Milan United - Issues. Advocacy. Democracy in action.

Milian's Vaudeville Team

2009-02-22T16:00:00.001-05:00

By now everyone has received in their mail the notice of the new show in Milan, The Milan Vaudeville Team starring Williams and May. After insulting the Milan Veterans they now try a juggling act to cover up their “anonymous” letter instigated by them, and having one of their puppets write it. They try to blame the insults to our veterans on the Republican Members of the Town Board where one member is a veteran and another is still serving in the National Reserves. How much time has Mr. Williams spent in defense of our country? Has Mrs. May learned the words to the Pledge of Allegiance yet? She has had a lot of trouble saying it.

The second part of their act they have taken it to Albany in the form of a letter to the Office of the State Comptroller. The amusing thing about the letter, it lists all the shortcomings of the previous administration of Williams and Van Taldage. At the February budget meeting Williams did great job juggling with the figures, half the time not knowing where they were coming from. Where ever these vaudeville stars learned their juggling they should get a refund and go to Clown College as they keep dropping the ball.

New Low for Williams and May

2009-01-16T16:37:00.001-05:00

Ex-Boss Williams and his sidekick Squeaky May have entered the New Year by displaying a new low. Not only are they not satisfied to continuously disrupt the proceeding of the town government with their lists of amendments, but now they feel they must attack the great tradition of West Point Military Academy.

They have circulated an e-mail to their cronies accusing Councilman David Byrne of undemocratic behavior as he and other members of the Town Board refused to entertain their disruptive immature behavior. They said that Mr. Byrne had forgotten what he had learned at West Point; Duty, Honor and Country and that he should resign his position on the Board. When it comes to Duty, Honor and Country, Mr. Williams or Mrs. May are in no position to question Councilperson Byrne on his duty and honor to his country. How much Duty and Honor have either of them shown to the United States? Have either of them been to Iraq and put their lives on the line for their country? Councilperson Byrne did it twice.
So shut you pair of sniveling babies and remember who it was that got Milan into its financial mess, Williams, Talmage, May and Clark. If you can’t serve on Board as responsible representatives of the citizens you should resign

Another Solution by Williams

2008-08-07T16:16:00.002-04:00

As we all know Milan’s finances are in deep doo doo thanks to the squandering of our money by the previous administration. Now ex-defacto supervisor Williams and his trusty side-kick Squeaky have come up with a solution, “Live with it Milan”. Last year Williams, Talmage, Clark and May had no problem squandering $100,000 on lawyers and court cases which they lost.
How Williams and Squeaky May can continue to sit on the Town Board after what they did to the town is unconscionable and yet they do and try everything to disrupt the proceedings.After twice loosing the case on the Floating Light Industrial Zone, the Town is hoping to appeal it again; problem, no money. Williams claimed he could get the money from outside sources, but nothing has happened yet. The latest idea was a door to door collection from the people of Milan; in case they are not paying enough in taxes. That should go over big

Williams has a Solution

2008-06-23T14:54:00.002-04:00

“We ain’t seen nothing yet”, We all know about the financial problems facing Milan and its citizens. We are suffering with seven lawsuits on our plate, lawsuits generated by Ross Williams, Squeaky May and the rest of the Gang of Four. There is no apology no sign of regret by Williams and May for the mess they have perpetrated on the town and the people of Milan.

The town is appealing the Red Wing court case which it has twice lost because of Williams’ arrogance. The town is again appealing the decision after Williams assured the board that he was going to get the money from other sources to pay for the appeal. Now it seems that the town has to come up with the money for the appeal and Williams once again true to form reneged on his promise.

Let us enjoy the warm days of summer while we can, but in a few months we will be back in winter with the snow flying. The problem facing us this year there is there is no money for snow removal in the budget, William and May took care of that. Last year we all knew price of oil was going up and the Highway Department depends on oil for their trucks and road repair, Williams, May &Co. cut the highway budget by 23% and transferred $70.000 from the highway budget to the general fund to pay for their lawsuits. That is OK with Williams he does not have to worry about snow removal because he lives on a county road.

Williams came up with a solution to the highway problem, remove the money from the highway dept’s other budget to pay for the snow removal. The highway dept’s other budget is their payroll; his solution is to lay off highway personnel. We would have snow plows ready to roll but no one to drive them. Williams solves the problem.

Williams and May Responds

2008-06-19T09:33:00.001-04:00

In response to the quarterly report by Supervisor Barrett and Councilpersons Byrne and Egan on Milan’s financial position; the Democratic opposition has attempted to defuse the facts of the report in a June 9th letter to the public. The letter portrayed the genius of the Milan Democratic chairman, Cecil Bill Demay, the man behind the camera. It had all the Bill May qualities of not getting anything right and denying the facts in an attempt to cover the financial blunders of the previous administration under the leadership of Ross Williams supported by Squeaky May. These two still sit on the board and are doing everything possible to perpetuate their financial blunders of last year.
Last year Williams and May spent Milan’s money on lawyers while taking it away from the highway department. They put through an unworkable budget and voted it in two days after the election hoping to straddle the new administration with their mistakes.
The town has seven lawsuits on its hands all due to Williams and May’s blunders last year.
These two still sit on the board and try to explain their behavior as not being able to anticipate what lay in store for Milan in the coming year. They are the ones that created the present financial disaster and now they say the “must learn to live within its means”.
Maybe they could tell how this can be accomplished when they left no money for bridge repairs (we have to float a bond), no money for snow removal, no money for the pending lawsuits and the list goes on.
There is only one decent thing they can do, resign from the board and apologize to the people of Milan for the disaster they have created.

Resign Williams and May

2008-06-08T12:03:00.003-04:00

We have all received a letter from our newly elected officials to the Town Board explaining the financial mess the town is facing due to the mismanagement of our finances and the pompous attitude of the previous administration. Supervisor Barrett and Councilpersons Egan and Byrne have done and excellent job in presenting the financial desaster they inherited from Talmage, Williams and the rest of that bunch.
The people of Milan must be questioning the audacity and insolence of Williams and Squaky May to continue to sit on that board after the disaster they created. Not only do they continue to sit, but Squaky insists on constantly disrupting the proceedings while Cecil Bill DeMay records her girations on camera.
Have some shame Williams and May resign from the board, and apologize to the people of Milan for the damage you have done to the town..

Williams & Co. does it again

2008-05-04T17:16:00.003-04:00

Former Boss Williams and Squeaky May, the holdovers from the last regime of Team Talmage has done it again; another lawsuit on the town. Dyal Carting is suing the town of Milan for discrimination in awarding the Transfer Station contract to Royal Carting.
Milan in its almost 200 years of existence has rarely seen a lawsuit. In the two years of Williams, Talmage and Co. the town has been faced with six lawsuits including one generated by one of our town justices, Frank Christensen.
The town has spent close to $200,000 on legal fees and we don’t have the money to fix the bridges, we have to float a bond.
Thanks Williams and May; you are the ones that want to run the town. In the two years you had control of the Board you have sent the town to the verge of bankruptcy. You had no trouble dishing out money to the lawyers but little for the Highway Department, the people we depend on to maintain our roads.
Now you want to spend more money on lawyers, money the town does not have, you want to contest the lawsuits the town has lost twice.

Milan In the Courts

2008-04-27T15:40:00.001-04:00

Its old news now, Milan lost again in the courts, this time the opposition had a hat-trick, and they cleaned up on all three court cases. Supreme Court Justice James Brands again threw out the Comprehensive Plan saying it was “null and void”. Local law No.6 which was to Eliminate the Light Industrial Zone and local law no. 7 the Town’s Wetlands Law were also declared “null and void”.
This was the second time these same laws appeared before Justice Brands and this was the second time Justice Brands declared them “null and void”. On the previous occasion after the laws were declared illegal, Council persons Williams, Squeaky May and Pauline Clark along with Supervisor Van Talmage, said that Justice Brands’ objections to the laws were a mere technicality and “just hard luck”, so they passed the same laws again. So much for Williams and rest of the Gang of Four’s wisdom.
The Gang of Four had been warned numerous times that their Comprehensive Plan would not withstand a court challenge, but believing in Williams’ infallibility they passed it anyway.
After getting the Town of Milan trounced for the second time, Williams and Squeaky want to appeal the same laws again with no question of where the money is coming from.
The Gang of Four was responsible for spending over $155,000 on the failed Comprehensive plan and we are still getting in legal bills due to that travesty. That does not bother Williams and May; they were responsible for the financial mess the town is in at present so it means nothing to them if the Citizens of Milan has to shoulder their financial mess with higher taxes.

