"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Light Shines In

It is appropriate to shed a little light on the town lawyer issue and the extremely misleading information being disseminated by Darrel Aubertine.
An article in Talk of the Towns legal experts take issue with the decisions by state officials.  Here are some of the highlights of the article.
"Countless attorneys have accepted part-time municipal employment, at low salaries, in part because would earn credit in the State's retirement system. Many municipalities have knowingly and deliberately, to save (taxpayer) money, employed those part-time attorneys and legally enrolled them in the retirement system"
"If the Attorney General prevails, municipalities could face significant increases in legal fees."
"The initial determination as to whether an individual falls into 'employee' or 'independent contractor' status is left up to the employer."
"Comptroller's Rules and Regulations have historically stated that set hours are not required where employment is obtained by election or appointment. Positions such as part time attorneys physicians, and engineers, generally require appointment by the governing board of a town. Moreover, these positions are normally filled by individuals who also work in private practice."
A local person, who handles the finances of several towns and villages throughout Jefferson County said, "they are nitpicking, it is a widely acceptable practice that knows no partisan lines."

Only as of June 2008 did the Comptroller's office define the Rules and Regulations of the term "employee" and prior to that neither did Retirement and Social Security Law. Since, the Comptroller's office has defined 'employee' and 'independent contractor' and have developed guidelines for local governments to follow in its certification determination.

There is a distinct difference in the two situations facing the candidates.

In the case of David Renzi, there were no laws or guidelines developed and as they are developed, pension credits will be wiped out by the Comptroller for any professional hired by local governments that is outside the guidelines. This is why Aubertine spokesman Cort Ruddy used the term "deferred," it is not and never will be a situation of theft. If the Comptroller's office does their job all pension credits that have been issued before the guidelines were established will be eliminate through the audit process. Mr. Ruddy acknowledged the fact Renzi did nothing wrong when he carefully selected the word he used, "deferred."

On the other hand, Mr. Aubertine's situation there was a law already in place, which he co-sponsored and voted for, therefore he broke a law, which is a huge difference in the two scenarios.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

David Renzi has cleared his good name and will take on the corrupt wind contracts of local landowners, starting with Darrel Aubertine who has set the bad example for this district.

No Wind Go Renzi Thanks PIV for exposing corrupt wind.

Anonymous said...

Clearly it is a fact. If you get Aubertine, you get tree hugging wind advocates.
Wind = corruption= high taxes= low land values.
Don't let Aubertine and lazy farmers bring wealth distribution and socialism to our District.
Vote for Dave Renzi for Senate.

Anonymous said...

Dave Renzi works hard. He is a football coach for crying out loud. He deserves the retirement more than the liberal educators on the dole. John McCain has a plan to allow returning servicemen to teach when they come home. A good idea. A vote for Rezni is a vote to break teacher unions. VOTE RENZI for education reform. Vote Renzi for giving retirement to those who deserve it.

Anonymous said...

1) It is simply amazing how an anonymous blogger such as yourself--who alleges to have no affilliation with the Senate GOP--has so much time to write these posts and access to so much information.

2) I think there is something to be said for a man who admits he made a mistake....and someone who yells, kicks and screams at others instead of owning up to his own.

Unknown said...

Anyone see the debate from the 118the District at Clarkson on Wednesday?

Addie Jenne Russell said her idea of a "good-paying job" was in the "teens!"

Is she serious? This is what she wants to bring here? $15,000 a year jobs?

Russell would be a flat out disaster for the North Country. I was on the fence before. Not anymore.

Anonymous said...

David Renzi A Friend against Wind Thanks Dave

Wind turbine safety fear
If Eco2’s application is approved at a planning meeting on Tuesday, four 410ft turbines – amongst the tallest in Britain – will be built on farmland overlooking the village GAG spokesman Bob Slater claims the incident in Scotland last month raises serious safety issues. A 200ft high turbine bent in half in 50mph winds, leaving its blades on the ground. Mr Slater also cites an example in Germany when a 10-metre fragment of rotor blade was sent spinning 200 metres through the air.
December 5, 2007 by Andrew Pugh in Port Talbot Guardian
Lives could be at risk if an Afan Valley wind farm gets the go-ahead next week, an action group battling the scheme has claimed.

