Misuse of CPF funds in Easthampton and Southampton

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Bob Olson	Misuse of CPF funds in Easthampton and Southampton	Lead	[-]
Posts: 854 (06/12/09 17:34:01) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None I seem to recall that Fred Thiele and Skip Heaney arranged for "one time" a million dollar payment to the Hampton Bays schools 2 years from the CPF fund. In fact, Skip couldn't wait to have his picture taken with the big check just before the GOP primary which he lost to Linda Kabot. I remember her complaining about it. So, why isn't Thiele and Heaney indicted for misuse of CPF funds when the budget director in EH just got indicted by Tom Spota? Is this a pure case of it's not what was done but who it was done by? I confess to not knowing all the details about this CPF fund mess so I won't mind some of you who know the whole truth to educate me. I smell a little political hypocrisy here.
MrRight	Misuse of CPF	#1	[-]
Posts: 9 (06/12/09 20:30:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Bob, you are so right. The DA should be looking at the misuse of the CPF funds and other misuse of funds in Southampton during the past bosses time. We should start calling him the Teflon Don.
Gunna Win it		#2	[-]
Posts: 829 (06/12/09 21:14:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	In a nutshell: The CPF Program provides that up to 10% of the income can be used as a "PILOT" i.e. Payment In lieu Of Taxes. It is intended to partially make up for the loss on the tax rolls of property bought by CPF Funds. Hampton Bays and Riverhead School Districts were MOST effected by the loss of property. Over the years about 85% of the open land in the Flanders Riverside Northampton area has come off the tax rolls because of preservation efforts. Hampton Bays took a big hit when a lot of Dune Road was bought up. It wasnt that great an issue for a while, but then ( and here's where Lisa will go off on me) all those homes that normally sat vacant over the winter ( but school taxes were collected) were rented out by year round employees, with kids, using the school services. The issue in Easthampton is that the town took funds from the CPF to balance the town books. There were NO provisions for that and it is out and out theft of funds that taxpayers had repeatedly and overwhelmingly voted to preserve open space on the east end. Its like a kid starting a savings account for college, selling lemonaid, paper route, burger joint etc over the years and then Mom and Dad use the money to pay LIPA.The issue gets more complicated of course, but I think you get the drift. If we want to talk budget issues in Southampton, do an audit, let the chips fall where they may. But at some point can someone tell me why the guy who has been the Comptroller for the last year and a half is a hair away from being fired ends up with a newly formed position paying $100,000 per year with bennies and civil service protection? I hope you guys keep that in mind when you do interviews for the Integrity Party.
MrRight	Comptroller	#3	[-]
Posts: 10 (06/12/09 23:31:51) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Gunna The guy who has been the Comptroller who you say was a hair away from being fired did nothing wrong he helped find the mistakes of the past comptroller. All the crap the current administration inherited this is Kabot's and the Comptrollers fault? Now, if you think he did something wrong please tell us what those reasons are. Also, tell us what years and why CPF funds were misused.
Bob Olson	Integrity: What's in a word?	#4	[-]
Posts: 855 (06/13/09 09:25:50) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I am flattered that you think the Integrity Party has so much influence in Southampton elections Gunna. We are about as small potatoes as any minor political party can get. However, we have been the "little engine that could" in past elections. Our record in Southampton is actually pretty impressive. No brag. Just fact. However, I am thinking of changing our name to the "Lack Of Integrity Party." As a person who does a lot of spiritual soul searching, I have come to the conclusion that integrity is like humility. If you say you have it, you don't. As for the CPF funds, your explanation is fairly logical and I am sure is based on fact. To be completely fair, Flanders and Hampton Bays are the two areas in Southampton most in need of economic and school tax relief. So, I don't begrudge them any help. It may surprise some of you (especially you Skip) that I have long and old ties to Flanders and Hampton Bays. I went to first grade in 1955 to Hampton Bays when all 12 grades were in that same old part of the school on Ponquogue Avenue. I lived on West Tiana Road in the same bungalow where Frank who owns the HB diner now lives. I also lived in Flanders when going to grade school. Many of the people I grew up with still live there. I have an especially soft spot in my heart from Flanders because they seem to get screwed by both the towns of Riverhead and Southampton. BTW, there will be a Flanders reunion sometime in July at the Flanders Mens Club. I went to my very first wedding there when Kenny Rausch married my cousin Maryanne Polakiewicz a zillion years ago. So, putting the issue of fairness aside, there does seem to be some real political hints of hypocrisy in the manner in which CPF funds have been misused. Many of you know I am not a big fan of DA Tom Spota for some really good reasons. I believe that he is very political in deciding who he will prosecute and who he will not. I still say that the manner in which he handled the Martin Tankleff case is the biggest disgrace in Suffolk County history. I don't give a damn what Andrew Cuomo says. I am not a big fan of him either. I also know that Tom DiNapoli is a politician first and the state comptroller second. What is good for the goose, should be good for the gander.
