POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
March 31st 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - FRANK IS NOT IN THE HOT SEAT WITH MICHELLE - FRANK IS ALL THE WAY INTO THE FIRE AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY!"
So, at this stage of the game here in Poestenkill with regard to Water District No. 2, Michelle can arguably pull her fat out of the fire, so to speak, although in her case, where she is but a puppet, her actions will be controlled by her lawyer Phil Danaher and her Laberge controllers, so we will have to wait to see which way the wind blows Michelle.
As to Frank Burzesi, a New York State licensed professional engineer, he is way over the line and now has no way back, and speaking of no way back, if we go back to the October 10, 2024 meeting of the Poestenkill Town Board at 56:24 of the official record (cue, Youtube, October 10, 2024 meeting of the Poestenkill Town Board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MvxQjuiepY at 56:24), in that one exchange between Lee King and Tom Russell, we see three of the things that cause our town board to be corrupt, to wit:
1. First of all, by telling Lee King that Frank Burzesi could not answer Lee King's simple question without the town attorney being present, Tom was confirming on the official record, given that was an official Poestenkill town board meeting, that it really is the Poestenkill town attorney who is in charge of what the Poestenkill town board can and cannot say;
2. Secondly, Tom Russell was making it crystal clear that in Poestenkill, it is the supervisor who controls when council members can speak, which placed the town board under his exclusive control; and
3. Thirdly, by remaining silent when Tom Russell told him to stay silent, Frank Burzesi was confirming on the official record that he personally is not independent, but to the contrary, he is under the control of the supervisor and town attorney.
And that reality here in Poestenkill that our town government is under the control of the supervisor and her attorney brings us to this pertinent question, to wit:
Q: Are there telltale signs indicating the existence of public corruption in a municipal corporation like Poestenkill as defined by Town Law 2?
And of course there are "telltale signs" or "red flags" that indicate the potential existence of public corruption in a New York municipal corporation such as the town of Poestenkill, as defined by state law.
In fact, and who can be surprised at this, the NYS Comptroller and Department of Investigation often highlight specific warning signs that suggest abuse of public trust, ranging from petty cash theft to major contract rigging.
For example, we have "Pay-to-Play" and procurement irregularities such as when contracts are frequently awarded to the same vendors, especially those with connections to officials, without competitive bidding, as has been the case here in Poestenkill, so far as we can tell with the politically-conected Laberge.
And then there is lack of transparency, where decisions here in Poestenkill, especially with regard to Laberge and the Water District No. 2 cost overrun, are made behind closed doors, coupled with refusal to provide public records under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).
And we have irregular financial reporting where our bank accounts not reconciled in a timely manner, with missing receipts.
And we zoning changes fast-tracked for specific developers while stalling others.
And last but hardly least, the town board abdicating on its oversight duties, thus allowing officials to override internal controls.
And for the record, the New York State Comptroller’s Office encourages the reporting of such signs to their investigation division, although actually doing so here in Poestenkill and getting caught doing it could get you stripped of your constitutional rights like Patrick Wing and Paul Plante have been.
Which brings us to another pertinent question applicable to Poestenkill, to wit:
Q: Would corruption of the government of Poestenkill be considered a disease of the body politic of the society of Poestenkill?
end quote
And that answer is yes - government corruption is widely characterized as a disease of the body politic, often likened to a cancer that infiltrates, destroys organs of state, and in doing so, corrupts the ethical, moral, and economic fabric of society, and boy, has it ever done so here in Poestenkill where it is seen as a social condition causing decay, instability, and injustice, while acting as an insidious plague, undermining the rule of law and democratic institutions.
Public corruption goes hand in hand with societal dysfunction, leading to the misallocation of resources, diversion of funds from public services, and the complete erosion of trust in government here in Poestenkill, and just like a disease, corruption can metastasize, making it difficult to eradicate once embedded.
Which brings us to where we are right now in Poestenkill.
Stay tuned, more is yet to come.
THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 1st 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - THE UNACCEPTABLE HIGH PRICE OF INCOMPETENT CORRUPT GOVERNMENT IN POESTENKILL TODAY AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT!"
Were we to ask councilman Wohlleber and councilman Hass why it appears to those taxpayers of this town who do not consider themselves the loyal subjects of Poestenkill town government, being United States citizens instead, that neither of them are attempting to live up to their oath of office to support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, it is likely that they would come back and point us to these words from the oath of office, "I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of councilman, according to the best of my ability," and then they would likely explain to us that as it turns out, they really have no ability to support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, because, well, they are too long, so they did not read either of them, what with all the vowels and consonants and syllables and punctuation and big words that are in there, and then they would point us to Chief Justice Roberts making it crystal clear to us on June 28, 2012 in the United States Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. 519 (2012) that "It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices," and tell us to suck it up because we are stuck with them and the lousy job they are doing.
And since they are Republicans and Michelle and Rodney are also Republicans, well, that logic would apply to them, as well, and once again, we have to suck that up, as well.
But what about Frank Burzesi, our resident licensed professional engineer?
