Forestburgh TRUTH United
Forestburgh United in its last email sent out to its members on October 6, 2015 stated the following:
- "The Forestburgh Town Board met last Thursday for the first time since the primary election. The Supervisor was absent. After contacting him by phone 10 minutes after the meeting was to begin, the Town Board secretary reported that she was just told by the Supervisor that he was "by the Tapanzee Bridge and would not make the meeting in time". Nobody knew before that he might not be able to attend the meeting and the presence of all of his vehicles in his driveway immediately before the meeting led the people who observed those cars and trucks to believe that he would be at the meeting. None of his other family members were present either. The Deputy Supervisor, John Galligan presided. Because there was material that the Supervisor was expected to bring to the meeting regarding the budget for next year, work on that topic could not proceed - and concern was expressed regarding whether the State-mandated deadlines could be met. a new meeting was scheduled for Monday, October 5, but a serious issue over the validity of such a meeting exists because of the failure to provide the public with adequate published notice".
Now, let me address the above GROSS INACCURACIES as follows:
1. When the Town Board members were discussing when to have the budget meeting, I stated at the prior budget meeting that I would not be back by 6:00 pm for the budget meeting, but that i "should" be back by 7:00 pm. Before the meeting, I spoke to Councilman Creegan and said "you know how traffic is coming out of the city", however, Joanne had called and asked me where I was and my reply was "stuck on the Tapanzee Bridge" and that I would do my best to get back there and make the meeting.
2. As far as my personal vehicles in my driveway are concerned, they apparently left one out, which was the convertible I was driving if you MUST know.
3. Nonetheless, the budget is currently underway and will be completed by the week of October 25th, making ALL the appropriate deadlines.
4. My wife and I feel that now we are being harassed. We have since turned this letter in its entirety over to local law enforcement.
5. If you are so concerned about me, please feel free to pick up the phone and call me.
CONCERNED CITIZENS OF FORESTBURGH:
The "Concerned Citizens of Forestburgh" letter stated in the very beginning that Forestburgh is in a crisis. About the only thing I WILL agree with is that we ARE a changing community. As your current Supervisor, I have NO personal agenda. I do, however, question the agenda of others, as should you, residents of Forestburgh.
Lost Lake, ASTI and the reval have already been addressed previously on this website in their entirety and are entirely moot at this point.
As for the statement that "Mr. Hogue prepares and manages a budget of $1,104,000, over 60% of Forestburgh's entire budget and in the 20 years he has been superintendent, he has not once exceeded that budget", this is GROSSLY INACCURATE. The TRUTH is that I am responsible for the ENTIRE BUDGET for the town and I have NEVER returned to the board because we ran out of money and asked them to borrow money to stay afloat nor, for that matter, have ANY of my predicessors. Mr. Hogue has exceeded the budget ANNUALLY and on two occasions had to come back to the board in September to ask for additional money because he ran out.
As far as the "hardworking Supervisor who puts the well being of Forestburgh first and foremost", let us NOT forget where Mr. Hogue was during Hurricane Sandy on that first night when the storm started...NOWHERE TO BE FOUND while I went door to door with Richard Lorino, our previous Building Inspector, as well as Joanne Nagoda, our Town Clerk to check on our seniors and residents to take care of them first. My family, along with our Town Clerk, Joanne Nagoda and Fire Department were providing food, shelter and caring for the town residents. THAT is accountability and STRONG leadership!