Letters (9/26-10/3)

Republican attacks on deputy superintendent twist the truth

Once again, the Republican Party has shown their true colors and has put their little letter writing committee to work. They have people write letters bashing candidates with lies, hearsay, innuendo, and twisted truth. There is no regard for the real truth as evidenced by the mere fact that they make no attempt to find it. They do not question any of the information they are fed, but instead put pen to paper with inaccurate statements, thereby misleading the public.

How do I know? I was personally attacked by Mr. Guerin. He doesn’t know me, has never met me, but believes he has the right to speak out publicly against me. Not once did he reach out to verify his very inaccurate information. If Mr. Guerin had done his research, he would have discovered that I began plowing snow when I was 19 years old, working for F.R. Meyer and Son Construction. I plowed Jamesway, Fehr Brothers and Method Tool. He would have also discovered that I have never had duties or responsibilities taken away from me. I am heavily involved the operations and future planning of the department and am responsible for the daily operations in the absence of the superintendent. Mr. Guerin also incorrectly spoke of my salary. His statement was twisted to meet his immediate agenda. I doubt that Mr. Guerin even knows that I take no medical benefits from the town, thereby saving the town thousands of dollars. How could he know that when he didn’t bother to ask? I do admit for the record that I receive a $1,000 buyout for not taking medical benefits and longevity pay for years of service, but adamantly dispute Mr. Guerin’s claims that I make an annual salary of $100,000 per year. Perhaps the actual reason for Mr. Guerin’s attack on me, as Superintendent Myer’s choice for deputy superintendent, hits a bit closer to home. Perhaps the fact that Superintendent Myer cancelled the lease on a rental property (that the town was paying $24,000 per year), which just so happens to be owned by the Guerin Family, has something to do with it. Whatever the reason, the public deserves to know the truth. The public deserves to know Mr. Guerin’s personal attack is unfounded and based on false information and a misrepresentation of the facts.

Steve Gakenheimer
Deputy Superintendent of Highways

Numbers don’t lie (if you know how to read them)

This response is to the letter that is riddled with lies from Michael E. Catalinotto in last week’s edition of this publication.

In his letter, Mr. Catalinotto is misconstruing the information presented from freedom of information requests. He states: “The present highway superintendent billed fema for 1930 hours, at $20 per hour, that his secretary worked during an entire year.”

This is not the information that the foil response stated. The amount of time billed to fema was greatly different than the secretary’s total time worked for the town which is the 1930 hours he is referring to. The secretary’s total hours were paid out of the town’s general disbursing account. Only time actually spent on a specific project can be billed to fema. Therefore, total hours spent on for instance “Band Camp Road Site # 2 fema major project” were billed to fema. fema reimbursements will go back into the H00 5110.100 “Hurricane Irene Rebuild” payroll line when they are received. Also, the hourly rate of pay is a fabrication, at no time has the person Mr. Catalinotto is referring to had an hourly rate of $20 per hour.

The secretary Mr. Catalinotto is referring to in this article was actually hired as a general “clerk” for the town of Saugerties to assist with the fema projects documentation, therefore in 2012 this person referred to was not the secretary. A clerk is a general clerical worker and therefore can be used doing any kind of clerical work. The change of job title occurred in 2013.

So, for the record, only actual hours spent on a specific project were billed to fema for this clerk, every hour accounted for, and approved by New York State Office of Emergency Management personnel and again by fema personnel. At project closeout, vouchers, checks, payroll records, time cards, project contracts and documents, etc. are reviewed with a fine-tooth comb by the nysoem and any questions are answered. This is usually a 2-3 day process. The town will not have to reimburse fema and/or nysoem for anything because they were never over billed.

Moving on to the statements made by Mr. Catalinotto about the assistant superintendent, the title actually being the “Deputy Superintendent of Highways.” Again, there is a lot of truth stretching going on here. It is true that this person made nearly $100,000 in 18 months. It is also true that it was a mild winter, but that is not the only time this person gets paid overtime. If there is a windstorm, severe thunderstorm, automobile accident or even a hurricane, if the deputy responds he gets overtime. This is normal practice for working out of your normal work shift and is also “past practice” for the former two Deputy Highway Superintendents. It is also noteworthy that the deputy was not hired off the street just because he was my friend. The deputy has worked for the Highway Department for 16 years, and was a leadman when I took office. This history with the department has provided me with a vast knowledge of the work that has gone on in times past and has proved invaluable.

