What is West Seneca AmeriCorps doing in Niagara Falls?

[The Jokester]

Lazzara seems to have at his disposal the opportunity to spend unbelievably large amounts of money for contracting of work from private companies, supplies, vehicles and who knows what else. Is this done through competetive bidding or can he simply pick and choose at his own discretion ? I do not know anything about grants. Who applies or writes them up. What is a "grant underwriter". Is this something that can be of a financial gain for someone ? I think spending and distribution of finances in these large sums is something that should be overseen by more than one person or persons of his choosing. Is there a board of advisers ? If so, who ? Who oversees Lazzara ?

I googled grant underwriter and it seems that this is the business that provides the grant money, like the federal govt would be the underwriter for the money they give to AC. Other sights I checked seem to say how estimates need to be provided, some ask for three, for large purchases. You're on to something, Eb.

[Mona]

Bottomline is the park was built which is the greatest improvement to the town of WS in the last 50 years. More could and should be done. Previous to this the centennial pool was built in 1976. In this case accomplishments talk, and BS walks.

I don't want to get into a battle of wills with you guys because i think everyone is seriously missing the point here...

but niagara you are telling us that prior to the burchfield, the last thing built to better the Town was the centennial Pool? What about the ice rink? How about the Senior Center? Those all came after the pool. You are attacking others because you want the facts but you hardly have your own ducks in a row. Again don't want to have a battle of wills and not defending a sole but just wanted to point that out.

As I remember things and how they went, ML was in charge of the YB and the budget was cut and he was going to lose his job. The AC was created so that he could remain and work pt at one and pt at the other.

And don't get me wrong here... because I defend no one... the Burchfield is a great place. The park is wonderful and a great use of property that was rotting, and i have used the building facilities for various programs and they were great... does anyone realize that many of the programs have fell by the wayside because paulette was let go because of her differences with ML and now many of those programs don't exist anymore.

[Mona]

I didn't realize that the time span between 1976 and today was 50 years... as i am surely not over 50 and that happened in my life time! Problem is besides the Burchfield Clark really has nothing of significant improvements made to the town except a pile of rubble off the thruway and raping the people of its money by receiving a full time paycheck for a job that he only did when it was convenient to him!! But that's not the subject here

[Psycho1]

Your choice of avatar is no accident. You are as much an idiot as the picture indicates, congradulations.

Since you are choosing to call other idiots in here, I would suggest you check your spelling before you post.

It's CONGRATULATIONS

[Psycho1]

I have a business and residence in WS. My wife has in the past been active with the Birchfield Park. The money line of who owns/paid for what and who pays who is probably not understood by those here, only presumed. Bottomline is the park was built which is the greatest improvement to the town of WS in the last 50 years. More could and should be done. Previous to this the centennial pool was built in 1976. In this case accomplishments talk, and BS walks.

Since you have such insight, please enlighten the rest of us. I would have to say there have no doubt been other improvements in the town over 50 years beside Burchfield. Southgate Plaza seems pretty big to me.

It is the financial confusion, and the lack of information about it, that has caused this backlash. So please, tell us of the great contributions and from whence they came.

[wantabe]

I know for a fact that ML receives a paycheck from the Town of West Seneca. He is appointed to his position and receives all the benefits of a Town employee. And the more I think about Niagara, it is either ML himself, his daughter or a brain washed staff person. Why would you get so upset with people questioning what he does, if he wasn't trying to hide something? Any info regarding the Town should be available to us taxpayers. My wife works in retail and doesn't get half the perks of town employees!

[Niagara]

you are telling us that prior to the burchfield, the last thing built to better the Town was the centennial Pool? What about the ice rink? How about the Senior Center? Those all came after the pool.

And don't get me wrong here... because I defend no one... the Burchfield is a great place. The park is wonderful and a great use of property that was rotting, and i have used the building facilities for various programs and they were great

I think that the Birchfield Park was the most inclusive and active public activity center developed within the past 50 years period. Some of that credit should go to ML and Paul Clark.
With regard to PC, the Birchfield, the soccar park, the YMCA was brokered by him, and for good or bad the industrial park all came to fruition during his tenure. Also, perhaps the golf course off Southwestern. He was elected and reelected numerous times during what 15 years. He operated his office the same during all those years. If people did not like his job performance during that time, they sure had an opportunity to remove him. During the evenings he attended thousands of hours of events which did not go on during normal working hours, such as school events to Birchfield meetings. You all seem to enjoy your attack when you smell blood in the water, but where were you during the past 10-15 years?
Now who did the town elect for TS during the past election? They elected a lawyer. Do you think he is going to be a full time TS? No, he is a full time lawyer. The people have spoken. If any of you dislike that fact, go beat him at the polls. You have a couple of new faces on the town board, but I see no real changes coming. You all remind me of a bunch of drunks, crying in the beer. As far as the questions asked here about finances, election time is the time to ask them, or town meetings. Meeting here and speculating in an internet forum seems cowardly.

[The Jokester]

IYou all remind me of a bunch of drunks, crying in the beer. As far as the questions asked here about finances, election time is the time to ask them, or town meetings. Meeting here and speculating in an internet forum seems cowardly.

That's the problem, Niagara, when does anyone get to question anything at the Town Board Meetings? You're given insignificant time to speak your peace and then schluffed off like a five year old. I want to know where my GD taxes are going, no one has ever answered, now there is discussion and education through this forum, we exchange notes and ideas, it's called freedom of speech and I intend to take every advantage of it - for my wife, my kids, and my grandkids, too.

You have a problem with that? Don't sign on or go to another thread, Mr/Miss 72 comments in three years.

