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Thread: Favortism, Cronyism & Nepotism at its BEST

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    Favortism, Cronyism & Nepotism at its BEST

    What an outrage!!! a friend of mine from Hamburg found a flyer on this in his paper box. www.tombestfamilytree.com The Town of Hamburg Highway Superintendent Tom Best Sr. should be ashamed of himself and what's more disturbing is his son, Tom Best Jr. is running for Town Council and Hamburg is only a 3 man board!!! Can you say conflict??? so much for protecting the interests of the taxpayers- the only interest this family protects is their own and the taxpayer pays the bill!!! Enough is Enough!!!

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    Tony Fracasso - Admin
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    This has to be a joke.


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    Member gorja's Avatar
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    I don't think it's a joke.

    The two Tom Bests both do get a pension fron the Hamburg police department
    Tom Jr' wife's name is Sherri
    For information regarding Weddings, Corporate Meetings, Holiday Parties, Birthday Parties and Picnics please contact the Rental Agent, Sherri Best at 609-2163 or e-mail, sbest@townofhamburgny.com

    There is a Fred Best working for the Town of Hamburg
    Daniel Bevelock is Amy Best's husband

    And read this comment from this article -
    http://www.buffalonews.com/city-regi...nager-20140428


    Hardy Jenss • a year ago
    Annnndddd.... Now for the parts of the meeting that the brilliant Barb O'Brien felt the need to omit (she really is the paragon of journalistic integrity, isn't she?!): For those of us who attended the meeting, I have a few questions: WHY no mention of the Democratic Town Board hiring of Angel Hoak as the new legal clerk (wife of Randy Hoak, current Vice Chairman of the Hamburg Democratic Committee, and daughter-in-law of the former supervisor, Patrick Hoak)? WHY no mention of hiring Superintendent Tom Best's daughter-in-law, Sherri Puleo Best, at Woodlawn Beach? Were these two women really the most qualified? Further, were these jobs even advertised? I think we know the answer to that. More Hamburg Democratic Committee family members milking the taxpayer udder.

    Georgia L Schlager

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    Member gorja's Avatar
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    In yesterday's article in the Buffalo News, it seems that Thomas Best Sr's departments are way out of wack with the overtime use. Wonder if it is the family and friends that are receiving those overtime benfits?

    http://www.buffalonews.com/city-regi...ndent-20150904

    Georgia L Schlager

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    http://www.buffalonews.com/city-regi...-fees-20150905
    it never ends with this family!!!! Enough is Enough!!!!

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    Quote Originally Posted by watchdog716 View Post
    What an outrage!!! a friend of mine from Hamburg found a flyer on this in his paper box. www.tombestfamilytree.com The Town of Hamburg Highway Superintendent Tom Best Sr. should be ashamed of himself and what's more disturbing is his son, Tom Best Jr. is running for Town Council and Hamburg is only a 3 man board!!! Can you say conflict??? so much for protecting the interests of the taxpayers- the only interest this family protects is their own and the taxpayer pays the bill!!! Enough is Enough!!!
    Outrage? really? Do you or anyone have proof that F&F got these jobs over non F&F? if not, then I don't know what you are complaining about. Someone has to do the work.

    Have these people not performed their duties?

    Hamburg overall has decent taxes, good services, schools, well maintained infrastructure and increasing home values. We moved here from somewhere that was polar opposite. Not much to complain about regarding Town Government here.

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    Question Ask your self some questions

    The more you ignore these type issues - the more they grow. Its your tax dollars being used to grow entitlements for insiders. These jobs - and even part time positions have a habit of growing and last a life time in the budgets.

    If a person gets benefits and state pensions - they grow yearly - they never decrease - they always increase and so does the cost. That cost is averaged into every tax payers property bills. Even after that worker retires - the cost grows - a new employee is hired and the cost amplifies .

