So Gross is awaiting an opinion from the village attorney to see if he can appoint members of the ethics Board without the Board of Trustees approval.

Wake up Cornwall on Hudson! Just what are we paying our board for? This is not some dictatorship here in the Village. The Mayor may think he can do whatever he wants but, sorry Joe, this is not the case.

And how many yards of fill does one require before it needs EPA approval Mr Gross? Don't be so arrogant as lots of Gross shenanagans seem to be going on and many have had their "FILL".(sans EPA approval)

Once again, the welch is heard from. If one actually reads the above, one will notice that Joe is waiting for the thrid member of the board and wants to know if he can appoint a member of the ethics board. In no way is the Mayor "doing whatever he wants".
Incidently, the EPA will determine how many yards of fill will be required for their approval. Your pun on the word fill is not only not a good pun - it really doesn't make any sense.

The welch,

OK the bell. Gross knows and I dare him to broach the subject of a very good friend of his unloading thousands of yards of fill in the village to fill his very large hole and it was NOT approved by the EPA. Hear that Mr Gross. Broach this subject now or I will come springtime.

The bell believes that the Mayor should rubber stamp the ethics board members. Why the heck have an ethics board that is appointed specificially by the Mayor? Sounds a bit unethical to me bell.

Hey the bell,

Bet you called "Mayor Joe"
on that one. He must be consulting with a resident Lawyer over what he should do. Yea EPA approval Joe. You were there day after day and you know approval was needed. What would we call that. Collusion springs to mind "Mayor Joe" but I'll let you stew till Spring.

Hey the bell. See you making fun of others grammer and spelling. Can you tell me what a thrid is?

I knew after that Keystone Kops barb of yours awhile back exactly were you stood. When you need a policeofficer some day will you refer to them as Keystone Kops?

The Gentlemen!Please! The important issue here is that the village police told the Jehovah's Witnesses that they needed a "permit" to proselytize door to door. Duh. They are not selling anything, they are speaking to people who have the option of conversation , or not.. A permit is for the purpose of commerce as far as I can tell. The constitution should be taught in the schools so that all citizens
(and by extension, our civil employees) know what our rights are.

Kate,

Personnally, it is my opinion the most impportant issue here is a Mayor that has let power go to his head. Sure he has his sycophants but the majority see through them as our last Trustee vote exemplified. March is not far off.

Its a resignation on the ethics board. According to village law 4-400 mayoral appointments to fill vacancies that occur before the expiration of term are not subject to board approval. Seems pretty clear to me. 2 of the members woulden't be able to vote anyway. I think that stalling is a technique to avoid responsibility for there actions.

(Mr.) Welch - actually, work with the police all the time. I believe you are referring to the inebriated man who was finally caught on Boulevard. The idea of so much energy expended still is funny.
Have no idea what a thrid is.
I'm sure Joe has let all that huge power of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson go to his head. Doing that job is a major headache. Looking for you on the ballot.

the bell,

Seems a thread has been deleted where you not only used the word thrid instead of third and belive instead of believe. Then you went ahead and made fun of Mr. Bachman for his typo's. Real arrogant. I accept yours as typo's but you make fun of others. I disdain people who feel they are superior to others. Don't forget that fast food worker's vote counts the same as yours.

Also a Cornwall on Hudson Policeofficer died during a car chase many years ago. There is nothing funny about that matter. If that perp had sent a shiv into your back I'm sure you wouldn't find it funny. All policeofficers put their lives on the line every day they go to work. Is it too much to show them the respect they deserve? I see in bellworld it isn't.

I would love to run and put Mayor Gross back to his "contracting business", but my family and health preclude me from doing so. I'm quite sure we will see a quality candidate as we did last time the Trustees ran.

Mr Kane, though recently maligned by a poster, was an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan for many years. I can assure you that is a position that not just any Attorney is chosen for. Mr Edsall is a successful and experienced Engineer, and highly respected, and Doug Vatter a successful and experienced businessman. These are quality men who give of their time for many endeavors besides their Trustee positions. I'm sure a quality candidate will emerge before March 2011.

Well Welch - no thread deleted. Car chases are dangerous things. Police are police because they want to be. Firefighters are firefighters because they want to be. EMT's are EMT's because they want to be. Joe Gross is mayor because he wants to be. No heroism by any of these - ask them -they'll tell you they were just doing their jobs. You don't understand respect when you malign Joe. Sorry about your health and family. But your potshots are more about you than what you are shooting at.
Making fun of and pointing out are two entirely different things. I respect Mr. Bachman's opinion. I just don't agree with it. If that is arrogant, I guess I'm arrogant.
Why not let the men who were elected do their jobs.

well bell,

there HAS been a thread deleted. The one where you made fun of Mr. Bachman's spelling while your own was as bad.

