Here is the first half of the video more to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YHuW4tUPtI

here is the second half
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQnvEX026T8
anso at ArgenioAndrew channel on youtube
sorry ny batt. died but i got 95 % of it

I must be quite frank. I think Jon Chase has reeked havoc with the board and has only added fire to an already heated situation. I wish he would think long and hard what he is doing to the village and the waste of money spent already on matters that will not be settled until March. This was a peaceful village not so long ago. It will again be a peaceful village as soon as we have elections this March. Jonathan Chase, in my humble opinion has only caused discord.

It's too bad, Pat, that you're so totally blind to the only thing which has differentiated this year from the last 50 years of practice in this Village: that, until this year, the Mayor has always either nominated or consented to the choice of the Village Attorney (whether individual or firm).

You can try to blame me if you like, but those are the indisputable facts. The Board majority has hijacked the counsel position, they're trying to hijack the budget which was allocated for the Village Attorney as the position formerly stood, and under the New York Home Rule Law they can't shift that power from the Mayor without a public referendum.

No Jon,

You have twisted the facts to suit you and Mayor Gross. Those are the facts. The trustees could proceed with an Article 78 which would only cost more money, which in my opinion YOU are to blame for. They have decided to wait until March when the Mayor will be out and you will be Persona non grata and the madness that has infected the Village will cease.

The Village Law was restructured by the Legislature in 1972. In 1974, the Attorney General stated that, "since the enactment of the new Village Law, the sole power to appoint a village attorney is with the mayor, subject to the approval of the village board of trustees." 1974 Op. Att'y Gen'l [Inf.] 199, at 201.

If the Board wants to shift that power away from the Mayor to themselves, they must first put the question to a public referendum under section 23(f) of the NY Home Rule Law.

This Board has refused the Mayor the appointment power, is now attempting to gut the budget for that position, yet has refused to suggest the required public referendum.

Perhaps the chaos their actions already have caused explains why.

Bill Cumming,

First anyone said that to me. Questions a little to tough. In disagreement? Why didn't we hear from you? I'll go to any meeting I want. You can stay home if you don't like it. If you have a problem with that come see me personally.

Bill Cumming,

In fact every time I spoke the entire audience clapped. Every time with you maybe being the exception. I don't feel the audience felt the way you do. I think YOU have a differing opinion.

Which opinion of board members do you want to believe what they said that night or what they said the previous month here is the link to the previous month?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hznj7-1CLXg

Andrew,

Thanks for taping these meetings. I think it's very important as you know people like myself cannot attend. My wife had to cancel patients to get the night off. I can't make the meetings. I just wanted to attend this to one to show my support for the full time Police we have left.

The original reason I first voted for Mayor Gross was for his renowned frugalness. (a good thing). I along we many, many Village residents feel it's worth paying to keep out two full time Police Officers. I think we sent this message to ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
Again thanks for taping the meetings.

And Andrew at least we know two men who can disagree and be respectful to one another.

Thanks,Pat

That is right Pat, Respect and class are hard things to come by in the Village these days. Keep watching!

Pat - This is a perfect example of what we were just talking about in the other posting.

The board majority would like you to believe that the Mayor is responsible for cutting these two hard working police officers..... when the truth is in the tape. The board majority is just doing whatever it can to #1) make the mayor look foolish and #2) halt any business in the village. (The reason for #2 completely escapes me!)

Hi Jake,

Yes that is why I'm glad Andrew is filming the meetings. I don't blame the Mayor and certainly not Chief Weber. I believe the entire board is scrambling for ways to save and they are right to do that. BUT as I said at the meeting I believe THEY hit the third rail of village politics. Safety trumps everything. This is a great time of year to those who can afford to offer up a donation to our Fire Dept and Ambulance Corp. The Fire Department has a special place in my heart and I will always support them. Thanks Jake

Pat

I recommend anyone reading this article (or others on this subject) to watch the video that Mr. Argenio has posted of the previous Village board meeting where payment of the architect was at issue. It is a very eye opening experience.

Admittedly, Mayor Gross dug his heels in regarding making payment, but he made it quite clear that this was because he felt he was being denied the ability to review the process with counsel he was comfortable with.

Rather than try and work with the Mayor or try and settle the issue of hiring a village attorney that everyone is happy with, the board majority seem determined to just try and steamroll what they want down everyone's throat under the cloak of "moving forward with Village business." The way in which these trustees are attempting to circumvent the mayor's authority is disgraceful. It is political thuggery, and I fear it mirrors a general trend that can be traced all the way to our nation's capitol

Similarly disgraceful is their behavior at the meeting in question. I don't care how frustrated you are with the proceedings, you don't engage in personal invective in a public hearing. Mr. Vatter should be ashamed of himself. His attack on Mayor Gross is an embarrassment; especially considering the reason the board is at its current impasse is because the majority took it upon themselves to essentially hire their own counsel independent of the Mayor's wishes and in violation of state village law. Mr. Kane folding and unfolding his arms, sighing, and rolling his eyes like a teenager is not going to change that fact.

So, they say they have a legal opinion stating that they have a right to hire counsel without the Mayor's approval. Gee, I wonder if that opinion came from the firm that was waiting in the wings to provide legal advice BY THE HOUR and rack up tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills that the Village now has to pay. I wonder if this entire effort to sweep the lingering issues related to the DPW building under the carpet has anything to do with conflicts of interest, or covering up incompetence, or even kick-backs of some sort.

The level of panicked vitriol that is spewed forth whenever the Mayor has tried, in a careful and transparent fashion, to get to the bottom of that ill-fated building can't help but make one extremely suspicious that something (other than the garbage underneath it) stinks to high heaven.

One thing is for sure, I wouldn't wish Mayor Gross' job on my worst enemy.

I recommend anyone who wants to find out how Mayor Gross treats the village workers, speak directly to them.

>>>The way in which these trustees are attempting to circumvent the mayor's authority is disgraceful. It is political thuggery, and I fear it mirrors a general trend that can be traced all the way to our nation's capitol<<<

Ludicrous

>>>Mr. Kane folding and unfolding his arms, sighing, and rolling his eyes like a teenager is not going to change that fact.<<<

Lame as can be. Mr Kane I hold in high esteem. As a one time ADA in the boro of Manhattan and current Attorney with JAG as a Lt. Col. he has a proven track record.

It is Mayor Gross who will not budge from ANY view he holds. He offers ZERO compromise. He is no gentleman like Mayor Moulton. He believes he should command respect instead of earning it. He has put himself in a position it is quite obvious he cannot handle.
We will soon see come March how the voters feel.

Pat Welch