Scoop Shovels Donated to County Legislators

     Nineteen brand-new scoop shovels were donated to Cortland County legislators as they started Thursday's meeting in legislative chambers on the third floor of the county office building. The legislators were handed the shovels by the county treasurer. When questioned about the purpose and the name of the donor, the county treasurer said that an explanation and purpose for the gifts could be found on tags attached to each shovel, and that the donor wished to remain anonymous.
     Reporters and witnesses speculated that the shovels had something to do with the annual Cortland County Legislators' Manure Pile Tossing Contest to be staged at the county fairgrounds later this year. (Legislator Arnold won last year's contest.) Several legislators were asked to divulge or explain the message, but the legislators nervously removed the tags, placed the shovels on the floor, and refused comment.
     Following an executive session on the administrator's new contract, a question arose about the ethics of accepting a gift of a shovel. Since no specific value for each shovel was known, and since the gifts did not appear to influence the legislators or create a conflict of interest, the question was set aside for study by the ethics committee. Meanwhile, the legislators agreed to keep the shovels.
     At the conclusion of the meeting, reporters again asked legislators about the message on the tags. Someone heard Chairman Park tell reporters that he would provide an answer to their question "later, perhaps tomorrow."
     The mystery message, however, has not been made public at the time of this post.
     Anyone who knows anything about the mystery message tagged to the handle of these scoop shovels, or the name of the donor, is requested to leave a comment to this post.
     Prior posts Historic Swap of Assets (Part A), and Trojan Jack-Ass (Part B) dated October 12, 2011, and Nineteen County Legislators Found Dead at County Landfill dated September 20, 2011,  have something in common with this current post.

School Superintendent Spring In Running for Schenectady School Position

     Cortland Enlarged School District Superintendent Larry Spring is one of three finalists for the position of Schenectady School Superintendent. Larry Spring has been Cortland's school district superintendent since June 2006. See article in Albany Times Union:
     http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Cortland-Scotia-Fallsburg-leaders-interview-for-2674125.php

News Article Missing Names

     This is the news article:
     "City Finishes Year on Solid Financial Footing"--January 19, 2012, Cortland Standard.
     These are the missing names:
     Former Mayor Susan Feiszli and Deputy Director of Finance and Administration Lori Crompton.
     The Cortland Standard article states: "In 2009, the city had a $150,000 deficit in its fund balance, but has seen a reversal of fortune in recent years." The article also mentions that city departments came in under budget, and that sales tax receipts exceeded estimates.
     Yes, and add a property tax decrease over the last two years. Without the leadership of former Mayor Susan Feiszli and the financial expertise of Deputy Director of Administration and Finance Lori Crompton, the "reversal of fortune" may not have occurred. These two unheralded people gave the city discipline and direction.
     Good fortune and good leadership. Give credit where credit is due.

Governor Cuomo Talks Tough

     Governor Cuomo's address today on the 2012-13 state budget promised a 4% increase in education aid on condition that teachers accept a controversial evaluation law. The governor will withhold education aid increases in districts that do not have an evaluation plan in place by January 2013. He promised to impose his own teacher evaluation plan if pending union lawsuits are not dropped in 30 days.
     "The equation is simple at the end of the day," said Governor Cuomo. "No evaluation, no money, period."
     State Education Commissioner John King said: "The next 30 days will be a big test for NYSUT."
     At stake is one billion dollars in federal aid to New York's schools.
     The Cortland Contrarian would like to open a related discussion on this blog, and encourage readers to leave responsible, objective comments. Readers will need to establish a Google account. Post a comment with your name, or a pen name. Visit the Albany Times-Union website for a briefing on the governor's remarks about teacher evaluation:  http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Education-aid-to-increase-4-under-Cuomo-budget-2581184.php
     The New York Times has an article on this subject:  http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/01/18/inching-closer-to-agreement-on-evaluations-for-teachers/?hpw
     The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has a specific case study about a veteran teacher in trouble who can't be fired:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120225/NEWS/302250030/Valerie-Yarn-teacher?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home
     The Syracuse Post-Standard has an editorial on this subject: http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2012/01/evaluate_or_else_rating_teache.html
     The Atlantic has an interesting article about Buffalo's teachers and plastic surgery covered by their contract:  http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/01/why-does-buffalo-pay-for-its-teachers-to-have-plastic-surgery/251533/
     Lobbying set record: http://m.democratandchronicle.com/news/article?a=2012303270037&f=1024
     Veteran Albany news reporter Fred Dicker has an article on teachers' unions in the New York Post:  http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/ending_unions_occupation_of_albany_yKlq8HRJK3rUjDEmIgTGwI