Your gobbledgook regarding Police, Firefighters or EMT's gives you allowance to laugh at them? I think not.

I don't respect Joe Gross one iota. I respect the Police, the firefighters, the crossing guards, the EMT's but not a shred of respect for the man Joe Gross. I respect the title Mayor, but not the person currently serving it that office. He respects no one but his select friends. He hasn't earned respect bell.

I'll continue to point out facts re: Gross and his disrespect for the employees of C-O-H, his short temperedness, his deals for certain friends. I'll give him time to explain here for everyone his relationship with his friend who dumped thousands of yards of fill with no EPA approval.

Your arrogance re: Mr Bachman was when you ridiculed him for a few typo's. Shows what type of person you are.

Also have you figured out yet that Joe Gross is NOT the General Manager of C-O-H as you claimed. He is Mayor with an equal vote amongst the board. His vote counts once as does each of the Trustees. As I said in the thread that was deleted Mr. Gioia, extrustee expained quite succinctly that there are 4 trustees and one major each having an equal vote and in total 5 votes so there would be no tie. Having a Major stack the ethics board I reiterate is unethical.

Where is Mr. Bachman's post? With respect to appointments made by mayors/ceos/presidents, etc., look at the controversy that arises when there is a supreme court appointment; we may not always like it but that is part of the responsibility of the position.
And if you see any misspellings on MY posts I am blaming this blasted 3 point font...

I guess this is my final word. Mr (or Ms.) P. Welch - 1.) you don't understand ridicule 2.) Joe Gross is doing a tough job - not for the pay or the status - but because he has lived long enough in Cornwall-on-Hudson to love it 3.) Arrogance is demeaning. You don't understand demeaning. 4.) Once again, Mayor and Trustee are different. Note the different spellings. 5.) Your 'facts' are nothing but judgements - and poor ones at that.

Kate,

The post referred to a resident Lawyer, name of Chase, privately advising the Mayor. Whether this is true or not I have no knowledge but I surmise when Chase read the article under General News he called the editor and had the news and the related threads removed.

If this is a true fact it is highly disturbing that the Mayor would seek counsel without the knowledge of the board. The bell's condescending remarks towards Mr Bachman and myself were in that thread.

The bell, forget the Mayor and Trustee positions no one got them mixed up. It was your assertion that our Mayor was the General Manager of Cornwall a ludicrous remark if I ever heard one. Everyone seems to be aware that we have One Mayor and Four Trustees each carrying One vote. The bell it is not that I don't understand ridicule I don't like people ridiculing others over their spelling when you made more mistakes then Mr. Bachman did. That is arrogance and just plain old demeaning people.

Once again, the bell, the Mayor is NOT the General Manager. Note the different spellings.

You personify the gross sychophants that have created devisiveness in this village. March is getting closer each day.

BTW, the rain let up and tthe fair was great.

If you want to know what happened to the removed post, why not ask the only person with control over them, the Editor?

I'll add that it didn't refer to me, that I had nothing to do with its removal but that I agree that it's good that it's gone because it was vile.

As to governance of the Village, it's governed under the laws of the State of New York. That's where to look for the answers to your questions about what people elected to what offices have what powers.

Jon,

Sorry to use your name if it didn't refer to you. Once the Editor pulled the News Bulletin I didn't have it to refer to and must have mixed your name up from the local paper where it identified you as a resident attorney during a recent village meeting.

From the Department of State Local Government handbook.

"At the direction of the board of trustees, the mayor
may initiate civil actions on behalf of the village or may intervene in any legal action "necessary to protect the rights of the village and its inhabitants." Subject to the
approval of the board of trustees, the mayor appoints all department and non-elected officers and employees."

If you reference Table 12 you will see PLAINLY that C-O-H's Mayor is NOT an administrator or manager.

So in fact the Mayor of C-O-H with the approval of the board of Trustees can appoint non elected officers and employees.

I ask everyone to read this Local Government Handbook and you will see I was quite correct in what I have been saying about the Trustees part in Village government. The Mayor is NOT all powerful in our Village form of Government.

Jon,

Your quote:
>>>I'll add that it didn't refer to me<<<

From the post:

>>>On Monday, Mayor Gross said that he interviewed a representative of the Harris Beach firm last week, along with Jonathan Chase, a village resident and lawyer who appears to informally advise the mayor about the DPW building.<<<

Guess it did refer to you Jon. My memory still serves me well.

I wasn't talking about the thread not referring to me; I was talking about the offending post not referring to me.

