Prop #1 & Prop #2 - Do not forget to Vote on Tuesday Oct. 2 6am-9pm

Anyone who has driven along Rte. 209 this weekend has seen the competing signs telling you how to vote on Tuesday.

The most important thing is that, no matter how you vote, to make sure that you VOTE.

Your vote counts.

Elections in our community have frequently come down to a few dozen vote difference.

Call your friends, call your neighbors, give your aunt's neighbor's cousin a ride if she needs one!

Just get out there and VOTE!!!

TUESDAY 6am - 9pm

Rondout High School Gym

Blog Pages on HS Project Topic: (click links below)

• HS Project Blog Page #1
• HS Project Poll #1
• HS Project Blog Page #2
• HS Project Poll #2

The baby and the bath water or... the continuing saga of the Rondout HS Facilities Project

In NY State property taxes & schools are currently inseparable, so while we put our efforts towards the reform of the entire NY system, we must work with what we got. After reading this blog you may want to learn more about how in NY public schools are funded along with the Property Tax Reform Movement by going to: Rondout Valley Property Tax Task Force. <--click link

The majority of those responding to last week's poll favor the school project. However, many comments are critical or hesitant at best. From talking to folks, it seems that very few are strongly in favor and most seem to be simply sick and tired of hearing about the project only to watch it drag on and become more expensive.

Here is some info on specific issues that folks are concerned with.

• The scope of the project with respect to the population study.

• I personally attended the Citizens Task Force meetings on this topic. While it is true that, based on our current birth rate and known population trends, the enrollment of the High School is expected to decrease in the future. It is also true that soon the current over crowding will begin to be relieved because there was a birth rate increase in late '80s through the early '90s. Planning for adequate classroom space considers not just known population values but includes planning for unforeseen change. We are a rural area with tremendous potential for residential development. Like it or not, we also are close enough to the ever expanding NYC suburban boundary to have a reasonable concern that, despite the study, our population will not permanently shrink and could even grow. Because of this realistic growth potential, the square footage of this project is reasonable.

• Green features - Is this important or a bribe to the eco-minded folks? You decide.

• From Manna Jo Greene - "Green Architects Amy Moses and Rick Alfandre will define high performance building and it value in face of rising energy costs. 4.5% of project costs will be dedicated to cost-effective energy-efficiency and other high performance building features. This will include incentives available for green building and renewable energy, cost benefits, and NY-CHPS guidelines. We are hoping RV High School will become one of the first in NY State to use the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) guidelines.... It will also set aside 4.5% of the total project costs for energy-efficient, high performance features such as super-insulating the building and the addition to save energy and utilizing a variety of other green building features. It could also include geothermal heating and cooling for the new construction, solar electric and/or hot water, and any other forms of energy efficiency or renewable energy that will pay for themselves or better over the 15-year life payback period and will continue to provide reduced operating and maintenance costs for years to come. These features will more than pay for themselves over the life of the bond and reduce our taxes by decreasing the District's operating costs -- even for the expanded project..."

• The District's Past History with Projects and Facility Management

• This one drives me crazy because the school is so seriously decayed, broken, smelly (yes, smelly!), and totally not up to modern standards or even building codes for health and safety. Our high school is a wheelchair bound person's nightmare. It is as big of a mess as the newsletter shows and perhaps even worse. Does it serve us any purpose to discuss this? Many folks believe it does, many are angry because it seems like it just gets worse. It is worth repeating again and again; The minute this project is completed it will begin to deteriorate. It is up to every citizen, taxpayer, resident, parent, teacher & student to demand that our school board maintain every facility we own.
  

• Fund Balance Questions

• This my personal big issue. NY State Law instructs school districts to hold no more than 2% of unencumbered fund balance as a, if you will, rainy day fund for non-budgeted, unanticipated expenses. Fund Balance comes from prior years where the entire budget was not spent. Because NY limits the amount of money a district can pile up in fund balance our school district has routinely funded all of its permitted reserve accounts, for instance; reserves set aside for increases in the anticipated costs of retiree health insurance, to the maximum levels permitted by law. The Rondout School District is well prepared for all sorts of financial contingencies. Based on a budget of about $55 mil we should have a fund balance of about 1.1 mil. While we do not have a current figure, it will be released in mid Oct., based on past fund balances, I estimate that we have in between 8-12 million in our fund balance!!!
  

