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Lots of things were missing from tonight's Town Board meeting. TV cameras, Councilman Brian Hogan, public comments and an agenda with over 20 items.
The meeting itself was over in about 40 minutes with a whopping 16-item agenda.
But before it even started, things got a little heated upstairs when UPSEU Labor Relations Representative Gary Favro was told by Town Attorney Michael Magguilli that he should save his comments for downstairs when he began to speak out about the board's unanimous vote at the last Town Board meeting (on August 28) in which a resolution was unanimously adopted that authorized the supervisor to enter into an agreement with auditors BST in connection to an audit of the entire EMS department to be completed, and for that audit to be payed for by UPSEU.
To make a long story short (you can read the longer story here http://spotlightnews.com/247/article.php?article_id=tU1220544534t48c00816ea6fc), Favro does not agree to pay for the audit if it is completed by BST-or unless he finds that BST is a neutral, non-political auditor. Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan has now said that the town will cover the costs of the audit if need be, but that BST is and has been the town's auditors for quite some time and that they will be conducting the audit.
When the issue came up again later at the meeting, a resolution authorizing the supervisor to rescind the previous resolution authorizing the audit with BST failed when it came up for a vote.
So, BST is still scheduled to conduct the audit.
Mahan had a surprise for meeting-goers, and was hoping to share some good news with John "Jack" Tabner, who has been inquiring for months about the sale of the town's portion of Heritage Park-mainly when it would be completed and when the town would receive its money.
As of today, she said, the town did seal the deal and the $2.7 million the sale brought in should be wired to the town within a matter of days. The supervisor also announced that, since January, the town has saved $2 million in freezing non-essential spending, etc.
The North Colonie Padres were honored with a proclomation at the beginning of the meeting for achieving the Cal Ripken State Title. The players and coaches accepted their proclomation from the supervisor and even presented her with her own hat.
As per a resolution passed, the town has agreed to sponsor Siena College in a project which will allow them to build a loop road on their campus, lessening students' dependency on town roads to get from one side of campus to the other.
Also, Colin Wynne, a young gentlman, particularly a senior at Shaker High School, was appointed as a student member of the Conservation Advisory Council. Councilwoman Nicole Criscione-Szesnat said the council is still acception applications from juniors, and that they should apply to the Department of Planning and Economic Development (call 783-2741 for more details).
So, those were the highlights of the night. If that didn't satisfy your craving for some delicious Town Board, check out http://www.colonie.org/townboardagenda/tbagenda.htm .
