No. 13, January 2006

An informed voter is the best guardian of democracy.

Welcome to The Rhinebeck Demogram, an email newsletter bringing you information and commentary about current issues, candidates, and events. Published by the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee (RDC) for all the people of our community.

Our email address is demogram@rhinebeckdemocrats.org As always, we welcome comments, questions, suggestions and corrections.

IN THIS ISSUE

 

NEW BEGINNINGS
by Clare Brandt

A strong current of fresh air blew through the Rhinebeck Town Hall on January 2, when four new town officials were sworn into office.

Before a standing-room-only audience of about 150 residents, Justice William Sanchez administered the oath of office to Town Supervisor Steve Block, Town Board members Ellen O'Brien-Silverstein and Arthur Dod Crane, and Highway Superintendent Kathy Kinsella.

Three incumbents who had won reelection also took the oath: Joel Tyner, County Legislature Representative; John Kane, Town Justice; and John O'Brian, Town Assessor.

All the new officials made brief remarks. Outstanding were those of Block and Kinsella. After outlining her plans for improvement in the Highway Department, Kinsella gave particular thanks to department foreman Bob Wyant, one of her opponents in the election, who has already begun working with her on departmental operations. (You may have seen Kathy riding a snow plow during the big December storm).

Block wittily but seriously reminded the audience that he and the members of his administration "are not perfect," and said that he hoped the citizens of Rhinebeck would hold them accountable by attending board meetings and offering ideas and constructive criticism. He also noted, with great satisfaction, that of the six top posts in the town three are now held by women: Kinsella, O'Brien-Silverstein, and incumbent town board member Linda Souers.

A reception followed the ceremony.

Note: a few days after the meeting, Supervisor Block sent out a detailed email containing the agenda summary for the January 9 Reorganization Meeting, including explications of the various proposals. This administration is obviously going to fulfill its campaign promise to communicate with the people of Rhinebeck. If you would like to be included in the Rhinebeck Town Email Group (RTEG) and receive such information and notices from the town board, please email Block at SGBlock@aol.com.

The following day, on Tuesday, January 3, in a short ceremony at the Dutchess County Office Building, Diane Jablonski took the oath of office as the new Dutchess County Comptroller.

During her campaign, Jablonski emphasized that the Comptroller is an independent office, not answerable to the County Executive or to the County Legislature, but only to the citizens of Dutchess County. She pledged to streamline the operations of the office to make access to documents easier, and to keep the public informed on how its money is being spent -- tasks for which she is highly qualified and to which she is utterly devoted. We foresee nothing but good for Dutchess County residents from Diane Jablonski's tenure as Comptroller.

 

NEW BOARD, NEW POLICIES

On January 9, the new town board -- composed of newly elected Supervisor Steve Block and board members Ellen Silverstein and Dod Crane, as well as incumbent board members Linda Souers and Paul Niedercorn -- held its reorganization meeting and approved many appointments and resolutions. Residents came out in force. Eighty to ninety were present through most of the meeting and many participated in the pre-vote discussions. The resolutions summarized below are only those which represent new policy or appointments; the numbers used do not reflect their order on the agenda.

1. Appointment of Linda Souers as Deputy Supervisor.

2. Resolution establishing twice-monthly meetings, one for business, with opportunity for public questions and input before a vote is taken, and the other for workshops concerning town operations and services, in which public input is also welcomed.

3. Resolution reorganizing town government into three departments, authorizing Supervisor Steve Block to administer and supervise town hall staff (Administration and Municipal Improvement), and appointing town board liaisons to the departments of Community Development (Dod Crane and Ellen Silverstein) and Public Services (Linda Souers and Paul Niedercorn).

4. Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to develop and disseminate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from appropriate professionals to fill the positions of town attorney, planner, engineer, and auditor.

5. Resolution holding over the current Recreation Committee and calling an open meeting on a date to be announced so that all interested volunteers, leagues, organizations, and citizens can discuss the following: the recreation needs of the community; collaboration between the Town, Village, and the public schools in providing recreation opportunities and programs; and the future role of the Committee in providing and coordinating such opportunities and programs.

