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As many of you know, last night was the budget adoption (started @ 7:30 pm), followed by a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of trustees. Some points per attendees and the broadcast:
--Once again, there were "problems": the on-demand webcast at the village website was not available. The only way to see the meeting was on Channel 78 OR to be physically present. Those without cable will now have to wait until FRIDAY APRIL 25TH for the meeting to be placed online at the website; we do not know why, once again, this is happening. Meetings have traditionally been placed on the village website the following day. UPDATED: FAULTY EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PER VIL. MANAGER
--For those with cable who missed the meeting last night, it will allegedly be re-played on Channel 78 at either 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm.
--Mayor Leo Wiegman, our now full-time mayor, was NOT present, not for the budget, the vote on the budget, not for the regular board meeting.
--Trustee Gallelli, in her capacity as Deputy Mayor, ran the meeting.
--To those who have asked: the village code caps the compensation of the mayor and the trustees; the mayor's salary is $5,000 annually. As Mayor Wiegman's 'compensation' has now risen almost 400% by way of his new taxpayer-funded "full-time" mayor medical/dental benefits of approximately$20-21K, we do not know if the village code will now have to be changed. A resident asked at the prior board meeting. No answer was given then and none is now forthcoming. Inquiries are being made elsewhere.
--The trustees were asked last night if they thought the mayor's new benefits were appropriate--not legal but appropriate; the general response was that it was legal under Obamacare and that there was really nothing they could do about it although Trustee Davis indicated that this was a personal decision for Wiegman, but that if it were he making the decision, he (Davis) would not have accepted the benefits. The board was also asked what specific, tangible benefits the village received from the mayor's time that we wouldn't have received if he spent less time on village affairs. As he was not there to address the question, there was no real response in his absence.
--The vote was 3-1 (Mayor Wiegman, our "full-time" mayor, allegedly had another commitment, and again was not present for this important vote/meeting and any questions or comments that residents had).
--Maria Slippen voted against the budget which is approx. $29,000 over the cap. That won't affect the rebates which don't kick in until next year. (Again, the mayor's new full-time benefits are approximately $20-21K. And again, we do not know the exact number because it was redacted/blacked out in answer to a foil request.)
--"Concern" was expressed by our officials over keeping future budgets under the cap. With normal inflation, the mayor's new taxpayer funded insurance premiums, the loss of the Gouveia taxes and possibly, the beginning of the debt service on the Croton Point Avenue Project/Bike Lane (when that will kick in is anyone's guess) it appears that there is a high probability that next year's cap will be violated and we won't get our rebate from the state. Of course, one could always
As many of you know, last night was the budget adoption (started @ 7:30 pm), followed by a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of trustees. Some points per attendees and the broadcast:
--Once again, there were "problems": the on-demand webcast at the village website was not available. The only way to see the meeting was on Channel 78 OR to be physically present. Those without cable will now have to wait until FRIDAY APRIL 25TH for the meeting to be placed online at the website; we do not know why, once again, this is happening. Meetings have traditionally been placed on the village website the following day. UPDATED: FAULTY EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PER VIL. MANAGER
--For those with cable who missed the meeting last night, it will allegedly be re-played on Channel 78 at either 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm.
--Mayor Leo Wiegman, our now full-time mayor, was NOT present, not for the budget, the vote on the budget, not for the regular board meeting.
--Trustee Gallelli, in her capacity as Deputy Mayor, ran the meeting.
--To those who have asked: the village code caps the compensation of the mayor and the trustees; the mayor's salary is $5,000 annually. As Mayor Wiegman's 'compensation' has now risen almost 400% by way of his new taxpayer-funded "full-time" mayor medical/dental benefits of approximately$20-21K, we do not know if the village code will now have to be changed. A resident asked at the prior board meeting. No answer was given then and none is now forthcoming. Inquiries are being made elsewhere.
--The trustees were asked last night if they thought the mayor's new benefits were appropriate--not legal but appropriate; the general response was that it was legal under Obamacare and that there was really nothing they could do about it although Trustee Davis indicated that this was a personal decision for Wiegman, but that if it were he making the decision, he (Davis) would not have accepted the benefits. The board was also asked what specific, tangible benefits the village received from the mayor's time that we wouldn't have received if he spent less time on village affairs. As he was not there to address the question, there was no real response in his absence.
--The vote was 3-1 (Mayor Wiegman, our "full-time" mayor, allegedly had another commitment, and again was not present for this important vote/meeting and any questions or comments that residents had).
--Maria Slippen voted against the budget which is approx. $29,000 over the cap. That won't affect the rebates which don't kick in until next year. (Again, the mayor's new full-time benefits are approximately $20-21K. And again, we do not know the exact number because it was redacted/blacked out in answer to a foil request.)
--"Concern" was expressed by our officials over keeping future budgets under the cap. With normal inflation, the mayor's new taxpayer funded insurance premiums, the loss of the Gouveia taxes and possibly, the beginning of the debt service on the Croton Point Avenue Project/Bike Lane (when that will kick in is anyone's guess) it appears that there is a high probability that next year's cap will be violated and we won't get our rebate from the state. Of course, one could always
1) stop the Croton Point Avenue project
2) the mayor could not take the 'full-time' taxpayer funded medical/dental benefits as he was asked to do and refused or
3) the Gouveia fun and games (AND THE ATTENDANT LEGAL EXPENSES) would come to an end and the "gift" refused.
This is unlikely to happen under the current administration.
Background info here http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/04/budget-adoption-42114-includes-mayors.html and the mayor's "time-sheets" have been foiled. Click on the link to see Mayor Wiegman's record of hours allegedly spent as full time mayor http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/04/mayor-wiegmans-record-allegedly.html
UPDATED 4/24/14 GAZETTE ARTICLE HERE, HIGHLIGHTS ONLY http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-gazette-42414-croton-budget-flak.html
UPDATED: BRIAN POWERS LETTER http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/05/shame-on-you-mayor-wiegman-letter-from.html
This is unlikely to happen under the current administration.
Background info here http://www.everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/04/budget-adoption-42114-includes-mayors.html and the mayor's "time-sheets" have been foiled. Click on the link to see Mayor Wiegman's record of hours allegedly spent as full time mayor http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/04/mayor-wiegmans-record-allegedly.html
UPDATED 4/24/14 GAZETTE ARTICLE HERE, HIGHLIGHTS ONLY http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-gazette-42414-croton-budget-flak.html
UPDATED: BRIAN POWERS LETTER http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/05/shame-on-you-mayor-wiegman-letter-from.html
If he makes $5,000 for a fulltime job, he is being paid far less than minimum wage. Isn't that illegal?
ReplyDeleteHow ironic. We break the tax cap by like $29,000 and his benefits are the biggest part of that. Speechless.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone contacted the comptroller?
ReplyDeleteA MESSAGE FROM GINNY CALCUTTI
ReplyDeleteFor quite some time, I've been reading the comments on "Everything Croton." Most, if not all of them have been right on target. However, it doesn't help unless you get your thoughts out to as many residents as possible. Please, please come to a Board meeting. Write to the Gazette. Bob Wintermeier, Dan and Winn Chesnard, Joel Gingold and I need your help. It is my belief that Mayor Weigman is no longer effective as a leader in our Village. It appears that he is on the road for personal gain.
Ginny Calcutti