Safety concerns over a proposed Glyncorrwg wind farm have been renewed after a wind turbine in Scotland bent in half in high winds.

Glyncorrwg Action Group (GAG) believes the manufacturer of the faulty turbine, Vestas, will be constructing the turbines at Corrwg Fechan.

If Eco2’s application is approved at a planning meeting on Tuesday, four 410ft turbines – amongst the tallest in Britain – will be built on farmland overlooking the village

GAG spokesman Bob Slater claims the incident in Scotland last month raises serious safety issues.

A 200ft high turbine bent in half in 50mph winds, leaving its blades on the ground.

Mr Slater also cites an example in Germany when a 10-metre fragment of rotor blade was sent spinning 200 metres through the air.

“We have been saying for some time that these turbines are dangerous and it’s a matter of great concern for people living here,” he said.

“The turbines are going to be around half a mile from people’s homes, overlooking a school, and near a site where landslides have occurred in the past.”

Last week GAG handed in 1,230-name petition of objection to the council’s planning department.

Mr Slater added: “The petition includes the signatures of around 400 visitors to Glyncorrwg Ponds, many of whom support renewable energy but object to a wind farm being built so close to the village.

“They shouldn’t just be placed anywhere, they need to take into account the feelings of local people,” he said.

GAG has received letters of support from around the world, including California and Australia.

A spokesperson for Eco2 believes the turbine fault in Scotland was a frequent incident and that residents’ fears are founded.

A statement released by the company said: “Eco2 is aware that a turbine failed in the north of Scotland, and that the causes of this are currently being investigated.

“We understand that the turbine – a V47 - has been operational for many years and is not a modern wind turbine, like those currently being produced.

The company could not confirm whether Vestas will be constructing the wind turbines at the Corrwg Fechan site.

A spokesman for The British Wind Energy Association said: “With over 100,000 machines installed around the world, a lot of members of the public have been injured during the normal operation of a wind turbine.”

Renzi YES Wind NO. Renzi will ride the wind, not Darrel.

Anonymous said...

Russell would be a flat out disaster for the North Country. I was on the fence before. Not anymore.


I agree. Cantwell will preserve the beauty of our area since he is against wind. Thank's Bobby.

Anonymous said...

PIV is going to beat himself up and carve a great big D on his cheek and say that Darrel's sister did it.

Anonymous said...

PIV is going to beat himself up and carve a great big D on his cheek and say that Darrel's sister did it.

BahaaWAHahahahahahahahahahahahah...

Anonymous said...

Hi...this is Joe McCain I am stuck in traffic on state street.

Anonymous said...

Everyday PIV receives an update on the presidential race from Zogby International.

Wow! And all I get every morning is bacon and eggs.

HQ said...

Knock Knock
Hello--anyone home?

The operating premise here is if the rules aren't what you want them to be just change them. Sure that'll work.

It is, has been and always will be contrary to law for a contracted person to receive public employee benefits. Whether its health care benefits, NYS retirement credits or having his walk shovelled for him for free. It is illegal. I refer you Contracts 101 at any law school.

Cought red handed.

Anonymous said...

So, David Renzi was getting family insurance, too?

That has to be worth at least $14,000 a year.

Did the Town pay his mortgage too? Are there any taxpayers in that town that care?

Only a thief would protect a thief. What are you guilty of, PIV?

Anonymous said...

Let's return to the issue of Cort Ruddy's newly minted term "deferred theft".
This is really the best new term of the election!
Imagine, if Moses had the opportunity of working with Cort, he wouldn't have needed to use that awkward term "though shalt not covet..." but simply commanded against "deferred theft"! such a classy term!

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