Their vitriol will not deter me from standing up for you!

6/25/09 Enterprise Letter: Lady Dutch Are Role Models

Editor:

As many of you know, the Guilderland High School girls' lacrosse team came within one goal of the state championship, losing 10-9 after a heartbreaking goal in the final seconds. They lost to Farmingdale, an undefeated team from Long Island where lacrosse is nearly a religion. The team's disappointment should be cushioned somewhat by a closer look at their remarkable achievement. Since no Section Two team has ever won a state lacrosse title, the Lady Dutch are arguably the greatest lacrosse team the Capital Region has ever produced. They finished 23-1. The championship game was their only loss. Congratulations to Coach Gary Chatnik and his assistants, the players, and the parents who made this possible. The overwhelmingly success is an inspiring symbol of how times have changed.

When my sisters went to school about 50 years ago, they had no sports teams for girls. Landmark federal legislation in 1972, known as Title IX, began to ensure girls be given the same opportunity as boys. The critical lessons that competitive sports teach --- teamwork, perseverance, discipline, resiliency, and sportsmanship --- are now more available to entire generations of young women. They are making the most of it. Thanks Lady Dutch for your great achievement and for serving as wonderful role models for all the young girls in Guilderland.

6/18/09 Enterprise Letter: Guilderland's Civic Pride

Editor:

Sunday’s wonderful Flag Day ceremony at the Elks Lodge on Carman Road reminded me there are many ways to serve your community. The Elks, and other similar groups with lofty civic purpose, have been enriching their communities for so many years. Kudos to Frank Palmeri and Helen Blais for organizing this event, and to Exalted Ruler Mike Hoffstetter for handling the M.C. chores so well.

These groups are a great way to give back to your community and develop long lasting friendships. They also provide support for other vital groups. Boy Scout Troop #24, led by Scoutmaster George Pafumi, is sponsored by the Elks. The Troop is a spectacular experience for our youth. All the scout troops in Guilderland are very community-oriented. I salute all of the worthwhile groups working diligently to make Guilderland better.

If you can spare the time, please consider joining one of our many civic groups. You may be surprised how much you receive in return for the selfless giving of yourself.


6/11/09 Enterprise Letter: Altamont's American Celebration

Editor:

Something very unique and wonderful took place in Altamont on Sunday. Three Congressional Medal of Honor recipients received well deserved tributes from the huge crowd gathered to honor them. When you consider fewer than 100 medal winners are still living, this event was quite significant. The extraordinary age range and diversity of those attending was striking --- from the cub scouts in their impressive uniforms, to the Guilderland teenagers who read the medal citations so well, to the Hilltown Gospel Singers and the Mulligan Family, to the inspiring veterans attending from past and present wars, to the soon to be 100-year-old honoree John Finn.

This was truly the ultimate American celebration, reminding us we all have a stake in honoring those who have fought for our freedoms and a responsibility to be eternally vigilant to protect the rights that such bravery has secured. It was truly heartwarming to see the stirring patriotism so evident at Sunday’s event.

Special thanks to Jack and Cindy Pollard who gave life to the vision that made the event possible and to all of those who worked so hard to make it a reality.

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