Where's the Money?

2008-04-05T11:47:00.002-04:00

Where’s the Money? Hey Mr. Williams and Mr. Kingman where’s the money? What happened to the Durst $80,000? When you guys were Boss Williams and Lord Kingman, with backing of defacto supervisor Talmage and councilpersons May and Clark you extracted $80,000 from Durst Corporation and now it’s gone with nothing to show for it.
After squandering the Durst money you assumed that Durst was a bottomless financial pit and would gladly cough up more cash to keep you clowns happy. But it’s not so. You tried to tap them for another $70,000. When Durst asked what happened to the original $80,000 you refused to tell them because you did not know how you had squandered it. When they refused you the $70,000, Talmage tried to settle for $50,000, which they refused. They offered $30,000 with a cap on it, and the then Boss Williams refused it saying it is not enough. How much is enough Williams?

At the March 18 Town Board Meeting, when questioned on what happened to the Durst funds,
Williams said he and Kingman did not understand why Durst did not intend to give them any more money after they blew what they got on scoping Durst DEIS. This is only one example of Williams and the previous administration mismanaging money.

The reason that Milan has five lawsuits on its plate is due to the games Williams, Kingman and Talmage were playing with other people’s money.
Last year they spent $74, 614 on legal fees for which nothing was settled except we lost one lawsuit. They budgeted $63,000 legal fees for 2008 of one third is already gone due to the lawsuits three of which we have lost thanks to Williams &Co.

To cover up the holes in the 2008 budget they cut the Highway Department by $79, 571.
And you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Lights; Cameras; Action.

2008-03-29T16:25:00.003-04:00

The question circulating at the Milan Town Board Meetings these days is what gives with all the cameras? You have Cecil B. De May recording all the action at the meetings. Or is it he does not see enough of Squeaky at home he has to capture her of film. Then we have Madame Buff with her camera rolling.
The Town Board must feel very flattered that they are the subject of such attention. The Talmage regime never got such attention and they should have . If they had, the town might not be in the mess it is in now. Five lawsuits and an impossible budget, all the work of Talmage, Williams @Co.
Keep the cameras rolling gang, you might finally learn something.

More Bluff

2008-01-16T15:09:00.000-05:00

At the Monday night Town Board meeting Madame Buff was off again on her silly tirade about the appointment of Morris Associates. Not being satisfied with distributing of her written propaganda which was ignored by the Town Board, she decided to pursue it verbally with a bunch of asinine questions. After she got through, Former Town Board Candidate Mr. Siegel decided it was his turn to try and embarrass the Board by reading a paper he had probably written for a high school project and could never find anyone to listen to it.
When will these people along with Councilperson May learn it would be more beneficial to the citizens of Milan if they supported the New Board and helped them dig out of the mess created by the previous administration? Councilperson May kept up with her constant string of amendments in an attempt to embarrass the new members on the board by displaying her lack of consideration for the other members and the people of Milan. It appeared she was hoping her performance to be thought of as a display of genius. Councilperson May, that is one thing you will never be accused of as “being a genius”.
At the reorganization meeting on January 1st, Councilperson May voted to deny Penny Johnson, Tax collector a $50.00 raise and Debby Frankel a $1.65 raise, saying the town could not afford it after it was approved by the previous board. She had no problem approving $100,000.00 in legal fees last year and still the town wound up with having to deal with four lawsuits caused by her and her associates .
Rudy Vavra was the man of the moment at Monday’s meeting. In order to pay for the massive legal bills facing the town due to the lawsuits he proposed going door to door and taking up a collection. We might even have a bake sale, but then the previous administration put a law on the books that would prevent the sale of cakes or anything else in Milan.
Congratulations to Richard Barrett on his handling of the meeting. By the time it was over we were all exhausted, it was a long night

Buff's Bluff

2008-01-11T18:33:00.000-05:00

At the January 1st Reorganization Meeting at the Town Hall, the evening started with a despicable display of ignorance by Sheila Buff. Prior to the swearing in of the new board Madam Buff was distributing a flyer condemning the board for something they had not even proposed.
Her flyer was composed of so many lies and innuendos that it appeared she studied under the previous administration. She questions the competence of Morris Associates as town planners claiming they have no experience in that field. It is obvious the Madam Buff did not do her home work, or maybe she just enjoys blatant lies.
Buff accused Morris Associates of donating $11,000 to the Milan Republicans. The Milan Republican Party Treasurer challenged her on that, as the Milan Republican Party was so strapped for cash during the election, the $11,000 would have been very welcome. Maybe Madame Buff will write an apology to the Milan Republicans and Morris Associates for her accusations. While she is at it, she should include Sam Lore as she maligned him also in her epistle.
Rather than congratulate the new board and wish them well for the benefit of Milan, Madam Buff feels it more becoming to have them start their first term with as many obstacles she can place in their path. She was one of the last year’s members of the CAC whose job is to protect and conserve Milan’s natural resources, and her septic is bordering on the wet-lands.
Be careful Madam Buff, remember when you point a finger, you have three of your own fingers pointing back at you.

Talmage's Farewell Bombshells

2008-01-05T15:07:00.000-05:00

At The Milan Town Board meeting on Monday December 10, Supervisor Talmage gave a farewell gesture to the people of Milan on the form of two more lawsuits. That means the outgoing administration so far has incurred 4 pending lawsuits on the town; not to mention the one they lost with Red Wing.
These lawsuits are the result of the “great work” by the Ross Williams , Talmage and rest of the gang of four, Squeaky May and the Elusive Pauline Clark.. Apart from the lawsuit travesty, this bunch have removed from the Highway Department, another $22,500, $70, 000 for road improvement, $30,000 for bridge repair. There are four bridges in the town that are in dire need of repair and they have put the money into the General Fund.
The good news is we have come to an end of that era. Had they remained in power another two years it is unknown what damage they would have done.
The Elusive Councilperson Clark has not been seen at a meeting for some months now, there is nothing wrong with that. We just hope she is packing her bags for her exit from Milan. We hope we have seen the last of her. The lamentable thing is with the slump in the real-estate market there may not be many buyers for her property, so we will have to tolerate her in our midst a while longer. But there is always hope.
The Milan Fire Department is still waiting for the contribution she promised them three years ago.

Support Our New Officials

2007-11-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Our newly elected officials are gearing up to accept the challenge of restoring sanity to Milan. After four years of the previous administration's behavior in reckless spending and irresponsible behavior in passing new laws, our new team will be facing an uphill fight. In addition to the above, they have inherited three lawsuits as well as four dilapidated bridges for which there are no funds available for repairs.
We voted them into office now let us give them our full support by attending the monthly town board meetings. There are still two board members left from the past, Williams and May; as evidenced by their past performance, they will do everything in their power to hinder the newly elected officials. Over the past four years we have seen what these people tried to do to Al Lo Brutto. By our presence at the town board meetings and supporting our new team we can make sure that these two do not try to derail Milan’s journey back to a sane government.
Support our new officials, Richard Barrett, Bobbi Egan and David Byrne by being there.
Let them see they have our continued support in restoring sound government to Milan.

Sanity Returns to Milan

2007-11-07T15:32:00.000-05:00

Milan United congratulates our Winning Team: Richard Barrett, Bobbi Egan and David Byrne. Our Team fought a hard battle and showed what Milan residents are really like when they are pushed to the limit.

Boss Williams or should we say Loss Williams, and his Turkey Hill Gang got a lesson on how far Milaners can be pushed. Williams learned that it takes more than New York City money to buy the people of Milan. The City crowd supplied Williams with the money but not the votes. Milan residents spoke on November 6th and said Milan cannot be bought with New York City Big Bucks, they want their town back, they want their freedom back, they want a gas station back and they might even like to go dancing.