• In my opinion, this is an illegal reserve account and THE PEOPLE should be allowed to use this money toward this project. In Proposition #2, the board agreed to release 3 mil of the fund balance towards the project. I believe that the board should be releasing all but 1.1 mil towards this project in either proposition. Assuming we have 8 mil in fund balance and the district kept 1.1 for an emergency. This would mean that Proposition #1 would cost the taxpayers nothing, zero, nada, bupkis $0.00! Proposition #2 would put 6.9 mil of fund balance into the project, which would leave the taxpayers to come up about $40.00/year per household rather than $68.00.
  

• Think about this - While the savings of $28.00 per household isn't a huge difference, the slightly lower tax rate per thousand could make a difference to a prospective business looking around for a new location!! Every little bit counts - we need our school district to return our money on this project!!!
  

Should we demand that our board reconsider this again until they get it exactly right or is this the best deal we are going to get therefore we should vote it in and thank our lucky stars we live in a country where we have both a vote and the right to discuss our options?

Note to readers - Recently, a commentator suggested that I have not posted the entire facts. I am not an expert on schools projects and I am certain that I have not included every fact there is on our HS project. I do not pretend to not have my own opinions, as a matter of fact I state them as 'my opinion'. I have created this blog to encourage folks to discuss the issue by posting your own comments, opinions and any facts you have on this important decision. I know people feel very strongly on this subject and I thank every commentator for their input.

Please take a moment to add your opinion on the poll question on the right.

Is the High School Capital Project good for us as a community?

Please use the comments button to post your thoughts anonymously.

Rondout HS Project Poll #1 Results

Are you in favor of the Rondout Valley High School $33,365,000 Capital Facilities Project?
YES! it will be good for the children, so it doesn't matter what it costs.	41% (9)
Yes, I am optimistic that a better school will save money in the long run.	23% (5)
No, it is too much money to spend, we should only do the minimum required.	32% (7)
NO! a fancy school is for rich suburban kids, the high school is good enough as is.	5% (1)
Total number of votes is 22.

$33,365,000 High School Capital Facilities Project ????

We, as the voting public of the Rondout Valley School District, are about to make a huge decision:

• Should we give the Board of Education approval to spend $33,365,000 on a High School Capital Facilities Project ?
  

Ultimately, this decision is about three things;

1. Will this High School Renovation/Improvement Project help our children be successful?

Many of the proposed renovations will simply bring the building up to code and will expand and modernize classrooms that currently lack adequate space and equipment to do such things as chemistry and biology labs. There can be no doubt that a clean new environment, without crumbling concrete stairs, old corroded windows and broken bathrooms will benefit students because cleanliness is better for their health, and safety is an absolute requirement.

Ultimately, the success or failure of students relies more on the support they receive at home, than how pretty their classroom is. But, the question remains, does a nicer school result in better grades?

One of the more well known studies was done in between 1999 and 2003 the HESCHONG MAHONE GROUP, Inc. of Fair Oaks, CA studied the effects of lighting and other physical comforts, such as ventilation, on productivity. They specifically studied students in classrooms with respect to their standardized test scores and attendance. The results were remarkable, after the data was retested and reanalyzed for accuracy, it was apparent that students exposed to the most sunlight had a 21% increase in productivity over the students with the least. Since, in corporate settings and schools, similar increases in productivity are no longer a mysterious consequence of increased sunlight but rather an anticipated result.

Perhaps the answer is simpler than a study can tell us.

If given a choice, where would you rather work? In an old office, at an dilapidated desk designed for a different job? OR In a modern office with a new work table and plenty of ventilation and sunlight? Would you be more productive in the newer office?

Should we be giving our students every opportunity we can afford in order to help them succeed?

2. Assuming everything about this project is what we want - Can we actually afford it?

This is in certain ways a personal decision. The school district has a bunch of charts and graphs on their website showing all sorts of combinations of how much this will likely cost each taxpayer. The bottom line is this: Most folks in Rochester have an average assessment of around $186,000. At that level, with Basic STAR, if both propositions pass, you will have a tax increase of about $68.00/yr. If you have No STAR, it will be about $80.00/yr. and with Senior STAR- $60.00/yr.

