2008 State of the Town of Hamburg

Presented by:          Supervisor Steven J. Walters

                              January 24, 2008

  I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for once again hosting this event, especially Chamber President Betty Newell and her staff.  Thank you for all the hard work you put into organizing this event.

It is hard to believe that this already is my third State of the Town Address.  A lot of things have happened between that first State of the Town Address and today:  new faces, new  ideas, new policies and new ways of doing business.  Some reforms have been accomplished; others continue to be in the works.  Last year I started this speech by saying there was reason to begin the year with optimism, optimism we would begin to see real and substantial reform with Town government.  I believe we have begun this path of reform and as a result, I can declare with confidence that the State of the Town is good.

Constitutional Crisis knocking on our doors!

A couple years ago I attended a meeting by a gentleman named Bob Schultz from a political organization called “We the People Foundation”.  This group was formed as a catalyst for the average Joe to address the government in a non-violent manner and actually get some results. Bob has since grown this organization to be one of the most “government feared” groups in the nation. Why are they scared of WTP? Because WTP is willing to take any worthwhile issue all the way to the US Supreme Court if necessary.

In fact, WTP has been in front of every Federal Court Level including the US Supreme Court protecting your liberties for more than a dozen years. Now WTP is in the fight of “OUR” lives. What has happened is unbelievable and it’s time I write about it so you all understand just how important this issue is and just how close our country is to effectively burning the US Constitution.

A few thoughts on the Hamburg Recreation Department

Probably the biggest service the residents of our town see is the recreation department. They see the good and the bad. I haven’t made up my mind on any position with respect to the department but I do think that what ever facilities remain within town control they must become more user friendly and self sustaining. I absolutely advocate the pro-shop at the ice arena being operated by the rink staff and get rid of the private contractor. I think their should be discussion about incorporating the back party room into the pro-shop for a larger equipment selection.

Please create a screen name!

For those of you who wish to post comments on this site I would like to ask you create a screen name for yourself. If you do not then the software for wordpress automatically lists you as “anonymous”. When that happens I can’t differentiate between one person or another without going through e-mail addresses if you were kind enough to list one. Otherwise you will most likely be confused with someone else.

The previous article I wrote asking for your input about the Hamburg Recreation Department is important and it should be for all of you. Your taxes have been raised over and over to pay for these facilities and I am giving you each a chance to have a say with the Advisory Board that reports directly to the Town Council on matters concerning the Hamburg Recreation Department. Please take this opportunity and participate. I can’t ever remember the last time a member of any town board actively sought out opinions from the public with a genuine interest in that opinion.

Usually it is just a charade intended to appease the public when their opinions are asked. I intend to actually use issues you present here in the meetings of the Advisory Board and then report back what happened. So this is your chance to have a say, it’s a real chance and I hope you all take it.

Please tell me how you feel about the Hamburg Recreation Department

Before I take my seat on the Town of Hamburg Recreation Advisory Board I would like to ask you how you feel about the Recreation Department in Hamburg. All facilities are open for discussion here, give me the good and the bad as you see it. I’m asking so, as I sit in on these meetings, I have a sense of what the public thinks. I truly believe that will help me keep an objective view when making decisions.

Most of you already know, and I’ve said more times than I can count, that I’m a very fiscally conservative minded person. I believe that Government is meant to govern and not be a baby sitter or be in the business of providing entertainment. That being said once again, I’m smart enough to know that not all of us agree with that political philosophy. I also am not willing to force my will on people.

Frontier School Board and administrators caught stealing from tax payers!

The Frontier School Board has been hammered in a NYS audit of its funds. It has now come to the attention of State Auditors that several top administrators of the Frontier School District were given significant payouts without public disclosure. These payouts occurred during closed door sessions of the Frontier School Board.

Frontier School District to dig deeper into your pockets!

Superintendent of the Frontier School District, Mr. G. DeCarlie, is asking for 22 million dollars for another capital improvement project this year. If you remember last year he wanted 11 million bucks for a capital improvement project. We were lied to last year when the district said that they had the money and then as soon as the School Board elections were over they bonded out the cash, otherwise known as taking a credit loan.

More music at Hilbert!

Rusted Root Front-Man Michael Glabicki to Perform

http://buffalo.yourhub.com/HamburgWestSeneca/Events/Music/Event~406491.aspx

What:	Michael Glabicki Michael Glabicki, lead singer of Rusted Root, will give an acoustic performance at Hilbert College. Formed in Pittsburgh in 1990, Rusted Root’s popularity peaked with their album “When I Woke,” a platinum record and a hit on college radio. The six-piece band’s song “Send Me On My Way” was used on the soundtracks of the movies “Ice Age” and “Matilda.” Glabicki’s solo career began when he opened for Rusted Root shows and has since performed throughout the country as a solo artist. Tickets are $5. The concert is free for Hilbert students.
Where:	Hilbert College’s William E. Swan Auditorium, 5200 South Park Ave., Hamburg
When:	8 p.m.
Event Dates:	This event takes place on 1/31/2008.

Hamburg School District sticks it to residents again!

It hasn’t been long enough for the ink to dry on the paperwork declaring Hamburg School District in a fiscal meltdown that their residents are going to have to bail them out of and then the School District gives its teachers a hell of a raise. When does the pocket picking stop for the residents and their wallets? Mismanagement always leads to higher tax increases and this is just another example of a district appeasing a union to prevent further hostility within the Hamburg School District.

Thank you Hamburg Town Board!

Tonight I was officially appointed to the Town of Hamburg Recreation Department Advisory Board. This appointment was unanimous and I am very pleased and grateful for the faith in my ability to assist in the planning and administration of policies for the Hamburg Recreation Department. As I have written here over the last year or so I have had strong opinions about how the Town Recreation department could do a better job.