    Some tax funded jobs/positions are truly unneeded - if one examines each Department and service actually provided ! Many times large savings can occur by simply hiring a out side company. Many time the actual "Worker/employee" is not performing in accordance with the job description they are hired under.

    Ask your self this:
    - Was the job opening made public - by local news paper notice or BufNews or NY State Employment Notice ?
    - Were other qualified applicants interviewed or even just a handful of locals ?
    - How many people applied for the position ?

    Often times the jobs are created and given without public notice - they Politically connected are the only ones who even knew it was available.

    What are the odds of so many related, inter married people being the only ones in your community qualified for all those tax funded jobs - and some are so over qualified they collect more than one tax funded check , benefits and NYS TAX FUNDED PENSION CREDITS ?


    Party Players and Political insiders see nothing wrong with using tax funded positions as Party Favors - or Political Inheritance - Do You ?


    BufNewsA investigates Town of Hamburg day camp fees :
    The Erie County District Attorney’s Office is joining a probe of Hamburg Town Hall centering on claims that children of connected families were allowed to attend town day camp programs free of charge.

    Hamburg Town Board isn’t removing highway superintendent :
    “We’re here to talk about highway and buildings and grounds to try and get our hands around some of this spending,” Supervisor Steven Walters said.

    He said the number of overtime hours had increased from 8,364 in 2012 to 11,713 last year, and the two departments are on track this year for a number similar to last year.

    He said each 1,000 hours of overtime costs about $42,000.

    Highway Superintendent Thomas Best Sr. said overtime is increasing because employees have more work to do with more activities at Woodlawn Beach State Park and the opening of the new Senior Center.
    Last edited by 4248; September 8th, 2015 at 03:00 PM.
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    Quote Originally Posted by 4248 View Post
    The more you ignore these type issues - the more they grow. Its your tax dollars being used to grow entitlements for insiders. These jobs - and even part time positions have a habit of growing and last a life time in the budgets.

    If a person gets benefits and state pensions - they grow yearly - they never decrease - they always increase and so does the cost. That cost is averaged into every tax payers property bills. Even after that worker retires - the cost grows - a new employee is hired and the cost amplifies .

    Some tax funded jobs/positions are truly unneeded - if one examines each Department and service actually provided ! Many times large savings can occur by simply hiring a out side company. Many time the actual "Worker/employee" is not performing in accordance with the job description they are hired under.

    Ask your self this:
    - Was the job opening made public - by local news paper notice or BufNews or NY State Employment Notice ?
    - Were other qualified applicants interviewed or even just a handful of locals ?
    - How many people applied for the position ?

    Often times the jobs are created and given without public notice - they Politically connected are the only ones who even knew it was available.

    What are the odds of so many related, inter married people being the only ones in your community qualified for all those tax funded jobs - and some are so over qualified they collect more than one tax funded check , benefits and NYS TAX FUNDED PENSION CREDITS ?


    Party Players and Political insiders see nothing wrong with using tax funded positions as Party Favors - or Political Inheritance - Do You ?
    My answer to all this and to most complaints on this board is this is that we have elections. There is a primary on Thursday for Tom Best Jr. If people don't want him in, don't vote for him.

    Its no surprise he is running, there have been signs all over for weeks.

    The root problem is voter apathy, not some nephew making $9/hr mowing lawns.

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    Jeff - you are mostly correct !

    Voters do have the last say in elections.

    But Party Boss's pick the Candidates - in the case of the Primaries there is the competing factions arguing over candidates - this is the result of Committee infighting, not voters choice of candidates.

    Primaries are over whelmed by Party Insider Voters and those with Political Agendas - only registered Party Members can vote.

    Now you get to the General Elections - if you look at the numbers its usually swayed by a small margin or percentage. If you do the math - add up all the tax funded workers (family and Friends), family members and other Party Loyal Committee insiders looking to become the next tax funded worker and you easily see why the votes are so close.