More on the King of Sneer

2007-10-21T20:07:00.000-04:00

You will be all happy to hear The Milan Liars Club is alive and well and has two new members. Misters Siegal and Steel have condescended to join the King of the Sneer, Boss Williams.
If you have waded through the three pages of lies and gobbledygook you received in the mail you will see that the MilanLiars Club is going strong. Boss Williams again tries to say he does not benefit from any tax break from his land conservation; how does he explain a reduction of over $500,000 in valuation and $ 74,000 reduction in his school taxes? That $74,000 has to be made up by someone else, that someone else is the other tax payers. Williams has made sure with his Comprehensive Plan, that no one else in Milan can enjoy the same benefits.
This bunch of Boss Williams and Co., say they have Experience, Leadership, Ideas and Credibility. All we have to do is look back over the past four years judge the leadership, experience, ideas and credibility of the Williams, Talmage administration. You might say that Williams was only on the board for two years; that is true, but he has been Talmage’s Boss for four years. Talmage through Williams’ direction has almost drained Milan financially dry. Is that the type of experience, leadership, ideas and credibility we want?
We don’t think so; Milan expects and deserve better.
So Van the Man has been forced out by the Boss. He tries to tell us that he stepped down by his own volition as he did not have the time to give to the town. The Big Lie, he has nothing else but time. Like the rest of the Board, he does not have a job. His only income is what he gets from the Town, and Boss Williams has taken that away from him. The only reason he tells us to vote for Boss, is he is leaving town.
You can start Smilin’
Van and Pauline are leaving Milan

More Lies by Boss Williams

2007-09-20T17:57:00.000-04:00

By now we all have had time to digest Boss Williams’ latest epistle taken with an extra dose of ant-acid for digestive purposes. Included in the letter was a picture of the famous sneer which required some stronger medicine. This time he did not tell us where the financing came from. We assume it came from his loyal New York City fans for which he is “Keeping Milan Rural”.
He is proud to report the progress of the present administration. After almost four years, they finally forced on the Milan community their Comprehensive Plan, Wetlands and Water Protection Laws. He did no mention the $100,000 of taxpayers’ money squandered on legal fees. He did not mention the lawsuit the town lost due to his mishandling of the Comprehensive Plan. He did not mention the faulty bookkeeping by him and Talmage, which has cost the town banking fees for overdrafts. He asks for your vote so, as he says, he can continue with the same sloppy administration.
He says the people of Milan should expect tax management, and good basic government from their elected representatives. The people of Milan did expect just that but it was not what the got from Talmage, Boss Williams and the rest of the Gang of Four. He says he has the experience and work ethics to do job well. Check with his co-workers at IBM about his ethics, some are still pull the knives out of their backs.
He talks about “Open Books”, you cannot get the right time at the town hall without filing a Freedom of Information Request. He claims he listens to the public; he does not hear from many of the public when he has his town board meetings at 9am Monday mornings when most of us are at work.
He did not mention that he had his property assessment lowered by $365, 500 on his county, town and school taxes. He did not mention that with the passing of the Wetlands Law, future Building Permits will require a Wetlands Review by their professional. Karen Scheller-MacDonald. (That is going to cost big bucks)
He did not mention the 17 laws he is planning to pass, each one to limit the freedom of the people of Milan. Here are just a few:1) Lighting Standards, 2)Driveway Standards, 3)More Fees 4)Fence Regulation, 5) More Highway business Regulation, 6) New but Unspecified Subdivision Regulations, and the list goes on.
He did not mention how he and Lord Kingman drove Milan’s only gas station out of town.Do you want to live in a Police State? Vote Boss Williams

Milan Liars Club

2007-08-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

Do you remember “Team Talmage” and the promises they made two years ago? If you don’t, this might be a good time to take a look at the promises and how they were kept.
Talmage and his bunch were prepared to promise the people of Milan anything just to get their claws on the town and the town budget. The following are some of the PROMISES.

1) “We believe the plan for Milan should be built around those who live here and plan to stay, not around those who want to sell their land and leave, selling out Milan’s rural character in the process.”
Guess what; two of those that made that statement are selling their property and leaving town, just after they passes a bunch of laws that will affect the people of Milan’s property rights. The two are Talmage and Councilperson Clark.

2) “We will involve the community in any and every proposal to implement the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan, seeking input, listening to views and trying to accommodate wide-spread concerns.”
Think of that one when they held their meetings at 9am Monday mornings when people working. None of them have jobs.

3) “We will make all decisions in the open and in the interest of the Town, not back room deals made for political or personal benefit.”
What about their secret meetings in the conference room during Town Board Meetings?
They sure demonstrated what they mean by “Open Government”.

Milan Spectacle

2007-08-17T13:54:00.000-04:00

Anyone who attended the Milan Town Board meeting on Monday evening, August 13th was treated to an exhibition of idiocy by Councilperson Clark. Richard Barrett, Republican candidate for town supervisor, read a statement defending him and the rest of the republican ticket against lies delivered to the press by Boss Williams and Talmage. While Mr. Barrett was reading his statement, Councilperson Clark thought it incumbent of her to give an idiotic performance of leering at the audience, rolling her eyes and doing every other silly gesture she could think of. There is such a thing a courtesy which is supposed to be maintained at a board meeting part of which is when someone has the floor to acknowledge their presence. Apparently Mrs. Clark is not very big in the courtesy department.
Mrs. Clark is leaving Milan for Massachusetts where she will be appreciated. They are not very big on honesty in that state. Supervisor Talmage is also blowing town for Burlington, Vermont. Two of the four that voted for new laws in Milan that would affect every citizen of the town; and they are leaving after the damage is done.
Rather than going to Burlington, Vermont, Mr. Talmage should go to Burlington, Wisconsin the home of the famous Burlington Liars Club. He should take the rest of the gang of four with him; they would make the Liars Hall of Fame.

Pinocchio Talmage

2007-08-06T20:01:00.000-04:00

In Supervisor Talmage’s abdication address he told more lies than Pinocchio. It is understandable that in naming his successor, Boss Williams, that he give some positive recognition to Boss, but was it necessary to stoop to the same low lying level we are used to hearing from Boss?

We can feel sure that Talmage is not stepping down under his own volition that he was motivated by Boss Williams and Squeaky May. The Supervisor’s job was the only income Talmage has, so he was not about to walk away from it. Williams has been itching for the job this past two years.

We wonder who is Larry Steel and Steve Siegel and what have they done for the town. By saying that they would carry on the values of his administration is not something Milan has to look forward to. When we consider the money his administration has squandered and has nothing to show for it except loosing a law suit, and his monthly bookkeeping blunders, it is not something we want in our future.

Whatever little dignity Talmage had left, he lost it in his appraisal of the Republican ticked. He is in no position to judge anyone’s track record when we consider his own and the rest of the gang of four. What track record has Steel and Siegel? The Republican Party and Milan United have gone on record that they do not want mining in Milan. Talmage knows that, yet he says they are an affiliate of the mining industry. He says that the Republican candidates are closely tied to real estate developers. He knows the candidates and he knows that none of them are associated with developers. Another lie is saying the Republican candidates are opposed to wetlands protection. The Republican Party has gone on record as being in favor of wetlands protection, but not by taking away the rights of the Milan taxpayers.
Talmage lies like Boss Williams and Pinocchio. When they lie, Pinocchio’s nose grows longer and Boss Williams’ sneer gets bigger

Boss Williams ousts Van

2007-07-30T14:10:00.000-04:00

Boss Williams to run for Supervisor
Well it happened; everyone saw it coming except Poor Old Van. Boss Williams showed his true form again, just as he did at IBM, he stabbed his friends in the back. Boss Williams a/k/a Defacto Supervisor set Van up by approving Van’s lousy bookkeeping; he along with Squeaky May, has forced Van out of office.
Some weeks ago Boss Williams sent out his letter which was his signal that he had bigger plans for himself. He was just sharpening the knife for Van. Boss Williams and Lord Kingman see themselves as the future rulers of Milan.
As Van rides off into the sunset, Milan residents should look back as see the damage this pair has done to the town. Look at the amount of our money they have squandered on legal fees in their reckless pursuit of destroying the town. Should Boss Williams be elected Supervisor it is unknown the amount of damage he and Lord Kingman plan for our future.

More Williams' Lies

2007-07-19T16:49:00.000-04:00

By now we all have had time to digest Mr.Williams epistle to the common folk whom he affectionately refers to as “Neighbors”. Mr. Williams places his address as the Milan Town Hall which makes us believe he lives there. Considering he paid for this communication out of his own pocket, as he tells us, money he extracted from the citizens of Milan; maybe that qualifies him as “Neighbor”.

