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Thread: Americorps

  1. #16
    Member dtwarren's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GhostofCharles View Post
    Anyone see the Letter to the Editor from a Mr. Gary Schoene in this week’s Bee? Is he trying to blame the Supervisor for the Americorps review never being finished? Wasn’t it when Bove and Graber turned a vote to terminate Americorp’s Lease at the Burchfield into a motion to enter into that farce of grant administration agreement that ended the review?

    He says that the Town Budget is 10 times the Americorps Budget. So 10% of the Town’s money went to fronting operational costs for Americorps? That’s pretty scary. I don’t understand how he can defend Bove for supporting all of this.

    And again, he echoes the same manufactured comments about devaluing the program. Isn’t it how the program has been run that devalues the program the most?

    Is this another guy Mark Lazzara has in his pocket?
    I do not see how the administration agreement of the Americorps grant would end such a review. In fact the review should continue, if it has been ended, and result in some type of policy changes that will enact adequate checks and balances that will result in adequate controls over the administration of grants in general. Because regardless of whether or not the town divests itself of Americorps the town may in the future have some other type of grant to administer in which we could use this experience with Americorps as a learning experience to guide us as a town in the future on these issues.
    “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” ― Thomas Jefferson

  2. #17
    Unregistered Niagara's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dtwarren View Post
    I do not see how the administration agreement of the Americorps grant would end such a review. In fact the review should continue, if it has been ended, and result in some type of policy changes that will enact adequate checks and balances that will result in adequate controls over the administration of grants in general. Because regardless of whether or not the town divests itself of Americorps the town may in the future have some other type of grant to administer in which we could use this experience with Americorps as a learning experience to guide us as a town in the future on these issues.
    Exactly, the famous Piotrowski 'review of town departments' was done with great fanfare. No results were ever forthcoming to the public, and in fact, Wally seems incapable of doing his reviews. He sounds like a fish out of water. He is a lawyer, but seems incapable of administering a town, especially one with an Americorp branch. Obama wants to increase Americorp to 250000. There is federal money is available to anyone who knows how to do the paperwork. If the administration of the WS Americorp has been deficient, correct it, or if it is not, acknowledge it.

  3. #18
    Member snowwhite's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuel View Post
    Exactly, the famous Piotrowski 'review of town departments' was done with great fanfare. No results were ever forthcoming to the public, and in fact, Wally seems incapable of doing his reviews. He sounds like a fish out of water. He is a lawyer, but seems incapable of administering a town, especially one with an Americorp branch. Obama wants to increase Americorp to 250000. There is federal money is available to anyone who knows how to do the paperwork. If the administration of the WS Americorp has been deficient, correct it, or if it is not, acknowledge it.
    I have a feeling when all is said and done, WNY Americorps won't be getting a penny of the increase the President is going to put in place.

  4. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by snowwhite View Post
    I have a feeling when all is said and done, WNY Americorps won't be getting a penny of the increase the President is going to put in place.
    I think not. It is the most successful Americorp in WNY, and money follows money.

  5. #20
    Member snowwhite's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuel View Post
    I think not. It is the most successful Americorp in WNY, and money follows money.
    Not when you owe the town millions of dollars. It shows that the program is not stable and is poor at controlling its expenses.

  6. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by snowwhite View Post
    Not when you owe the town millions of dollars. It shows that the program is not stable and is poor at controlling its expenses.
    People who are good at accounting are plentiful (bean counters), but people who show a genius at creating something out of thin air are not. Even though the handful who have axes to grind might sound like a multitude, the vast majority of those Americorp has helped are happy and grateful. The success of a business is not measured by the number of unhappy customers, it is measured by the number of happy ones. There is a small army of those.

  7. #22
    Member snowwhite's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuel View Post
    People who are good at accounting are plentiful (bean counters), but people who show a genius at creating something out of thin air are not. Even though the handful who have axes to grind might sound like a multitude, the vast majority of those Americorp has helped are happy and grateful. The success of a business is not measured by the number of unhappy customers, it is measured by the number of happy ones. There is a small army of those.
    Oh., Manny you are listening to the wrong people. First of all ML did not create Americorps. President Clinton did and it makes me laugh when I look at the web site and see that ML calls himself the "founder". With his ego, he must be able to walk on water! Secondly, you are being brainwashed. The people of WS are not happy with Americorps. We the taxpayers are spending our hard earned money to support Americorps all over the country and not in WS. New Orleans is receiving more aid than we are. The City of Buffalo is receiving more aid than we are. Mississippi is receiving more aid than we are. Look around you- what has Americorps done for this town except to put us in debt to the tune of 3 million dollars! Stop listening to ML and go out into the town and get the true picture of what is really happening!

  8. #23
    Unregistered Niagara's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by snowwhite View Post
    President Clinton [created Americorp]
    Of course Clinton 'created' it, but it is one thing to concept something and another to put it into action. It is one thing to say 'how easy' once something is ongoing, but it is quite another to get it that way.
    Secondly, you are being brainwashed. The people of WS are not happy with Americorps. We the taxpayers are spending our hard earned money to support Americorps all over the country and not in WS. New Orleans is receiving more aid than we are. The City of Buffalo is receiving more aid than we are. Mississippi is receiving more aid than we are.
    What does it matter where locals work as long as the money is a pass through from the federal government to locals. I am a WS resident, and I am quite happy with the WS/WNY Americorp. If there is some deficiency somewhere, correct it, but to act as if WS is funding Americorp is not true. This is where Wally comes in. He came in with much fanfare, but where's the beef. The vast majority of the Americorp participants are happy with their experience, and that is where the rubber meets the road.
    Look around you- what has Americorps done for this town except to put us in debt to the tune of 3 million dollars! Stop listening to ML and go out into the town and get the true picture of what is really happening!
    I think you should stop listening to your own press. Graber said Lazarra is on target and that it is a pass through. Why would he lie, and even if it were not, get the federal government to cover it. After all Katrina was a federal government problem, and just as in military contract over spending on new systems, the federal government covers the problem. That is again where Wally comes in, what has he done to finish his review to determine whether there will be true reimbursement and how to get from point A to point B... NOTHING.

