Observer Corps Committee

League of Women Voters^®
of Schenectady County

Observer Corps Report 2009-2010. County Board Report.

Observer Corps Report 2009-2010

Submitted by Mary Maitino, Chair
The Observer Corps has 10 members this year, and has been monitoring the public meetings of the Schenectady County Legislature, Metroplex, the City of Schenectady, the Schenectady City School District, and the Town of Glenville. We have been experimenting with the use of two or three reporting forms, and in the fall will discuss the pros and cons of each. We would also like to monitor the school district and town meetings of Niskayuna, and Rotterdam, as well as the Scotia-Glenville School District. Potential new members, please contact me if you are interested in attending any of those meetings. It's usually a commitment of one meeting per month, and you don't have to attend every meeting. Usually the meetings are quite interesting, and have helped all of us learn more about how our local governmental bodies are working, and what is currently being discussed and proposed in Schenectady County. Thank you to all who have been attending the meetings this year: Ruth Bonn, Maxine Borom, Eunice Chouffi, Liz Cooke, Jonetta Darcy, Helen MacDonald, Lynda Nichols, Carol Possin, Frank Quinn, Flora Ramonowski, Helga Schroeter, Laura Zeliger

County Board Report

Submitted by Maxine Borom
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, Helga Schroeter and Maxine Borom attended the 7:00 p.m. County Legislature meeting, which they have been doing for several years as part of the LWV Observer Corps
Note: The County Legislature meets on the second Tues. of each month, with committee meeings held on the first Monday. It is made up of 13 Democrats and 2 Republicans at this time.

First item on the agenda of the legislative conference was reading resolutions honoring various Burnt Hills athletic teams, which did very well in their respective sports fields this year.
At the "Privilege of the Floor" Helga announced the Martin Luther King ceremony to be held on Sunday, Jan. 17. Three or four other attendees spoke to different issues.
Note: Normally LWV observers do not comment on the proceedings, but occasionally they do, either for the League or for some other group or individual--with a disclaimer, of course identifying the group or cause being mentioned. This operating procedure is necessary because any other approach carries a risk of having people speak for the League on inappropriate or irrelevant subjects.

Resolutions passed in addition to the honorary ones included one to cooperate with Albany and Rensseler Counties regarding an animal sheltering equipment grant program and two others regarding parking spaces and office space for the judiciary, as well as distribution of dog license fees to the towns, chargeback of uncollectible taxes to Scotia and Schalmont School Districts. The final resolution of the evening called for a public hearing on a law to increase the income base for grant of partial exemption from property taxes for those 65 years or older.
Note: Since the LWV's goal is to be vigilant regarding both process and substance, it is important to be present as frequently as possible and to become familiar with both the "characters" and the procedure. Helga and Maxine have become somewhat addicted, as might be the case with an ongoing soap opera--so they continue to attend year after year!!!

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