Can he skate so easily as Michelle, Eric, David, and perhaps Rodney, who as of yet we have no real experience of to see which way he is going to go, whether his loyalty will be to the Rensselaer County Republican Party or the taxpayers of Poestenkill?
And that question brings us to this purely hypothetical situation, to wit:
Q: A PE candidate for public office in a municipal corporation pursuant to Town Law 2 is elected and begins engaging in corrupt acts in apparent violation of Part 29.1.b.5 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, "conduct in the practice of a profession which evidences moral unfitness to practice the profession."
The public official pleads not guilty on the grounds that being held to the standards of a PE while a politician would make one unviable as a candidate in a corrupt political world.
Is that a viable excuse?
Now, let's consider that as a purely theoretical situation, lest someone actually think I was referring directly to Frank Burzesi, but the answer nonetheless serves to give us an idea of the great difference in the freedom to be stupid and irresponsible that exists between Michelle, Eric and David on the one hand, and Frank, on the other, to wit:
A: The defense that holding a Professional Engineer (PE) to ethical standards while acting as a politician makes them an unviable candidate is not a viable legal excuse in New York State.
And, people, that answer applies directly to Frank Burzesi with his PE license, and for as PE like Frank to engage in corrupt acts while holding a public office, even if framed as necessary for political survival such as going along with Laberge on Water District No. 2, directly violates professional licensing requirements and criminal laws.
As to why that defense would fail if Frank were foolish enough to try to defend himself with it here in Poestenkill, under Part 29.1.b.5 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, which applies directly to Frank, a licensee is guilty of professional misconduct for "conduct in the practice of a profession which evidences moral unfitness to practice the profession".
And heaven help us, people, if we have a bunch of PE's running around and especially in public office with the morals of a politician, and especially, a Rensselaer County Republican politician.
Getting back to Frank as a politician, for the record, PEs in New York like Frank are licensed under Title VIII of the Education Law, which requires adherence to high ethical standards, ethical standards much higher than those of an ordinary politician who has none, because none are required of him or her.
As to corrupt acts such as fraud, or official misconduct, they often involve a lack of integrity, which directly translates to "moral unfitness" to hold a professional license.
And the "need to be corrupt to win" argument does not remove the licensee's duty to comply with the rules of their profession.
And beyond that, although you would never guess it from observations of how what is called government functions here in Poestenkill, public officials such as a town official under Town Law 2 are bound by the Public Officers Law, which includes codes of ethics requiring them to avoid even the appearance of impropriety and to uphold the integrity of government.
And then, of course, we have Official Misconduct, Penal Law § 195.00, and a public servant is guilty of this class A misdemeanor if they commit an unauthorized act with intent to obtain a benefit, or knowingly refrain from performing a duty.
And what about the "Political Reality" defense where a PE would claim that if he or she ran for office based on the high ethical standards required of a PE, in Rensselaer County, at least, they would never get elected?
And people, in response, the Courts in New York and other jurisdictions consistently reject arguments that a crime was necessary to achieve a legitimate goal, or that the political environment forced a person to break the law.
And in fact, although we would never know it here in Poestenkill, the law specifically mandates that public servants maintain high ethical standards despite political pressures.
The defense that "everyone does it" or "it's necessary to win" is not a recognized defense for illegal activities such as bribery, fraud, etc.
So in summary, the obligation to act ethically as a PE is separate from, and in addition to, the duty to act honestly as a public official.
The pressure of political life does not absolve a licensed professional from their professional ethical obligations.
Does Frank Burzesi understand that?
From his role in covering up the flaws in the bogus engineering report Laberge submitted to the town to get Water District No. 2 approved, this PE frankly doubts it.
But stay tuned for more is yet to come!
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 1st 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - THE UNACCEPTABLE HIGH PRICE OF INCOMPETENT CORRUPT GOVERNMENT IN POESTENKILL TODAY AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT!"
Were we to ask councilman Wohlleber and councilman Hass why it appears to those taxpayers of this town who do not consider themselves the loyal subjects of Poestenkill town government, being United States citizens instead, that neither of them are attempting to live up to their oath of office to support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, it is likely that they would come back and point us to these words from the oath of office, "I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of councilman, according to the best of my ability," and then they would likely explain to us that as it turns out, they really have no ability to support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, because, well, they are too long, so they did not read either of them, what with all the vowels and consonants and syllables and punctuation and big words that are in there, and then they would point us to Chief Justice Roberts making it crystal clear to us on June 28, 2012 in the United States Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. 519 (2012) that "It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices," and tell us to suck it up because we are stuck with them and the lousy job they are doing.
And since they are Republicans and Michelle and Rodney are also Republicans, well, that logic would apply to them, as well, and once again, we have to suck that up, as well.
But what about Frank Burzesi, our resident licensed professional engineer?
Can he skate so easily as Michelle, Eric, David, and perhaps Rodney, who as of yet we have no real experience of to see which way he is going to go, whether his loyalty will be to the Rensselaer County Republican Party or the taxpayers of Poestenkill?