Is this affordable? Can your family afford an additional $5-7.00 per month to pay for this? Although none of us like taxes, most folks believe that public education is a good use for tax money.

Perhaps, the affordability question should really be - Is this a good deal, in terms of NYS coming up with their part of the deal? After reviewing the reimbursement proposal, for the standalone minimal Project # 1, NYS is scheduled to reimburse the district at a rate of 73% or $15,404,787 and for the more expansive combined Project #2, they will reimburse at a rate of 61% for a total of $20,215,595! The members of the Citizens Task Force along with the other planners have done a tremendous job in carefully using the state reimbursement schedules to get us the best deal possible. From this point of view this is a good deal!

3. Do we have faith in the Board of Education to manage the project?

• Has the Board of Education developed a plan that is cost effective both in terms of building it AND maintaining it, in the future?
• Does the plan adequately cover what is needed in order to avoid wasteful cost overruns in the form of change orders'?
• Is the Board of Education prepared to play hardball, if necessary, with the commercial building professionals from Turner and others in order to manage the spending?

These are the real tough questions. We can not even begin to discuss the school project plan with acknowledging the Enrollment Projection Study. We have a problem here! Based on a bunch of factors this well grounded, properly done study tells us that we are about to have less and less children in the high school. Unless something dramatic happens, for instance a major industry moves to our area (if only!) this downward shift in school population is almost certain. Has the proposal taken this into consideration? Does this mean we do not need this project? Let's talk about the current condition of the school and future maintenance.

This is where I get to say - It's my blog and I'll say what I want to.... In the past the district has done a horrible job of taking care of the facility. Some of the blame goes to the state for setting up the system that gives incentives only for huge renovation projects and no money towards slow steady upgrade projects done on a systematic, perhaps annual, basis. Part of the blame rests on the administration for not having aggressive building maintenance in terms of small repairs and other issues that should have been addressed from a janitorial/facility management point of view. The balance of the blame needs to be split between past school boards for a lack of foresight and leadership, poor management of the facilities and even poorer planning for not doing basic maintenance and for not anticipating and preparing for changes in building uses and academic needs.

Ultimately, it is us, the public, who are to blame for voting for school board members who have allowed this facility to become run down, unsafe, and shamefully decrepit. Have you seen the district's propaganda slide show, the school looks like buildings in places like Newark, NJ (no offense to Newarkites!). The worst part is if you go to the high school and take a tour to check it out, you'll see that it really is THAT bad!

So, can we trust them to keep up a new school?? NO Way - the only reason they ever do anything is because people complain. If this project passes, WE, THE PEOPLE, need to never allow a school board, administration and anyone in building maintenance, to let our investment decay to this condition again. We must force our board to spend their war chest of fund balance money on things like keeping our schools clean and safe, for students to learn in. It is never a savings to forgo facility maintenance, it always costs much more to fix later.

The answer to the second question is Yes, the original plan did not address the desire of the community to have a Green Building in terms of a commitment to the environment per se as well as the projected savings on utility costs based on a more efficient use of resources. As plans go, this is a pretty good design that works for us.

Ahhhhhh, my favorite part of this topic - Let me be as plain and simple as I can be about this: Commercial building professionals are evil sharks who's livelihood depends on squeezing every last nickel out of school districts like ours. Do I think the good folks from the EYP, Turner, the PR firm and others have been consciously taking advantage of us? Not really, but it is the nature of the process of doing projects, especially renovation projects, that unanticipated things always happen and they always cost more than originally planned. To blindly think that this isn't going to happen on our project is naive and silly.

CAN YOU SAY ULSTER COUNTY JAIL!!!!

What is equally silly is to imagine that our school board (unpaid volunteers who have normal day jobs, families and other commitments) and our school administrators (professionally trained educators with mission critical responsibilities running the schools) can manage a project of this size. We cannot, this is why we hired Turner Construction to manage the project. For a long time my big question has been - WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR US? Who will manage the management company? If we had considered this back in 2001 perhaps the jail would have come in on time and on budget?