Beyond Vietnam--Martin Luther King, Jr.

     "I come to this magnificent house of worship tonight because my conscience leaves me no other choice." Martin Luther King, Jr.--Beyond Vietnam--a speech delivered at the Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967.
     He was a prophet, a man who sought justice. War, poverty, and race were subjects dear to his heart and he spoke eloquently on these subjects.
     "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."
     For transcript and audio of this memorable speech, please visit this website:  http://www.aavw.org/special_features/speeches_speech_king01.html, a special feature provided by African-American Involvement in the Vietnam War.

A Partial List Of Useful Government Or Government-Related Websites

     Regular contributors and readers have suggested a list of useful government websites. The list is incomplete--a start--but expect to find information and data that will enhance your knowledge and understanding of government.

     www.governor.ny.gov/  and
     www.governor.ny.gov/citizenconnects/  New York State Governor Cuomo
     www.openbooknewyork.com  Office of State Comptroller
     www.fiscalpolicy.org  Fiscal Policy Institute
     www.seethroughny.net  Empire Center-- payrolls, pensions, contracts, expenditures, etc.
     www.tax.ny.gov  Department of Taxation and Finance. Navigate to "Property Taxes and Assessments" by clicking "Individuals" (next to "Home") and clicking on the appropriate tab on left side.
     http://www.cfbny.org/index.htm  Citizens for a Better New York
     http://rocdocs.democratandchronicle.com/story/foil-resources
     www.sunlightny.com  Office of State Attorney General
     www.cagw.org/  Citizens Against Government Waste
     http://www.nycom.org/  New York State Conference of Mayors
     www.cortland-co.org  Cortland County
     www.cortland.org  City of Cortland

"Say A Few Prayers For Al Kryger"

     Rev. Farley Smoot of Virgil, a close neighbor of county legislator Sandy Price and rumored to be her spiritual advisor, claims the reason Cortland County didn't get much snow in December and January is because Greek Peak President and CEO Al Kryger offended God.
     "He extended his business model and went against the laws of God and nature. Building Hope Lake Lodge and the Indoor Water Park were sinful acts," said Rev. Smoot. "Al Kryger got on the wrong side of the Lord, and now the Lord has withheld snow from Greek Peak Mountain Resort."
     Rev. Smoot went on to explain that he had a dream about the weather and business climate.
     "Rev. Martin Luther King had a dream too, but not about lack of snow and the cause of it. It's sinful ambition that did it. Say a few prayers for Al Kryger."
     For local residents who believe that lack of snowfall is related to climate change, Rev. Smoot has a much different explanation:
     "Climate change is a political and scientific snow job with no basis in Revelation."
     Rev. Smoot is a retired prison chaplain. He is an avid skier. He has an opinion for everything.
     "You should hear what he has to say about the county legislature," said Clementine Phelps, who lives near Hollenbeck's Cider Mill. "Nothing positive or praiseworthy. He blames the county legislature for ignoring legislator Sandy Price's ridiculous suggestion to relocate the county landfill to state land near Greek Peek on Valentine Hill. She may lose the next election for that crazy notion."
     At the moment Al Kryger was informed of Rev. Smoot's opinion on the weather, a skier standing by his office door heard him exclaim:
     "Snow job? That guy is a nut job. Who let him out of prison? I don't give a hoot for Smoot. We have man-made snow at Greek Peak. We could use a lot more natural snow. Let's all THINK SNOW."

For more information about Greek Peak Mountain Resort, visit link:  http://greekpeak.net/