Patronage Paul

ABG has written previously about The Paul’s latest patronage positions being meted out to his cronies. The last post was over his proposed appointment of convicted felon Alan Hochberg as some sort of fiscal oversight officer. We opposed it. In fact, many people who spoke at the Town Board meetings of late also opposed it. His total disregard of logical and intelligent decision-making never ceases to amaze us.

Feiner announced that he was considering his confidant Hochberg, as well as others, for this position. Knowing how often The Paul lies, ABG doesn’t believe there are any other candidates. Hochberg was the chairman for the citizens volunteer Budget Oversight Commission, which formulated this years budget. ABG also believes and has written that The Paul will use that fact to ensure deniability through deflection when the public complains about the budget. It will be up to the Hochberg Commission to fall on the sword for the Supervisor, a task Hochberg is all too willing to do.

Finally growing a set and attending the Work Session wearing a cup and supporter to protect himself, Town Council member Francis Sheehan publicly spoke up against the Paul, saying the proposed hires — a part-time budget officer and internal auditor — are unnecessary and "highly objectionable" since Supervisor Paul Feiner is proposing to lay off up to six employees in his $82.2 million spending plan for 2012. Sheehan said at the meeting, “I’m outraged that you would have deliberately and intentionally picked titles for these people that we can’t touch. Is this basically patronage?” Sheehan posing this as a question must have been his quick realization that he had screwed up and was being critical of his capo. ABG wonders if Sheehan had decided this would be his last term as a councilman and he might have had enough of The Paul?

It’s a shame only Councilwoman Brown stopped drinking the Feiner Kool-Aid this past year. Just look at what happened to her after leaving The Paul’s trough. Feiner had Councilman Morgan, who had his daughter (deniability through deflection) get Browns petition signatures to run for the supervisor position disqualified, torpedoing her run against The Paul. The previous election saw the same thing happen to Town resident and Feiner challenger Patricia Weems. In Feinerville, there are no penalties for low blows from those in power!

Under the guise of “spot checking” various Town departments, The Paul maintains his need for these positions, steadfastly insisting they are not patronage positions. It matters not whether spot checking is needed of our Town departments. The average person goes to work looking to do a fair days work for a fair days pay. We have a budget that will increase taxes but hangs the positions of some of our workers in jeopardy. This needn’t be the case. “I know in my heart that there’s waste," Feiner said. “With more eyes and scrutiny I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be able to save hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars.” What?! If there’s waste, stop it! If we started by ceasing the incessant mailings from The Paul’s office, we sure to see a significant savings in money, refuse and recycling fees.

Council members Morgan and Juettner also expressed reservations about creating new positions while the town contemplates layoffs. Their position was certified public accountants Comptroller Bart Talamini and his deputy provide good financial oversight. We happen to agree with this.

Sheehan says he will vote against the budget if the positions remain. That's a pretty gutsy move for him if he plans to run again. Councilpersons Morgan and Juettner said they were undecided. We don’t believe them. They’ll vote with The Paul. Even though The Paul says he will create these positions as probationary and eliminate them if savings don’t materialize any savings. ABG is pretty sure that won’t happen. If they are created, they will stay for as long as The Paul does.

The only scenario that makes sense to ABG with this apparent stand on principles is that The Paul told them it would be okay to oppose him on these two appointments as they have no real value to him and he needs to appear willing to make concessions. The budget officer and internal auditor would be paid $45,000 and $35,000 a year, respectively. Many of our CSEA Town employees don’t make this much. 


ABG has heard numerous times that morale of Town employees is in the toilet. Why? Because they live under the impending threat of dismissal by The Paul - an unfortunate power he does yield. The only dismissals ABG believes would be good for the Town are five. You can guess who they might be. Things need to change for the better in the Town. We can only hope.