The truth is that we need a building professional to act as our ombudsman or clerk of the works. I envision that lunch meetings, opera tickets and golf weekends would be prohibited. I envision a person who would keep ridiculously detailed notes of everything that happened every day. Keep track of contractors coming and going. Keep logs of material delivered and used. AND, and, and... be a diplomatic but nevertheless PITA to keep things organized, going and honest. We are in the high tech world so this person would need a portable communications device to be in synch with everyone involved with the project including the computer which his/hers assistant would enter everything into project management software. What would this cost? Is this what we need to insure that we get what we pay for? If we vote for this project we need to insist that our investment is protected from the beginning... What do you think?

Please take a moment to add your opinion on the poll question on the right.

Is the High School Capital Project good for us as a community?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.

Rochester Subdivision Law Poll Results

What should the next step be for proposed Local Law #4 - Subdivision Law and Zoning Law?
A new committee should review this and come up with fresh recommendations.	48% (13)
The Town Board should vote it in and that's that.	48% (13)
Scrap the entire thing and let the old laws be enough.	0% (0)
It doesn't matter because we are going to do what ever we want because they cannot enforce this law.	4% (1)
Total number of votes is 27.

Rural Character(s)

What the heck is 'Rural Character'?

This question has been floated around over the last few years.

Rural America certainly looks different from the suburbs or the city but what does that difference mean to those who were born in the country or folks who moved from the city to the country?

For instance, on a mid September morning, while driving down Queens Highway, three guys look at the same view entirely differently.

• The young local guy is driving his silver 2005 GMC diesel pick-up. He grew up farming, and now works in construction when he isn't volunteering down at the fire house. To make some extra money, he manages to hay a couple of fields and sell cord wood because he wants to build a modular home on a lot his Grandfather left for him. He looks at the field and notices that the farmer has a new mower. He thinks, "Ayup, I'm going to need a new mower soon. I should stop by his place and check his out". He looks out onto the horizon and sees a few sprays of yellow foliage which make him smile. Fall means deer and turkey season. Hunting is good for his soul.
  

• The retired fellow drives a 2002 Green Subaru Forester. He and his wife moved here 40 years ago when he got a job at IBM. Now, they go to Florida for a couple of months every winter and live here the rest of the time. He looks across and thinks, "Winter is right around the corner, I need to call my neighbor and ask him to drop off a couple of cords of wood." He looks out onto the horizon and smiles because fall means that the grand kids will come visit to go to Kelders's Farm for pumpkins and Halloween corn. Grand kids are good for his soul.
  

• The weekender is stylish in his showroom fresh 2008 Metallic Blue Buick Enclave. He is on his way to Saunderskill Farm to get some bread and a pie. He passes the field and notices the Gunks in the background. He thinks about how lucky he is to be here. He scans the horizon and sees what looks like an eagle. "What could be better than to get involved in saving this beautiful place from becoming just like every other ugly suburb." Fall means inviting friends up to the country for delicious dinners in front of the fire place. Weekends in Accord are good for his soul.
  

Three men, one farm, one view, three different rural characters? What these men do not know is exactly how interdependent they really are.

Over the past few years the young local guy worked on scores of houses all over town. From mundane lawn cutting to being part of building a million dollar home he has helped make life better for dozens of folks. Local guys play critical roles as craftsmen, artisans, laborers and contractors. They fix cars, repair wells and will check on your place after a storm. As farmers, store owners and restaurateurs local guys feed the masses and then, as firemen or on the rescue squad, they show up to save you when you dial 911!!!

The retired fellow and his wife have been married for 47 years and have two grown children. Their son is an electrical engineer and lives just outside of Boston. Their daughter teaches fourth grade in Rosendale and her husband is a district manager for Cumberland Farms. They have two grand children, a boy and a girl. Like many retirees around, this couple provides day to day economic stability as they regularly go to the market, hardware store, bank and diner. Between he and his wife, they volunteer about six hours a week at the Church, Friends of Historic Rochester and the Food Pantry. His volunteer efforts and his steady reliance on local guys and businesses for everything from home repairs, car tune-ups to a couple of cords of wood provide for a strong and stable community.