Mr Suffolk		#5	[-]
Posts: 5932 (06/13/09 15:25:19) LI's last true independent Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I guess the lesson is, if there's a big chunk of money just sitting there, the pols will look for a way to tap into it. And if anyone did anything criminal -- and sometimes incompetence can be criminal -- civil service laws will not save this person. Great '80s -- Playing Now on 631Radio, Long Island's Alternative. Click above to listen!
LMVT		#6	[-]
Posts: 936 (06/13/09 17:00:18) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The EH CPF issue has been well known for at least 2 years. I remember talking about it during the supervisor campaign and wondering when the issue would be brought to light. Southampton has been in a better predicament. As far as I can tell it has been used responsibly. The PILOT program is up for debate. I wasn't neccessarily for the pilot program....but let me explain why. I understand Flanders and Hampton Bays have unfairly taken the brunt of property coming off the tax rolls, but I don't think money from the CPF fund was the way to remedy that. The PILOT program isn't a sustainable idea, especially when the CPF fund is shrinking. It isn't a reliable $2 million every year. That's not fair to taxpayers and students in the areas most affected. I think we need to think a little outside the box about this issue and how to move forward. But Bob, the PILOT program was definitely political fodder in 2007. The only reason areas received any kind of money was to persuade the vote. Notice it hasn't really been an issue since? Do those areas not need money anymore? I think not, but my guess is it will be up for discussion by the board around August or September. Gunna, I'm a little confused...which part am I supposed to be upset about? The debate of what affect rentals have on the school system and CPF? I think that's where you were going, but I am in campaign mode (election is Tuesday) and not the quickest thing right now!
Shaul El Sage		#7	[-]
Posts: 6189 (06/13/09 17:39:08) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Spota may investigate if he wants to but I doubt it. No crime was done. As long as Thiele and Heaney acted under and in accordance with CPF laws there is no cause. You may not like the Pilot section. If so seek to have it amended.
Gunna Win it		#8	[-]
Posts: 832 (06/13/09 17:42:28) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Bob says: I am flattered that you think the Integrity Party has so much influence in Southampton elections Gunna. We are about as small potatoes as any minor political party can get. However, we have been the "little engine that could" in past elections. Our record in Southampton is actually pretty impressive. No brag. Just fact. It WAS meant as a compliment, Bob Lisa, the PILOT payments continue to be a great source of frustration to all involved. I think the PILOTS were well intentioned, but we can see where they are headed. When the town pulls in 12 mill as opposed to 50 mil in a year, the funds available for PILOT drop significantly. A difference of 1.2 mil vs 5 mil. The comment about year round rentals was referrring to the increase of undocumented persons residing in the school district. That those numbers have increased substantially is reality. Mr Right, catch up. I did not infer that there was anything criminal going on in Southampton with CPF funds, that fiasco happened in Easthampton. I did state that an audit ( of non CPF funds) was in order, and to "let the chips fall where they may". You may recall that your Ms Kabot touted her 12 years experience at Town Hall as a reason that she should be the choice for 2007. It does not appear as thogh that experience served her or the taxpayers any good. No spin there, just her version of things. Happy Flag Day to all. Last Edited By: Gunna Win it 06/13/09 18:11:54. Edited 1 times.
MrRight		#9	[-]
Posts: 11 (06/13/09 20:58:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Guuna says: You may recall that your Ms Kabot touted her 12 years experience at Town Hall as a reason that she should be the choice for 2007. It does not appear as thogh that experience served her or the taxpayers any good. No spin there, just her version of things. From what I have read in the SH Press for weeks now all of the town financial woe's are from 2004 - 2007. The current administration found the errors in the misuse of funds, in my view the current administration is serving the taxpayers. Experience and honesty is what SH Town was in need of. The voters should continue to elect those that are for the people (by the people for the people) not someone who will go along to get along and certainly not someone who intentionally would misuse funds. Do yourself a favor and read the SH Press, you may have to go back a few weeks to catch up. Last Edited By: MrRight 06/13/09 21:06:42. Edited 2 times.
