Republicans are angry over a public hearing date that will be voted on this evening regarding clarifications to the positions of the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and the Director of the William K. Sanford Library at tonight’s Town Board meeting.
Republican Chair John Graziano Jr. said these clarifications are really meant to allow Jack Cunningham to keep his job as commissioner of the Department of Public Works.
All they’re doing is acknowledging it after two years and are rubbing it the residents’ faces that they do what they want, he said about the current administration in Colonie. `When they know they’re going to get caught, they change the rules.`
Supervisor Paula Mahan said this is not the case, as it is only meant to clarify the requirements of the positions and to avoid anymore `frivolous lawsuits.`
`There was some questions that were raised and we, as you know, went to the supreme court,` she said. `The bottom line is, for whatever position, we’re looking for the best possible candidates and we want people that fit the criteria we set forth.`
What resolution No. 240 states is the comissioner of DPW will be appointed based on their administrative experience and qualifications as well as other standards required by the Town Board. The commissioner, however, does not have to have any specific license or prior education of the duties of the position. The person under consideration must be a resident of Albany County.
For the Library director’s position, the person must be a resident of Albany County and must have the minimum experience and qualifications established by the Department of Civil Service.
Town Attorney Mike Magguilli said this clarifies an `ambiguous local law adopted by the previous administration.` He added that after winning in Supreme Court after town Republicans sued over Cunningham’s position, he believes the town will win in the Appellate Division.
`We never understood this lawsuit,` he said. `All this law is doing is clarifying a poorly drafted statute they [the previous administration] wrote.`
Graziano sees it a different way. He said that when Mahan’s administration was called out for appointing Cunningham, the town continued to waste taxpayer money.
`What they’re doing is another example of them getting what ever they want at whatever expense of the taxpayers,` he said. `They are taking a professional job and saying anybody in Albany County can have it. Saying that, I think we could probably get a person more qualified in Colonie.`
Mahan said this issue was brought to their attention when they first hired Cunningham back in 2009 and said there were questions raised by the public about his qualifications. Mahan said this law is simply answering those questions.
`If we can clarify things for the public we will do that,` she said. `We were looking for someone who has and understand of DPW, and how to operate it and the types of jobs it does for the town, how it is applied, looking at improving the area and all has managerial skills and administrative skills.`
When asked as to why this law isn’t being considered until today, Mahan said there are a lot of moving parts to consider when running a municipality.
`This is a huge town,` she said. `There are things going on all the time. You may be focused on one particular topic, but I’m focused on everything going on everything going on in the town. Things happen on a daily basis and I have to tend to those things and make sure we’re working to the best of our ability.“