The weekender, ahhhh, the weekender, everyone's favorite guy to pick on. Yeah, he can be thoughtless, he doesn't know a thing about living in the country and what's with that car.... it's shinier than the bald spot on his head! The weekender provides a couple of things that we all benefit from. First is money, and over time, we are talking lots of money. What's the first thing a weekender does? Spend money on their house; there is always a bathroom that needs to be gutted, a new kitchen installed, porches rebuilt and paint doesn't just put itself up! Next there is the maintenance; sprinklers, lawns, snow removal, cleaning, landscaping, pool work - the list goes on and on. Then, of course it's time to eat, and eat and eat! This money spent is very good for our community but is there anything else the weekenders provide? Maybe, it depends on your point of view. Clearly, weekenders often bring an upscale, hip, some might use the old fashioned term 'yuppy', values up with them. Amongst these values is a strong commitment to the environment and a desire to preserve the natural beauty and history that surrounds them here.

Hey, wait a second, doesn't the local guy hunt, doesn't he love the outdoors and the last I spoke with him, he said he wanted to get married and raise his kids here because it is safe. Aren't those the same things the rich dude wants; to be in the country, where it's safe while surrounded by nature? What about the old guy and his wife - all they want is to age gracefully, live where it's clean and to be safe?

We have a trend going here, don't we?

Maybe, just maybe, rural character isn't about apple pie, old houses, farm stands, views or even being a good old boy with a pick up truck.

Maybe rural character is really about something we actually already share - the desire to, even if it is just on the weekend, live simply, quietly and at peace with nature - even if that is defined by blasting a tiny corner of nature with a little bird shot early on a Saturday morning.

Think about this, Mother Nature is good for our town's soul!

Is preserving nature good for us as a community?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.

alrighty, that public hearing went well...

Reverend Dr. Sun Myung Moon
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
4 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036

Re: Moonie Camp - Metachohonts Road, Accord, NY

Dear Rev. Moon:

First of all please let me apologize to you and your fellow Moonies for the actions of my community. We were wrong to try to ban together to pressure our town government to pass zoning and other codes to allow us to shut your camp down. At the time, we used zoning, planning and local government home rule to exert undue pressure on you and your followers causing your unfortunate departure from our lovely and hospitable community.

Since then, we have determined that government should do as little as possible because government is never a good idea. We are trying to win back our town in our next election so we can get rid of all these horrible new laws and, hopefully, the old ones too! Soon, we will have a law free paradise just like our founding fathers envisioned.

I look forward to those long nights of bonfires and dancing amongst your lively high spirited worshippers. I now understand that we were wrong to call your group a cult, because it is clear that you guys are just a big extended peace loving family. Without any noise of other bad restrictions, limiting your members creativity, you will be able to do whatever you please, when ever you please.

I have to warn you that your campground has been bulldozed under and all your buildings will need to be rebuilt. Right now, it is virtually impossible for you to set up in your old camp because the new laws are so restrictive. However, very soon, you will be able to build anything you want, and more or less where ever you want without restriction.

We all await your return to Accord, NY. Maybe this time you can bring even more worshippers and really fill the camp area to its full Moonerific potential.

Clearly, it is in our best interest to vote for no taxes, no laws and no government in Rochester on Nov. 6, 2007.

Are you looking forward to the return of the Moonies?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.

Neighbors and local government...

This evening, our town board will once again discuss the new zoning law as the Public Hearing continues.

For many, if not most, folks, the process has become tiresome and it seems like people are fighting over things to just fight. After all, most people do not end up buying/selling land or building subdivisions so this shouldn't effect them, should it?

For those actively engaged in the public debate the sentiment ranges from wanting our building and planning departments to be fully involved in all projects, no matter how small, to an even greater degree than the proposed new law covers. The other end of the spectrum have those who feel that public planning and zoning violates their belief that government should play the absolute least possible role in the lives of the citizenry.

Is this debate largely philosophical? ---or---

Are there day to day planning and zoning issues that effect average people?

Should our local government, by means of Code Enforcement of new and existing Zoning and Planning Law, regulate things like...