And that question brings us to this purely hypothetical situation, to wit:
Q: A PE candidate for public office in a municipal corporation pursuant to Town Law 2 is elected and begins engaging in corrupt acts in apparent violation of Part 29.1.b.5 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, "conduct in the practice of a profession which evidences moral unfitness to practice the profession."
The public official pleads not guilty on the grounds that being held to the standards of a PE while a politician would make one unviable as a candidate in a corrupt political world.
Is that a viable excuse?
Now, let's consider that as a purely theoretical situation, lest someone actually think I was referring directly to Frank Burzesi, but the answer nonetheless serves to give us an idea of the great difference in the freedom to be stupid and irresponsible that exists between Michelle, Eric and David on the one hand, and Frank, on the other, to wit:
A: The defense that holding a Professional Engineer (PE) to ethical standards while acting as a politician makes them an unviable candidate is not a viable legal excuse in New York State.
And, people, that answer applies directly to Frank Burzesi with his PE license, and for as PE like Frank to engage in corrupt acts while holding a public office, even if framed as necessary for political survival such as going along with Laberge on Water District No. 2, directly violates professional licensing requirements and criminal laws.
As to why that defense would fail if Frank were foolish enough to try to defend himself with it here in Poestenkill, under Part 29.1.b.5 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, which applies directly to Frank, a licensee is guilty of professional misconduct for "conduct in the practice of a profession which evidences moral unfitness to practice the profession".
And heaven help us, people, if we have a bunch of PE's running around and especially in public office with the morals of a politician, and especially, a Rensselaer County Republican politician.
Getting back to Frank as a politician, for the record, PEs in New York like Frank are licensed under Title VIII of the Education Law, which requires adherence to high ethical standards, ethical standards much higher than those of an ordinary politician who has none, because none are required of him or her.
As to corrupt acts such as fraud, or official misconduct, they often involve a lack of integrity, which directly translates to "moral unfitness" to hold a professional license.
And the "need to be corrupt to win" argument does not remove the licensee's duty to comply with the rules of their profession.
And beyond that, although you would never guess it from observations of how what is called government functions here in Poestenkill, public officials such as a town official under Town Law 2 are bound by the Public Officers Law, which includes codes of ethics requiring them to avoid even the appearance of impropriety and to uphold the integrity of government.
And then, of course, we have Official Misconduct, Penal Law § 195.00, and a public servant is guilty of this class A misdemeanor if they commit an unauthorized act with intent to obtain a benefit, or knowingly refrain from performing a duty.
And what about the "Political Reality" defense where a PE would claim that if he or she ran for office based on the high ethical standards required of a PE, in Rensselaer County, at least, they would never get elected?
And people, in response, the Courts in New York and other jurisdictions consistently reject arguments that a crime was necessary to achieve a legitimate goal, or that the political environment forced a person to break the law.
And in fact, although we would never know it here in Poestenkill, the law specifically mandates that public servants maintain high ethical standards despite political pressures.
The defense that "everyone does it" or "it's necessary to win" is not a recognized defense for illegal activities such as bribery, fraud, etc.
So in summary, the obligation to act ethically as a PE is separate from, and in addition to, the duty to act honestly as a public official.
The pressure of political life does not absolve a licensed professional from their professional ethical obligations.
Does Frank Burzesi understand that?
From his role in covering up the flaws in the bogus engineering report Laberge submitted to the town to get Water District No. 2 approved, this PE frankly doubts it.
But stay tuned for more is yet to come!
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 2nd 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - GARBAGE IN EQUALS GARBAGE OUT WITH RESPECT TO FLAWED ENGINEERING REPORTS AS THE INPUT AND FAULTY ECONOMIC ESTIMATES AS THE OUPUT - AND THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 PEOPLE WHO VOTED TO APPROVE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 BASED ON THE FLAWED LABERGE ENGINEERING REPORT HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT!"
That the so-called Laberge "engineering report" that Poestenkill relied on to determine a budget for Water District No. 2 was a flawed piece of garbage in professional engineering terms right from the get-go is not in doubt, especially since Laberge himself could not and did not even attempt to defend the error-riddled piece of garbage, nor could he have if he tried.
And thanks to the efforts of Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi to keep the flaws under the rug, with some help from Dominic Jacangelo and Greg Pattenaude, Laberge never did have to justify that piece of garbage engineering report.
Who did make the effort to defend the error-riddled piece of garbage that Laberge himself could not defend was Poestenkill councilman Frank Burzesi, himself a PE, and he did that by not allowing Laberge to be questioned or cross-examined concerning the contents of the engineering report to expose the flaws contained therein, and the lack of engineering also contained therein.
And that is how we have arrived at our first of many-to-come cost overruns in connection with Water District No. 2, thanks to Tom and Frank and Dom and Greg and their cover-up.
