Ron Ruffino &Kristin McCracken

[gorja]

My Voting Record


RONALD RUFFINO, SR. FOR SUPERVISOR·FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019




Greetings, I have created the following 5 sections (The Budget, The Tax Levy, Good Government and Transparency, 3rd Party Vendor Contracts and Cost Savings Initiative Resolutions), which includes my stance that I feel that tax payers need to be aware of along with how their elected officials are voting. You will see references to the Resolutions for these various items which you can feel free to research the results of these resolutions by clicking on the provided link below each resolution.
The Budget The spending in the 2018 budget increased $1,065,338 (3.3%) and the 2019 budget increased $1,632,817 (4.9%). The spending is irresponsible and we will not be able to sustain these types of spending habits.
2017 Budget· 11/7/16 Resolution #21 (pg 784) – Coleman – Adopt 2017 Ad Valorem Budget> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2016-town-board-minutes/2756-11-07-2016-tbm/file.html
2018 Budget· 11/6/17 Resolution #20 (pg 877) – Coleman – Adopt 2018 Ad Valorem Budget> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3904-11-6-2017-tbm/file.html
2019 Budget· 11/5/18 Resolution #25 (pg 856) – Coleman – Adopt 2019 Ad Valorem Budget> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3918-11-5-2018-tbm/file.html

The Tax LevyEach year the Governor sets a tax cap however, the Town has the ability to override this tax cap by holding a public hearing and adopting a law to override the tax levy. I have voted against these measures each time as the danger of overriding the tax levy can push a hefty tax increase to you the taxpayer. This happened in West Seneca for 2018 where the taxpayers were facing a 12-15% increase. The board was able to reduce it to 8.6% which was still more than 4x the tax levy limit. (Buffalo News: Published November 14, 2017)
· 10/17/16 – Resolution #5 (pg 703-705) - Coleman – Adopt Local Law No. 5 of 2016 Entitled “Taxation – Tax Levy Override”> Passed with Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2016-town-board-minutes/2714-10-17-2016-tbm/file.html
· 7/17/17 – Resolution #21 (pg 578-581) - Coleman – Set Public Hearing; Re: Proposed Local Law 2017 Taxation – Tax Levy Limit Override> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3202-7-17-2017-tbm/file.html
· 8/21/17 – Resolution #15 (pg 671) - Coleman – Adopt Local Law No. 4 of 2017 Entitled “Taxation – Tax Levy Override”> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3229-8-21-17-tbm/file.html

Good Government and TransparencyI strongly believe that government should be run as an open process to the public. I have sponsored multiple resolutions that have shown good faith and running government as open and transparent as possible. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Pictured below I was recognized by the Buffalo Niagara Coalition for Open Government.
· 10/16/17 – Resolution #15 (pg 829) - Ruffino–Implement Cross Training Program o Motion failed due to a lack of a secondhttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3317-10-16-2017-tbm/file.html
· 12/17/18 – Resolution #18 (pg 981) - Ruffino – Authorize Commencement of Soliciting Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals for Municipal Engineering Serviceshttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/4000-12-17-2018-tbm/file.html
· 7/17/17 – Resolution #18 (pg 575) - Ruffino – Mandate Audio Recording of Town Board, Planning Board, & Zoning Board of Appeals Meetingshttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3202-7-17-2017-tbm/file.html
· 8/7/17 – Resolution #13 (pg 615) - Ruffino – Mandate Audio Recording of SEQR Meetings and Work Sessions· 8/7/17 – Resolution #25 (pg 629) - Ruffino – Approve Estimate Technet Task Group to Design, Implementation and Training to Upload Audio Recordings on Website ($450)https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3217-8-7-2017-tbm/file.html
· 9/5/17 – Resolution #9 (pg 710) - Ruffino – Approve Proposal Fire Safety systems, Inc.; Re: Digital Recorder ($1,170)https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3254-9-5-2017-tbm/file.html