Laurie Downs		#10	[-]
Posts: 1940 (06/14/09 07:20:26) Riverhead's "Colombo" Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You have to go back to when the original Legislation. It was voted on by the people.This CPF going to school districts was voted on by the people. Theil and his buddy Lavalle had a brain fart to change the legislation to add other schools.It don't matter if you agree with what schools however that change was to go back to the people for a vote.So I believe this is a Andrew Coumo thing.No School Districts should have to replace any funding ,the legislators must figure that out. Mr.Right is correct about the now Supervisor .She has done what she set out to do and now the other side have their panties in a twist.If only we had that kind of honesty here in Riverhead ...... Laurie
Gunna Win it		#11	[-]
Posts: 833 (06/14/09 07:42:22) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mr Right, From what I have read in the SH Press for weeks now all of the town financial woe's are from 2004 - 2007. This was while she was a Councilperson. Show me where she ONCE mentioned any accounting irregularities while running for Supervisor. I guess if it is in the Southampton Press, it must be true. The current administration found the errors in the misuse of funds Where were funds "misused" in Southampton? Very shoddy accounting, yes, but no one is claiming "misuse" of funds in Southampton. Once again that is in Easthampton.
MrRight		#12	[-]
Posts: 12 (06/14/09 09:53:52) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	OK lets go over this again because your not getting it. It was the then supervisors budget he knew about the issues and did nothing as per the SH press. She and her new staff found those errors after she took office so how could it have been mentioned during the campaign in 2008?
Bob Olson	Gunna, I took your remarks about the IP as a compliment	#13	[-]
Posts: 856 (06/14/09 15:46:40) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	However, I will never pass up an opportunity for a little self promotion or I should say promotion of the Integrity Party. I also got a chance to say some other stuff that been on my mind. We are all politicos, afterall. Actually, I do recall there being some kind of aura of legality in taking CPF funds as part of the PILOT program. There is no doubt that Flanders and Hampton Bays are adversely affected due to the lack of billionaire beach front homes which provide a ton of taxes and utilize very little in the way of local services. The fact of the matter was that Skip covertly worked this deal in Albany with LaValle and Thiele for his own political advantage. I am not knocking Skip for doing that. That's what politicians running for office do. I do think that Skip, Thiele and LaValle may have opened up a political can of worms in doing so. I would not be the least surprised if lawyers for the EH public officials accused of misuse of CPF funds try and use the "me, too" defense and cite the SH case. It's worth a shot.
LMVT		#14	[-]
Posts: 938 (06/14/09 19:10:27) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Laurie, I'm not sure what the situation in Riverhead was, but Town of Southampton residents did not vote on the use of CPF funds for the pilot program....that was another issue in the 2007 election. Thiele made it so that it was possible in the NY legislature. The CPF guidelines are pretty loose and rather new, so it would be easy in theory, for a new use to appear. Southampton used it politically....East Hampton used it criminally. One is a crime...one isn't. I think there's a huge lesson to be learned for SH Council members....you need to pay attention to all the details. You can't just look at something and assume someone else will handle it. I honestly don't think that Linda knew about the discrepencies in the accounting...but ignorance isn't an excuse. All board members should know what the shape of the town's finances are and be able to understand the accounting. Linda is learning this the hard way. Hopefully elected officials learn from this....
Gunna Win it		#15	[-]
Posts: 837 (06/15/09 10:05:32) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well Mr Right, you DO recall that a major point in her campaign was her time as Executive Assistant to Vince, followed by her time as a CouncilPerson. With that experience should she not have known what was going on with the process? I've stated earlier that an audit should be done, and let the chips falls where they may. But if Anna wins and she spends money like President Obama, we are in for one heck of a ride. I didn't vote for him, but I have to this point, allowed that he stepped in a BIG pile of dog poop. And now with his health care plan, he is feeding the dog laxitives. Once again, if you are counting on only the SH Press for your info, you will find that FACTS are not their strong point. FWIW, there is a difference between you're and your. A typo or misspelled word is one thing, but that reflects on you and your education. You can carry her torch if you like, but I can tell you one thing, LK will not be in office in January. Mr Right says: mentioned during the campaign in 2008? Because her campaign was in 2007. Last Edited By: Gunna Win it 06/15/09 10:09:16. Edited 1 times.
whbmusic	Gunna is right	#16	[-]
Posts: 127 (06/15/09 10:37:25) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Gunna brings up a good point. Kabot did a capital budget in March 2008 and another budget in the fall of 2008. If these alleged previous accounting errors were present, why did she not find them then? They suddenly appear when she is floundering because she spent too much in 2008 and it catches up to her in 2009.. The Press quotes her but does not report on any of the questionable spending in 2008 or asks to look at the books. Could they have been changed in 2008 to make the errors appear to have been made in the past?
