Two for Four!!

by Contributor | August 21, 2024 12:03 pm

Two for four is a great batting avg. in baseball, in local government it is poor. In school it is failing.

On August 20^th I attended the Fulton Common Council meeting.

I asked the Administration four questions.

The first question was pertaining to the Clerk’s report regarding monies reported each month. I asked what accounts these monies went into! After some discussion I was informed that the money went into Department accounts that had generated the revenue. Ie; dog license, special waste pick up, etc.

Second question was pertaining to the Contingent account, the last time I asked a question about the balance of  this account ,the Clerk was very upset stating “If you had told me ahead of time I would give you the answer” I felt then and now, that if you are going to take money out of an account in an open meeting you should be ready to answer any questions pertaining to the agenda item. That night the Mayor had to leave the meeting to retrieve a copy of the 2024 City budget, to obtain the answer. Last night when I asked the question about what the Contingent account balance was the Mayor had the answer right away. And it was correct. I thanked them for their answers.

Third question was regarding the recent awarded grant to the police department. The grant was in the amount of $191,000 dollars. I had asked this same question at the last meeting. I asked the Mayor about the arrival of the grant. First there was a blank stare, then he said it came in during the last administration or last year. I said no it came in, in 2024. He then relinquished the floor to the Chief of Police to answer the question. The Chief said yes, the city had been awarded a grant for $191,000 and stated what the grant could be used for. A discussion ensued as to how the grant should be reported versus the way grants are reported at the County level. This grant monies are a revenue source and should be reported I feel. The Mayor was unaware of it’s arrival or even its application, it appears, by his blank stare and failure to answer the question.

Fourth question was pertaining to the Leachate and sludge agreement with Oswego County. An agreement between the two was initiated in 2022. The agreement was for the city to accept Leachate from the County and the County would accept Sludge from the City’s waste-water treatment plant. The amount of Sludge accepted was not to exceed 500 tons. The savings would be $42,000 to the city.

The question was: Why hasn’t the city sent any Sludge to the landfill yet this year. Again, a blank stare. I explained that the inability to accept Leachate from the ERF plant must be addressed. The ammonia levels are too high; however the City of Oswego is able to accept the Leachate at the high rate of ammonia. I knew that the City of Fulton had been denied their request to accept the Leachate at the high ammonia levels. I stated that this is the type of thing that I could possibly help with, by writing letters etc. Again, a blank stare.

The first two question were asked as a taxpayer in the city of Fulton, the last two question were asked asked as Oswego County Legislator for the 25^th District.

I think the Mayor was to focused on asking why I didn’t answer the door of my house or answer the phone call.

It is very hard to answer a person at the door when you are not home. It is also hard to answer a phone call that you didn’t hear.

I think it’s time for the Mayor to stop trying to be a photo opt King and find out what it happening within the walls of City Hall.

Frank Castiglia Jr.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/two-for-four/

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