3rd Party Vendor ContractsI have always felt that when using taxpayers dollars we, as elected officials, should make sure that the proper due diligence is conducted when hiring and outside service whether it be professional services or not.
· 2/6/17 – Resolution #17 (pg 90) - Coleman – Authorize Supervisor to Accept Proposal N. Choops Painting Inc. ($3,325)> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/2914-02-06-2017-tbm/file.html
· 6/4/18 – Resolution #15 (pg 427) - Ruffino – Authorize Supervisor to Execute Agreement GAR Associates, LLC; Re: 2020 Assessment Equity Project> I withdrew the resolution due to lack of proper solicitations for proposals were not conducted as the cost of this contract was $282,000https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3713-6-4-2018-tbm/file.html
· 6/18/18 – Resolution #8 (pg 445) - Walter – Authorize Supervisor to Execute Agreement GAR Associates, LLC; Re: 2020 Assessment Equity Project (This is the same resolution that I refused to sponsor due to lack of proper solicitations for proposals were not conducted)> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3733-6-16-2018-tbm/file.html
· 7/2/18 – Resolution #16 (pg 500) - Ruffino – Rescind Resolution Adopted on June 18, 2018; Re: GAR Associates, LLC (After further investigation, I found out that the spouse of an employee in our Assessor’s Office was an Executive Associate at GAR Associates, LLC.) > Failed with only Ruffino and Dickman voting for it (Please note that the Lancaster Bee conducted a poll in the June 21st 2018 edition stating “Do you agree with Lancaster Town hiring GAR Associates for appraisal services?” The results were published in the June 28th, 2018 edition in which an astounding 80% of the people that responded voted “NO”.)https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3761-7-2-2018-tbm/file.html> In addition, on 6/22, I filed a communication (#405) detailing the results of my investigation of this hiring of this 3rd party vendorhttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/communications/2018/3729-7-2-2018-communications/file.html

Cost Savings Initiative ResolutionsI strongly believe that there are innovative ways to pay for town services versus passing the costs onto the taxpayers. Here are some of the recent initiatives that I have led the charge on which resulted in cost saving measures for the Town when supported by the Town Board:
· 2/1/16 – Resolution #10 (pg 85) - Ruffino – Authorize Agreement John W. Danforth Company; Re: Maintenance Various Town Facilities & Equipmenthttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2016-town-board-minutes/2506-2-1-2016-tbm/file.html
· 7/17/17 – Resolution #11 (pg 568) - Ruffino – Authorize Town Board to Advertise & Solicit Bids; Re: Town’s Utility Profiles Electric & Gas· 7/17/17 – Resolution #12 (pg 569) - Ruffino – Authorize Town Board to Advertise & Solicit Bids; Re: Town’s Energy Conversation & Efficiency Improvement Street Lightshttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3202-7-17-2017-tbm/file.html
· 8/21/17 – Resolution #18 (pg 676) - Ruffino – Request Proposals Energy Service Companies Town’s Street Lighting Performance Services Project· 8/21/17 – Resolution #22 (pg 682) - Ruffino – Enact Process Regarding Outside Council o Motion failed due to a lack of a secondhttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3229-8-21-17-tbm/file.html
· 9/5/17 – Resolution #8 (pg 708-709) - Ruffino – Request Proposals for Energy Supply to Provide Electricity & Natural Fuel to Town-Owned Facilitieshttps://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2017-town-board-agenda-minutes/3254-9-5-2017-tbm/file.html
· 12/4/17 – Resolution #12 (pg 943) - Coleman – Reject Proposals For Energy Supply Companies To Provide Electricity & National Fuel To Town-Owned Facilities (This countered my attempt to assure that the town was receiving the best price for these services)> Passed with only Ruffino voting “NO”, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski voted “YES”https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3733-6-16-2018-tbm/file.html
· 8/6/18 – Resolution #14 (pg 580) - Ruffino – Authorize Change Town Procurement Policy; Re: Request For Proposals> Failed due to lack of majority vote, please note that my opponent Dawn Gaczewski refused to vote so it was logged as a "FAILURE TO VOTE"https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3808-8-6-2018-tbm/file.html
· 8/20/18 – Resolution #4 (pg 595) - Ruffino – Amend Procurement Policy> Due to the change that I made here in this resolution, the Town will now have to officially RFP professional services that amount to over $75,000https://www.lancasterny.gov/document-center/town-board-minutes-agendas/2018-town-board-agenda-minutes/3826-8-20-2018-tbm/file.html


