Letter to the Editor: Casinos and Quickie-Marts

Casinos and Quickie-Marts: Economic Development in Schoharie County

Whether you think a casino in Schoharie County is a good or bad idea you probably agree that something has to be done to address the depressed local economy, high unemployment rate and dwindling tax base.

While fears of moral decay, dramatic increases in drug and alcohol abuse and other social ills associated with casinos are likely overblown, a casino proposal for Schoharie County does bring with it something harmful – a distraction from the root causes and cures for the county’s lack of a viable economic development strategy. The casino, just like Lowes and other one shot wonders is not the answer to reverse years of decline. Single large employers do not shift the course of the county toward a sustainable economic model. Rural areas, with high levels of poverty and an unskilled work force do not present the kind of demographic that attracts and retains large business, nor should they necessarily try.

Casinos represent a troubled industry with its own problems, including a competitive and declining marketplace. Even if a casino comes to Schoharie County it could fall victim to competition and declining disposable/entertainment income, the same conditions that have resulted in failed casinos in Nevada and New Jersey, leaving little long-term economic benefit for the County. So what should we in Schoharie County to do if we really want it to be “our time”?

We should focus on economic engines that sustain growth and job creation based on our strengths not our desperation. We need to encourage and support the creation of small business, particularly home and farm-based entrepreneurial businesses. We do that by expanding high-speed internet access and by supporting practical assistance for small start-ups. We need to help small businesses explore and leverage non-traditional markets and marketing approaches. We also need to cultivate a better educated, more diverse and agile work force.  To start, we must address the 5% of our high school students who drop out, the 20% who fail to graduate for one reason or another and the nearly 40% who don’t go on to college. We need to look closer at successful models for encouraging tourism. We can’t continue to wonder why more people don’t come to our beautiful valleys while we rejoice in yet another convenience store or ignore the vacant store fronts and dilapidated housing in our downtowns.   Finally, we need to go out and look for compatible community partners by participating in industry and professional groups and trade shows, networking and advocating on behalf of our county’s strengths.

Economic development is a science and a profession not just one of many lines on an elected or appointed official’s job description. Economic development requires a comprehensive and pro-active strategy, executed by experienced professionals. Hoping that a casino license is issued or a big box store comes to town is not a strategy. Schoharie County will only have “it’s time” when our officials stop waiting for the knock on the door and instead support a real effort to create the conditions that allow our residents to develop, improve and expand small local businesses which provide an attractive identity for our county that includes a beautiful natural environment, sustainable business models, an educated workforce and commitment to a community in which people want to live, work and invest.   

We can gamble on a casino, trade quickie-marts for boarded up stores and allow our kids to shoot no higher than minimum wage employment or we can get busy and create a local economy that is diverse, vibrant and based on providing real products and services, delivered by smart and hard-working people in creative ways, to new and inventive markets.

Bob Nied

Center for Sustainable Rural Communities

Writer's Group in Cobleskill Invites for National Novel Writing Month

Three of us at the Writers' Group in Cobleskill have signed up for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which starts Nov. 1 We are sure that other Schoharie County writers have signed up for this writing challenge. We are looking for these writers with the expectation of forming a local support group for November, or possibly longer. NaNoWriMo is a free program, open to anyone over 13. The reward if you finish the challenge is a novel that you wrote, which may or may not be publishable.

Proposed Budget Bombshell: Terry Axed, Planning Overhauled

The proposed Schoharie County Budget for 2015 had many ups and downs, but one firm note of savings. After years of chronic issues stemming out of the County Planning and Development Office headed by Alicia Terry, County Treasurer Bill Cherry is proposing a major restructuring of the entire department.

According to the proposed document, the County Planning and Development Office will be split into two pieces, neither of which would be department levels. Senior staffing of the current department will fill the vacuum. The position of Director, currently filled by Alicia Terry, will be eliminated, saving taxpayers $73,393. The Office Manager position, currently unfilled, will be eliminated at a savings of over $40,000.

A Planner position will be placed back into the budget after it was eliminated by Cassandra Ethington, which will offset the savings of the Office Manager's salary. The Marketing Specialist position will also be removed and replaced with two Economic Development Specialist I positions-- one full time and one part time at approximately the current cost. The proposed budget states that this change will "enable us to expand our scope of activity in reaching out to businesses in order to encourage them to relocate to Schoharie County and bring much-needed jobs to the area."