[The Jokester]

And don't get me wrong here... because I defend no one... the Burchfield is a great place. The park is wonderful and a great use of property that was rotting, and i have used the building facilities for various programs and they were great... does anyone realize that many of the programs have fell by the wayside because paulette was let go because of her differences with ML and now many of those programs don't exist anymore.

Isn't that the person that Lazzara wouldn't let in to a public exhibition? I read about this on this forum and I think in the Bee. Balls - so he's judge and jury as well as questionable judgement regarding how our taxes are spent? Yeah, we got a lot of questions here, and they center around Lazzara, Clark, and a few of the outgoing TWSBoard members that didn't watch the store.

Even if we're rid of clark and Company, Lazzara's still gotta go. Americorp is a strong enough organization to live without him, they do it in every other city in the US of A.

[wantabe]

I'm surprised that people think Lazzara should get credit for the Birchfield Park. He had very little to do with it. It was the town who made it possible. The town and the Birchfield Penney ARt Gallery each contributed money to have it built. The town needed a bigger building for the youth bureau and they partnered with Birchfield Penney to construct the building and landscape the park. If my memory sreves me right, ML or Americorps contributed nothing to the construction. So don't going giving him accolades for soemthing he didn't do.

[Psycho1]

I think that the Birchfield Park was the most inclusive and active public activity center developed within the past 50 years period. Some of that credit should go to ML and Paul Clark.

Is there another public activity center in the Town? Senior Center? Not old enough. Ice Rink? Can't skate anymore.

With regard to PC, the Birchfield, the soccar park, the YMCA was brokered by him, and for good or bad the industrial park all came to fruition during his tenure. .

Done regardless of whatever concerns the people expressed. The Industrial Park was a done deal before he was elected. I think he was against it as Comptroller.

Also, perhaps the golf course off Southwestern.

It's in Orchard Park, no taxes for us.

He was elected and reelected numerous times during what 15 years. He operated his office the same during all those years. If people did not like his job performance during that time, they sure had an opportunity to remove him.

His brother is Chairman of the Democratic Committee, and the Greenan's control the Republican Party and benefited from PC being in office. Just look at the Town Directory

During the evenings he attended thousands of hours of events which did not go on during normal working hours, such as school events to Birchfield meetings.

That's what politicians do to stay employed. He was always running for something; Supervisor, Congress, EC Exec.

Now who did the town elect for TS during the past election? They elected a lawyer. Do you think he is going to be a full time TS? No, he is a full time lawyer. The people have spoken. If any of you dislike that fact, go beat him at the polls. You have a couple of new faces on the town board, but I see no real changes coming. You all remind me of a bunch of drunks, crying in the beer. As far as the questions asked here about finances, election time is the time to ask them, or town meetings. Meeting here and speculating in an internet forum seems cowardly.

Wally's literature states he will be full-time. If he isn't, he will have a lot to answer for.

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

I googled grant underwriter and it seems that this is the business that provides the grant money. You're on to something, Eb.

I believe there is huge money to be made there. Lazzara, in my opinion is taking care of quite a few people in many ways with all that money at his disposal. Did Niagara answer one of my queries ?

[Mona]

I didn't realize that the time span between 1976 and today was 50 years... as i am surely not over 50 and that happened in my life time! Problem is besides the Burchfield Clark really has nothing of significant improvements made to the town except a pile of rubble off the thruway and raping the people of its money by receiving a full time paycheck for a job that he only did when it was convenient to him!! But that's not the subject here

I'm surprised that people think Lazzara should get credit for the Birchfield Park. He had very little to do with it. It was the town who made it possible. The town and the Birchfield Penney ARt Gallery each contributed money to have it built. The town needed a bigger building for the youth bureau and they partnered with Birchfield Penney to construct the building and landscape the park. If my memory sreves me right, ML or Americorps contributed nothing to the construction. So don't going giving him accolades for soemthing he didn't do.

Oh please don't misunderstand me! I would never give credit to PC for anything! Except for taking advantage of his position to further his ego and pad his pockets. I was simply saying that the Burchfield was about the only improvement in the town confines during his tenure.

Did anyone ever wonder why he had to abstain from voting on so many companies that went into the Industrial Park? Perhaps because he stipulated that they had do business with his accounting firm. I mean it's rather ironic that so many of these things passed over his public and private business desks. How about the fact that he had some vested interest in the Industrial park to begin with. The land that was there was tied to him in some way.

Yes I believe that Paulette is that employee.

As far as voting for him... never did once and really never had a choice. and there was more to that than the Reps not having a candidate.
There was never one strong enough to run against him in either party and that strength goes back to him strong arming his employees. However, he will deny that like he has denied many other things like the "bags" of money!

[Spirit of Ebenezer]

Lazzara seems to have at his disposal the opportunity to spend unbelievably large amounts of money for contracting of work from private companies, supplies, vehicles and who knows what else.

Is this done through competetive bidding or can he simply pick and choose at his own discretion ?

I do not know anything about grants. Who applies or writes them up ?

What is a "grant underwriter" ?

Is this something that can be of a financial gain for someone ?

I think spending and distribution of finances in these large sums is something that should be overseen by more than one person or persons of his choosing. Is there a board of advisers ? If so, who ?

Who oversees Lazzara ?

In case you missed my post Niagara here it is again. I'm looking for answers.

[Psycho1]

In case you missed my post Niagara here it is again. I'm looking for answers.

If my memory is correct, Craig Hicks sits on the panel for the WSYB, and possibly Vince Grabber is involved too. Graber's wife works there, and Hicks' daughter did.