And now all the people in Algonquin Estates who swallowed all the lies about Water District No. 2 hook, line and sinker are finding out the hard way that in their greed to get their hands on that money, they totally failed to take into consideration the undeniable fact that there is no way a flawed engineering report could possibly produce an accurate budget, and now they want those of us who saw through the scam from the beginning to have to pony up extra money so Greg Pattenaude can have his cherished and hoped for fire hydrant outside his home to reduce his fire insurance, because to him, it is right thing for us to have to do.
And that takes us to this pertinent question with regard to Frank Burzesi as a PE and Laberge also as a PE, to wit:
Q: While not officers of the court per se, do licensed professional engineers in New York state have a similar duty to maintain the integrity of the judicial process, act with candor, and show respect for the tribunal by not knowingly making false statements of fact to the court or offering evidence known to be false so as to not undermine the administration of justice?
end quote
And let me make it crystal clear that this is directed directly at Frank Burzesi, who the best he can do for Poestenkill now is to resign.
As to that answer, which applies to Frank and Laberge it is yes, licensed professional engineers (PEs) in New York have a strong ethical duty to maintain the integrity of the judicial process, acting with candor and avoiding false statements, similar to officers of the court.
So what will Frank and Laberge do in the event that they are called upon in court to defend this scam in a setting where they would have to act with candor and avoid false statements, similar to officers of the court?
What version of the truth will they tell the judge?
Now, while not legal officers, PEs are bound by high professional standards, although from our recent experience with Frank Burzesi and Laberge, one would never guess that in a million years!
As to the ethical obligations of professional engineers, and this applies directly to Frank Burzesi and Laberge in connection with all we have and haven't been told about Water District No. 2, engineers like Frank and Laberge are required to issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
And they didn't!
They must avoid deceptive acts and act as faithful agents.
And again, Frank and Laberge didn't!
As to integrity in proceedings, if we go by the book I practice from, which is not the same book Frank uses, PEs like Frank and Laberge must uphold the dignity and honor of the profession, which includes acting with honesty and impartiality, especially when acting as an expert witness or providing technical testimony.
And what a joke of that these two made during the Water District No. 2 hearings, which were a farce.
Public welfare, people, is supposed to be paramount.
The primary duty of a PE is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, which is undermined by submitting false evidence or knowingly misleading a tribunal.
Therefore, a professional engineer knowingly presenting false technical evidence in a NY court would be violating their professional code of ethics and subject to professional discipline.
Which brings us to this corollary question for Frank and Phil, to wit:
Q: Is it a viable defense for a PE accused of negligence and unprofessional practice by another PE that he was acting in conformance with strict instructions from his attorney?
end quote
And that answer is in the negative, as it should be - acting in conformance with strict instructions from an attorney is generally not a viable, absolute defense for a Professional Engineer (PE) accused of negligence or unprofessional practice by another PE.
While it may be used to demonstrate a lack of intent (i.e., that the act was not a deliberate, malicious violation), it does not absolve a licensed professional of their duty to adhere to engineering standards of care, public safety, and ethical codes.
In New York, a PE like Frank or Laberge has an independent duty to the public and the profession to maintain professional standards and act in a professional manner, and a lawyer’s advice does not override technical engineering standards.
As a PE, the engineer takes personal responsibility for their work by signing and sealing plans, drawings, or specifications, and an attorney's instruction cannot substitute for an engineer's technical judgment.
As to negligence, it is defined as failing to follow the standard of care expected in the professional community, so that if a PE were to follow a lawyer's advice, and that advice caused them to deviate from that standard of care (resulting in a safety issue or project damage), the PE is still liable for negligence, and if and when the action constitutes unprofessional practice (e.g., fraudulent behavior, ethical violation), blaming an attorney does not remove the breach of the code of conduct.
And for the moment, there we shall rest.
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 2nd 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - GARBAGE IN EQUALS GARBAGE OUT WITH RESPECT TO FLAWED ENGINEERING REPORTS AS THE INPUT AND FAULTY ECONOMIC ESTIMATES AS THE OUPUT - AND THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 PEOPLE WHO VOTED TO APPROVE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 BASED ON THE FLAWED LABERGE ENGINEERING REPORT HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT!"
That the so-called Laberge "engineering report" that Poestenkill relied on to determine a budget for Water District No. 2 was a flawed piece of garbage in professional engineering terms right from the get-go is not in doubt, especially since Laberge himself could not and did not even attempt to defend the error-riddled piece of garbage, nor could he have if he tried.
And thanks to the efforts of Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi to keep the flaws under the rug, with some help from Dominic Jacangelo and Greg Pattenaude, Laberge never did have to justify that piece of garbage engineering report.
Who did make the effort to defend the error-riddled piece of garbage that Laberge himself could not defend was Poestenkill councilman Frank Burzesi, himself a PE, and he did that by not allowing Laberge to be questioned or cross-examined concerning the contents of the engineering report to expose the flaws contained therein, and the lack of engineering also contained therein.
And that is how we have arrived at our first of many-to-come cost overruns in connection with Water District No. 2, thanks to Tom and Frank and Dom and Greg and their cover-up.
