This taxing situation will have political consequences. Dutchess legislature Chairman Rob Rolison could be the Republican nominee trying to unseat first-term state Sen. Terry Gipson. Democrat Gipson, along with other Dutchess state reps, lobbied for the special state aid that eliminated the energy tax Rolison and Republicans had imposed on Dutchess residents.
Given this experience, the good news for Ulster is that the possibility of government leaders on our side of the river exacting such a tax becomes extremely remote.
Lawyer alert
A few weeks ago, County Attorney Bea Havranek put out what amounted to a help-wanted ad for lawyers to apply for an administrative position in the county’s economic development agency. Was Havranek seeking to augment her already well-appointed staff, or add to the coterie of lawyers surrounding the county executive?
No. The Office of Business Services (OBS) under the direction of lawyer Suzanne Holt, a former assistant to the county executive, was seeking applicants for the position of business services administrator. “Attorneys,” the notice noted, “are encouraged to apply,” adding that “the successful candidate will not be working as an attorney or authorized to work as an attorney in this administrative position.”
This administrative position with no responsibility for providing legal services will pay $70,000 a year. Benefits usually add another 30 percent or so. Quite a plum.
Deadline for applications was last Friday, though extensions might be granted if the right person comes along, assuming someone wasn’t promised the job before the recruitment notices went out.
Legislators had no say in this selection. They might question why the new-hire administrator would be paid at the level of most department heads and why they needed an attorney for a job your average college business major would gladly accept for half the offered salary.
And finally
A belated happy birthday to Kingston historian Ed Ford, a sprightly 96 on April 15. It was announced at last week’s Kingston Buried Treasures series session, which Ford attends every month, that the $10,000 fund drive to recreate a City Hall lunette in his honor has gone over the top. Some of that money came from receipts from February’s annual Washington Day dinner at the Old Dutch Church. Ford is a longtime member of the church.