In conclusion, my budgetary numbers do not lie. Myself and my staff have gone above and beyond to reduce costs within our department. Because to be frank, we are all taxpayers too!

Douglas F. Myer
Highway superintendent

GOP claims against Myer are false

I was a member of the committee that interviewed potential candidates for the Saugerties Democratic Committee. When Mr. Mayone was interviewed for highway, he was asked if he had any experience with fema, and in particular managing fema contracts. His response was “no.” As a contractor Mr. Mayone had applied for fema work, but had never won a fema contract. He was then asked how he would manage fema contracts if he were elected. He stated that he would keep the people currently in the department who were working on the contracts, specifically the highway secretary and the second in command.

These are the same people who are being falsely accused of misdeeds by the Republicans in letters to the editor.

Doug Myer was recommended as the Democratic Party candidate for highway supervisor because he has the experience to do the job, including managing fema contracts. The U.S. Government looks for ways to not pay out fema money. Their forms need to be meticulously filled out for the town to receive fema money. And fema wants all the documentation filled out correctly, too. For the Republicans to imply that fema was handled incorrectly is patently false.

The Republicans want to defeat Doug because he won’t do their bidding, pure and simple.

Doug is doing a good job and deserves to be reelected.

Beth Murphy
Saugerties

Mayone gets my vote

Thank You, Mr. Harkavy for confirming my choice for highway superintendent. This Nov. 5, I plan to cast my vote for the true man that has integrity and will work for all the taxpayers. Ray Mayone is the man for me!

Let’s examine the facts. Mr. Harkavy stated that he agreed to no mud-slinging or finger-pointing during this campaign. Well, it is quite obvious you had your finger pointing right at Mr. Mayone in your most recent letter in the Saugerties Times Sept. 19 issue. Does this make you a man of your word? Stop the nonsense about Bishop’s Gate Subdivision. This subdivision was inspected and approved by town engineers and past highway superintendents. Therefore, the work was completed to their satisfaction and the roads were taken over by the town. So, isn’t it obvious that Mr. Mayone did as he was instructed to do? It is a beautiful subdivision that is filled with terrific people and has been a benefit to our town and tax base. The people of Bishop’s Gate don’t deserve the negative politics. In addition, Mr. Myer should be concerning himself with the maintenance in Bishop’s Gate which is his responsibility. As a resident and homeowner in Bishop’s Gate, these intentional misrepresentations may cost the residents losses of our real property values. If these potential loses do occur, those who created these intentional lies will be held monetarily responsible by those of us homeowners in Bishop’s Gate who suffer property value loses because of their intentional acts. Furthermore, if this was such a concern of Mr. Myer why does he wait until June of this year to address it? Funny, how it was such a concern right before the Republican Caucus. I would surely say that, Mr. Myer and Mr. Harkavy, has negative politics written all over it.

Albert Hrdlicka
Saugerties

Mayone has integrity, vision, experience

I have the honor of writing to endorse Ray Mayone for highway superintendent. I have been friends with Ray and his family for over ten years. He is the most qualified candidate running and Saugerties will benefit because of his capabilities. He is a lifelong resident who has the working knowledge and background and will strengthen the department. He owns and has owned a very successful business. He had a vision for vacant farmland in Saugerties and through hard work and determination Bishop’s Gate development is the reality.

Ray’s overall deep knowledge of highway construction is incomparable. He leads by example and has the determination to make the decisions that need to be made. His ability to reach out or be approached by others will help him to form and maintain strong lasting relationships. There is no other person that deserves this position more. Ray’s character is one that is built on integrity. He is kind, generous, hardworking, forthright, and trustworthy. It is with great pleasure that I ask you to join me in voting for Ray Mayone for superintendent of highways.

Shirley M. Catalano
Saugerties