Ronald Ruffino, Sr. (Supervisor)
HSBC Bank USA has employed me for the past thirty-two years in which I hold a position in the Global Liquidity and Cash Management Department. I currently hold a Town Council seat on the Lancaster Town Board. I am also an usher at the Key Bank Center ushering a variety of events such as Sabres games, Bandits games and concerts. If elected as the Supervisor, I will resign from my full time position at the bank so that I can fully dedicate my time to the Supervisor position.
I have been a resident of the Town for the past twenty-seven years and have been very active as a volunteer in our community. In May of 2018, I was proudly inducted into the Lancaster Youth Bureau Hall of Fame. My involvement and efforts have been continuous since day one. For the most part, my volunteer work has been in the field of coaching a variety of youth sports. I was involved with the Depew/Lancaster Sertoma Club and I’m currently a long standing member and President of Our Lady of Pompeii’s Holy Name Society. I have the full support of my wife of thirty seven years, Sarah, along with our three children, Danielle, Ron Jr., and Alexis.
Lancaster is our home and we are very proud of our community. Over the years I have listened to our residents and have worked hard to encourage smart growth while maintaining responsible fiscal management. I’m proud to be a leader in promoting transparency in our government. Below are a few points that I have and will continue to work for our future generations:

• Strongly support the Property Tax Cap and will never override it• Require competitive bids prior to supporting contracts• Directly responsible for mandating all Town meetings to be audio recorded and placed on our website• Successfully ELIMINATED costly benefits for part-time Town Council members and JudgesAs a husband, father and grandfather, I consider myself privileged to help keep our children’s future the best it can be in Lancaster. Due to my proven stability and voting record, I trust that my platform is consistent with the values of what you, the taxpayer, demands out of our elected officials. I will continue to work diligently for the betterment of our community by continuing to bring forth responsible fiscal management while promoting transparency and good government.

Kristin McCracken (Councilwoman)
Kris has been a member of Lancaster’s Planning Board Committee since 2011. She is the Vice Chairwoman of this committee and has always strived to listen to our residents and do what is best to move our community forward. If elected, I’m confident that Kris will bring forth the depth and knowledge to insure the decisions are being made for our community as a whole.
One of her goals would be to advocate for pursuing grants for the town to purchase green space in an effort to protect our existing neighborhoods from over development. She is also a member of the recently formed Town of Lancaster Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee which serves as an oversight committee to ensure the plan is being adhered to in a manner to which our community had advocated. In addition, she serves as the volunteer Chairwoman to the Erie County Sewer District #4. This position allows her valuable insight into some of the infrastructure issues that the Town has encountered and may experience in the future.
Kris is also a strong proponent of open and transparent government, encourages smart growth with community input and possesses fiscally conservative ideas. She pledges to exercise the same due diligence approach to every issue that comes before the Town Board and would welcome the opportunity to work with all facets of government in delivering the best services at the very best price.


https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1360331254115662

[gorja]