And now all the people in Algonquin Estates who swallowed all the lies about Water District No. 2 hook, line and sinker are finding out the hard way that in their greed to get their hands on that money, they totally failed to take into consideration the undeniable fact that there is no way a flawed engineering report could possibly produce an accurate budget, and now they want those of us who saw through the scam from the beginning to have to pony up extra money so Greg Pattenaude can have his cherished and hoped for fire hydrant outside his home to reduce his fire insurance, because to him, it is right thing for us to have to do.
And that takes us to this pertinent question with regard to Frank Burzesi as a PE and Laberge also as a PE, to wit:
Q: While not officers of the court per se, do licensed professional engineers in New York state have a similar duty to maintain the integrity of the judicial process, act with candor, and show respect for the tribunal by not knowingly making false statements of fact to the court or offering evidence known to be false so as to not undermine the administration of justice?
end quote
And let me make it crystal clear that this is directed directly at Frank Burzesi, who the best he can do for Poestenkill now is to resign.
As to that answer, which applies to Frank and Laberge it is yes, licensed professional engineers (PEs) in New York have a strong ethical duty to maintain the integrity of the judicial process, acting with candor and avoiding false statements, similar to officers of the court.
So what will Frank and Laberge do in the event that they are called upon in court to defend this scam in a setting where they would have to act with candor and avoid false statements, similar to officers of the court?
What version of the truth will they tell the judge?
Now, while not legal officers, PEs are bound by high professional standards, although from our recent experience with Frank Burzesi and Laberge, one would never guess that in a million years!
As to the ethical obligations of professional engineers, and this applies directly to Frank Burzesi and Laberge in connection with all we have and haven't been told about Water District No. 2, engineers like Frank and Laberge are required to issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
And they didn't!
They must avoid deceptive acts and act as faithful agents.
And again, Frank and Laberge didn't!
As to integrity in proceedings, if we go by the book I practice from, which is not the same book Frank uses, PEs like Frank and Laberge must uphold the dignity and honor of the profession, which includes acting with honesty and impartiality, especially when acting as an expert witness or providing technical testimony.
And what a joke of that these two made during the Water District No. 2 hearings, which were a farce.
Public welfare, people, is supposed to be paramount.
The primary duty of a PE is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, which is undermined by submitting false evidence or knowingly misleading a tribunal.
Therefore, a professional engineer knowingly presenting false technical evidence in a NY court would be violating their professional code of ethics and subject to professional discipline.
Which brings us to this corollary question for Frank and Phil, to wit:
Q: Is it a viable defense for a PE accused of negligence and unprofessional practice by another PE that he was acting in conformance with strict instructions from his attorney?
end quote
And that answer is in the negative, as it should be - acting in conformance with strict instructions from an attorney is generally not a viable, absolute defense for a Professional Engineer (PE) accused of negligence or unprofessional practice by another PE.
While it may be used to demonstrate a lack of intent (i.e., that the act was not a deliberate, malicious violation), it does not absolve a licensed professional of their duty to adhere to engineering standards of care, public safety, and ethical codes.
In New York, a PE like Frank or Laberge has an independent duty to the public and the profession to maintain professional standards and act in a professional manner, and a lawyer’s advice does not override technical engineering standards.
As a PE, the engineer takes personal responsibility for their work by signing and sealing plans, drawings, or specifications, and an attorney's instruction cannot substitute for an engineer's technical judgment.
As to negligence, it is defined as failing to follow the standard of care expected in the professional community, so that if a PE were to follow a lawyer's advice, and that advice caused them to deviate from that standard of care (resulting in a safety issue or project damage), the PE is still liable for negligence, and if and when the action constitutes unprofessional practice (e.g., fraudulent behavior, ethical violation), blaming an attorney does not remove the breach of the code of conduct.
And for the moment, there we shall rest.
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 3rd 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - MICHELLE'S FIRST SERIOUS CRISIS IS PHIL DANAHER'S, AS WELL - THAT THE FLAWED ENGINEERING REPORT FROM LABERGE COULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED ANYTHING BUT A FAULTY ECONOMIC ESTIMATE PRESENTS OUR PHIL AS AN OFFICER OF THE COURT WITH AN ETHICAL QUANDARY AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY!"
Yes, people, tedious and tiresome ethical quandaries are all we seem to get from what calls itself Poestenkill town government, and that takes us back to Republican Michelle Garafolo's inaugural performance as Poestenkill supervisor on 8 January 2026 (cue, Youtube, Poestenkill Town Board meeting, 1-8-2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d23g4jURUy4 @ 42:56) where with respect to Water District No.2, Michelle informed us as follows, while Phil was sitting there listening to her, to wit:
MICHELLE: So we have a bond counsel and a, we have discovered that for whatever reason, here nor there, we did not listen to our bond counsel and our advisors as to how to move forward with this project and we only bonded the $272,000 of the project, um, based on some of those numbers we were given.
Well, because of the fluctuations and adjustments, uh, that are out of our control that are based on federal and state regulations.
