County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach has discovered that a cell phone missing from the crime victims’ assistance unit in the probation department racked up more than 17,000 minutes over the last two years at a cost to the county of some $780. Authorities are looking for an individual with a tin ear.
Auerbach, apparently a frustrated newspaper editor, couldn’t resist this suggested headline on his press release: “From assisting crime victims to being a victim.” Way back in June 2009, Auerbach cited widespread use of county-owned cell phones as a problem area that needed to be addressed. What gives (other than taxpayers)?
The “taxpayer-first” Hein administration can move with amazing alacrity at times, especially in its dealings with the legislature. Maybe Auerbach should give them another call re: cell phones.
Looking for love
Kingston Democratic Chairman Frank Cardinale confirms he’s a candidate for county committee chairman, while former Town of Ulster supervisor Nick Woerner says he’s “interested.” (Clue: He’s made his pitch to at least four town Democratic committees.) Former chairman John Parete of Olive has been approached. It would appear that Democrats are not exactly forming a long line to replace Julian Schreibman, who resigned his chairmanship a month ago to run for Congress. The county committee is expected to convene to elect an interim chairman in a few weeks.
After backing former alderman Hayes Clement in the Democratic mayoral primary against winner Shayne Gallo, Cardinale is persona non grata at City Hall. A change in scenery might do the former alderman some good.
Woerner, 27, lost a lot worse than he won, the latest an embarrassing defeat for city alderman. Those experiences may prove useful in recruiting candidates for county offices.
Regardless of who succeeds Cardinale as city chairman, the mayor is traditionally head of the party. The aforementioned Blaber has expressed interest in running after two failed school-board attempts. If so, he might be more careful about which cars he writes tickets on.
Long distance, please
County Legislator Rob Parete’s video-voting fromCancun last month had fellow legislators in something of a dither. In a body that can’t even make its microphones work most of the time, this high-tech venture sent off all kinds of warning lights. With the future in their faces, they’ll come up with some kind of policy about video voting within the next few months.
The question is whether legislators taking part in a meeting outside of chambers, maybe thousands of miles away, is the same as being there. It’s not, said Parete, since returned home, but it’s better than nothing. Parete said he could hear just about everything that went on — except when the mics went out — and cast his vote when required.