6. Resolution holding over current membership of the Vanderburgh Cove Sewer District, to allow sufficient time to strengthen the role of the district in decision-making.

7. Resolution holding over the current Cemetery Committee in order to develop fully its role and its relationship to the proposed Friends of the Cemetery Committee.

8. Resolution renaming the current Technology/Economic Development Committee as the Committee on Technology and Electronic Communication and, with the agreement of the Village Board, holding over the current members and chair of the Committee until a meeting can be held between members of the town and village boards to determine the Committee's membership and responsibilities.

9. Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to conduct a meeting in Rhinecliff within the next 45 days to solicit public reaction to, and recommendations for, the proposal to establish a Rhinecliff neighborhood council.

10. Resolution rescinding the bid award on dock expansion, made to Elf Dock Company on 12/29/05 without due process. The expansion planning process will be revived once a professional needs assessment and an environmental impact study (EIS) have been conducted.

11. Resolution renaming the current Dock Committee as the Rhinecliff Waterfront Committee and holding over the current membership and charge of the Committee until such time as the town board can discuss and determine the future role and responsibilities of the Committee.

12. Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to conduct a meeting within the next 120 days to solicit public reaction to, and recommendations for, the proposal to establish a formal Rhinebeck Committee on Culture and the Arts.

13. Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to enter into a formal, regular, ongoing collaboration with the Rhinebeck Village Mayor and the Superintendent of Schools in order to promote efficiency, improved service delivery, and reduced spending, and appointing Paul Niedercorn as town board representative to this Rhinebeck Collaboration.

14. Resolution establishing an ad hoc committee authorized to plan a conference on Rhinebeck town government reform and improvement and appointing members and authorizing the Supervisor to appoint such additional members as may become necessary. The ad hoc committee will be charged to present its plan for said conference no later than April 10, 2006 and the purpose of the conference will be to identify the town's long- term issues and the options for addressing them.

15. Resolution establishing the permanent Rhinebeck Town Citizens' Committee on Budget and Finance and authorizing the Supervisor to recruit volunteer members, with the purpose of improving the budget process by providing year-round review and evaluation of the town's contracts and increasingly complex budget needs.

 

PRIORITIES FOR RHINEBECK:
Statements of Democratic Town Officials

We have asked our new town officials and continuing board member Linda Souers to identify their top priorities for the term ahead.

 

ELLEN SILVERSTEIN, Board Member, 2006-2009

I have been reading the proposed Comprehensive Plan for Rhinebeck, carefully weighing its advantages and disadvantages.

This has become my focus because recently I have driven back roads up and down the eastern seaboard, revisiting small towns that I first discovered ten years ago on a long sailing trip. In that short time these towns have changed from sleepy, individualistic communities to strips of anonymous housing developments and malls, burdened with traffic.

I returned to Rhinebeck with a mission. I don't want this to happen here. I believe that it is imperative to move as quickly as possible to adopt the Comprehensive Plan, before Rhinebeck joins the ranks of American towns which have lost their character and soul. I cannot believe that there is any priority more pressing than that of preserving the Rhinebeck we know and love today.

I know that the Plan presents problems for some residents because it does (and must) situate and control future housing and commercial development. None of us like to have our options limited. But if we examine the composition of the Committee and assess fairly the extensive work that has gone into preparation of the Plan we can, I hope, agree that it is a thoughtful document representing the best interests of the town as a whole.

 

KATHY KINSELLA, Highway Superintendent, 2006 and 2007

The Highway Department is Rhinebeck's largest service department, and one that is entrusted with your safety. We have already started implementing my top goals for the department. They are:

---improving the Department's communication with the public;
---protecting our natural environment by reducing the amount of salt that we use in snow removal; and
---advancing the department's technology.

It is almost impossible to say which of the above goals is most important. If forced to choose, I would have to say that improving communication is my top priority because so much else stems from that.

The Department will have an open door policy. If you haven't visited the town garage, please know that everyone has a standing invitation. I encourage everyone to share your ideas and to let me know if you see a problem on our roads, have a suggestion for project, or have any questions about work that you see. It is by working together that we build on our already strong sense of community.