Um, basically, Laberge just came back saying you're going to be short - you're going to have a gap of $284,000.
end quotes
Now, Point 1, any and all numbers Poestenkill was given in connection with Water District No. 2 came from no other source than Laberge, which takes us all the way back to 12/23/21 and a PFOA UPDATE by Bob Brunet, the Poestenkill Water Manager/Public Health Coordinator, wherein was stated as follows:
At the December 16th Town Board meeting the Board approved engaging the LaBerge Group to work on expanding our Water District and likely establishing a second Water District #2.
We believe that we can obtain very significant grant monies to help accomplish this.
end quotes
So there is how long Poestenkill has been dealing with Laberge on this issue of the money, which raises the question of how it could have all gone so wrong as to bring us to where we are right now, which is as follows:
SITUATION: to get a water district approved, the supervisor of a municipal corporation pursuant to Town Law 2 colludes with the engineer to present a false low budget to the taxpayers who then approve the district.
Subsequent thereto, a new supervisor is elected and takes office to find that the budget approved for the water district is inadequate to pay for the infrastructure and the engineer is demanding more money.
Along with a new supervisor, there is a new town attorney who is an officer of the court.
What duties does this scenario impose on the town attorney?
end quotes
Doing some research on this issue for our Phil, we find as follows, and at any time, Phil is welcome to step up to the podium in town hall to give us his version of what he thinks his duties are in this situation as an officer of the court, given he is one, and so should have a clue as to what it is he is supposed to do now that the Laberge Water District No. 2 chickens have come home to roost, to wit:
In this scenario, the new town attorney, as an officer of the court and legal counsel to the municipality, has an ethical duty to investigate the potential fraud and report it to the new supervisor.
They must halt the fraudulent project, advise on rescinding approval, report professional misconduct to the state, and potentially disclose the fraud to authorities to protect the town.
end quotes
Protect the town as opposed to protecting Laberge?
That, people, is what the Office of the New York State Comptroller says, but hey, this is Poestenkill, and the Office of the New York State Comptroller ain't doodley-squat over on this side of the river, so there is a very good chance that guidance will simply be ignored here in lawless Poestenkill, which takes us back to Phil's duties, and here, people, we as town inhabitants have to face the fact that Phil can completely ignore these duties and there is absolutely nothing we can do about, something Phil knows as well as I do, to wit:
The attorney must immediately investigate the allegations of collusion between the former supervisor and engineer, and the attorney must advise the new town board that contracts obtained through fraud are likely voidable, potentially sparing taxpayers from the inflated costs.
end quote
Has that happened?
Will that happen?
Given it doesn't appear to have happened to date, and given its obvious Michelle is conducting yet another whitewash here to protect Laberge, it does not seem likely that it will, given that Phil Danaher does not answer to the taxpayers of this town.
As to so-called ethical reporting rules, as an attorney, they have an obligation to address, and in certain circumstances report, the misconduct of the previous official and the engineer, and the attorney must take steps to stop the town from paying the engineer's demands for more money, potentially protecting town funds.
And as an officer of the court, the attorney cannot assist in concealing the fraud and must prioritize the legal interests of the town over the reputation of the former administration.
Except Phil really does not have to do any of that, nor can we make him do any of that, such is the power balance here, where Phil has it all and we have none.
So which way will our Phil go?
Protect Poestenkill?
Or protect Tom Russell and Laberge?
Stay tuned.
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 3rd 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - MICHELLE'S FIRST SERIOUS CRISIS IS PHIL DANAHER'S, AS WELL - THAT THE FLAWED ENGINEERING REPORT FROM LABERGE COULD NOT HAVE PRODUCED ANYTHING BUT A FAULTY ECONOMIC ESTIMATE PRESENTS OUR PHIL AS AN OFFICER OF THE COURT WITH AN ETHICAL QUANDARY AS OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY!"
Yes, people, tedious and tiresome ethical quandaries are all we seem to get from what calls itself Poestenkill town government, and that takes us back to Republican Michelle Garafolo's inaugural performance as Poestenkill supervisor on 8 January 2026 (cue, Youtube, Poestenkill Town Board meeting, 1-8-2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d23g4jURUy4 @ 42:56) where with respect to Water District No.2, Michelle informed us as follows, while Phil was sitting there listening to her, to wit:
MICHELLE: So we have a bond counsel and a, we have discovered that for whatever reason, here nor there, we did not listen to our bond counsel and our advisors as to how to move forward with this project and we only bonded the $272,000 of the project, um, based on some of those numbers we were given.
Well, because of the fluctuations and adjustments, uh, that are out of our control that are based on federal and state regulations.
Um, basically, Laberge just came back saying you're going to be short - you're going to have a gap of $284,000.
end quotes
Now, Point 1, any and all numbers Poestenkill was given in connection with Water District No. 2 came from no other source than Laberge, which takes us all the way back to 12/23/21 and a PFOA UPDATE by Bob Brunet, the Poestenkill Water Manager/Public Health Coordinator, wherein was stated as follows:
At the December 16th Town Board meeting the Board approved engaging the LaBerge Group to work on expanding our Water District and likely establishing a second Water District #2.