 All told, the salary savings at the Planning Department this year alone will total almost $70,000 even counting for other employees' raises.

Terry has been seen as the last remaining former Ethington ally remaining in the County Departments.

2015 Proposed County Taxes by Town

Read below for your town's effective County tax rate. Most towns are increasing-- three are decreasing.

Town	2014 Tax Rate	2015 Tax Rate	Percent Change
Blenheim	$10.64	$11.15	4.79%
Broome	$8.56	8.97	4.79
Carlisle	$10.58	11.03	4.25
Cobleskill	$10.28	11.39	10.8
Conesville	$8.51	$8.90	4.58
Esperance	$10.79	8.98	-16.77
Fulton	$12.16	12.77	5.02
Gilboa	$489.06	489.88	0.17
Jefferson	$14.22	14.92	4.92
Middleburgh	$12.26	12.85	4.81
Richmondville	$8.46	8.98	6.15
Schoharie	$10.85	9.03	-16.77
Seward	$10.57	11.02	4.26
Sharon	$10.54	10.99	4.27
Summit	$13.82	14.04	1.59
Wright	$10.29	10.18	-1.07

2015 County Budget: Stream Spending Hikes Taxes, Largely Offset by Tax Rebate

On the surface of things, the newly released Schoharie County 2015 tentative budget has a significant tax increase.

However, looking closer shows that most homeowners will not be paying much more, if anything, next year.

Due to stagnating property values and sales tax, coupled with necessary projects, County taxes will be increasing by 4.86% from .0843% to .0884% for most taxpayers. However, under the new tax credit system implemented by the state, late next year all STAR-eligible property owners will receive a check offsetting the increase in taxes.

Temporary and permanent spending drove up the budget this year. Total expenditures will increase 19.1%, or $13.7 million to $85.7 million. Much of the increase in spending-- and in taxes are due to the streambank stabilization project. Due to increased costs and other issues, the County will likely have to bond the cost over ten years. $10 million of the $13.7 million in increased spending is directly due to this project.

Other major spending projects include improving the Emergency Communications Center and E-911 dispatch, moving it from a flood damaged property in Schoharie to the former MOSA site. The budget also includes portions to help make the County Building flood resistant and rebuild the Schoharie Jail. They are being paid for through Bond Anticipation Notes, of which after state and federal reimbursement, the County will only pay interest on.

The budget also made significant cutbacks to soften the blow of tax increases, including positions at the Treasurer's Office, Planning and Development, and IT.

The proposed budget also allows saving by having Consolidated Highway projects be done by the County instead of by third-party contractors.

Vote in Our Poll: Do You Approve of the County Board?

Vote in our poll on the right sidebar over whether or not you approve of the job performance of the County Board. Make sure to comment on our Facebook page about how you think they're doing.

Letter to the Editor: Administrator Would Solve Issues

Dear Editor,

When a County Administrator was proposed in January I was not in favor of hiring an additional person to run the business of the county full time.  My first opinion was that a County Administrator would be an unnecessary additional expense for the county. 

However, as I observed and participated in the debates on the issues facing our county I realized we needed to examine the options.  

Fortunately, Chairman Van Glad appointed me to be on the Board of Supervisors Special County Administrator Exploratory Committee.   Being on the Special Committee gave my fellow committee members and I the opportunity to meet with elected and appointed officials in other counties and see firsthand what works for them.  What we found was the chief operating officer was an indispensable asset to their respective legislative bodies, department heads and other elected officials.   

It is the recommendation of the Special Committee that Schoharie County like 54 of the 56 other counties in the state hire a full time chief operating officer.  We feel this position is best placed with a County Administrator without any political affiliation.    Such an individual should possess appropriate education and work experience in the field of public administration.     

As we all are well aware, Schoharie County has faced many challenges in recent years resulting in higher costs to taxpayers and widespread employee relation issues.  There is no guarantee a County Administrator would have stopped all of the problems that have come up from happening.   However, a proactive and professional Administrator would surely have identified many of those problems early in their development and given Schoharie County an opportunity to abate them before they worsened.   

On Friday, October 17th the citizens of Schoharie County will have an opportunity to voice their opinion on the question of whether the County should hire a County Administrator at a Public Hearing on the subject at 10:00 at the Board of Supervisors Chamber at the Schoharie County Office Building.  I encourage all who wish to share their thoughts on the subject and to hear other fellow Schoharie County citizens share their thoughts to attend this important meeting which is crucial to the future of our county.   