    So, in a sense to blame voter apathy is correct - but many times voters without a financial or personal interest feel out numbered. The system has become so slanted towards insiders - average voters don't bother unless its a Presidential Election year. Is that apathy or just disgust with the system and the "Winner take all Party Games" ?
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    Quote Originally Posted by 4248 View Post
    Jeff - you are mostly correct !

    Voters do have the last say in elections.

    But Party Boss's pick the Candidates - in the case of the Primaries there is the competing factions arguing over candidates - this is the result of Committee infighting, not voters choice of candidates.

    Primaries are over whelmed by Party Insider Voters and those with Political Agendas - only registered Party Members can vote.
    So register with a party then.

    Quote Originally Posted by 4248 View Post
    Now you get to the General Elections - if you look at the numbers its usually swayed by a small margin or percentage. If you do the math - add up all the tax funded workers (family and Friends), family members and other Party Loyal Committee insiders looking to become the next tax funded worker and you easily see why the votes are so close.

    So, in a sense to blame voter apathy is correct - but many times voters without a financial or personal interest feel out numbered. The system has become so slanted towards insiders - average voters don't bother unless its a Presidential Election year. Is that apathy or just disgust with the system and the "Winner take all Party Games" ?
    In other words, apathy. Change is hard work.

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    Hahaha

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    Yes, registering to vote is key !

    But being a "Party Member" or "Party Player" is not a must. One can register to vote as "Unaffiliated" or you can choose a "Party Label/Brand Name" - just register and vote.

    First and biggest myth in Politics - "Democrat = Democracy" - that's not valid any more. Democracy is the process by which voters express them selves.

    "# 1.Democracy = a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

    So many people have been fooled/mislead for far to long. They buy into - this Party is for the working man - that Party is for the rich. Its just not true !

    Both/all Party's should represent both/all members of society - but unfortunately they at times don't.

    Money rules their actions(Politicians) - that's what must change - we can change that by voting! The Party name/brand you vote under is not the point - the name should not dictate who you vote for - your personal beliefs and needs as a tax payer should.

    But you probably already know that !

    Communication/education among voters is crucial - read for yourself - do your own research. Now a days with the internet - even small Towns publish meeting schedules - agendas - meeting minutes and past voting records.

    Look and see who votes for patronage hirings - look and see who sponsors who for jobs - development - contract spending and so on. Don't believe campaign fliers - especialy the ones coming out now(Pre Election Mailers) !

    For the most part they send out - "See what we did for you - see how much we saved you - look at the great services we have for you" - what does each one of those things have in common(in reality) - everyone of the things "They Gave You" is funded by your tax dollars.

    Every high dollar employee/appointee and job created is tax funded - many carry tax funded benefits - tax funded life time pensions(even some part time positions). Much of the benefits these people receive are better - more expensive then the average worker could afford.

    Educate your self - share that information with others - expose the myth of "Public Service" - expose those who collect one, two or more tax funded paychecks and or benefits. Let the people see the truth. Its all supposed to be public information.

    When a Politician smiles and says, "I do this for my Community" - smile and ask - "But don't you get a tax funded salary - tax funded healthcare - tax funded pension" ??????????????????????????

    When they say(with embarrassment) - "Yes but it isn't much - or - that's not why I do it" - you can say, "But you do make $60-70-80 Thousand a year - tax funded benefits and a tax funded pension, right ! "
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    Member gorja's Avatar
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    Georgia L Schlager

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    No tax funded employee or elected official should receive any discount from any tax funded or subsidized facility
    - are they better or different than the tax payers who pay their salaries
    - many earn more than many tax payers do and have better healthcare and pensions all tax funded.
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    Member Frank Broughton's Avatar
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    Hamburg is a great Town to live in. Stupid high property taxes but a great town! Someone has to work these jobs, get in line if you want too...
    The above is opinion & commentary, I am exercising my 1st Amendment rights as a US citizen. Posts are NOT made with any malicious intent.

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