 

STEVE BLOCK, Town Supervisor, 2006 and 2007

My top priorities for the coming year are to meet or exceed expectations raised by our campaign to protect and enhance what we love about Rhinebeck, to open up and reform local government, to spend money wisely, and to solve previously-neglected problems. The agenda for the January 9th re-organization meeting contained a series of down-payments on those commitments. Further down the road we will have to approve a comprehensive plan, adopt a new zoning code, and build our capacity to implement and enforce the provisions of the plan and code.

The most complicated aspect of this effort to protect and enhance the Rhinebeck we love is blending the desire for open space and farmland with the need to provide sufficient affordable housing, in order to avoid the potential legal charge of exclusionary zoning. The test of our success will be to walk that line effectively and keep those who would suburbanize Rhinebeck away from our borders.

 

DOD CRANE, Board Member, 2006-2009

My priorities remain focused on the key elements of the Democratic platform in the 2005 town election campaign: 1) passage of a Comprehensive Plan; 2) a more open government process with wide citizen participation; 3) establishment of long term goals and objectives to guide the town board; 4) resolving the Vanderburgh Cove sewage issue; and 5) better long-term budget planning to use the town's limited financial resources more effectively.

I see the Comprehensive Plan as the key challenge facing the board, and a primary issue leading to Plan approval is the balancing of affordable housing needs with the objectives of open space preservation and the control of development.

 

LINDA SOUERS, Board Member, 2004-2007

As I begin the second half of my four-year term on the town board, there will be significant unfinished business to complete and exciting new initiatives on which to work.

A new hat I have been asked to wear is that of Deputy Supervisor. This is both an honor and a responsibility to be knowledgeable and available when the Supervisor needs assistance. I am also committed to working with Steve, the board, and the residents' committee to finish repairing the Vanderburgh Cove Sewer System. With Steve's leadership, fresh input from the board, and renewed collaboration with the residents, I am confident that the district will have a fully functioning and improved sewer system within a reasonable period of time.

I am excited to be assigned the role of co-liaison to the Thomas Thompson & Sally Mazzarella Recreation Park Committee. It will be a special challenge for the park committee to bring a plan forward that both respects the biodiversity and archeological features of the site, and satisfies the recreational needs of our residents. As a board member of Winnakee Land Trust and former liaison to the CAC, I understand the importance of these issues to the integrity of this valuable asset.

One new initiative holds special interest for me. As a former art educator and lapsed art student who is just now rediscovering the joys of painting, I am very interested in the prospect of a new council of arts and culture. I believe Rhinebeck has the most vital and widespread network of the fine and performing arts and historical resources in northern Dutchess County. Government can and should play a role in nurturing and supporting these resources. It is our responsibility to recognize the importance of the people and organizations that enhance the creative soul of this community.

I look forward to working with our Supervisor, other board members, and the many volunteers who will together implement the business of the Town of Rhinebeck.

 

NUMBERS THAT COUNT:
A Statistical Perspective on the Town Election

Since November there has been time and leisure to analyze the raw data and come to some conclusions about voting patterns in Rhinebeck. We will examine the town election results from two angles, viz., the Democratic candidates' margins of victory and voter turnout.

We have been told that a 5% margin of victory is considered very substantial. Under this standard, all our town candidates did extremely well. Using figures published in The Poughkeepsie Journal (before absentee ballots were counted) the margins were calculated as follows. Steve Block defeated incumbent Town Supervisor Dennis McGuire by a healthy 6%. Dod Crane's margin was the largest; his vote exceeded that of Charles Johnson, his opponent for town board, by 18%. Ellen Silverstein, on the ballot as opposing incumbent board member Herman Tietjen, carried the day with 8%. And Kathy Kinsella, running against Bob Wyant and Ken Tompkins for town highway superintendent, defeated Wyant, her closest opponent, by 10%!