Amber Bleu, Supervisor

Town of Wright

Successful Pumpkin Festival in Schoharie

The weather was right for the Pumpkin Festival in Schoharie. The event, which attracted wellwishers from across the County, showed off the agricultural plenty of the area.

Photos credit the Schoharie Promotional Association's Facebook Page.

Poll: Yes to Administrator

By a nearly three-to-one margin, Schoharie News readers back the proposed Administrator's position recommended by the committee that looked into the topic. The committee recommended a strong Administrator able to coordinate between the different County Departments.

Yes 67% - 91 
No 23% - 31 
Too early/don't know 10% - 13 
135 total

Berne Man Arrested for DWI After Crash

On October 8, 2014, State Troopers in Guilderland arrested 47 year old Keith A. Pepicelli of Berne, New York for DWI. Late in the evening, troopers responded to a singe personal injury motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Thatcher’s Park Road and Filkins Lane, in the Town of Knox. During interview at the scene, troopers observed an odor of beverage alcohol emanating from Pepicelli. He was transported to Albany Medical Center by ambulance for non-life threatening injures. He submitted to a blood test and was processed the following day at the SP New Scotland barracks. His BAC is pending results. He is due to appear in the Town of Knox Court on October 22, 2014.

Schoharie Pumpkin Festival Tomorrow

All are invited to Schoharie tomorrow for a pumpkin festival from 10am to 2pm. The event, put on by the Schoharie Promotional Association, will be full of activities. The event will be followed by the Schoharie Sloughter Auction.

This Weekend: Old Stone Fort 125th Anniversary History Fair

The Schoharie County Historical Society’s 125^thAnniversary History Fair celebrates history enthusiasts of all time periods and interest areas.  On October 11th and 12, at the Old Stone Fort Museum visitors can interact with historians from Roman times to the 1960s.  Not just living history military re-enactors, but also musicians, textile artists, restorers, authors and collectors covering more than three centuries.  Kids – admitted free – will also enjoy trying out colonial toys and games. 

The highlight of the History Fair weekend is a spectacular outdoor concert, “From Big Bang to Big Band: 125 Years of Music.”  Beginning at 5pm Friday Skip Parsons’ Riverboat Jazz Band will play popular tunes from the early 20^th century.  Then the Schoharie Valley Concert Band will play Tchaikovsky’s “1812" Overture in quite possibly the world’s first performance to feature cannons from three centuries (Revolutionary War, Civil War WWII and Korean War), plus historic bells ringing at the finale.  As if that isn’t enough, the concert continues with big band music for dancing by the Burnt Hills Melody Makers.  This free four-hour concert event is made possible in part with public funds from the Decentralization Program of the New York Council on the Arts, administered through the Community Arts Grants Program by the Greene County Council on the Arts.

Concert-goers are encouraged to arrive early to catch shuttle buses from parking lots and bring lawn seating.  All parking on Saturday is off site in nearby village lots, with continuous shuttle buses running to the Fort.

All weekend long, craftsmen and living historians will talk with visitors demonstrate skills from the past.  J.R. Winslow will demonstrate Roman horseback riding.  The military timeline includes the colonial 3^rd Tryon County Militia, Civil War soldiers, sailors and Zouaves, Irish Fenian Raiders, World War I doughboys, World War II G.I.s, and restored military vehicles and tanks from World War II to Viet Nam. Other presentations include an Iroquois warrior and a colonial doctor.  

The Golden Fleece Spinners and Weavers will demonstrate textile arts and natural dying.  Pioneer engines from the “Gas Up” event will be chugging and puffing as they pump water and press cider.  Barry Keegan will demonstrate the art of knapping flint to make stone tools, and Tinker Cross will discuss “1778, Inside and Out.”  Displays by local historical societies, museums and authors will round out the weekend’s offerings.

On Saturday, Cliff Oliver will speak as Solomon Northup, the nineteenth century author of Twelve Years a Slave(recently made into a movie), and there will be two performances of  “Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier, 1776-1976” a wartime music tribute by the 77^th NY Regimental Balladeers.

Sunday features traditional brass band music by the Chatham Cornet Band performing on antique instruments, and 18^th century popular music by Rural Felicity.