We believe that we can obtain very significant grant monies to help accomplish this.
end quotes
So there is how long Poestenkill has been dealing with Laberge on this issue of the money, which raises the question of how it could have all gone so wrong as to bring us to where we are right now, which is as follows:
SITUATION: to get a water district approved, the supervisor of a municipal corporation pursuant to Town Law 2 colludes with the engineer to present a false low budget to the taxpayers who then approve the district.
Subsequent thereto, a new supervisor is elected and takes office to find that the budget approved for the water district is inadequate to pay for the infrastructure and the engineer is demanding more money.
Along with a new supervisor, there is a new town attorney who is an officer of the court.
What duties does this scenario impose on the town attorney?
end quotes
Doing some research on this issue for our Phil, we find as follows, and at any time, Phil is welcome to step up to the podium in town hall to give us his version of what he thinks his duties are in this situation as an officer of the court, given he is one, and so should have a clue as to what it is he is supposed to do now that the Laberge Water District No. 2 chickens have come home to roost, to wit:
In this scenario, the new town attorney, as an officer of the court and legal counsel to the municipality, has an ethical duty to investigate the potential fraud and report it to the new supervisor.
They must halt the fraudulent project, advise on rescinding approval, report professional misconduct to the state, and potentially disclose the fraud to authorities to protect the town.
end quotes
Protect the town as opposed to protecting Laberge?
That, people, is what the Office of the New York State Comptroller says, but hey, this is Poestenkill, and the Office of the New York State Comptroller ain't doodley-squat over on this side of the river, so there is a very good chance that guidance will simply be ignored here in lawless Poestenkill, which takes us back to Phil's duties, and here, people, we as town inhabitants have to face the fact that Phil can completely ignore these duties and there is absolutely nothing we can do about, something Phil knows as well as I do, to wit:
The attorney must immediately investigate the allegations of collusion between the former supervisor and engineer, and the attorney must advise the new town board that contracts obtained through fraud are likely voidable, potentially sparing taxpayers from the inflated costs.
end quote
Has that happened?
Will that happen?
Given it doesn't appear to have happened to date, and given its obvious Michelle is conducting yet another whitewash here to protect Laberge, it does not seem likely that it will, given that Phil Danaher does not answer to the taxpayers of this town.
As to so-called ethical reporting rules, as an attorney, they have an obligation to address, and in certain circumstances report, the misconduct of the previous official and the engineer, and the attorney must take steps to stop the town from paying the engineer's demands for more money, potentially protecting town funds.
And as an officer of the court, the attorney cannot assist in concealing the fraud and must prioritize the legal interests of the town over the reputation of the former administration.
Except Phil really does not have to do any of that, nor can we make him do any of that, such is the power balance here, where Phil has it all and we have none.
So which way will our Phil go?
Protect Poestenkill?
Or protect Tom Russell and Laberge?
Stay tuned.
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 6th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - SHEER MADNESS ENGULFS POESTENKILL AS THE UNCHECKED SPREAD OF OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY - HOOKING WATER DISTRICT NO.2 TO THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED WATER DISTRICT NO.1 IS SOMETHING ONLY A CERTIFIED MORON COULD HAVE COME UP WITH, AND MY GOODNESS, PEOPLE, WELCOME TO POESTENKILL!"
As to the serious questions confronting us at this present moment here in Poestenkill with respect to Water District No. 2, they stem from this following real-life incident that occurred here in Poestenkill in 2025, right before all of our eyes, although many chose not to see, many chose not to believe and a few made an effort to keep those others confused and silent, a tactic which worked quite well for Tom Russell and Laberge, to wit:
To get a water district approved in referendum in a municipal corporation pursuant to town law 2, the town supervisor colludes with an outside engineer to present the tax payers with a fraudulent budget in a series of power point slides.
An inhabitant of the municipal corporation who is a PE informs the supervisor, who is not a PE, that the engineering is seriously flawed and cannot support the budget, which will result in cost overruns.
The supervisor rejects the PE's findings out of hand on the grounds that the supervisor does not believe the report is flawed in his judgment.
end quotes
The question then is were any laws violated, and people, for there to be legal action to contest this fraud being played on those of us stuck in Water District No. 2 as unwilling cash cows for Laberge, we have to know the answers to these questions cold to prevail, which is why the Gazette is proceeding in this step-wise manner, carefully evaluating the authority, jurisdiction, discretion and duties and responsibilities of all the players to include Phil and Michelle and Frank and Tom, and for that answer, we have the following to consider, to wit:
Obviously, at first glance, and Phil, please feel free to jump in here at any time to give us your lawyerly take on the subject as Michelle's lawyer, multiple New York State laws and ethical codes would appear to have been violated, as the actions described involve the knowing presentation of a fraudulent budget to influence a referendum, and would likely constitute both criminal and civil liability, which as Phil would tell us, are ripe questions for a Declaratory Judgment action and not an Article 78.