  9. #24
    Member MERL J's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuel View Post
    Graber said Lazarra is on target and that it is a pass through. Why would he lie.....

  10. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by MERL J View Post
    Typical. All fluff and no substance.

  11. #26
    Member snowwhite's Avatar
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    Manny, you have got to be kidding me! I have heard more things come out of VG's mouth that are untrue and exaggerated than almost anyone. He reads a script that was prepared by ML and doesn't even have the correct information when asked a question. Why would you think that he is telling you the truth? When I have more time, I will quote you some of his statements that are far from true, but for now, I'm going to bed.

  12. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by snowwhite View Post
    I have heard more things come out of VG's mouth that are untrue and exaggerated than almost anyone.
    Quote Originally Posted by Manuel View Post
    and even if it were not, get the federal government to cover it. After all Katrina was a federal government problem, and just as in military contract over spending on new systems, the federal government covers the problem. That is again where Wally comes in, what has he done to finish his review to determine whether there will be true reimbursement and how to get from point A to point B... NOTHING.
    This isn't about VG, it is about a bone headed supervisor who got into office, has been given the keys to the city and has no excuse not to be able to do a review to determine the status of the grants, and if they will be paid back in the agreed amount of time. Based on the results of that review, form a plan on how to make it happen, if necessary.
    Clearly he is incompetent in following through and comprehending a very difficult issue. He is obviously not up to the task. The voters hitched their wagon to a mule while they thought they were getting something special.

  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manuel View Post
    This isn't about VG, it is about a bone headed supervisor who got into office, has been given the keys to the city and has no excuse not to be able to do a review to determine the status of the grants, and if they will be paid back in the agreed amount of time. Based on the results of that review, form a plan on how to make it happen, if necessary.
    Clearly he is incompetent in following through and comprehending a very difficult issue. He is obviously not up to the task. The voters hitched their wagon to a mule while they thought they were getting something special.
    First of all the Supervisor was not given the keys to the city. As has been previously discussed by a bunch of us, including you, the Supervisor has limited power and ultimately refers all votes to the Town Council for final say.

    If there is anyone to blame for the Lazzara's behavior, it is the former Supervisor Paul Clark who enabled him to do all the things he did, and looked the other way when he started doing things the wrong way.

    As far as Piotrowski goes, tell me how he is supposed to do anything when Lazzara denies him access to documents that would allow him to do a review. And when Bove and Graber make votes that block him from doing anything, how is he supposed to get anything done?

    Town Board Meeting: June 23, 2008: http://www.westseneca.net/bdmin08/mi080623.html:

    Supervisor Piotrowski stated that he had not reviewed the grants. They were in the AmeriCorps building and he did not have access to them. The AmeriCorps was a private entity and they did not control the grant funds.

    Grant Administration Agreement

    The Town of West Seneca voted to enter into a Grant Administration Agreement with WNY AmeriCorps on June 23, 2008, yet it was stated on that date that the Town did not have copies of AmeriCorps Grants.

    During the July 28, 2008 Town Board Meeting the Town Attorney raised a number of questions regarding the legality of the agreement and specifics of items, yet it was officially entered into on August 5, 2008 without the Town Board discussing any of them.

    When asked about the Agreement, no Town Board member could/would answer questions about it and the Town Supervisor stated that he did not agree to it. The Town Attorney stated that he was not present when it was signed.

    Town Board Meeting: June 23, 2008: http://www.westseneca.net/bdmin08/mi080623.html:

    Motion by Councilman Graber, seconded by Councilwoman Bove, to amend the motion and enter into a grant administration agreement dated June 23, 2008 between the Town of West Seneca and not-for-profit company WNY AmeriCorps Fund Inc., whereby the not-for-profit agrees to assume the town’s obligation under the grants and authorize Councilwoman Bove to execute the agreement on behalf of the town.

    This isn't about a Supervisor not doing anything, it is about of group of corrupt people not allowing him to do anything. If and when those people are ever out of the way, you would see a totally different WP.

  14. #29
    Member dtwarren's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GhostofCharles View Post

    This isn't about a Supervisor not doing anything, it is about of group of corrupt people not allowing him to do anything. If and when those people are ever out of the way, you would see a totally different WP.
    To me this rings hallow. The Supervisor did not get what he wanted and instead a majority of the board entered into the grant administration. However, this has nothing to do with the review being ended. As an attorney, and former judge, Mr. Piotrowski knows there are ways to compel the information he needs to complete his review. That is if he was truly serious about it.

    There has been allegations of unethical and other behavior and the Town Board has the authority to hear and determine these allegations. In conducting this the Town Board has the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the information.
    “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” ― Thomas Jefferson

  15. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by dtwarren View Post
    There has been allegations of unethical and other behavior and the Town Board has the authority to hear and determine these allegations. In conducting this the Town Board has the authority to issue subpoenas to compel the information.
    Is it up to the Board to call a hearing and issue subpoenas or is that something the Supervisor can do on his own?

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