Major underwriters of the Stone Fort History Fair are the New York Council for the Humanities, the Schoharie County Occupancy Tax Board; the Donna M. Lavigne Agency and Fenimore Asset Management.  Other sponsors include the Bank of Richmondville, Ralph and Irmgard Buess, Kintz Plastics, Lavelle & Finn, LLP; Little Italy and Schoharie Valley Wine & Liquor, MDRM Industries, NBT Bank, Price Chopper, Sterling Insurance, and Stewart’s Shops.

See our website or our Facebook page for more details.

Middleburgh Board to Pass Fracking Ban

The Middleburgh Town Hall was packed for today's regular meeting of the Town Board. Many members of the community turned out to hear about whether the proposed fracking ban would pass. The proposed Slottje provisions, written by two attorneys have been passed by several surrounding towns.

The public hearing featured nineteen consecutive speakers, all against hydrofracking. The members of the audience asked the Town Board to support the ban. The law would require three of the five members to vote yes. Councilman Frank Herodes was absent for a family emergency. At stake was whether or not another member would become the pivotal yes or no vote.

Village Trustee William Morton said that natural gas development could hurt local tourism initiatives.

Supervisor Jim Buzon said that the ban should be passed and his experience seeing fracking firsthand in Pennsylvania and the threat of contaminated water. Councilwoman Sue Makely echoed his comments and thanked people for coming to the meeting. Councilman David Lloyd, who has resisted a fracking ban, was silent.

It appeared that the proposed law was about to pass as Councilman Brian DeFeo stated he would vote for them. However, Town Attorney Mike West counseled the Board to wait seven days to inform the surrounding towns, as required by law. The Slottje anti-fracking provisions should pass with a majority vote at the next meeting.

Opinion: Yes to Administrator

The recommendations are clear: the County government is a mess.

It's not necessarily a mess because of the individuals on the County Board of Supervisors, but rather due to the antiquated system that it runs under. While an overall overhaul may be a better option in the long haul, the chances of it coming into being through the current government system is unlikely.

The committee's report is chock full of relevant research and parallel experiences of similar counties. Chair Bill Frederice has put together a compelling argument that the current system is unsustainable.

After all, it is the current system, with a weak executive in the County Board Chair that allowed the Cassandra Ethington mess to unfold. Even further, there is great instability in such a system-- look at the four different Board Chairs over the last several years.

The Administrator position is non-partisan and independent. It would require some money for salary and at least one assistant, but realistically, it is far more efficient than the current arrangement. For those concerned about the amount of money that would be spent, the Board could propose the exact amount spent to be cut from next year's budget.

The Administrator would allow for the different Departments' efforts to be arranged, instead of allowing for an accumulation of power as Ethington engineered or a mismanaged fiefdom, like Alicia Terry's handling of the Planning Department. Allowing for these Departments to work on similar goals, such as economic growth or streamlining costs is something that has not been done to its fullest.

We always get emails and calls asking for an investigation into x or y department in County government. Wouldn't someone that is responsible for overseeing each one prevent waste and abuse? After all, the current Board Chairman's position is only part time with limited authority.

The Board can make some changes to the recommendations, but they appear to be solid. Tie the threads of County government together in competent hands and help heal the many issues confronting Schoharie County.

Letter to the Editor: Please Attend Fracking Law Hearing

I want to announce that  a public hearing will be conducted Thursday, October 9th, at 7pm at the Middleburgh Town Hall.  This hearing will provide an opportunity for residents and business owners  to express their views on the proposed amendments to the Town's zoning ordinance designed to prevent gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Town of Middleburgh.

The proposed amendments were developed by David and Helen Slottje and have been upheld by three courts, including the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the State.  Helen Slottje was awarded the prestigious Goldman Award for her work on these particular zoning provisions. This is an international award which only five people in the world received in 2014.  Over 200 towns in New York State have adopted the Slottje provisions. All work, including work for the Town of Middleburgh, has been done on a pro bono basis by the Slottjes.  This includes two trips to Middleburgh from Ithaca.

The Towns of Blenheim, Broome, Fultonham and Schoharie have adopted the Slottje provisions leaving Middleburgh the only town in Schoharie valley not to have adopted them.

This is an important hearing the outcome of which could have far reaching consequences not only for the Town of Middleburgh, but  for Schoharie valley as well.

Please plan on attending the hearing to share your views.

Bill Morton
Middleburgh

Food Store Returning to Middleburgh

It may have taken three years, but a food store is again returning to Middleburgh. Coming in the next month, the Olde Corner Store will be opening its doors at 308 Main Street. The store, currently a staple in Gallupville, had been looking to relocate in Middleburgh for over two years now.