• my neighbor had a bulldozer come in, they cleared off and paved over a huge area for his work yard, and now, every time it rains, even a little, their water flows right into my yard, what should I do?

• I have over an acre, does it really matter where I place my septic tank with respect to my neighbor's well and visa versa?

• why should anyone care about my chimney height for my fireplace, wood burning stove, corn, coal, biomass or pellet furnace?

• we're going to just drain off that mostly swampy field and put in a trailer for my mother in law or my cousin's family or maybe I'll just rent it out?
  

• I am going to build a 4 story tall concrete castle and paint it hot pink. I don't care what my hick neighbors think because that's what I like and I can afford it?
  

• what's the problem, I really, really, really like dogs so every time I see one who is lost, I bring it home and take real good care of it?

• if I own the land, the trees and even the bulldozers, I should be allowed to cut as many trees as I want, whenever I want, and sell them to whoever I want, right?

• my neighbor's son used to play around with cars in the driveway. Now, he's older, his hobby has turned into a business and he has all sorts of power tools and engines running really late at night, is there anything I can do to get some peace and quiet?

• wind power is good for the environment and I was told that Central Hudson even pays you for your extra electricity, so I am going to start out with a couple of those big white wind turbines and see how it goes, OK?

• my new neighbor, from the city, just put up security lights, as if they live in Fort Knox. I work real hard and used to be able to come home, go out back, pop open a cold one and just watch the stars. This new guy has ruined this with his lights, is there anything I can do?

Where do you think the line should be drawn?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.

Let's talk about tourism...

For over 100 years, tourism has been one of our major industries. It was estimated that during the 1950's, at the height of the summer season, our population was three times more than in mid-winter. That translated into a lot of money and jobs for our local economy. With other travel options available, the borscht belt slowly became unfashionable and the days of Henny Youngman or Danny Kaye selling out a ballroom in a local hotel are but distant memories.

The First Tourism Transformation

The idea of weekenders as residents was born in the 60's and 70's. Young adults who once attended camps or stayed at the hotels, bungalows or guest houses as kids now started buying old farms, parcels of land and even old camps and bungalows and transforming them into vacation homes. For many, especially apartment dwelling city folks, their weekend getaway home was their primary real estate investment.

Are Weekenders good for our community?
Do Weekender dollars bring jobs? Good jobs?
Do Weekenders cost the community in terms of infrastructure, school costs or services?
What is the downside to Weekenders?

The New/Future Tourism Transformation

Investors and development companies are already planning out what they believe is our future - Mega Private Resorts for the Ultra Elite. The sale of Williams Lake to a group of development companies, who plan to build 100-200 gated condominium resort units in the million dollar price range, coupled with similar plans, and price ranges, being drawn up for the Hudson Valley Resort, surrounding a regulation PGA golf course, starts to make Mohonk Mountain House look like the low rent district of resorts!!

Are these new super elite gated private resorts good for us?
Will these resorts bring jobs? Good jobs?
Will these resorts cost our community in terms of infrastructure, school costs or services?
What is the downside of these super elite private gated resorts?

What are your thoughts on Tourism?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.

What is important to you and Why?

Here in the Town of Rochester we have more than our fair share of controversies.

The big one right now seems to be the new zoning law but we certainly have our share of others; some feel that their elected officials don't listen or understand, some feel that they are assessed unfairly, the race track remains a noise issue to some, some want our town government to do more to protect the environment, some want the town government to do less of everything and of course there are the issues with the schools; high taxes and low school ratings.

What is important to you?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.

The Birth of a BLOG - Town of Rochester, Ulster County, NY - 2007

As the Town of Rochester boldly heads for Election 2007 we are a town divided. Before we have an all out civil war, perhaps this is a good time for a few folks to do some real talking in an unreal place - this Blog.

This blog will exist throughout the 2007 election season for people express themselves anonymously.

For this to be a open place of ideas there are a few simple rules of the road posted below.

Here are a few questions to kick things off:

If change is inevitable, what changes do we really have a choice in and what will we never be able to control?

What would we change if we could?

What do we wish would never change?

Please use the comment button to post your thoughts anonymously.