Mr. Williams talks about the Comprehensive Plan, Wetlands and the Rural Space Overlay. He fails to say that he and his bunch have cost the town almost $100.000 for something that the New York Supreme Court kicked out as illegal. He proudly states the Milan is not afraid of lawsuits. Why should the Gang of Four fear law suits, they are not paying the piper, it’s the people of Milan that are paying for their screw-ups

He says “The Town has been managed in a fiscally responsible manner.” The truthful thing about the statement is, it is in the past tense. When we see the goof-ups by Financial Wizard Talmage in his financial responsibility, we understand why Williams is in the past tense. In 2006 alone, Talmage was responsible for over drafts totaling $46,215.75. For these over-drafts, the town was charged penalties and fees. Mr. Williams being a member of the Milan Town Board approved these over-drafts. Williams wants us to believe that the town is in competent hands. Is this the way a competent money manager operates? Williams, acting as defacto supervisor along with his puppet supervisor Talmage has been responsible for financial errors every month since they came into office. In his three years in office, Talmage has overspent his budget lines; is this who you want to continue managing your town?

He asks us to “Speak out for a more civil Milan”. That is what we are trying to do as Milan United. We don’t want to live in a police state with our rights taken away which Williams, Lord Kingman and the rest of the Bunch are trying to do. This bunch has tried to encroach on every part of our lives. It is time to get rid of them and restore civility to the town.

Don't Drink the Water

2007-06-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

At a recent Milan Town Board meeting it was announced the water from the well at the Recreational Park in Lafayetteville is unsafe. After a heavy discussion, the Gang of Four came up with a solution to the problem. They are going to put up a sign,”DON’T DRINK THE WATER”. That will solve everything. What has Milan become, a third world country where travelers are advised not to drink the water?
This bunch has no problem in spending tens of thousands of our dollars on every crazy scheme Williams and Lord Kingman can think up to curb our rights as citizens of Milan. Their solution to the problem of the drinking water is put up a sign. I just wonder when was the last time any member of that bunch was at the Rec. Park and needed a drink of water.
They have spent an untold amount on our money in lawyers’ fees on their Wetlands project. It’s another plan to deny us freedom of our own property. Instead of throwing money to the lawyers why not to up signs, “Don't go near the Wetlands”, as they are going to do with the water problem in the Rec. Park. It would cost a lot less than they are spending on lawiers and would be just as effective.
If they want to do something to benefit the people of Milan, give us back our gas station. Some of us have jobs and need gas to for the morning commute. But three of the Gang of Four are unemployed and the other is unemployable.

Mr. Talmage's Creative Bookkeeping

2007-06-16T15:24:00.000-04:00

Milan United points out another example of the peculiar accounting practiced by Mr. Talmage. In April he recorded on payroll for a non-existent deputy town clerk and then his removal of half the amount. Here are some more from the same Talmage April monthly report.
The March payroll gave Mr. Talmage had a particularly difficult time. He has been on the job 3 1/2 years and still hasn’t figured it out. He needs more practice that is the reason he will be asking you to re-elect him in November.
Let’s start and take a look at his creative bookkeeping. Remember it is your money he is playing with. He deducted $239.76 from the supervisor’s contractual expenditure line – Bookkeeping Services – “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.” Payroll and contractual budget lines are separate categories of expenses: So how do you fix a payroll error by changing the funds in the contractual line? And what was the $239.76 error in the first place?
He added $4,184.41 to the Justice Clerk payroll expenditure line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He added $1,030.38 to the assessor clerk line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He deducted $485.47 from the deputy town clerk expenditure line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.” There still remains a bogus charge of $485.47 to this line item because the town had no deputy town clerk in March.
He deducted $16.13 from the social security expenditure line “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He deducted another $470.00 from the social security expenditure line as an adjustment. Adjustment for what reason? There is no further explanation.
He deducted $3.75 from medicate “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.”
He deducted another $100 from Medicare as an adjustment without giving any explanation..
He deducted $469.68 from an account numbered 6560 “To fix 3-16-07 payroll.” There is no such expenditure account in the 2007 budget. There is no explanation for this deduction.
In total, Mr. Talmage made nine accounting errors totaling $2,999.58.
There are some other items that deserve to be questioned.
Why did the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals each order 3 sets of small tax maps at a cost of $130.00 per order? Can’t they both use the same sets?
Why did the town pay a $185 bank service?
Why does Mr. Talmage continue to include in his totals accounts receivable and payable due from 2006? Why hasn’t he paid what is owed and collected what is due? And why does he treat an account payable as receivable and a receivable as payable?
Why did Mr. Talmage charge an $80.37 publication expense against the town clerk’s accounts when the abstract shows it as a charge against planning?
Why did the town pay $45 for a sign for the Rescue Squad breakfast out of town hall funds?
Why did Mr.Talmage charge the disability insurance premium of $68.40 against planning Why has he allowed 3 accounts to be overdrawn by $8,443.91, in violation of state law?
Did you know that a reporter called the town attorneys to confirm a story on Milan, the attorneys billed the town $45.00

Milan's Vigilantes

2007-05-28T16:57:00.000-04:00

Milan now has a Vigilante Committee headed by none other than Councilpersons Clark and May. The purpose of the Committee is to spy on Milaners and report back if they see anything eschew on one’s property. They will then report to the building inspector and have him investigate their findings. The building inspector will decide on what action should be taken against the offending party. If you doubt this report, check with some of the merchants on Route 199.
You can be sure that Talmage’s junk yard or Clark’s will not be investigated. They have violated every code on the books in Milan. It is one hell of a note when Board Members try to turn Milan into a police state.Remember this when you go to the polls in November

Milan United's position on Red Wing

2007-05-27T14:44:00.000-04:00

Milan United joins those in opposition to the proposed further mining of the former Archer property, and we support the statement made by the Milan Town Board at the hearing In it the town board requests an immediate denial of the permit on the basis that mining is not permitted in the town and any other action would be a denial of home rule. Failing this, the town board requests a 60 day extension of the comment period and an adjudicatory hearing.
We believe that this project is so big that it cannot but disrupt the lives of the individuals living near it and the town in general. We see no plan for mitigation that can compensate from the resulting disruption. We have seen the disruption caused by the limited mining operation presently conducted by Red Wing, and certainly an expansion of the facility will not result in any diminution of this.
Tens of thousands of years ago the last continental glacier laid down this ribbon of sand and stone in its retreat north. We believe that it should stay as it was deposited until the next glacier chooses to move it. The potential damage to the environment of the town is too great to take the risk

Good News for Milan

2007-05-26T20:00:00.000-04:00

Milan residents, the good new is The BLOG is back in action again. Through no fault of The BLOG, it was out of action due to a reorganization at GOOGLE. Hoping everything has been straightened out as we have a lot to say.

Guess who got your tax money

2007-03-23T21:14:00.000-04:00

Where Did All The Money Go? Review of Fiscal 2006

Milan United has finally gotten a copy of the year-end financial records for 2006, and we thought we would highlight some of the ways the gang of four spent your money.
One area that has taken a lot of it is through payments for consultants; two in particular Van DeWater & Van DeWater, attorneys and Greenplan, planning consultants. . During 2006, the gang of four, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board authorized the following payments to these two firms:
Van DeWater & Van DeWater $41,794.47
Greenplan $36,920.00
Total $78,714.47

In addition, the town zoning and planning boards spent a total of $114, 854.20 of individual’s money. These escrow funds went to three consulting firms:
Paggi Martin & D was paid $ 22,462.75
Greenplan was paid $ 53,751.75
Van DeWater & Van DeWater was paid $ 38,639.70
For a total of $114,854.20

If you are wondering why property is so expensive in Milan, here’s a good reason

Notes from Feb. 27: Milan's Future Planning

2007-03-11T13:31:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

”Milan benefits from planning” sent to Milan United by the Gang of Four’s Editorial Board. For the benefit of our readers, Milan United found it necessary to do a little editing.

Milan’s Gang of Four have systematically tackled important issues related to upsetting the community’s tranquil and rural character. In particular, approving a new master plan last year which got blasted out of the waters by the New York State Supreme Court. The town’s top priorities this year is to enact more laws which should only hinder the community’s ability to accomplish any new development.

