Cablevision Revised Proposal Is Disappointing

Is entering into a contractual relationship with a vendor difficult to do? It would seem so based on the amount of time the Town Board requires for what is ultimately a poor decision/outcome for the taxpayers. Yet, we sense they don't act as much for the taxpayers, but for the developers, vendors, and other campaign donor agencies. This is not to allude to, infer or blatantly condemn many of our vendors of fraud. It's the Town Board, led by The Paul, who are the frauds!


Let's touch specifically upon the Cablevision contract that has been languishing for almost three years. Could the strategy at Town Hall be one where the current gatekeepers see their castle crumbling and have decided to throw caution to the wind and approve something? Anything? Town Board member Francis Sheehan stated publicly, about the Cablevision contract, “We thought the day would never come.” We wondered as well but were dismayed once it was publicized. 


Both Greenburgh residents, Edgemont's Bob Bernstein, and Fairview's Tom Bock, stated similar concerns regarding a fifteen year contract, with different reasoning as to why a fifteen year contract for any services assumes too much risk on the Town's part. 


Bernstein was critical to the Public Access Education Grants (PEG) portion of the contract as being inadequate as the Town can easily lose this grant money based on actions of the vendors. The Town agreed to a provision in the Cablevision contract which says that if at any time Verizon is able to charge less than 61 cents per subscriber for its PEG fee, then Cablevision gets to suspend all further PEG payments for the duration of the contract.  And if Cablevision gets to avoid its PEG fee, then Verizon, under its contract, gets to be treated the same and can avoid its PEG fee too.  Greenburgh not only loses money but the ability to upgrade equipment down the line.


Bock criticized the lengthy deal as electronic equipment becomes outdated almost as soon as it's purchased and contractually handicapping us for fifteen years is absurd. He also pointed out the equipment used at public meetings and Public Access Broadcasts was woefully inadequate. Now would be the time to negotiate new equipment and factor in yearly updates for new or improved equipment.


Another resident, Ella Preiser, commented on the lack of quality with the transmissions of town meetings and wondered if the quality of the equipment was at fault? The Town Clerk, who has no part of the process, stated that Cablevision acknowledged the equipment needs upgrading. Duh! If it's been acknowledged by Cablevision, why isn't this and yearly upgrades in the contract? 


As one of many stake-holders, ABG wonders where the expertise of Town Attorney Tim Lewis is hiding. Any attorney worth his salt should have been able to catch something this elementary. And yet all we seem to get from Lewis is interruptions during the public's limited time to speak. We get the same Feiner-blessed behavior from Town Clerk Belville, which is becoming more and more often and distracting. ABG believes she's not paid to speak at Board meetings and look forward to her following Vanna's lead. Point, don't speak.


Ed Kraus, was also critical of the sophomoric offering from our Board. He stated that the board should entertain utilizing a professional negotiator as they are apparently unequipped to handle this project as well as others, stating, “It took so long. We should have gotten a better contract.” 


After the self-flatulatory congratulations of a job well-done, Councilman Sheehan asked the representative from PEG to say a few words about the contract. Why? Clearly to bloviate as to how great the Town Board was, Cablevision's representatives were and even Verizon's representative were. He added this was a difficult time throughout the entire ordeal. What ordeal? This is what the Board gets paid very well to do. ABG doesn't believe they give us an equal return for our money. Hey Paul, that's called return on investment, or ROI. We're not getting any. The Verizon representative, by the way, may have raised more flaws throughout the contract in the public forum than even Mr. Lewis would have caught, had he been engaged.


To the The Paul and the Town Board, we say try again. When you think you're close to a real contract, ask for the public's help before you enact anything. Apparently, we know more than you and the Board about contracts.