MrRight		#17	[-]
Posts: 14 (06/15/09 20:12:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hey Gunna, I'll take the high road and keep any derogatory comments to a minimum. The focus of my life is not on what Kabot said or did not say during her campaign in 2007. I would think that someone who would dwell on something like this would be the person that lost to her. I'm not carrying anyone's torch; I would like to see Republicans win in SH. It's my view that she can win. Possible splitting the vote in November (3 ways) could very well hand the election over to Throne-Holst. As you stated you did not vote for Obama, so I'll assume you are a republican and as a republican you are hurting your own party. According to your blogs you have a huge dislike for Kabot, and blogging your nonsense helps no one. BTW you spelled laxatives wrong. whbmusic Are you kidding, that's a bit of a stretch?
Gunna Win it		#18	[-]
Posts: 850 (06/17/09 09:13:27) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have no "dislike" for Linda. I just think that her lack of leadership and managerial skills is now painfully evident. And the town needs someone to take control, make the painful cuts that are required to "right the ship." There are tough choices for a politician to make in the coming years, not months, and she just isn't up to the task.
Bob Olson	Linda really believes she can win the primary	#19	[-]
Posts: 861 (06/17/09 21:07:30) All-Star Blogger Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Therefore, she doesn't see herself as a spoiler. If she loses the primary, she's done anyway. Linda really has nothing to lose in primarying. She is playing hardball to commandeer the Independence Party line. But, then again, so are the other 2 candidates. I think everyone knows that whoever gets the Independence Line will very likely be the next supervisor. Linda has painted herself as a middle ground moderate. It is pretty much her only avenue, absent Row D. Malone has the task of convincing independents he is not a far right extremist and A T-H has the opposite dilemma: trying not to be dismissed as a "fabulous" Hamptons, liberal, elite lefty. This could be interesting to watch unfold. Image makers: do your PR magic! Make a gold purse out of a sow's ear!
cappy	cpf	#20	[-]
Posts: 1 (06/17/09 21:26:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	let's go back to around the year 2000. The taxes in the flanders/northampton/riverside/red creek area were out of control. These areas are in the TOWNSHIP of southampton but go the the RIVERHEAD School district. Bay view pines civic association started lobbying the state and town for a fairer equalization rate and according to state law...the Pine barrens act..promised to pay pilots to those districts located in the pine barrens...Flanders etal. Heaney, Theile and LaValle came up with a way to pay for this.....not with state money...even though the pine barrens act states that it has to pay....but with using up to 10% of CPF funds for pilots where...those districts that have 25% or more property off the tax rolls due to Pine Barrens..will receive Pilot payments. This went to a vote in 2002 and also extended the cpf 2% transfer tax to 2030. Now election 2006...Hampton bays is complaining about their taxes...rightly so...and without going to a vote our State reps theile & Lavalle...change the law...repealed the existing law and replaced it allowing hampton bays part of the action....without going to a vote...how can this be legal??? I have called the attorney generals office...its all politics. but I will call again...and DiNapoli too. Ok..so...in the mean time the environmentalists are in a twist because the funds are getting low...duh...the economy is in the dumps..but they want their money back...saying that the taxpayers received too much money!!!! the best part is that the people who benefit from the cpf...Pine barrens society, group for the east end, peconic land trust, nature conservancy....are and have been lobbying our politicians for a long time....and they are doing it again for this election....check out hamptons.com. I say we get rid of the 2% transfer tax. Do you have any idea how much money it costs to run this program? What we need is school tax relief....what about taking the 2% and putting it toward a school building fund. And I can't believe that we are allowing our politicians to put us into debt by bonding the open space...guess where most of it is? Its east of shinnecock canal....this is a fund for rich people. The get these groups to buy land where they live...so they don't have to buy it and pay taxes on it....it reduces the number of homes...so the school taxes are nill!!! Well I will be saying alot more about this issue. and remember the real issue is this....HOW CAN YOU CHANGE A LAW AFTER THE PEOPLE VOTED ON IT????? NO POLITICIAN WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION..THEY SAY THEY WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T SUE THE STATE...YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY?....B.S.

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Misuse of CPF funds in Easthampton and Southampton

Misuse of CPF funds in Easthampton and Southampton

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