Highway department plowing fire halls

[gorja]

What are your thoughts on the highway department plowing the fire halls?

In Highway Suoerintendent Amatura's letter to the town board he stated
that the comptroller has stated that plowing the fire halls is illegal as it is
private property.

I agree with the comptroller. Even though the plowing service assists in
the fire protection of the taxpayers, if it's illegal then don't do it.

[reformthi$]

Well gorja you pose a good question. Personally,
plow the fire halls for safety purposes. Listen did we not
fill their bank accounts with 5 million dollars? should
maintaining the grounds come out of that?

[Lee Chowaniec]

I found reading that two out of three fire halls requested the Town Highway Department not salt their concrete heated pads in front of the fire halls so as to not cause damage equally interesting. Now we know why the NYS Comptroller' Office admonished the Town Board for not doing due diligence in examining the fire contracts and just handing out generous contracts.

As to plowing the fire halls, I heard former Supervisor Giza declare that the town had a contract with the fire halls to plow their lots. Is their such contract in writing or just another verbal/handshake one?

[4248]

Theres a guy in the Seneca/Broezel area (not naming to protect him) - he once did not support Supervisor Giza - his stub street is the only paved access to his property.

A certain party influencing developer wanted to continue the stub street. this would cause a new subdivision and funnel all the cars through this mans side yard. Of course the home owner was against it.

All of a sudden - the Highway Super was told to no longer plow the snow off that stub street. The Highway Super had no idea about the true reasons - so he followed the Town Boards lead. The Town Board tried to spin it _ they told the home owner that the fault was with the Highway Super. Of course then the resident aimed his anger at the then Republican Highway Super.

Heres the kicker - diagonally across the street sits a fire hall - while this guys stub street was piling up with snow - while this disabled home owner was refused service by the Controlling Members - the fire station - rarely used - had their driveway cleared to the cement by the Town.

Yes, end the plow services - then review the entire spending habits and budgets for each and every station/group. Who is the "Liaison" on the Town Board - lets find out if there have been any pre-contract meetings between the Town Board and Fire Districts.

They make big shows of there pre-election fire hall inspections/campaign stops. This is another layer to the onion called Town Hall - every time you peel back a layer - surprise - now cry!

PS - the Town Board Member who is on record as meeting with the home owner was Councilmember M.Montour. Prior to the denial of service.

PSS - That same land was later sold to another invester - he wasnt informed of the past issues - he was lead to belive he might be able to acquire the stub street - he was told the Town could some how claim it as exsess property and sell it - then he was denied building permits and the property sits. The party player got paid for his failed project by selling it - the "invester" got smoked.

[reformthi$]

ha ha ha ha man you know 42 this is amazing.
you cannot make this $ hit up.....it is out of control..

so who is the current tb liaison?

[gorja]

It's amazing how Giza threw Reese under the bus every chance he got

[Dan Roman]

Well gorja you pose a good question. Personally,
plow the fire halls for safety purposes. Listen did we not
fill their bank accounts with 5 million dollars? should
maintaining the grounds come out of that?

Are your town fire departments organized as fire districts that have their own taxing authority or fire protection districts that receive money annually from the town?

[4248]

Dan,

Excellent question - the answer is "Yes".

For years when ever tax payers asked or question Fire Department budgets - Supervisor Giza and Councilman Stempniak would says, "They create their own budgets, we have no input or control" - then they would make promises to "Party Loyal" members for future funding. So how does one claim to have "No control"

Then these same Town Board Members would of course vote to approve these budgets. Remember - the volunteers - like Town Employees control or influence a large block of voters. The Town Board controllers also vote on inclusion of new members.

Well I bet you see where this goes - in Lancaster's recent past - most incumbents have all played the same games. All at taxpayers expense while claiming to be "Community Servants" - Servants with tax funded pensions, tax funded benefits and salaries -

but like Councilman Ruffino stated, "We must respond to tax payers needs"

And soon Councilmember Abraham will present a resolution that states, "Anualy we should review what we have already approved in the past year." - "We need to have the same Committee Members and Town Board members who approved these items - review them at the end of the year and reafirm we did good"

WHAT?

[gorja]

Are your town fire departments organized as fire districts that have their own taxing authority or fire protection districts that receive money annually from the town?

I believe, they are fire protection districts. I don't believe they are governed by fire commissioners

[Lee Chowaniec]

Theres a guy in the Seneca/Broezel area (not naming to protect him) - he once did not support Supervisor Giza - his stub street is the only paved access to his property.