The Gang hopes to quickly get a wetlands preservation plan in place under the direction of Councilman Williams which should take property rights away from the citizens of Milan. Wetlands naturally filter out pollution and help re-supply water bodies while also providing the right environment for all sorts of animal and plant life. While that Gang under the direction of Williams claims they are protecting animal rights; if so, they are doing it without any consideration for those who are paying the taxes.

The state concerns itself with wetlands of 12.4 acres or more and leaves smaller ones up to the federal government, which the Gang says, hasn’t adequately regulated these water bodies. Williams and Co. with their pompous attitude claim to have greater wisdom that the State or Federal Government. The proposal in Milan would put 100-foot buffers around these smaller wetlands depriving the taxpayer of the right to their ponds.Most in town may oppose these efforts. But the Williams says law is needed to better protect water bodies essential to making Milan attractive to New York City residents.

The town also will work on revising a plan to allow large landowners to cluster building lots to help maintain open space. A draft of the proposal submitted last year would have allowed large landowners one lot for every 10 acres. It also would have required landowners to put 60 percent of the land into a conservation easement without the tax benefit Williams enjoys. But many felt the law was too restrictive.

The Gang are planning to revise the proposal and working to ensure affordable housing in the hamlets, out of sight of Williams and his New York City neighbors.

The controversial issue of gravel mining in the town also remains. A state Supreme Court judge recently overturned a town law approved last year that effectively banned mining in Milan. Red Wing Sand & Gravel sued the town over the action, taken in response to residents’ concerns about the company’s plans to mine 69 acres off Turkey Hill Road.

Larger property base eases taxes.Talmage and other Gang members recognize taxes, especially school property taxes, are a drain on residents. They do not consider it necessary to look into the enormous amount of money they are recklessly spending on legal fees. Expanding Milan’s property tax base through commercial or industrial development can help ease the burden on homeowners, but the Gang refuses to allow any business into the town not even a gas station or a lemonade stand.

Over time, the town expects some commercial development along Route 199 near the hamlets of Rock City and Lafayetteville but not if the Gang can help it. But that remains to be seen.

Talmage's state of the Town Address

2007-03-10T09:22:00.000-05:00

This Address was sent to Milan United by Team Talmage's Editorial Board. For the benefit of our readers we had to do a little editing.

Supervisor Talmage’s Address to the Town on February 17th. The big news, covered by the local press, is that the court ruled in favor of Red Wing in the lawsuit wherein they challenged Local Laws #1 and #2 of 2006. The judge's decision effectively overturned law #1, which was the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan 2006. The reasons were major technical problems simply, Williams and the Gang of Four blew it at the taxpayers’ expense

A required letter to the Dutchess County Planning Department was late because Councilman Williams missed the boat by 8 days The Comprehensive Plan itself was considered by the Courts to be a joke on the people of Milan. And since Local Law #2 had been superseded by Local Law #12, the judge indicated that the question on local law #2 was "moot" and stupid.

The Board has discussed the case with the Attorney for the Town Board (which will cost another chunk of change) and is considering whether to re-enact the Comprehensive Plan. The formal vote on this action will be at the March 12 meeting. Town Board will hold another of their secret meetings making sure that the citizens of the town are kept in the dark. The process of re-enactment will take several months unless Williams decides to go full speed ahead again and get the town into another quagmire.

The Gang of Four still must decide on certain questions related to SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review). The Gang has also passed a resolution to file a notice of appeal to the decision of the court which will cost the Taxpayer more Big Bucks.

In a related matter, the DEC has called to indicate that the Draft EIS for Red Wing's application before the DEC for a mining permit is nearing completion. The DEC permit process is separate from any town actions. Once the DEIS is complete, Williams will be up and running before the DEC can schedule public hearings on this. Watch for this, “Good Ole Boy” Supervisor Talmage will give another song and dance, but the tune is getting a bit stale.

More information on the whole Gravel Mine and Red Wing question will be available at a later time if we ever get out of this mess. In other actions, the Wetlands Law has been revised and is available online. On 3/3/07 the Board held a public information session to discuss and answer questions about the law. About 10-15 people attended the session. Ross Williams led the discussion as usual trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the few that were there. At this time, however, final passage of the Wetlands Law will await the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan.

Note that the other major land use initiative, the Rural Space Overlay will also have to await the re-adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. And lastly, the Poughkeepsie Journal ran an editorial on the Milan initiatives and basically had good words to say on the work of Milan United.

The town board and the town clerk have been in discussions to resolve the Deputy Town Clerk situation. It is expected that the situation will be taken care of at the March 12meeting.The Highway Department has responded admirably to the February and March snows.At the board meeting in February, the board adopted the No Kiddies Selling Lemonade Law.

On February 17, Supervisor Talmage spoke to about 10 people on the State of the Town. In general, things are good except for the monthly overdrafts and the lawsuit about the Plan which he said is a "bump in his head".

Williams Blew It

2007-03-06T11:22:00.000-05:00

Councilman Williams has done it big this time; apart from embarrassing the town with the loss of a law suit, he and the rest of his Gang of Four have cost the town tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees not to mention printing costs on their worthless document known as, “The Comprehensive Plan”.
In 2005, Williams in his arrogance decided he was going to create a comprehensive plan for the town of Milan in eight months. Rhinebeck has been working on their comprehensive plan for three years, they are taking their time to be sure they do it right. Not pompous Williams, he was going to break all records, “damn the torpedoes, full speed head”. He went full speed head and he hit two torpedoes, Red Wing and The New York State Supreme Court.
Does Williams, Talmage and the rest of the gang know or care how much money they have cost the town on legal fees in producing a piece of rubbish. To add to the ignominy of the situation, Williams received an award from Talmage for his excellent work. It would be funny if it was no so pathetic. Is Williams going to acknowledge he bungled the situation and return his award?
Talmage in his incompetence, dismisses the ruling by The New York State Supreme Court as a minor procedural matter. The Court ruled three times on sections of the Comprehensive Plan as being “Null and Void”, and Talmage dismisses it as a minor procedural matter. That is not surprising coming from Supervisor Talmage considering his monthly overdrafts in the town’s accounts which he continues to dismiss as minor. He is over three years on the job and still has not figured it out.
Red Wing in the law suit is asking for their legal costs; you know who is going to pay that, The Milan Taxpayer. It looks like Red Wing will get the gravel mine, and they can thank Councilman Williams and the rest of the Gang of Four.
Support Milan United

Appraiser Bob Speaks

2007-02-11T19:51:00.000-05:00

History IS a good teacher…

Not too long ago, an unassuming man living in Milan talked his way to the political table by trumping up his resume and using scare tactics and innuendo to sway the voters; he was elected Supervisor. Once in office he closed access to government, garnered control over the finances and changed the lock on his door. Checks were written without board approval, banking documents went missing and financial reports were late (if ever) and always wrong and terminated relationships with the very people who helped him get elected.
NO, WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT VAN TALMAGE…
Some years back, before Mr. Jeffreys became Supervisor a gentlemen, very similar in his approach and speech to Mr. Talmage, made his way into local politics; his name was Vincent Scelba. But now, all too eerily, it’s as if this man, who was run out of this town on a rail, is back, look at the similarities:

Talmage, like Scleba, looks sincere and plays the “aw shucks” country boy
Talmage, like Scelba, smiles broadly but does little but mouth platitudes
Talmage, like Scelba, has little management skill
Talmage, like Scelba, preyed upon resident’s fears that “things were bad”
Talmage, like Scelba, and needed change” and a significant majority bought the ruse.

Talmage, like Scelba, has cut-off access to our local government
Talmage, like Scelba, fails to file monthly reports timely, and is always wrong
Talmage, like Scelba, writes checks without board approval
Talmage, like Scelba, has lost or altered financial information
Talmage, like Scelba, has changed the locks on his office
Talmage, like Scelba, has turned his back on Milan residents who elected him.

What else does Talmage and Scelba have in common? Well, he fought endlessly with the Town Clerk, claiming that she didn’t manage the office properly (although she’d been in the office for a very long time) he felt he needed to provide the oversight…sound familer.

