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Letter to Editor (Post Star and
Saugerties Times, 3-27-08)
School board
members respond to criticism (Heidcamp)
Lanny the Big
Spender
Although I respect his right to be biased, I
also recognize that Lanny Walter's prejudice has
once again taken him way off the mark. Time hasn't
changed Lanny Walter very much. His sarcastic
remarks to Don Tucker and me are nothing more than
his usual "sewer politics" rearing its ugly
head.
In Walter's letter, he proudly identifies
himself as a "former board member." I'm sure folks
will remember when, just a few short years ago,
Walter, together with former board member Flo Hyatt
and crony Bob McCaig, voted to give superintendent
Michael Singleton and his wife (both of whom were
non-residents) paid health insurance for the rest
of their natural life at an annual cost to district
taxpayers of approximately $14,000. (As a side note
of disclosure, it should be pointed out that McCaig
is an MVP agent -could that have been a conflict of
interest?) Prior to "giving the store away" to
Singleton, former board member Flo Hyatt (who was
endorsed by Lanny Walter two years ago for another
run for the board) made a motion to give
(non-resident) superintendent Karen Hong 100
percent paid health and dental insurance for the
rest of her natural life. The motion was seconded
by former board member Richard Greco and carried.
Their irresponsible actions continue to cost
Saugerties taxpayers approximately $21,000
annually, and will for the rest of the recipients'
natural lives. During that period, taxpayers were
also paying in excess of $200,000 in salaries plus
tens of thousands of dollars in benefits for two
superintendents at the same time! Then to add
insult to injury, they attempted to ram the
62-million dollar bond down the taxpayers' throats.
That was the bond that would have included an
Olympic-sized swimming pool. The bond was
overwhelming defeated. I wonder why. I also wonder
whether Lanny Walter and his cronies were thinking
about the value of our homes being decreased
then.
Let's face facts, we're nearing election time
and Lanny Walter's actions are politically
motivated. His is the proverbial feeble attempt to
discredit and sway public opinion against the board
in general in order to get some of his cronies
elected or re-elected, as the case may be.
Remember, terms are up for Terry Parisian, Bob
McCaig and Mike Brennan, and they are confidants of
Lanny Walter. I'm sure that he would love nothing
more than to help them be re-elected.
Warning: voters beware of any endorsements
coming from Lanny Walter. I would also note that at
the March 11 board meeting the BOE voted to appoint
Thomas Ham to sit on the BOCES board, replacing
Lanny Walter…might this have sparked his
attacks? You be the judge.
In closing, I'll take an opportunity to go on
record and say that I am very proud of the
accomplishments and the good things this "new
board" has done during the past nine months under
the leadership of president Tucker. For the first
time in a long, long time, the Board of Education
is in control of the school board.
George D Heidcamp Sr
School board vice president
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