West Seneca’s only hope of changing its direction is to vote out the incumbents

[dtwarren]

"Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason." - Mark Twain

In 2010 the State Comptroller released an audit where it found that " the comptroller did not perform a proper audit of claims submitted by the executive director report that found that the Town Comptroller failed to perform fundamental duties of his office such as auditing claims and approving expenses without supporting documentation. He also found that the Town Supervisor failed to properly monitor activities of the Town Comptroller and failed to properly oversee expenditures made from town funds and that such conduct constituted a failure by the Supervisor to administer and supervise day to day Town operations and finances. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department did not have an opportunity to accept or reject Judge Sirkin's report as the issue became moot when the the Supervisor lost re-election and the position of Town Comptroller was abolished in 2012.

Since 2012 the Town of West Seneca abolished the position of Town Comptroller. It briefly, and I believe unlawfully, re-created it in January 2014 only to abolish it again in June 2014.

In the periods when there is no Town Comptroller the duties of the Town Comptroller revert to the Town Board, Town Clerk and Town Board.

Recently the State Comptroller released another audit, this time reviewing the Town of West Seneca's purchasing policies. Notably in this audit it was found that "the claims auditing process was not consistent with Town Law as the Board, as a whole, did not audit claims. Instead, the computerized purchasing system required only one Board member or the Supervisor to be the final 'approver' for each claim. Once the final approval occurred, the status of these claims was changed and they were placed on a list of claims that were ready for payment. The remaining Board members no longer view these in their list as open claims and consequently no longer have the ability to audit and potentially question the purchases. As a result, the Board as a whole may not perform a thorough examination of the individual claims and supporting documentation. In that case, there is a risk that payments will be made without the entire Board’s full knowledge of the claims." It goes on to find that a Town Board Member's computer access, and therefore his ability to review and approve claims were removed in June 2014.

It is in-comprehendible to me that this irresponsible failure to properly audit and approve claims which Town funds are spent on continues to this day in light of the above history.

This year the voters of West Seneca have an opportunity to change a majority of the Town Board. If we want any chance at changing this culture we must act now.

[nogods]

Never vote for an incumbent, no good can come from it...

[WNYresident]

Never vote for an incumbent, no good can come from it...

Or in some cases the incumbent political party. You'll just get more of the same just in a different set of clothes

[4248]

Fence sitters - non affilliated voters and new younger voters vtes are key !

Only they can break any Parties strangle hold on local Government. Tax funded Nepotism and patronage can only be stunted by voters breaking the entitlement gravy train.

People who blindly vote by old school Party line devotion need to rethink why they did it .

In the past it was family association/affilliations and mostly Union encouraged. The fights of yeaterday are gone - today those flags are waved to pretnd theres a struggle -

Today most Politicians are fighting for Party Control of tax funded jobs and entitlements - all the hidden perks not given to or enjoyed by old school leaders or the average working person today.

They are fighting to earn enough time in office to secure tax funded benefits - NYS Pensions and life time entitlements. Many plans/benefits that even part time elected and appointed officials have are better and more costly than the average working persons can afford. (and they aren't forced to pay for Obamacare either) FACT.

If your tired of your taxes always increasing - why would you support those who cant control spending ?

If your tired of your Town being used as a Friends and Family political employment agency - why reelect those who thrive on it ?

Get off the fence - stop voting the way others want you to - get someone else to sign up to vote !

If the majority of voters are tax funded or relatives of tax funded Party Players - we all loose and pay more !

Vote for real change - remove a incumbent !
That is real change !

[nogods]

Or in some cases the incumbent political party. You'll just get more of the same just in a different set of clothes

Nope - once you try to use the never vote for an incumbent rule as an affirmative action program for a lame party platform all bets are off.

If the majority of voters keep rejecting a party's platform, it's time for that party to change it's platform, rather than put it in power with an affirmative action program.

The problem isn't the platform of the democratic party - a majority of Cheektowga voters have consistently stated that they prefer the democratic party's platform to that of the republicans. The problem is incumbents who become politically corrupt then seek to benefit themselves rather than promote the party platform.

The majority of Chektowaga voters simply don't like what the republicans have to offer. The majority of voters aren't going to like the republicans any more simply because the incumbents are democats.

[4248]

Says the Dem Party Lawyer who views platforms & planks as a advertisement tool to be used and adjusted to appeal to the consumer/voters.

This guy views the Party as a "Brand" of product to be sold to voters/taxpayer - REALLY ?

This shows his willingness to sell voters whatever it takes to maintain Dem Party Control of what he calls the "Game" of Elections. He believe its all a tax funded "Game" and to the winner goes the spoils - the spoils as he calls it is the spending of your tax dollars as he and his Party Buddies see fit - because you bought their product !

Yes, they can "adjust their platform"
- they can reword old promises
- realign their proposals
- but what does that get you
- more of the same with a new wrapper.

Status quo !