Fortunately, the board at that time saw Scelba for the charlatan he was and worked in a bi-partisan way to forge ahead and meet the needs of the residents; too bad that this bunch has chosen to ostracize their longest resident member and allow those with no history and little experience to foist one horrific law after another on top of our townspeople, shame on them.

Why attack a sitting town clerk? Mrs. Gill is not up for election…YET. You see, Mrs. Gill is anathema to them. She is everything they despise. She has a long history in the community, raising children, working as a volunteer, and a long history of helping everyone. From their perspective she has got to go.Mrs. Gill, earlier as Deputy and now as the Town Clerk and has been through several administrations; she provides continuity and history and to some degree a conscience to the boards; all clerks have done this.

But this board wants, no needs her gone, because she stands in their way of their tyranny. To facilitate her end, they were priming Ms. Gelardi to ascend to the position. If they could create an impossible and hostile environment they could undermine her office with the help of Ms. Gelardi and at the same time publicly humiliate Mrs. Gill by complaining about all aspects of her position. In short, make her want to quit and then appoint Ms. Gelardi to the vacancy.
Their ruse was discovered, confronted and derailed.

Ms. Gelardi was let go for insubordination. Plainly and simply put, a deputy works at the pleasure of the Town Clerk, not the board, not anyone but the clerk. State Law has made it that way so that the vital function of the office can be managed effectively, without manipulation by the legislative body, the town board.

Their cowardly act at that Friday morning’s massacre of the clerk’s budget was unprecedented and should be attacked by everyone in this town who pays property taxes. If they fail to live up to the budget as presented to the public last November and which was taxed to you and I this January, what reliability will we ever be able to expect from this bunch.Resolve today to ends this tyranny at the General Election in November.

SUPPORT MILAN UNITED

Gang of Four Sinks to New Low

2007-02-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

You might wonder how low the Gang of Four can stoop, don’t wonder any more. They have given the most spiteful performance of pettiness Milan has ever seen. Supervisor Talmage under the direction of sneering defacto supervisor Williams decided to punish the Milan Town Clerk, Catherine Gill by removing funding for a deputy clerk. Not only, they are punishing the Town Clerk, an elected official of the town, but by their actions they are rendering a hardship on the citizens of Milan whose taxes they are playing with.
The cause of the vicious behavior by this Bunch; was the Town Clerk was forced to dismiss the deputy clerk for being derelict in her duties and insubordination. This was not a capricious act by the town clerk; the deputy clerk had received repeated warnings on her dereliction of duties. Warning she choose to ignore as she had the support of the bunch on the board.
Most people in Milan have had business with the Town Clerk. No one has ever said they received anything but total cooperation from Mrs. Gill. Mrs. Gill is an elected an elected official of Milan and according to New York State Town Law, the management of the Town Clerk’s Office is the responsibility of the Town Clerk; the deputy clerk serves at the town clerk’s pleasure. Once again this bunch on the board has plowed into territory where they have no business.
In the motion to withhold funding for a deputy clerk, the board said, “And, whereas this board has had concerns about the operation and function of the Town Clerk’s Office for sometime.” So to show their concern for the office they penalize the Town Clerk.
It you find the service slow or your calls go unanswered, don’t blame the Town Clerk, take it up with the Gang of Four, you know who they are.

Milan's Financial Wizard

2007-01-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

By now you have all received your tax bills; not quite what you expected? If you remember, Milan’s Financial Wizard, Mr. Supervisor Talmage stated there would be an increase in your taxes by 3.5% to offset the Gang of Four’s squandering of your money.
He Lied as you have figured out by now; your town taxes have jumped by 5.8%. But then, a miscalculation at your expense is not unusual for Financial Wizard Talmage. He has not come up with a correct calculation of your finances in the three years since he took office. Did you know Milan has a finance committee? Did you know the Finance Committee consists on Financial Wizard Talmage and Councilwoman May. That would be funny if we were not the victims of their buffoonery.

Why is Talmage unable to produce a Financial Report in time for the monthly meetings as required by law? Does not the rest of the Gang of Four have an obligation to see that your finances are properly handled? Isn’t that the reason they were elected? Not so according to Defacto Supervisor Williams. According to him, their job is to create laws that will place greater restrictions on the citizens of Milan. At the January Town Board meeting, Williams had the nerve to try and outline their accomplishments for 2006. This consisted of 12 laws, some they passed others they tried to pass, and all with one purpose, to place more restrictions on Milaners

This is the Bunch that will want your support next November. Support Milan United where the truth is.

Thank you Milan United

2007-01-02T17:18:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year. By now we all have had an opportunity to read the second installment on Milan’s literary master piece,”In Milan”. (Evidently Appraiser Bob is not the editor or might have appeared in musical form.) We got a windup of some of the happenings in the town during 2006; but not them all, just the headlines not the goof-ups. We won’t explore the shortcomings of the present administration; Milan United has already exposed their condescending contempt for the citizens of the town on their web.

It is interesting that in the course of 2006 the present board proposed passing 12 laws, each law attempting to strip away more and more of our freedom. The previous administration under Supervisor Jim Jeffreys did not passed 12 laws in 10 years and it is doubtful if during Tom Odak’s 27 years as town supervisor had passed 12 laws. In just 12 months, this bunch have tried to pass the most draconian laws with total disregard for the citizens of Milan.

In their publication they attempt to give the status of three of the laws that they failed to push through. 1/ The Rural Space Overlay; 2/ The Wetlands Law; 3/ The Vending of Refreshments Law. They are at present under further review which means there will be more legal fees. The producers of the newsletter failed to mention why these laws are subject to further review. They did not mention that the citizens of Milan strongly protested at the public hearings the passing of these laws. They did not mention the Milan United was instrumental in alerting the public to the detrimental nature of the laws. They also failed to thank Milan United for showing them the evil of their ways.

Thank you Milan United

Milan's Poet Laureate

2006-12-26T19:34:00.000-05:00

With all the new jobs being created by the Milan Administration, it is time they appointed a Milan Poet Laureate. Appraiser Bob has proved himself worthy of the honor. The following is a sample of Bob’s creative genius. This work will go down in the annals of Milan literature.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - A new twist for Milan:
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town
Not a turkey was stirring, not even up on their hill;
Their lies were hung for all to share,
In hopes that the newspapers would buy what was there;
The newbies were nestled all snug on their estates,
Dreaming of all the property-rights they would take;
And Vanny in his "hovel" with Ross inside his head,
Had tried to settle down and forget the public hearings dread,
When out by the town hall there arose such a clatter,
Vanny sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the hall he flew like a flash,
Tearing up Route 199 and he saw with a gasp!
The quarter moon on the ridge, just a glow,
Gave light to the masses gathering below,
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But hundreds of angry residents, no longer in fear.
They came at first just one, then two, then dozens appeared,
More rapid than eagles against his laws they came,
And they whistled, and shouted, and called him unflattering names;
From young families starting out to old timers they came,
And he knew in a moment this wouldn't be quick;
Knowing now that, the next election he'll get kicked.
To the top of the addition! to the top of the hall!
He ran and said go-away, go-away, go-away all!
Building faster and faster like a snowball down hill,
The residents cried out "We've had more than our fill!"
Vanny whistled and shouted "Aw shucks, all's the same!"
But the residents were tired and couldn't be tamed.
Now Rock City, Lafayettevlle, Jackson Corners and more,
Run away, run away, Van will destroy you all!
To the top of the hill to inside the hall,
On election day dash him, in fact dash them all!
Vanny turned quick and all heard him exclaim,
"I've got no damn job Ross, you've got to explain!"