These results were due, among other significant factors, to a very respectable voter turnout -- highly unusual in a year with no state or national contests. Breaking down the turnout figures of the four major categories (Democrat, Republican, No Party, Independence Party) we find that of the 1,657 registered Democrats, 60.6% voted. 59.5 % of the 1,498 registered Republicans went to the polls, as did 41.9% of the 1,290 voters registered for No Party (nonaligned). Of the tiny group of voters (174), registered for the Independence Party, only 34.5% voted.

It's important to note that, in Rhinebeck township, 28% - a large bloc - of all voters have registered as "No Party." Undoubtedly some were simply unable to choose between the parties at the time of their registration, but we know that others felt they were choosing "independence." There is an Independence Party, the largest of our minor parties (.04% of Rhinebeck's registered voters). It's relatively inactive in our area but in other localities its platform carries weight and its support is sought. But regarding "independence" in Rhinebeck, the practical effect of registering as No Party is that the voter has no voice and no choices in the primary elections.

There is no way of telling how many voters crossed party lines in making their choices and no way of telling which way the No Party voters went. However, it would seem, from a casual comparison of the large margins of victory (quoted above) to party registration and turnout numbers, that Democrats benefited substantially from such activity.

Note: Our thanks to the Dutchess County Board of Elections, which provided the statistics we have used.

 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has a program which it calls "BioGems," in which a special wild place is selected and then defended with all the Council's Resources. The most recent campaign, to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from exploitation as part of a defense spending bill, has proven successful. But the NRDC knows that that is not the end of it.

"To protect a treasured irreplaceable BioGem like the Arctic Refuge, we have to win each and every time. To destroy it, they have to win only once. . . . Let's keep working. Let's keep winning. Let's never let go."

www.savebiogems.org

 

WOMEN IN POLITICS

DUTCHESS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S CAUCUS HONORS CANDIDATES

The Dutchess Democratic Women's Caucus will hold its Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m. at the Poughkeepsie Day School. Following a short business meeting, DDWC will hold a ceremony honoring last year's forty-one Democratic female candidates.

Clare Brandt, President of DDWC, said, "Of the forty-one, twenty won their races. Democrats, particularly women Democrats, broke new ground in county elections last year. DDWC trained many of the female candidates and we gave $4000 in campaign grants. We're very proud of all our candidates."

Diane Jablonski, the newly elected Dutchess County Comptroller, will make a few remarks. A reception will follow.

All are welcome. For more information, contact info@ddwc.org or call 845-876-6581.

WOMEN TO WATCH

Lois Murphy, in a tight Congressional race in the 6th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, is one of three women candidates nation-wide identified by Senator John Kerry as key and "locked in crucial must-win elections." In 2004 Lois did very well against her opponent Jim Gerlach, an ally of Karl Rove and Tom DeLay, who was reelected by the narrowest margin of any House incumbent. Some of us supported Lois then. Consider supporting her now. Visit her website at www.loismurphy.org.

Denise O'Donnell will be the only professional prosecutor in the race for New York State Attorney General. She has established a fine record of public service and was the first women appointed to serve as U.S. Attorney in upstate New York. If she is selected at the party's state convention in May, she will be running in the September primary against two other Democrats, one of whom undoubtedly will be Andrew Cuomo. www.odonnell2006.com

Kirsten Gillibrand, at www.gillibrand2006.com is a candidate for CD 20 (our Congressional District), opposing incumbent John Sweeney. Gillibrand, a lawyer from Hudson, describes herself as "a different kind of Democrat," with a focus on fiscal restraint, tax cuts for the middle class and tax incentives for companies which develop alternative energy technologies.

Both Gillibrand and O'Donnell will be featured at events planned for this spring by the Dutchess Democratic Women's Caucus. For more information, call 845-876-6581.

 

VILLAGE ELECTIONS

With all the excitement generated by the town election and its outcomes, it's easy to overlook the village elections, which come up so quickly -- on March 21. Two trustee positions will be on the ballot this year. They are presently occupied by Svend Beecher and Richard Cunningham. Our most recent information is that both incumbents plan to run for reelection.

