Although the Lancaster Bee reporter attended the July 19th town board meeting there was no report on the meeting events. Disappointed to find no coverage on the bid award approved to MGR Constructors to build the new dog control facility or on the work session town annual audit conducted by Drescher Malecki Accountants.
Dog Control Project
By a 4-1 vote MGR Constructors Inc. were chosen by the Lancaster Town Board to build the new dog shelter. Supervisor Ruffino was the lone ‘no’ vote.
MGR was the lowest of eight contractors bidding on the construction of the shelter received and reviewed on May 26th - $603,000. Town consulting Engineer Ed Schiller approached MGR to ‘Value Engineer’ their bid documents in order to reduce costs to meet budgetary restrictions. The project cost has been reduced to $485,000 - through "Value Engineering".
In the July 5th Lancaster Bee the following was reported:
“I am 100% in favor of building a new dog control facility, however, I feel that the current time is not the best time to build it,” Supervisor Ruffino said.
The town originally planned for a 1,200-square-foot facility and garage, but it increased to a 1,600-square-foot facility and garage, with the addition of specialty items that increased the cost. Ruffino said for the awarded grant, the town has the ability to request a two-year extension, twice, without jeopardizing the grant
(Comment – The plan submitted for the NYS Animal Companion fund grant was for a 2,100 sq. ft., building not a 1,200 or 1,600 sq. ft. building and ‘no specialty items’ that were not required to meet AG &Markets state requirements.)
Annual Town Audit
No specifics presented, but town accounting deficiencies noted, and improvements recommended. First time no ‘clean opinion’ was rendered up front and the audit remains unsigned by the auditing company.
Work Session Audit Recording
https://youtu.be/GeLiW9CrQIs
Lee, if it were not for your detailed reporting and even-handed analysis of the Town Council public sessions, the people of Lancaster would truly be at the mercy of the Lancaster Bee for information other than political spin in favor of the current majority.Originally Posted by Lee Chowaniec
LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"
Lancaster residents need to attend board meetings....
Just My Opinion:
In the old days I would have agreed with you shortstuff, but things have changed.
What purpose is served when resident questions are non-responsively treated as "in one ear, out the other" comments?
Why should one waste its time?
Where in Hell is the press in light of such a departure from traditional transparency?
Not entirely analogist, but the conduct of these Town Council sessions is almost as troubling as the atmosphere here on Speak Up. Concerned residents lend their names to express concerns and present relevant information, only to be personally demeaned and characterized with such terms as "irrelevant poop stains?"
Who in Hell needs that type of abuse?
More importantly, what type of leaders would willingly permit its surrogates to advocate on their behalf with such presentations?
To me, each and every member of the 2021 slate endorsed by the Lancaster Republican Committee is attached to such vile high-profile social media advocates.
What's the saying, "You are the company you keep?"
Perhaps it is the tenor of the times, but nevertheless, it is a sad and disappointing state of affairs.
Maybe it is time for me to let the inevitable play-out with a who gives a rat's ass approach?
Last edited by mark blazejewski; July 23rd, 2021 at 10:45 AM.
LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"
Interesting perspective, "who gives a rat's ass approach?" Yeah.....BUTTTTTT you need the grassroots group stepping into the townhall (like the days of the Russ Sugg & Co.) to let their voices be heard. Shake some rattles there Mark...
More residents should attend town board meetings to hold the town accountable for acting in the community’s best interests – especially regarding public safety, fiscal responsibility, smart growth development, environment preservation, traffic / traffic safety, and infrastructure. Too often town board meetings are attended by residents interested only what affects their wellbeing.
Accessible Town Board meeting information
On the Friday prior to a town board meeting, the Clerk’s Office posts on the town website the coming Monday’s Town Agenda, Resolutions, and Communications. The day following the meeting, a recording of the meeting is posted on the website, shortly thereafter the resolutions and their vote is posted. A plethora of available information unfortunately not too often read by the public.
Town Board Meeting Information post meeting
Town Board meeting recording on town website. Posted Tuesday morning, only 12 reads by Friday late afternoon.
Too often, like this week, no town board media reporting – Lancaster Bee, or other. How ironic that Supervisor Ruffino told a resident at the public comment session that public input is important as the board takes the public’s comments seriously and board decisions are often based on those comments. Yet the Lancaster Bee found there was nothing noteworthy to report at the January 19th meeting,
The Bee did not consider the approval of the dog control construction bid to MGR as important – a contentious two-year project process. Nor the Town’s annual audit which remains unsigned and without opinion. Nor Mr. Rinow’s suggestion to have the meetings broadcast in some venue that would allow participation and input from the disabled and others unable from personally attending the meetings. Supervisor Ruffino said further discussion on the matter is needed. Indeed, especially doable in today’s world of technology.
Supervisor Ruffino should also encourage all speakers to use the microphones provided them – including the board members. It is difficult to understand what is said on the recording and too often the individual’s message / intent can be misinterpreted.
Lastly, more public interest and meeting attendance / input is needed after a year of budget chaos, dog control project irregularities, audit inconsistencies, colluded primary election process, and alleged patronage incidents.
In the Lancaster that I remember, of course both of you guys are 100% correct.
But, in the present day, what is the point?
This May 17, 2021 meeting speaks to the issue of futility in the pursuit of transparency, now present in the era of the Ruffino majority-controlled Town Council
Reference: https://soundcloud.com/user-32929237...0GJDg7jzE3YjZI
Ah, the Left's national "New Normal" is alive and well in Lancaster, eh?...
LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"
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