And I'm neither the person who sought the removal of the post OR the thread.

I've never disputed that I've been asked for advice by the Mayor and have rendered it to the best of my ability. That's what people in my profession do.

And I believe sincerely that I am rendering a service to the Village in so doing.

Following is excerted the Dept. of NYS Local Government Handbook

>>>The legislative body of a village ? the board of trustees
? is composed of the mayor and four trustees. However,
the board may increase or decrease the number of
trustees, subject to referendum. Trustees are elected for
two-year terms unless otherwise provided by the board
of trustees and subject to permissive referendum.
The village board has broad powers to govern the affairs
of the village, including:
? organizing itself and providing for rules of procedure;
? adopting a budget and providing for the financing
of village activities;
? abolishing or creating offices, boards, agencies, and
commissions and delegating powers to these units;
? managing village properties; and
? granting final approval of appointments of all nonelected
officers and employees made by the mayor.
The mayor presides over meetings of the board. A majority
of the board, as fully constituted, is a quorum. No
business may be transacted unless a quorum is present.<<<

This last sentence is specifies that NO VILLAGE BUSINESS is to be transacted unless a quorum is present. To have a quorum means the majority of the board which would include the trustees. I hope our Village Trustees are being apprised of everything that is going on involving the DPW facility.

If that were the case, the Board would have to be in session constantly. Of course, that can't be and isn't the rule.

With respect to the DPW building, for example, the actual claims won't be made until the Board decides to authorize them. But the Board must have advice on how to decide those questions.

Where and how do they get that advice? Through the work which is done by Village personnel, supervised by and including the Mayor, and through outside consultants with whom they may contract from time to time for specialized services, like Tectonic for the engineering evaluation.

That's as it should be and exactly what the law intends.

I read the Tectonic engineers report and feel the building should be fixed without regard to anymore soil testing.

That was already done and signed off on by the State. Correct? Why open a can of worms? We spent a Million for the building and if it takes 50k to fix it lets get it done. There are parks where kids play, numerous buildings including the 2nd largest Mall in the United States(Palisades Mall) all built over capped dumps. This is a common practise. We(the village) should pay and fix the building and seek remuneration either through the courts or arbitration later. We should move forward on this issue. I'm fairly sure the taxpayers don't want to see a million dollar bldg. torn down.

Off topic a bit since this DPW bldg. debacle I've never heard anyone mention Mr Gilmore. He even had his office there. I'd just like to see us move ahead with the bldg. and settle with those resposible later.

The state hasn't "signed off" on anything.

And the problem with ignoring the hodge-podge of soils down there is that's what went wrong in 2005, when those in charge of the project ignored TWO reports by professional engineers, the second by our own Village Engineer, and went ahead with the shallow-foundation pole barn design anyway.

We've known since 1973 that the firm soil at that site is about 50 feet down. NO professional engineer ever signed his or her name to build down there on anything but driven piles.

You may want to bury your head in that soft soil -- but that doesn't make it a good idea.

Jon,

I added the question mark because I wasn't sure about the State signing off on the soil. I thought they did. Did anyone sign off that the lot was OK to build on? The county maybe?

I agreed long ago that the bldg. in question was spending too much with the debt load the Village was carrying. That is why I first endorsed and voted for our current Mayor. I am a fiscal conservative with no party affiliations but strong libertarian leanings.

After learning about the buildings problems I'm still for getting this settled as quickly as possible. No I'll pass on burying my head in that sand Thank You, but I'd like this to come to a quick conclusion without the razing of the building.

Thanks, Pat

EDITOR: THIS POST WAS CUT AT A GENEROUS 108 WORDS -- 8 MORE THAN THE MAXIMUM -- TWO SENTENCES WRE DELETED.

Pat, people who do things for money, whether they're lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers or builders, are responsible to their clients or customers for what they do, and fail to do.

With regard to the DPW building, we the Village taxpayers are the customers for whom the building was built, and we're the ones paying for what we got. Or thought we were getting.

So far as I'm aware, nobody involved with that project told the public that they were disregarding the recommendations of licensed professional engineers about how the building should be built. So I think it's quite fair to say that the public didn't get what it thought it was getting, namely, a properly-built building.

EDITOR: THIS POST IS BEING CUT AT A GENEROUS 116 WORDS -- 16 MORE THAN THE MAXIMUM -- AND IT WENT ON FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 100 WORDS, DESPITE THE RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED NEW GUIDELINES.

Sorry. Sadly, there's a lot of substance in controversy.

Is there a way to do a word count here? Should I do a Letter to the Editor?

no wd #, jst uz im-spek. tht wa thrl b more cntvrsy