Wednesday, May 4, 2016

CSEA CITES CONTRACTUAL VIOLATION BY MAYOR

Mayor Noble hired a new grants manager.  However, instead of following the contract and placing her at Step 1, he placed her at Step 6.  Having gone through the CSEA process himself, the Mayor was fully aware of the process.  Yet, it was ignored.

Basically, she was paid more than she was entitled under the contract, i.e. a gift of public funds.

In the Freeman article, the Mayor said he knew nothing about the complaints.  I happen to know, however, that CSEA President left multiple messages for the Mayor on this matter that were not returned.

Howard Baul, a higher level union official, is planning to request documentation (I presume through FoIL) about the hiring.  Perhaps he should look at the time records recorded and actual hours worked.  He might find something interesting.  You just never know.

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's not the unions job to look at "time and attendence". However it should be the attorney general's.
This also happened under the Sottile administration only to a much greater extent

Historically, those jobs were exempt from civil service. My understanding is she isn't paying union dues or agency fee. So if she isn't paying dues she's not covered under the contract.

Anonymous said...

Time for a resignation.

Anonymous said...

noble should resign he is way in over his head. He preaches "transparency" does he know what the word means?

Anonymous said...

Yea, sure..he didn't get the phone calls..Perhaps his confidential secretary is so confidential she didn't give him the messages. He is non-committal on a lot of issues..don't know what he is waiting for...For God's sake, take a stand on something. Seems to be more comfortable doing photo ops with children and doing environmental events. Not so much the heavy stuff...He still has made no personal opinion on the indoor shooting range. I am still waiting to see an aspiring leader. Somebody with motivation.. He seems hogtied with the extreme liberal factions in the city. Almost like they bought and paid for him.

Anonymous said...

Can`t wait for the next press conference

Anonymous said...

Have to agree 5:27. Going as far left as he is will be his downfall. With him taking advice from people like Rebecca Martin and Dunn he doesn't stand a chance to get re-elected. Will have to moderate the next few years. RAM will not be happy when she doesn't get everything she wants.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, so stuff like this goes on whilst the civil service office at city hall is AWOL about most things--or impotent against a Mayor as we saw in the last Mayor's instance.
Civil service was a great idea that first came into vogue federally in 1871 and not too long thereafter in New York State. In Kingston, it has YET to fulfill anything CLOSE to its promises of "levelling the playing field."
Nothing new for Kingston, alas.

Anonymous said...

6:16: He will probably let his new press secretary, aka..Communication Director, do the next press conference. He has surrounded himself with peeps to intercede at all venues. Am I the only one who sees this position to be a waste of taxpayers dollars? How did city hall survive all these years without that position? Should have used that money & hired a better grants director/manager with massive experience and someone who would get good results. Have no confidence in current appointee's abilities. Perhaps it is how she was hired....was not really a competitive process...This resume process is a farce to fool the populace of his "good intentions" to be inclusive and transparent. I never saw any advertisements in local want ads or professional journals. Was such a buzz word with no substance.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

And who will run against him? Republicans had a chance but their former Chair worked against their candidate. Who do they have left? I doubt Ron runs again. Andi has not expressed interest. I am not going to run. Who else do they have?

The dem committee is dominated by the left. So, beating him in a primary is unlikely.

He was foisted upon us and we are likely stuck with him.

Andrew Champ-Doran said...

Mr. Cahill,

As you will recall, at the request of KingstonCitizens, then-candidate Noble promised that one of his first acts in office would be to look into the possibility of changing to a City Manager-controlled government. The City Manager would be hired and fired by the Common Council, and serve at their pleasure. Your vote for mayor would be for a ceremonial figurehead.

Do you know if he's acted on that?

Andrew Champ-Doran

Anonymous said...

Rich. I have to agree with 6:16 on all points. I think if you put anyone up against him the city well unite

Anonymous said...

The civil service office at the City and County are both ripe for corruption. That is why job discriptions get changed at a drop of a hat in the city. And in the county Mike Hein was able to put his stooge union president in s $70,000.00 a year position he is totally unqualified for. It's very depressing the Dems are forcing people to move away and be replaced by the liberals that have infected our City. Those civil service position serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and county exec. That needs to change.

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

No idea.

Anonymous said...

The city civil service office is a joke. She does the bidding of the current Mayor. Covering for him and avoiding questions....all with her helpful personality...Not!

Anonymous said...

If the election were held tomorrow I would agree. A lot can happen in four years.

Anonymous said...

5:16. Isn't it time for her to go out on tour again ? Nice when she is away and not firing up the liberal activists under the guise of helping Kingston.(for her agenda). or is Ms.Noble calling the shots when Martin is out of town. This administration is so heavily influenced by contributors to his campaign. Martin was listed as one of the major contributors. She even sang at his inaugural event.

Anonymous said...

WAKE UP PEOPLE! Normal Democrats, Republicans and Conservatives will unite but why wait for the mayoral election? Is Ward 3 running a special election in November? Why not start with that? Aldermanic elections are next year, no need to wait for 2019 to cripple this administration. These loonies are not representative of the entire city, what they have is ORGANIZATION: They sit on boards, business associations, etc, have a long list of emails and post things on their blog that is taken as gospel (although if you take the time to read it, you'll see it's fluff and can easily be be challenged). They're boiler-plate community organizers, nothing more.