John Bruso (Erie County Legislature)
Since becoming a Legislator in 2018, John has served our community to the fullest capacity.
Below are his accomplishments:
· Support for the Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) to assist homeowners in distress; 5 homeowners were approved in 2018
· Excluded Veteran Disability Compensation from the Income Calculation for an Erie County Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption
· Created a Fair Housing Act local law in Erie County
· Amended Apprenticeship Local Law to establish a certified state worker training program on county projects
· Created a new Erie County Code of Ethics
· Created the Public Health Protection Act of 2018 banning tobacco and e-cigarette use and sales
· Approved the Social Host Law to criminalize adults who give minors drugs on private property
· Created a special counsel and conducted an independent investigation into the former Commissioner of Social Services
· Adopted a local law to ban “conversion therapy” on minors
· Added money in 2018 and 2019 for additional county road work
· Approved land bank purchases of homes in foreclosure in order to rehabilitate and sell the properties to homeowners
· Approved of the county’s foreclosure (in rem) sales of delinquent properties to help improve neighborhoods and abandoned or neglected homes with unpaid property taxes
· Approved a new collective bargaining agreement for CSEA Local 815 white collar county employees with provisions for new health insurance premium payments by CSEA employees
· Held hearings concerning the Convention Center feasibility study and potential for a new convention center
· Approved a County Executive request to accept New York State grant funds for the continuation of a peer-to-peer veterans counseling program, and enter into contract with the Veterans One Stop Center of Western New York, Inc.
· Approved resolution Supporting the NYS Historic Tax Credit for the costs of rehabilitating eligible buildings that are deemed “historic”
· Support for Erie County Department of Health Naloxone Expansion with Local First Responders and Emergency Department-initiated Care Coordination for People Who Use Opioids Grant via US Department of Health and Human Services
· Support for Erie County Department of Health Erie County New York Opioid Overdose Review Board Grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services
· Support for resolution urging the New York State Legislature to review the issues surrounding employment contracts at public authorities and implement a ban on employment contracts containing “golden parachutes” for non-civil service employees
· Support for Healthy Homes Erie County Initiative that aligns and coordinated public and private funding sources and programs for weatherization, lead hazard control, asthma control, and other home health and safety interventions in low income homes
· Support for WNY Sustainable Business Roundtable Grant
2019
· Introduced and approved the Energize NY Benefit Financing Program Law of Erie County to establish a sustainable energy loan program in Erie County (JOHN WAS THE PRIME SPONSOR)
· Held hearings concerning regulating e-cigarettes and vaping devices to persons under age 21
· Passed Feline Adoption Promotion Act to shorten the adoption period for stray cats to three days approved 3/21/19
Legislator-Specific Accomplishments – Bruso
· Introduced and approved the Energize NY Benefit Financing Program Law of Erie County to establish a sustainable energy loan program in Erie County
· Held hearings and approved legislation concerning regulating e-cigarettes and vaping devices to persons under age 21
· Repaving of Pleasant View Drive in Lancaster from Central Ave to Stony Road, Lake Street, Bowen Road (2019)
· Como Lake Park dam work and dredging (and new sled hill)
· Advocacy for Child Protective Service employees and compensation and improved conditions
· Service on the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation board and advocacy for farmland and agricultural districts
· Stony Road Bridge reconstruction
· Alden – Crittenden Road drainage and culvert work in 2018
· Turn-over of Penora Road to Town of Lancaster
· Resolution concerning Studying the Potential use of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center for Drug Addiction
· Treatment and Counseling of the Opioid Epidemic
· Erie County Home property fenced and secured and offered for sale
· OD2 expansion from Cheektowaga to Lancaster and attempts to expand to ECSO patrols in Alden
· Community conversations on opioid and drug abuse and vaping
· Fall Festival at Como Lake Park
· Ellicott Creek logjam removal and cooperation with Erie County Soil and Water Conservation
· Working with the Lancaster Unleashed organization about a potential dog park in Como Lake Park under the new Parks Master Plan
· Job Fair – Route to Employment – in September 2018 & May 2019 at Depew Middle School

[Lee Chowaniec]

Mr. Ruffino will be beatified and canonized in some future date.

Toot, toot, all aboard!