An upcoming vote in Bethlehem to eliminate the position of highway superintendent has led local public figures to seek out unusual allies.
Many political leaders have lined up behind one of two groups that have emerged with the goal of swaying public opinion on the vote, but the divide has not stayed within party lines. Some are calling Supervisor John Clarkson’s bid to eliminate the position and place the powers with the commissioner of public works a “power grab,” while others feel it’s a rational decision that will save money and create efficiencies.
One group is Keep the Vote Bethlehem, a non-partisan “coalition” that began several months ago to urge residents to vote “no” on the measure. The other is called “Modernize and Economize,” and is led by Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson.
Keep the Vote Bethlehem was formed by Bethlehem Republican Committee Chairman Fred DiMaggio, Republican committee member Mike Kelly Sr. and Democrat town resident Dan Cunningham, after the Town Board set a public hearing on the topic in February. Cunningham called the group a “grassroots effort” to maintain the public’s right to vote because they feel the reasons for the change are “questionable.”
“We thought all of the potential savings and efficiencies presented are easily obtainable under the current structure,” he said. Cunningham’s brother, former Bethlehem Supervisor Jack Cunningham, runs the Town of Colonie’s Department of Public Works.
The group purchased lawn signs and leaflets after fundraising at meetings. There is also a Keep the Vote Bethlehem website and Facebook page. The group is also supported by all four of the county’s political committee chairpersons. Some committee members have also given funds to the cause.
Some involved in efforts to pass the resolution drew parallels to the Reform Democrat movement that revealed a schism within the party. But Albany County Democratic Committee Chairman Matthew Clyne said politics don’t play into his opinion.
“I don’t care how anyone views this. I would be dead set against this proposition under any circumstance,” Clyne said. “Clarkson is asking people to give up a fundamental right under highly speculative and circumstantial instances. It’s not right.”
The proposal to abolish the highway superintendent position was first put forward by Clarkson during this year’s State of the Town address, shortly after Highway Superintendent Gregg Sagendorph announced plans to retire after holding the position for 22 years. If the referendum passes on April 30, a civil servant would then be hired to help manage the highway department under the public works umbrella.
Citizen advisory committees have studied the idea since 2006. The town’s Governance Committee found 59 other towns in New York, mostly larger suburbs, no longer elect their highway superintendents. Clarkson said the town could conservatively save between $180,000 to $375,000 annually through the consolidation of departments.
“The management and savings advantages for the town are very important,” said Clarkson. “I obviously support this measure, but state law leaves the choice to the voters and I’m anxious at long last to give them the say.”
Clarkson’s “Modernize and Economize” campaign is backed by officials from across the aisle at the town level, including former Supervisors Sam Messina, an Independent, and Ken Ringler, a Republican, and most of the Town Board Democrats and Independents. The modernize effort has a Facebook page, and the lawn signs that have popped up across town were purchased by Clarkson himself.
The effort is also supported by the Albany County League of Voters. League members have been working as volunteers to support the referendum and encourage residents to vote.
Some have criticized the League’s involvement. Cunningham said he feels by supporting the measure, the League is departing from its stated mission by “promoting partisan and misleading information in support of the proposed law.”
But the League sees this public vote as different from an election.
“We take a stand on issues we study and come to consensus on. We don’t support political parties or individual people,” said League President Mary Berry. “It’s not something we do off the top of our heads. This has been the basis of the League since 1920. It’s nothing new, but I think people might get confused.”
Those against the proposal were also angered when only one polling place was chosen for the vote. They believe only having one location, at Town Hall, will lower voter turnout, and argued those who live in Delmar are more likely to support the referendum.
The Town Board unanimously voted to have one polling place at the beginning of the month. According to state law, in order for the town to offer absentee ballots for the vote, each polling place must establish its own Board of Registration and Board of Inspectors. This is so those who are not already registered to vote with the Albany County Board of Elections may vote in this special election.
Clarkson said for multiple polling places to be used, mailers would need to be sent out notifying each resident of where they would be voting in the special election, since the location might not be the same as where one would typically vote. Those needing to register would need to do so at that polling location during designated times and those times would have to be published in two newspapers.
It was ultimately decided the vote might be less confusing if only one polling place was used, which has become a sticking point for some.
“This vote could have been done in November,” said DiMaggio. “This is a rushed job that’s being done off cycle. People don’t even know about this election. It could have been done a different way and given people more time to think.”
DiMaggio called the referendum a “power grab” by Clarkson, as did Cunningham.
Bethlehem Democratic Committee Chairman and Town Board Councilman Jeffrey Kuhn disagreed.
“Dozens of well run towns throughout the state (including Colonie and East Greenbush) have implemented identical reforms and consolidated their highway and DPW operations. Were all these reforms ‘power grabs’ by the leaders of those towns?” he said in an email. “Given that the GOP is traditionally the party of smaller government, it is mystifying how the chairman of the local Republican committee can be so adamantly opposed to this kind of common sense governmental consolidation that will save Bethlehem tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.”
Cunningham said his main goal until April 30 is to educate the public on the vote, a priority that was echoed by those on the other side of the issue.
“(We’re) trying to be a prevailing force in this election,” said Cunningham. “We respect how you feel on the issue, but I think everyone will agree that we need to have a fair election process and in my mind that is questionable.”
Both groups are on the web, at www.bethlehemvotes.com or search on Facebook for “Bethlehem Modernize & Economize.”
The vote will take place on Tuesday, April 30, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bethlehem Town Hall.