Owner Joy Heckman is optimistic about her new venture. She said that she was compelled to come to the community due to the "the void in Middleburgh and the surrounding area that was left by Hurricane Irene." She aims to become a major partner in the community, both at her store and with the recent expansion of events in town.

"I love what I do." she said.

The Olde Corner Store has been a popular stop for the last eight years in the Town of Wright and will be expanded in Middleburgh. Joy Heckman is planning on purchasing a new open display case and has opened an online fundraising pitch to aid in the endeavor. The store will have expanded deli and bakery options from what she has now.

The site, formerly Four Star Realty, will also use a back office facing Railroad Avenue affected by Irene partially fixed by volunteers organized by the Village and SALT. The Olde Corner Store will place its bakery in that space, allowing for more food options in the front section.

"I welcome the Olde Corner Store and Joy to Middleburgh," said Mayor Matthew Avitabile, "The quality of her store and her enthusiasm will be well met in the community."

Heckman wants to offer an arrangement of grocery and health food items, saying that "I look forward to serving the residents of Middleburgh and providing quality food and health supplements in a friendly atmosphere."

Efforts by the Village of Middleburgh have so far paid off, with most of Main Street now fixed and occupied or ready to be occupied. The pharmacy has opened two doors down from the Heckman's.

County Budget To Be Announced at Press Conference on 14th

On Tuesday, October 14th at 10:00 a.m., Schoharie County Treasurer and Budget Officer William Cherry will release the county’s 2015 Tentative Budget. Copies of the spending plan along with proposed tax rates, changes in expenditures, recommended adoption calendar, and a summary of the highlights of the Tentative Budget will be included. Questions from the press will be welcomed during the conference which will be held at the Treasurer’s Office on the first floor of the County Office Building, 284 Main Street, Schoharie, NY.

Vote in Our Poll: Do You Support Administrator Committee's Recommendations?

Just a week and a half ago, the County Administrator Committee looked into the possibility of creating a new position to manage local government. The County Board has yet to vote on this possibility. What do you think?

Readers: Split New York into Two

Schoharie News readers overwhelmingly agree that New York State should be divided in two. According to our weeklong, unscientific poll, readers choose the option of splitting the state by a more than 3 to 1 margin. The chances of such an event seem unlikely, although is likely reflected across much of Upstate New York.

 Should New York State Split into Upstate and Downstate?
 Yes 73% - 115 
 No 22% - 35 
 Don't know 4% - 7 
 157 total

Knight: Society's Depression Stigma

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld once quipped that, "There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."

While his comments pertained specifically to national defense related issues at the time, they can be used to explain American attitudes toward depression, and the stigma that is attached to mental health topics in general. 

We all know that depression exists, that millions of individuals suffer with mental distress for any number of reasons, and that without obtaining the resources necessary to address it, suicide can often seem like the last option for depressed souls. 

However, the real question is: why does it have to reach that point?

The answer, at least in my opinion, is because society as a whole does not understand the nature of depression, or its warning signs, or its symptoms, or its causes, or its solutions; and because of this lack of understanding, members of society balk at what they don't know. 

True, as stated before, we generally know the concept of depression exists, but beyond the outlying signs, there is a knowledge gap. A knowledge gap that has harmed mental health awareness for years, due to the fear of those afflicted that no one will understand their condition, or that society will judge them as outcasts. 

Furthermore, this stigma has only been advanced by the collective ignorance of American society that places too much emphasis on strength, will, and determination, while leaving those unable behind to trug along by themselves with no help.

Sure, "strength, will, and determination," might be a great catchphrase for nations declaring war, but they might not be able to save the soldiers returning home who have PTSD, or the young student who has difficulty finding worth in their own life during a strenuous time period adjusting to his or her academic situation. 

The scariest aspect of Rumfeld's comments are the unknown unknown, which by definition we know nothing of, but think about that for a second... When you take a walk, or go to the grocery store, stop and consider how many people around you have contemplated suicide or self harm, and then ask yourself how many of them have kept that to themselves because of how they thought you would respond...

... And that's why we, as a society, must change our attitudes toward mental health in this nation, or else those afflicted with depression will never be able to come out of the shadows, and embrace the light of life.

I apologize for the directness of my column this week, but enough is enough. Depression can no longer be approached idly, with uncommitted attitudes. It must be addressed with care, with love, and with understanding.