Waste and inefficiency in Ulster County Government, do ya' think?
County Exec Hein is going to have his hands full defending his position on this one.
It is his standing position that the Legislature has no right to evaluate and advise the the Executive branch regarding the efficiency of the various departments. He claims the County Charter expresses no such authority.
Whether it is due to policy or practice, if inefficiency exists wouldn't you expect that the County Executive would want it resolved for the benefit of the taxpayer.
Mr. Hein's efforts to prevent the Legislature by protesting the formation of just such a committee is contrary to why the Charter form of government was adopted by voters in the first place.
It's main objective: to streamline government and control spending.
No one ever imagined the biggest culprit for waste in management would be the executive itself.
Hein's office has tripled in size since his election, what's more the County Comptrollers office has done the same, as well as hiring outside consultants.
Are they afraid they might be the target?
It seems Comptroller Aurbach is staying ahead of the curve, (but not out of the crosshairs), with all the issues confronting county finances Aurbach has chosen to utilize his resources to audit the attendance of County Legislators.
Having lost the support of a Democrat majority, unless both men get a handle on why the were elected, it may prove to be a long year at County Headquarters.
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You are a little too kind to Mutt & Jeff, (Hein & Aurbach), they have added more waste and inefficiency than they are capable of eliminating!
ReplyDeleteI hope the Dems in the legislature follow Fred's lead and target these 2 ass holes, if they defend or protect him they are gonna' lose a lot more seats next election beside the comptroller. and going down to 23 seats its something they can't afford!
Today's Freeman Region Section lists all the committees, their chairs and their members, a good cross section of the political aisle. Looks like Fred means what he said Wednesday evening. The list reads as bi-partisan as any I've seen in many years.
ReplyDeleteGood for Fred, Bad for Hein & Company. Like the poster said, it's gonna be a long year for Mr. Exec!
Todays Freeman has a summary of the COunty Committees, their chairs and members. A real cross section of the political aisle, Looks like Fred means what he said, if anyone doubted his plea for bi-partisanship, i hope they give him some credit.
ReplyDeleteIf Dems and Reps work together for the betterment of the county it's going to be like this blogger said, a long year for Mike on the 6th floor.
Good job Mr. Wadnola!
When is Hein going to realize the Exec is an equal branch of government with the legislature, when you read his press releases you get the impression he does a lot of telling people what to do, that may have worked while the majority party was the Dems but it won't work so well this year. He's going to start hearing NOT SO FAST MIKEY a little more often, why is he picking a fight so soon?
ReplyDeleteI hear the Legislature is going to exercise it's supenoa power, go Fred!
I got the lowdown, Hein isn't gonna run, he's got a perch already set for him with the Coumo team, win or lose! So I guess all he deeds do is keep his nose clean, move on up to state politics and then the Presidency!
ReplyDeleteLook for the press release, "Hein casts hat into Presidential Ring" sent out by Hein himself.
I guess He's afraid to stand up to Fred!
This Ain't Chicago but he must think he's a lighter shade of what Reid said about the 'bbbbbig O'
The thing that is starting to bug me is that there is the idea that since the Executive took over day to day, the Democrats somehow did not agree with everything or anything Hein did. Maybe they agreed and therefore did not put up resistance? They were getting things done too. Look back at the resolutions. Maybe not to the extent some felt they shuould, but they certainly did get some things through.
ReplyDeleteThis notion that they sat idly by and let Hein run roughshod over them seems a little too much to swallow. I know some of those people and they could find something to argue about with themselves in a phone booth.
6:30 am
ReplyDeleteIn fairness there were many instances where the Democrat lead legislature and the Exec were in sync. I think that if the Dem's had it to do over again they might not have been so accommodating. Especially with issues increasing the cost and scope of the Exec.
On a broader scale, has the nation's now single party rule produced any legislation that anyone thinks is any good?
Alternative ideas can make good legislation better and prevent bad legislation from passing. Have you given serious consideration to 'Health Care' or Cap & Trade. Both the product of single party rule, both without any real consideration let alone input of alternative ideas by the opposing party!
Maybe the issues confronting the UC Legislature are not as dynamic far reaching as those facing the Nation, does that mean they should be passed without objection?
Yes they did get things done, but many times the things they got done benefited the Exec, did they really benefit the electorate?
I think the issue as to whether the Democrat lead Legislature did or did not do a good job is not the point, in a county with roughly 50:50 electorate there will always be half the people unhappy with government.
On a lighter note, maybe we should have installed a few more phone booths in the assembly hall, does anyone know anyone at Verizon?
Wadnola looks terribly unhealthy.
ReplyDeleteOne of the other blogs mentioned that Nick Woerner is now entertaining Auerbach, (seen together at protobello's). they deserve one another.
ReplyDelete6:24, they were also joined by Maryann Degroot, supposedly a Republican, with two uncles who are party icons, breaking bread with those two morons. Wonder who picked the lunch check, tweedle dee, tweedle dumb, or tweedle dumber.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about Nicky, he could not gather support at his mother's dining room table these days. Auerbach is a damn fool if he associates with Woerner who has no credibilty left. Auerbach will lose if he associates himself with Woerner.
ReplyDeleteNick Woerner getting in tight with the exec? What a horrid thought. Maybe he's offering to broker a deal to join the Town of Ulster and the city of Kingston, then he'll run for mayor of Kingston and have control over ulster and Zweben and Aaron will be happy once again!
ReplyDeleteNick Woerner getting tight with Auerbach and county party hacks. What could they be cooking up, Nick could be covering his rather fat backside by getting ahead of any audits Auerbach is planning. Or the thought comes to mind that maybe he is seeking their blessing for his run at the Kingston Mayor's office. can you imagine, Woerner the Mayor of Kingston, then he can push for the merger of the city with the Town of Ulster, regain control of the town and give it back to Zweben an Aaron all over again. OMG that'll keep you up nights!
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