Kingman & Co. Acquiesced

2006-11-22T09:15:00.000-05:00

It has finally come to pass, an eyesore is to removed from the Milan landscape. Kingman of the Planning Board have agreed to issue a Demolition Permit to the owners of the defunct Mobile Station on Rte. 199. The next question is , what obstacles will Kingman and Co. place in the way that will prevent the building a new gas station? This crowd does not want any business in Milan regardless of how beneficial it may be to the community.
JOIN MILAN UNITED

Robbed Again

2006-11-20T13:15:00.000-05:00

The 2007 Budget
Mr. Talmage suggests that the rising cost of town government is due to the highway budgets. Comparing the General and Highway Fund budgets when Mr. Talmage took office in 2004 with his final budget for 2007, we find that the General Fund has risen 52.5 percent, while the Highway Fund has only increased 33.7 percent. Keep in mind that the highway budget is far more sensitive to increases in petroleum costs than is the General Fund.
Looking at specific accounts for:
2006 2007 Percent of Change
Supervisor Salary $ 12,420 $ 14,000 + 12.7
(Most others received a 4 percent increase.)
Supervisor’s
Private Secretary $ 6,000 $ 10,000 + 67.0
Attorney $ 20,000 $ 55,000 +275
Recreation $ 15,000 $ 15,000 0.0
Zoning $ 66,200 $ 72,000 + 8.8
Planning Personnel $ 2,200 $ 11,000 +500
Employee Benefits
General $112,000 $145,500 + 29.9
Highway $ 63,338 $ 50,562 - 20.0
Buried in these numbers is a full-time position of building inspector/zoning enforcement officer, a part-time town planner and a part-time wetlands specialist.
One can certainly see that the town board’s priorities have nothing to do with maintenance of the town’s roads. The town highway department has been losing ground every year since Mr. Talmage took office. Blaming the decline on past boards and past and present highway superintendents is dishonest. If the town has the money to provide for a private secretary, nearly tripling the attorney fees (not including the money in the zoning and planning budgets), and hiring more personnel to enforce more laws, it should have been able to provide enough money to fix the roads. The objective of the gang of four on the town board is to make government in Milan full time; that is their idea of rural

Lemonade Law Sent Back

2006-11-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

At The Town Board Meeting on Monday, November13th, Defacto Town Supervisor Williams and his Board went down to ignominious defeat on the public hearing on the "Vending of Refreshment Law", affectonately known as the "Lemonade Law" or the Anti-Rocky Mancini Law". The board had planned to railroad this law through with a 10 minute public hearing and then vote on it. Milan United saw to it that there was a 30 minute public hearing giving voice to many who opposed the law. The Board was forced to reconsider the law.
Bill May, true to his form, in his own elegant fashion defend this piece of nonsense. Mr. May is against any form wayside stands in Milan, this includes lemonade stands.l
JOIN MILAN UNITED and RESTORE SANITY to OUR TOWN

Wetlands Public Hearing

2006-11-12T15:42:00.000-05:00

Nearly 50 local residents attended a public hearing at Milan Town Hall to sound off to the town board about the proposed "Wetlands and Watercourses" law.The comments at the Nov. 4 morning meeting generally centered around the residents' dissatisfaction with the law, which would build on existing county and state regulations of activities that are permitted within certain distances of wetlands and watercourses.Resident Bobbi Egan read from prepared statements, saying, "We all recognize the benefits of protecting and maintaining our wetlands and watercourses. However, I take exception to regulatory actions that restrict my ability to utilize and enjoy my property."Our own Comprehensive Plan encourages the town to 'consider techniques' for protecting the physical attributes of the community."In my opinion, the town board has not considered any techniques but these: over-regulation of private landowners, excessive permit applications and fees to generate revenue for the expansion of town government."Other methods for protecting wetlands and watercourses are available. Property in watershed areas that supply the drinking water for New York City are purchased through fee title or acquired with conservation easements, not taken through regulation. Wetlands and watershed properties can be purchased or donated. Promoting new business in Milan would generate tax revenue for the town that could be used to purchase warranty easement deeds for wetland protection from property owners," Egan said in her prepared statement."Buying conservation easement, paying landowners to avoid certain practices, paying landowners a fee for providing a breeding habitat for an endangered species are all positive options that will protect our natural resources in a positive manner, not legislated by force," she said.Many comments reflected the discontent over what several residents said was "over-legislation" by the town.Jim Jeffreys cited "a penchant of the board to over-regulate. The ideas are well-meaning, but a law that needs to be two pages ends up being 24."Jeffreys said the law will lead to accusations of "spot-zoning," which could lead to further legal problems for a town government that is already facing several lawsuits from developers."We have a process, and the process works," said Jeffries."I don't think another body of legislation in our already bloated body of laws is what we need. You're micro-managing something that doesn't need to be managed at all," he said to the board.A hand-out was available for those attending the hearing, which listed many of the "prohibited," "permit required," and "no permit required" activities, according to the proposed law.Prohibited acts would include chemical dumping, construction of septic tanks, drainage of untreated storm-water runoff, maintenance of animal feedlots or pens, manure stockpiles or animal storage areas.The use of fertilizers, both organic and inorganic, would be prohibited as well.Existing vegetation could not be replaced with a lawn, and removal of healthy trees and shrubs would only be allowed by percentage.Any construction activity would require a permit, including the construction of pools and tennis courts.Renovations to existing structures and the installation of pipes, wells, service lines conduits and cables, as well as the storage of construction material, would also require a permit.The hand-out states, however, that "expansion and restoration of town, county and state roadways and structures are exempt from the permit process and are only subject to approval of plans by a "wetlands professional."Some maintenance activities would not require a permit, including the mowing of existing lawns, the removal of dead trees and vegetation, tending to existing gardens, or repairs to existing structures such as septic systems, wells, bridges, driveways, walkways, walls and fences.The law states "annual or periodic removal of trees to provide firewood for normal residential use" is a non-regulated act, as long as the trees removed amount to no more than 20% over a 10-year period.The law's purpose is to "promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Milan and to implement a recommendation of the Town's adopted Comprehensive Plan."Written comments are being accepted by the board until Nov. 14.At the Nov. 13 town board meeting, the board plans to set the date and time for a special board meeting at which time members will discuss public comments about the law.

Kingman's Folly

2006-11-09T17:31:00.000-05:00

Kingman is at it again, or is it he never stopped? What gives with Kingman that he insists on preventing the owners of the defunct Mobile Station from cleaning it up? We have an eyesore in Milan that Kingman insists on keeping. Every time the owners of the former gas station comply with Kingman’s requests he comes up with something else to prevent them from cleaning up the mess. Maybe he likes it that way. Our town supervisor seems to like it also, but then who is our supervisor Talmage or Kingman’s buddy, Williams. There is something rotten in Milan, and it’s not just the gas station.
We need a Gas Station in Milan

Our Ever Rising Budget

2006-10-31T17:17:00.000-05:00

Money Matters (our ever rising budget)
We understand that Mr. Talmage complains semi-privately that we are being too picky about his handling of town finances, because we point out the never-ending string of mistakes. After all, most of his mistakes are small, amounting to a few dollars – perhaps a few hundred. Well here is one that does not seem small to us.
Mr. Talmage gave the town board members an accounting of the town’s finances for the first nine months of this year, and as part of that he gave the total of fines received by the town as $232,094. Actually he is showing $35,980 more than we received, because he double-listed the fines for September. We reprint the page from the town’s official financial books.
Oh well, it is only a $35,980 mistake – nothing to get excited about! Or is it? Mr. Talmage would like a large raise this year because, he tells us, he is putting in 20 to 25 hours a week. Maybe so, but it is not on keeping the town books.
And that is the job he was elected to do!

50% Budget Increase

2006-10-29T12:51:00.000-05:00

If you are shocked by the 2007 Budget proposed by Talmage and the Turkey Hill Gang, compare it to the 2004 budget and you should be more shocked.

2004 Budget $1,338,581,00
2007 Budget $1,806, 208,00

A 50% increase. Is there anyone watching the store besides Milan United?
Wake up Milan while you still gave something to wake up to; you are being robbed blind.