However, there is still ample time for additional candidates to circulate their petitions, which must be filed with the village office by February 14 (but not prior to Febrary 7). For more information about the petition process, call the Village Clerk, Valerie Kilmer, at 845-876-7015.

If you are interested in running for Village Trustee as a Democrat, or on the Alliance Party line, call Warren Smith, at 843-876-0885.

 

RTEG (RHINEBECK TOWN EMAIL GROUP):
A New Way to Stay Connected

In our last issue of The Demogram we urged you to join the Rhinebeck Democratic Committee's (Yahoo) mailing list, citing the need to expand and improve the Committee's ability to foster activism in both national and local politics. That need still exists; we must be involved right now in working on the state elections of 2006 and the national election cycles of both 2006 and 2008, in order to break the Republican stranglehold on these levels of government. To join the Yahoo list, simply send an email to tmac1337@aol.com, using "active Democrat" as the subject line.

As to local politics, our recent success in the town elections has spawned another opportunity to be more active, or simply, to stay informed. The new Democratic leadership of the town has created RTEG (the Rhinebeck Town Email Group), a line of communication between the town government and its citizens. RTEG is a master list of email addresses to be used for meeting notices, alerts on developing issues, volunteer opportunities, etc. It is completely nonpartisan and is designed to survive changes of town administrations and party leadership.

Please join your neighbors in participating in this new era of open and responsive town government. Your email address will be kept private and will not be used for any other purpose. To be included on the RTEG list, email the address below, providing your name and using "RTEG list" as the subject line: sgblock@aol.com

 

CALENDAR

The information below is subject to change, so please call the contact number provided for confirmation. All events listed are open to the public.

JANUARY

January 18, Wednesday --- 2006 STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS by Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus, 4:30 pm at Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck (Route 308). Call 845-486-2000 by Jan. 17 to secure seating.

January 21, Saturday --- DDWC ANNUAL MEETING, 2pm at Poughkeepsie Day School (260 Boardman Road, Poughkeepsie), 876-6581.

January 23, Monday --- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall. The topic is the status and content of the Comprehensive Plan (876-3409).

January 30, Monday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE meets, 7:30 pm at Town Hall (876-0885).

FEBRUARY

February 1, Monday --- RHINECLIFF NIEGHBORHOOD ISSUES, 7pm at the Rhinecliff Firehouse. All interested are invited to discuss creation of a public structure to address Rhinecliff concerns (876-3409).

February 6, Monday --- RHINEBECK RECREATION COMMITTEE DISCUSSION, in Town Hall basement meeting room. All those interested in recreation programs and facilities are invited to participate. Call 876-3409 re time.

February 7-14 --- Period to File Candidates' Petitions for the VILLAGE BOARD ELECTIONS. Call 876-7015 for more information.

February 13, Monday --- TOWN BOARD MEETING, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409).

February 14, Tuesday --- VILLAGE BOARD MEETING, 7:00 pm at Village Hall (876-7015).

February 27, Monday --- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall. Topic TBA (876-3409).

February 27, Monday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE meets, 7:30 at Town Hall, in basement meeting room (876-0885).

MARCH

March 13, Monday --- TOWN BOARD MEETING, 6:45 pm at Town Hall (876-3409)

March 14, Tuesday --- VILLAGE BOARD MEETING, 7:00 at Village Hall (876-7015)

March 21, Tuesday --- VILLAGE BOARD ELECTIONS, noon to 9 pm at Town Hall. For more information all 876-7015

March 27, Monday --- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall. Topic TBA (876-3409)

March 27, Monday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE meets, 7:30 at Town Hall, in basement meeting room (876-0885).

APRIL PREVIEW

April 10, Monday --- TOWN BOARD MEETING, 6:45 pm at Rhinecliff Firehouse (876-3409)

April 11, Tuesday --- VILLAGE BOARD MEETING, 7:00 at Village Hall (876-7015)

April 24, Monday --- TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP, 6:45 pm at Town Hall. Topic TBA (876-3409)

April 24, Monday --- RHINEBECK DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE meets, 7:30 at Town Hall, in basement meeting room (876-0885).

 

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