A certain party influencing developer wanted to continue the stub street. this would cause a new subdivision and funnel all the cars through this mans side yard. Of course the home owner was against it.

All of a sudden - the Highway Super was told to no longer plow the snow off that stub street. The Highway Super had no idea about the true reasons - so he followed the Town Boards lead. The Town Board tried to spin it _ they told the home owner that the fault was with the Highway Super. Of course then the resident aimed his anger at the then Republican Highway Super.

Heres the kicker - diagonally across the street sits a fire hall - while this guys stub street was piling up with snow - while this disabled home owner was refused service by the Controlling Members - the fire station - rarely used - had their driveway cleared to the cement by the Town.

Yes, end the plow services - then review the entire spending habits and budgets for each and every station/group. Who is the "Liaison" on the Town Board - lets find out if there have been any pre-contract meetings between the Town Board and Fire Districts.

They make big shows of there pre-election fire hall inspections/campaign stops. This is another layer to the onion called Town Hall - every time you peel back a layer - surprise - now cry!

PS - the Town Board Member who is on record as meeting with the home owner was Councilmember M.Montour. Prior to the denial of service.

PSS - That same land was later sold to another invester - he wasnt informed of the past issues - he was lead to belive he might be able to acquire the stub street - he was told the Town could some how claim it as exsess property and sell it - then he was denied building permits and the property sits. The party player got paid for his failed project by selling it - the "invester" got smoked.

I remember all of this just as you stated because I was involved in helping the aggrieved party on Seneca and in purchasing the land later so he could clear it to get to his garage by having the opportunity to remove the snow from the road that the town would no longer plow.

I also supported the Mohawk Place people in their quest to stop the development behind their homes - land that purchased by a developer bought a pig-in-the-poke piece of property from Marrano who knew the land was not developable because of wetlands on the property and lack of easements for sewer hookup. The unscrupulous developer tried to get the surrounding residents to purchase the property from him. Current Depew Mayor Steve Hoffman was the point man for the developer. Fortunately there were enough intellengent homeowners that stopped the useless property purchase by not signing on.

[Lee Chowaniec]

Are your town fire departments organized as fire districts that have their own taxing authority or fire protection districts that receive money annually from the town?

They are not independent fire districts. They are funded by the town. There is talk of making them fire districts with taxing powers. Needless to say, many residents are not comfortable with such arrangement.

[gorja]

Originally posted by Lee Chowaniec:
Current Depew Mayor Steve Hoffman was the point man for the developer.

There's that name again - STEVE HOFFMAN.
The one who bashed FUDOLI in the BUffalo News, the morning of last year's debate.
The one who attempted to sway the LIDA to give tax breaks to Penora's Pizza.
The one who sued his employer the Village of Depew
The one who when he was a member of the Depew police department allegedly
used sick time to work in his deck construction business.
The one who attempted to bully assemblyman Ryan at a news conference near
Penoras.
This January, STEVE HOFFMAN needs to be removed from the LIDA.

[Tangodown]

There's that name again - STEVE HOFFMAN.
The one who bashed FUDOLI in the BUffalo News, the morning of last year's debate.
The one who attempted to sway the LIDA to give tax breaks to Penora's Pizza.
The one who sued his employer the Village of Depew
The one who when he was a member of the Depew police department allegedly
used sick time to work in his deck construction business.
The one who attempted to bully assemblyman Ryan at a news conference near
Penoras.
This January, STEVE HOFFMAN needs to be removed from the LIDA.

I "hear" they kissed and made up, and are buds now.

[WNYresident]

Well gorja you pose a good question. Personally,
plow the fire halls for safety purposes. Listen did we not
fill their bank accounts with 5 million dollars? should
maintaining the grounds come out of that?

Are volly firehalls budgets public seeing public money goes to fund them? Why would a volly hall need a 5 million dollar fund balance?

[WNYresident]

There's that name again - STEVE HOFFMAN.
The one who bashed FUDOLI in the BUffalo News, the morning of last year's debate.
The one who attempted to sway the LIDA to give tax breaks to Penora's Pizza.
The one who sued his employer the Village of Depew
The one who when he was a member of the Depew police department allegedly
used sick time to work in his deck construction business.
The one who attempted to bully assemblyman Ryan at a news conference near
Penoras.
This January, STEVE HOFFMAN needs to be removed from the LIDA.

Our local businesses don't need anyone like that representing them.