Life's Leaks

WAWARSING WATER WOES

I spent last evening with several dozen residents who have been plagued by the continual leaking NYC tunnel that runs near their homes. My heart goes out to all of them who are faced dealing with “life’s leaks” on top of raising families, running households and making a living.

Here are my thoughts in a “nutshell:

It is nice that the DEP Commissioner finally and publicly admitted the culpability of his agency but that still does not resolve the problems that the home owners are faced with. I feel the frustration of those folks in Wawarsing who return home to deal daily with flooded homes, mold infested basements and swamped properties. Let's put their needs first and address the tunnel repairs once we have helped the homeowners.

A Clean and Green Economic Engine

GARDINER – Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve and Sam’s Point Preserve contribute $12.3 million to the local economy, according to a study released Tuesday.

Gunks attractions boost area economy by over $12 million annually
Business Opportunities Management Consulting of Rensselaer conducted the study for the three attractions and found they have over 392,000 visitors among them who spend over $13 million annually and support 350 local jobs.

Annual local sales taxes from the three amount to $459,000.

The three GUNKS attractions are but a small portion of Ulster County’s tourism economic generator, said County Executive Michael Hein.

“We’re talking about a $474 million operation; it’s the largest part of Ulster County’s economy,” he said. “State parks and these types of operations are critical to drawing people to Ulster County.”

County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said the Shawangunk Ridge park/preserves are “great examples of ‘clean and green’ contributors to the economy.”

(Copyright © 2010 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc)

THE BIG PURPLE

On Monday June 21, 2010 members of the Ulster County Office of the Comptroller became a PROUD PURPLE PARTNER as the Hudson Valley Alzheimer's Association launched their BIG PURPLE campaign in an effort to assist families that are struggling with Alzheimer's disease.
To find out more log onto www.thebigpurple.org

RECOGNIZING SUCCESS

Our RECOGNIZING SUCCESS recipients at the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
Nine high school students who are making a difference.
From left to right:
Erica Martin-Wallkill
Nissa Gustafson-Onteora
Alex Rose Schemitsch-Rondout Valley
Mairead Fogarty-New Paltz
Justine Marsh-Marlboro
Keri Robinson-Highland
Ana Flores-Ellenville
Comptroller Elliott Auerbach
(Missing-Chelsea Defino-Saugerties and Shaina Huleatt-Kingston)

A.G. Investigation at Central Auto

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES ARREST OF ULSTER COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR STEALING AUTO PARTS AND FALSIFYING OFFICIAL RECORDS

ALBANY, NY (June 16, 2010) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the arrest of an Ulster County employee for stealing auto parts meant for government-owned vehicles and filing false work orders to hide the theft.

According to the complaint, Anthony Gallo, 44, of Saugerties, employed by Ulster County Central Auto garage as a Fleet Maintenance Facilitator, placed an order for auto parts but allegedly stole and installed them on a truck that he personally owned. Gallo then filed a false work order claiming he performed repairs on the County truck to hide the theft. Central Auto is a County garage where government-owned vehicles are repaired and maintained.

Gallo was charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, felonies that each carry a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison, as well as Official Misconduct, a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Gallo was arraigned before Ulster Town Justice Susan Kesick and released on his own recognizance pending a court appearance on July 21, 2010.

"This individual is accused of breaching public trust and using his position to rip off taxpayers for his own personal gain,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “My office remains committed to rooting out government corruption and we will vigorously prosecute those who violate the public trust.”

Additionally, the criminal complaint alleges that in November of 2009, Gallo replaced six tires on his truck with County tires. Gallo worked as a mechanic and an administrative supervisor, making and keeping business records including invoices and vouchers, at Central Auto from November 2006 to December 2009. Central Auto, located at 125 Maxwell Lane, Kingston, is responsible for repairing and maintaining government-owned vehicles.

Attorney General Cuomo thanked Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach, the New York State Police and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General YuJin Hong and Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Poughkeepsie Regional Office Vincent Bradley under the supervision of Special Deputy Attorney General for Public Integrity Ellen Biben.

The charges against Gallo are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

$437 Million of Public Debt

COMPTROLLER SUGGESTS PUBLIC DEBT POLICY CONSIDER ITS BORDERS

KINGSTON, NY (June 15, 2010)… In a continuing effort to mine, audit and review data valuable to public policy decision making, Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach released a BY THE NUMBERS report on the Total Public Debt Outstanding in Ulster County.

“One the most revealing aspects of this data,” said the Comptroller, “was not so much the total dollar amount but the fact there are 75 taxing jurisdictions in Ulster County that contribute to that total debt amount.” The 75 municipal taxing districts within Ulster County, include:

• 41 Fire Districts
• 10 School Districts
• 19 Towns
• 3 Villages
• 1 City
• 1 County

These 75 districts have a combined total debt outstanding (debt remaining to be paid over time) of $437,201,643.

“We in government have a special obligation not only to monitor how much public money is spent and for what purposes, but to understand the extent to which our taxing districts are layered,” explained Auerbach. “When we understand the layering we can begin to explore opportunities for more inclusive and integrative processes for establishing debt policy at the community level,” said Auerbach.

The report relies on data submitted by governmental entities which are required to file annual financial statements with the NYS Office of the State Comptroller.

The Ulster County Charter crafted the Office of the Comptroller to serve as an independent analyst of county functions and finances. In this role, the Comptroller has identified the importance of sharing data and information as a means to spur creative thinking. BY THE NUMBERS reports provide data from which the user can draw conclusions or pose valuable public policy questions

(The complete report appears at www.ulstercountyny.gov/resources/comptroller)

STANDOUT STUDENTS PURSUE A PUBLIC PURPOSE

Comptroller Recognizes Successes From Nine High Schools

KINGSTON, NY (June 14, 2010)… Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach is pleased to announce the recipients of his 2010 Recognizing Success Program.

Recognizing Success is an initiative that acknowledges the exceptional student who has stepped forward to “make a difference” in school or in the community.

“These are exceptional young adults who changed lives through their efforts,” said Auerbach, “and I feel it is important to recognize their initiative and ingenuity in pursuit of a public purpose goal.”

The following students are recognized:

SCHOOL NAME

Ellenville- Ana Flores
Highland- Keri Robinson
Kingston- Shaina Huleatt
Marlboro- Justine Marsh
New Paltz- Mairead Fogarty
Onteora- Nissa Gustafson
Rondout Valley- Alex Rose Schemitsch
Saugerties- Chelsea Defino
Wallkill- Erica Martin

These young people were nominated by their school principal or guidance counselor. Each of them is remarkable and has worked to “make a difference” in a variety of ways, for example:

Serving as a ‘Reading Buddy’ helping students with disabilities to develop their reading skills

Building and repairing homes for impoverished families in Kentucky;

Teaching English and how to cook using solar coolers in Nepal;

Implementing a mentoring program between freshman students and upper class students

24 Hour Fast for Hunger, American Cancer Society “Relay for Life”

Working with Habitat for Humanity, programs for children, peer tutoring, organizing a clothes drive

Volunteering to help students in and outside school

President of the Interact Club

Fundraising for leukemia/lymphoma and breast cancer research

“The nominations we received spoke beautifully about these young people,” said Auerbach. “It gives us needed hope for the future to know that these students understand leadership and are willing to practice it.”

The Comptroller will be recognizing the students at the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce breakfast on June 17, 2010. Each student also received an award at their school awards ceremonies.

Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach’s Recognizing Success program is designed to bring well-deserved notice and accolade to students whose efforts achieved a valued public purpose and, in so doing, demonstrated leadership among peers.