Proposed 2007 Budget

2006-10-29T12:24:00.000-05:00

Summary of the Special Town Board Meeting of October 26, 2006
The town board passed the preliminary budget for 2007 in record time – less than fifteen minutes – and for a record amount - $1,806,208.  The vote was four yes and one abstention.  The budget was passed without any extended discussion because the town board has been holding meetings on Thursday mornings, when the rest of us are at work and could not attend.  So much for open government.
     The $1,806,208 is broken down as follows:
     General Fund               $  862,192
     Highway Fund               $  740,434
     Fire Contract               $  203,582
Within the General Fund, two accounts are particularly interesting: supervisor and attorney for the town board.
Supervisor Account
The town board approved $40,000 for the town supervisor to spend.  He will get
a bookkeeper          $12,000
a personal secretary     $10,000
a salary of      $14,000 representing a 12.7 percent increase.  (The principle operating here is “Less work, more pay.”)
equipment           $  1,000
and contractual     $  3,000
Attorney for the Town Board
The account was increased from $20,000 to $40,000.  The attorneys Van DeWater & Van DeWater wanted an increase to either $65,000 or an increase by $65,000. Mr. Talmage was uncertain as to which was the correct request, but the town board held the increase to 100 percent.  (These town board members can sure be tough when they have to.)  Mr. Williams was undoubtedly correct when he argued for the $70,000 figure, given the certainty of more lawsuits if the town board persists in passing all the laws it has on its agenda.
This would appear to be a very tight budget, but not to worry; Mr. Talmage has not stayed within the general fund amount budgeted.  In the last two years, he has expended more than was in the budget.  Here are the numbers, and they are his numbers:

General Fund
2005          2006          2007     (preliminary)
Spent          $742,503     $829,287     ?
Budgeted     $697,444     $781,617     853,292
Overspent     $   45,059     $47,670      And this figure only covers 9 months of expenditures!
Mr. Talmage and his rubberstamps on the town board seem to believe that there is no relationship between what they tell the public they will spend and what they actually do spend.

Kingman & ZBO

2006-10-24T18:00:00.000-04:00

We know George Caruthers blew his cool at the last ZBO meeting. What we would like to know, why did ZBO chairman, Jack Grumet have a private meeting with Loren Kingman and Ross Williams just before the meeting? Is Kingman calling the shots for the Zoning Board by telling Grumet what to do? Has not Kingman caused enough mess in Milan by preventing the rebuilding of the gas station?
No one has questioned how long Mr. Caruthers has been hampered from bringing a restaurant to Milan. No one has asked how much money he has been forced to pay into the town’s escrow account and the Turkey Hill Gang has refused to give him an accounting of how they spent his money.
The big mystery about Mr. Caruthers is how come it took him so long to blow his stack?

Milan's Shame

2006-10-08T11:53:00.000-04:00

What is Kingman’s Shame has become Milan’s Shame. See www.MilanUnited.com and see our Town Board’s view of Milan. Kingman, Williams and the rest of the Turkey Hill Gang have done everything they can to maintain Milan’s eyesore, the burned out gas station on route 199. This is the bunch that are wanting to keep Milan rural instead they are making it into a ghetto.

The Town Board Lied Again

2006-09-21T10:44:00.000-04:00

Hopefully everyone has received the postcard from the Town Hall about the “Important up-coming forums and meetings at the Wilcox Memorial Town Hall”.
Saturday 9/23/06, 10am Public Forum on New Wetlands & Watercourse laws.
The Town Board tells us, if we want more information on these new laws we can get it at the town clerk’s office.
THEY LIED; the town clerk has no information on these new laws.
When will Mr. Williams and his Turkey Hill Gang stop lying?
You had better find out what these proposed new laws mean, they will effect everyone in town.

Milan United's Web Causes Concern

2006-09-13T19:50:00.000-04:00

In the September 7th issue of the Gazette Advertiser, There was an article on Milan United. The article printed Milan United’s mission statement which is “Milan United was formed to provide an alternative voice on issues affecting the Town of Milan. Our intention is to present information that might not otherwise come to the public’s attention. Milan United is made up of individuals of diverse political interests and backgrounds, who have been brought together by concerns over the management of the town’s affairs and direction the present town board is taking the town.”

Milan United has its own website and blog which has caused some concern to the town board members. It appears they are feeling very uncomfortable by being under the spotlight. It is time that someone was watching the store.

When Councilman Williams was asks for his opinion on the Milan United website, he said, “I stopped looking at it some time ago. It’s trash.” He was very concerned when he was accused of lying about his tax benefit on the land he put into forestry conservation. He did not mention that in the article that accused him of falsehood stated the proof that he is the recipient of a tax advantage.

Mr. Williams said he had stopped looking at the website. We know that this is not true. As of Tuesday, September 12th, Mr. Williams has been to the Milan United website, 36 times. Is Mr. Williams not being totally honest again?

Town Supervisor Talmage was upset that Milan United kept finding discrepancies in his bookkeeping. He said no one brought them to his attention. These financial differences have been brought to Mr. Talmage and the town board’s attention on a regular basis. The fact of the matter is they should not have had to be brought to his attention. If he was a true steward of Milan’s interests and finances these financial errors would not be occurring. The Milan town board is as reckless with the town’s finances as Mr. Talmage is careless.

There will be no Lemonade in Milan

2006-09-02T17:27:00.000-04:00

Overview of Proposed Refreshment Stand Local Law
At the last town board meeting, the town board discussed a local law proposed by Diane May to regulate refreshment stands. The law defines refreshment as “any food, fruit or other edible commodity or non-alcoholic beverages” and defines a refreshment stand as
Any business where any refreshment is sold or offered for sale at retail from a motor vehicle of from a temporary structure such as a tent, which is removed at the end of operation each day.
Refreshment stands would be restricted to the two hamlets and the Highway Business District along Route 199. “It shall be unlawful to operate a refreshment stand on any County Road within the Town or in the Town right-of-way.”
(Editors note: That lemonade stand, a feature of a rural community, set up in the family driveway and operated by an 8 or 10 year old, is prohibited and subject to arrest and fines, under this law.)
To get a license, besides providing the applicants name, address, and the address of the location where the stand is to be located, the applicant will have to provide the following information:
Place of residence for the past 5 years;
Business or employer for the past 5 years;
“Whether or not applicant has ever been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance, except traffic violations, and if so, the date, court, ordinance violated and sentence of the court”;
“Name and address of the person, firm or corporation the applicant represents or is employed by”;
“The manner or means of conveyance in which said business or trade or occupation shall be conducted”;
Valid Dutchess County Health Department permit;
Certification by Dutchess County of any scales and measuring devices;
Proof of valid vehicle registration; and
Proof of a sales tax identification number.
The proposed law gives the town clerk the power to suspend or revoke the refreshment stand license. The cost of the license is not as yet determined, but the proposed range is from $25 to $300 for six months.
There is much more to the law, but the point is:
If this local law is passed, it will be easier to get a United States passport in these post-9/11 days then a permit to sell lemonade in Milan. It exceeds the requirements to hold elective office.
All this because of the occasional barbecue on Rocky Mancini’s land in Rock City.
In their zeal to regulate every aspect of life in Milan, Mr. Talmage, Mr. Williams, Mrs. May, and Mrs. Combe-Clark are turning Milan into the very thing they claim to be against. (In order to get a copy of this proposed law, it was necessary to file a Freedom of Information application on the five town board members individually. So much for open government.)
(Click here to read the PDF draft of the proposed Refreshment Stand Local Law)

Update from Milan United

2006-08-23T13:21:00.000-04:00

For those who could not attend the 9am Monday morning meeting on August 21, by the Milan Town Board carefully scheduled so the public would find it difficult to attend; the following is a report of that meeting.
Councilman Williams outlined a series of proposal changes on the 10 acre overlay. He stated that the town board members were considering the following.
While continuing the 10 acre overlay on lots of 20 acres or more, the board members have agreed to:

1     Remove all mandates;
2     Make cluster development optional;
3     Eliminate the 60 percent requirement for conservation easement;
4     Make conservation easements voluntary;
5     Remove the clause stating that there was public access to the conservation easement;
6      Make no changes in the powers of the Planning Board.

The Town Board is considering offering incentives to provide for low-to-moderate income housing and to encourage setting aside more land for conservation easement.

But keep in mind; the devil is in the details. Let’s wait and see the actual proposed law.

More Money Matters

2006-08-12T14:21:00.000-04:00

More Money Matters
Six Month Summary of General Fund Receipts and Disbursements
Receipts $424, 396 Disbursements $452, 929 Difference -$28,533
As of June 30, 2006, there were 5 accounts totaling $18,453.82 overdrawn. State law states, under the “Duties of Supervisor” that “He shall not permit any fund or appropriation account to be overdrawn at any time nor draw upon one fund or appropriation account to pay a claim chargeable to another” (Article 8, Section 125). Some of these accounts have been overdrawn for months. Apparently Supervisor Talmage does not consider this section of law to apply to him. But how can the town board and the taxpayers get an accurate picture of the state of town finances if the supervisor does not keep accurate records as required by law?