By now, many of you have seen the story on the Freeman web page revealing that the shared services agreement between the County and City on tourism --which would save taxpayer money-- has been approved by the County Legislature but has stalled in the Kingston Common Council. Why has it stalled?
Here is the official explanation from Alderman Tom Hoffay, the majority leader.
"At Tuesday’s meeting of the Kingston Laws and Rules Committee, however, Common Council Majority Leader Thomas Hoffay said the matter should be shifted to the council’s Finance/Economic Development Committee. Hoffay, D-Ward 2, who chairs that committee, said that because the agreement would have a financial impact on city taxpayers, it should be reviewed by his committee."
This is hogwash. The Finance Committee must be involved if the proposal requires additional spending of taxpayer money, but not necessarily if money is to be saved. The Alderman-at-Large decided the appropriate committee and it should have been passed.
So, what is the real reason for the delay? The answer involves a little "Inside Baseball". It goes back to the Democrat Primary for Mayor in 2011. Tom Hoffay was the leading force behind the Hayes Clement campaign. As a result, Alderman Hoffay and Mayor Gallo --to put it lightly-- do not like one another.
Consequently, now that Shayne has become Mayor Gallo, we have seen Alderman Hoffay quietly block a few things proposed by the Mayor for seemingly innocuous reasons. Now, Hoffay has temporarily blocked this latest proposal. Kingston taxpayers stand to save about $40,000 while county taxpayers stand to save $15,000.00.
People are largely unaware of the inside baseball within the Common Council. Having served on the body, I can tell you that the real reason things are supported or opposed often have nothing to do with the public comments and are too often personal and frankly silly.
Did I ever play politics on the Council? Sure, I did; however, I never did so in a way that blocked potential savings to the taxpayers. There is a time for political baseball, but never at the expense of the taxpayers.
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18 comments:
Tom Hoffay should never have been voted in as majority leader,he is bringing the new aldermen down a slippery slope. Hoffay is proving to be nothing but an obstructionist to the Gallo administration thus far and clearly he has ulterior motives.
Alderman Hoffay lives in a big old glass house and should seriously think about playing "pontiff" with the Mayor. The new alderman havent been around long enough to remember all of the baggage that Hoffay has trailing behind him.
When they get that done they should consolidate the city purchasing into the county. The city does not need its own buyer. Waste of money.
When they get that done they should consolidate the city purchasing into the county. The city does not need its own buyer. Waste of money.
Tom Hoffay should consider himself lucky to have had an opponent that was young and inexperienced or he more than likely would not have won in his ward. He is not a popular alderman. This new position of his as finance chairman has gone to his head, and if he continues to play politics with a mayor that is gaining popularity daily, it will only hurt him and his career in the future.
Rich, perhaps Hoffay is blocking this proposal to save Katie Cook's job...you know she's part of the uptown crowd. And in this city, where you live and who you're related to trumps qualifications and common sense.
9:07,
No. Ms. Cook's position is to be retained by the County. That was part of the deal.
Hoffay is just blocking Gallo for petty reasons.
Clearly mr. Hoffay is harboring resentment towards our Mayor, this is now becoming common practice from Hoffay.
In case anybody DIDNT know, Tom Hoffay was the brains behind the Hayes Clement camp from day one. Hoffay was hoping to be the defacto Mayor behind Clement, however Mr. Clement lost. Hoffay still wants to be the man in charge and is trying to flex a little, but really in the long run it is Mayor Gallo that dispenses the blacktop to the respective wards, you know what I mean?
It woulds serve the good aldermen well if they learned quickly that the Mayor's office can do more for thier wards than Mr. Hoffay can. Besides, Hoffay was lucky to have won in his ward this time around, next year the Gallo camp wont have any distractions and can put some serious time in to unseat Mr. Hoffay...it wont be hard.
Rich.
News Flash.... I agree with you 100% percent.
Rich,
News Flash I agree with you 100%
Well, It may appear this is Tommy Boys last term...... As the Black Panthers said 'If you don't move we will move you! And right now the Mayor is Chairman Newton!
Tommy Oh Tommy why don't you let it be? Trying to block Shayne's legislation oh can't you see? You are not the big Kahuna you used to be. Sit up hunker down.. For it is the Front Office you will never be. Gallo giving out blacktop left and right it's to bad that Deb Brown can see the light. Cat's multiplying 1 2 3 there is no end in sight. Tommy oh Tommy try and get it right.
6:13. You under estimate the new council members. They have their own minds to make informed decisions. Hoffay wields less influence than you think. and yes, I think his days are numbered. He has had his fingers into too many pies.
Rich, thanks for the insight, but I must correct you. Hiring Kate Cook is specifically NOT part of the deal on the part of the Ulster County Legislature. That is something that Mike Hein is doing all on his own. We do not know what he is getting for this, but it is not a good deal for the County to hire this person. Having this person a part of the deal makes it a bad deal for the County and a good deal for the City of Kingston. Please tell Alderman Hoffay to keep holding it up, we don't want her. Hein made a bad deal for the County taxpayers.
Thank you for the insight. However hiring Kate Cook was specifically NOT part of the deal approved by the Ulster County Legislature. It is something that Hein will be doing on his own. Including her salary does not make it a good deal for the County. Please tell Alderman Hoffay to keep voting against it. It is bad for the County Taxpayers. What is Hein getting out of this? The Legislature did not approve her.
9:02/9:04,
The Daily Freeman 3/12/2012 reported that the deal . . .
"calls for the city to provide $30,000 a year to the county to provide advertising and promotional services specifically for Kingston.
The county Tourism Department, in turn, will move into the city’s Heritage Area Visitors’ Center on lower Broadway, which Hein said will improve the visibility of the county tourism office. He said it also will save the county $15,000 a year in rent it currently pays to lease space for the Tourism Department.
The city will save about $40,000 because its current tourism coordinator, Kate Cook, is expected to join the Ulster County workforce."
Thus, you are quite wrong. It was part of the deal from the very beginning. Nice try though, Tom.
So now you believe everything the freeman prints?
This is nothing more than politics as usual in UC.
3:47,
If your question is would I believe what is written in the Freeman over what is said by Alderman Hoffay, then the answer is yes.
i believe katie cook will be working in Human Resources for the County..An appointed position
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