Anonymous said...

He could resign and spare me the singing.

Anonymous said...

Did "mayor noble" resign in writing from his previous position with the city before he became "mayor"?

kerfuffle said...

Focus on Ethics Violations for now. Worry about the grant writing staff later. It takes time to botch an entire portfolio of pending grant applications. Took Swanzey several years to catch up with previous SNAFUs. Meanwhile, this week, "Citizen" Brad Will appeared before the planning board on behalf of Irish Cultural Center. His piece of the action is roughly 7-12%, several hundred thousand dollars. The "waiver" he allegedly got from Ethics Board, may not actually exist. It appears from documents received Monday, that the Ethics Board never discussed the matter of a waiver. Considering ICC's request for a Zoning Law change, the Common Council's revolving door raises big eyebrows.

Anonymous said...

What is going on in this political election year? Now we have an issue with Bob Bishop's fraudulent signatures on his petitions for Congressman of the 19th district. Democrats cheated with campaign donations and now a Republican cheating on petition signatures. Politics are going into the cesspool. No wonder Trump is ripe for getting nominated....got to get a better pool to pick candidates from....

Anonymous said...

So what is CSEA doing about this sitting around

Anonymous said...

What should they be doing? 8:26 says she doesn't pay dues. If she is paying dues then the union should represent her. Not go after her.

Anonymous said...

so Rich, being a former alderman, what is your take on the sales tax debacle....Noble vs Hein? Have you had the chance to read the "formula"? Not sure if the kid is getting good advice or even knows the true consequences for the city in the third year of the plan (agreement)

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

Bad deal. Poorly handled.

Had I been Mayor, I would NEVER have announced that the city would not exercise its right to left its own sales tax.

That was the ace card. Why give away your best weapon before negotiating?

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

Bad deal. Poorly handled.

Had I been Mayor, I would NEVER have announced that the city would not exercise its right to left its own sales tax.

That was the ace card. Why give away your best weapon before negotiating?

Anonymous said...

The Council must vote this deal down. When most of the legislators love the deal, except the ones representing Kingston, has to be a bad deal for the City.

Anonymous said...

The Council members don't even understand the consequences three years out for the City and how poorly this agreement was drafted. They probably didn't even read it and will simply "nod" their heads in agreement with the kid mayor. He is clueless and is the weak link in the negotiations of sales tax agreement. Aside from David Donaldson verbally being against the legislation, the resolution will pass on the county level; the City Common Council will also pass it. Our city legislators should unite and protest. Loughran has already stated "whatever the mayor wants" is fine by him but he probably didn't bother to read the document either. Pay attention to who supports this agreement because they are not good representatives for the City.

Anonymous said...

How do you "know" that the union president left him messages. Where you there when he did?

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

Is it not obvious?

Anonymous said...

Same with Hein on county civil service. Does whatever he wants with that office. Sure it's the same on the state level. Maybe the AG should investigate that.

Anonymous said...

Hein should be investigated along with Cardinale, Clement and Arubach

Anonymous said...

Any Alderperson that votes in favor of the PROPOSED sale tax agreement should follow their vote with their resignation.

Anonymous said...

See "mayor Steve Noble" found it important to proclaim bike week but forgot or maybe doesn't fit into his agenda., Polie Week or Building Safety month.....very telling.

Anonymous said...

Yes, kid mayor jumps in the photo for the Town of Ulster fishing access pier along the Esopus Creek. I ask "Where is the City's fishing pier that we spent months tracking the grant progress kid mayor screwed up on?" Photo opportunities and contests seem to be what is important for the City. Did anyone bother to get permission from the Historic Landmarks Commission to place the bike rack on City Hall property because it is, in case no one noticed, a historical landmark? Minor details.
Maybe Ms. Wilson worked on the grant for Cornell Cooperative when no one was looking at her city time and attendance records. Just saying...

Anonymous said...

The fishing dock is at the city of Kingston transfer station. Rotting away.

Anonymous said...

I think the kid mayor carries a city hall credit card in his pocket as he seems to whip it out to pay for everything...or he sells city property for a $1 here, a dollar there

Anonymous said...

All you armchair quarterbacks on here should be put in a video game called "Sales Tax Stress The Moment You Are Elected", and then see how YOU fare. Bet my bottom dollar not a one of you would fare any better(in fact probably much much worse) but are good at being a bunch of crybabies and bullies and name-callers from the sidelines. You would all likely be eaten by the Evil Smiler, or some such thing before you had a chance to flee the Evil Smiler standing on top of his glass menagerie. Game Over!!! Better luck next time!!! Get those armchair hands ready to react more quickly next time!! Oh, and then you can play the game of "Municipal Merger". This is a video game where you try to merge Kingston and Ulster but the evil political barons don't want any change and try to eat you up before you draw up new ward lines. Good luck on that one too!!!! HAH!!

Richard T. Cahill Jr. said...

You need to take your medication.

Anonymous said...

Wow!4:40 Are you on medication? If not, you need to be. That is some rant. You are starting to sound like Kanye West.

Anonymous said...

That's very cool. Post a comment then issue an ad hominem attack. Very cool indeed. Class act. Just like Kingston.