GOP legislators cry foul, Dems said replacement not political
The Schenectady County Legislature meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11, became heated over the final resolution, which involved replacing two members of the County’s Industrial Development Agency, including Legislator James Buhrmaster, R-Glenville. Buhrmaster, who served on the IDA for seven years, was the sole Republican legislator on the board.
IDAs are a very important operation in county government, they do an awful lot, and a reason why a representative from the minority party of the County Legislature is always appointed to the IDA is to keep that organization transparent, said Minority Leader Robert Farley, who joined Buhrmaster and Conservative Holly Vellano in voting against the move. `You won’t know what goes on at this IDA unless a person is in the room from the other side of the aisle because it is a check and balance. This Legislature, in its partisanship and its arrogance, decides that the one Republican legislator on the board needs to be removed.`
Evan Christou, a Conservative, is replacing Buhrmaster, and Democrat Catherine Gatta, a recently elected Scotia trustee, is replacing Christine Chiaravalle. Farley said his disapproval for the appointees is not a reflection of them personally, and he would be fully supportive of the resolution if either Majority Leader Gary Hughes or Martin Finn, both Democrats, opted to relinquish their positions.
`This government likes to operate in the dark,` said Farley. `Why do you think we do over 50 percent of our legislation through the rules committee tonight?`
Hughes said Buhrmaster’s replacement is not a political move.
`I’m really disappointed to hear that about an organization that has been singled out across the United States as an extraordinarily transparent and extraordinarily well-run public authority,` said Hughes. `I take offense when I hear that all of a sudden we are going to be operating in the dark.`
Hughes said the newly appointed IDA members are very well qualified and can help the organization move forward in promoting business and creating jobs. Hughes also noted that IDA meetings are open to the public.
Legislator Brian Gordon, D-Niskayuna, said he thought Buhrmaster did a good job during his tenure, but it was time more some new people to step up.
`What we have now is an opportunity to bring in some new faces and some new blood,` said Gordon. `I think that they are going to do a great job.`
Vellano kept her comments short before voting against Buhrmaster’s replacement, but she showed her support for the legislator.
`Mr. Buhrmaster, I believe you to be a true asset of our county IDA, and I thank you for your service, and I vote no.`
Until Buhrmaster cast his vote against the resolution, he had remained largely silent during the evening.
`Today was a good day when I woke up, and I felt very good about today,` said Buhrmaster, adding that things began to fall apart when he received a message in the afternoon that the Legislature would be seeking to replace his position on the IDA. `From that point on, and now it is five hours since then, and now I’ve got mixed emotions. I would like to think that it is not political,` said Buhrmaster. `I attend regularly. When I get called on, I serve.`
Buhrmaster said he was told there would be representation from both parties in the County Legislature on the IDA when he was appointed seven years ago.
`I think the way it came down is a little sad, and I feel sad for the direction we’ve gone in,` said Buhrmaster.
Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, chairwoman of the Legislature, said the replacements are meant to diversify the representation on the IDA.“