For example regarding the supervisor and engineer, we are looking at NY Penal Law §175.35 & §175.30, Offering a False Instrument for Filing, as in presenting a fraudulent budget and flawed engineering documents which become part of the public record for a referendum to a public office with the intent to defraud, and there we are looking at a Class E felony (first degree) or a Class A misdemeanor (second degree).
And until we have a quorum of Poestenkill town officials holding session inside the Rensselaer County Jail, this infantile political crap will never end.
Then we are looking at NY Penal Law §175.35 & §175.30, Official Misconduct where a public servant is guilty of official misconduct when, with intent to obtain a benefit, they commit an act relating to their office knowing it is unauthorized.
And then we have collusion between the supervisor and the engineer to knowingly submit fraudulent information which can lead to conspiracy charges, and if the fraudulent budget is intended to facilitate the misappropriation of public funds or if the engineer is paid through fraudulent means, this may violate NY Penal Law Article 155.
So a lot of research is going on in those areas.
And then we have civil violations in the context of the New York False Claims Act, State Finance Law §187-194, where the supervisor and engineer could be liable for civil penalties and treble damages (three times the amount of loss to taxpayers) for knowingly submitting false claims or causing false claims to be paid.
And how about deliberate ignorance on the part of the supervisor?
For the record, rejecting the PE's warning "out of hand" does not protect the supervisor, as the False Claims Act defines "knowingly" to include "deliberate ignorance" or "reckless disregard" of the truth.
And then there is professional misconduct which would apply if the engineer has violated ethical duties to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
And Municipal Law violations, people, as pursuant to Town Law §209-e & §209-q, the procedure for establishing a water district requires a valid public interest determination so that a referendum based on fraudulent financial information is invalid, and that is according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
As to a summary of further legal action, the resident who is a PE has done the correct first step by formally notifying the supervisor, and given the rejection, the next steps typically involve notifying the New York State Comptroller's Office (Division of Local Government and School Accountability), the District Attorney, or the New York State Attorney General's Public Integrity Bureau.
And then there is the further question of has the supervisor violated the education law?
And based on New York State Education Law, the town supervisor may have violated statutes regarding the unauthorized practice of engineering by actively engaging in producing or approving the technical engineering plans, regardless of their position as supervisor.
For the record pursuant to Education Law § 6512), it is a Class E felony for any person not authorized to practice professional engineering to "practice or offer to practice or hold themselves out as being able to practice" engineering in New York.
As to engineering requirements pursuant to Town Law § 209-q. water improvements and municipal projects require comprehensive engineering maps, plans, and reports (MPR) which are generally prepared by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
As to the supervisor's liability, if the supervisor and outside "engineer" presented a fraudulent budget based on "seriously flawed" engineering that they knew or should have known was incompetent, that would constitute a severe violation of public trust and in fact has.
As to ignoring technical advice, by disregarding the findings of a qualified PE inhabitant and relying on engineering the supervisor "judges" to be acceptable, the supervisor may be deemed to have knowingly acted to facilitate a fraudulent project.
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 6th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - SHEER MADNESS ENGULFS POESTENKILL AS THE UNCHECKED SPREAD OF OBSCENE IMBECILITY PROVES ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY - HOOKING WATER DISTRICT NO.2 TO THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED WATER DISTRICT NO.1 IS SOMETHING ONLY A CERTIFIED MORON COULD HAVE COME UP WITH, AND MY GOODNESS, PEOPLE, WELCOME TO POESTENKILL!"
As to the serious questions confronting us at this present moment here in Poestenkill with respect to Water District No. 2, they stem from this following real-life incident that occurred here in Poestenkill in 2025, right before all of our eyes, although many chose not to see, many chose not to believe and a few made an effort to keep those others confused and silent, a tactic which worked quite well for Tom Russell and Laberge, to wit:
To get a water district approved in referendum in a municipal corporation pursuant to town law 2, the town supervisor colludes with an outside engineer to present the tax payers with a fraudulent budget in a series of power point slides.
An inhabitant of the municipal corporation who is a PE informs the supervisor, who is not a PE, that the engineering is seriously flawed and cannot support the budget, which will result in cost overruns.
The supervisor rejects the PE's findings out of hand on the grounds that the supervisor does not believe the report is flawed in his judgment.
end quotes
The question then is were any laws violated, and people, for there to be legal action to contest this fraud being played on those of us stuck in Water District No. 2 as unwilling cash cows for Laberge, we have to know the answers to these questions cold to prevail, which is why the Gazette is proceeding in this step-wise manner, carefully evaluating the authority, jurisdiction, discretion and duties and responsibilities of all the players to include Phil and Michelle and Frank and Tom, and for that answer, we have the following to consider, to wit:
Obviously, at first glance, and Phil, please feel free to jump in here at any time to give us your lawyerly take on the subject as Michelle's lawyer, multiple New York State laws and ethical codes would appear to have been violated, as the actions described involve the knowing presentation of a fraudulent budget to influence a referendum, and would likely constitute both criminal and civil liability, which as Phil would tell us, are ripe questions for a Declaratory Judgment action and not an Article 78.
For example regarding the supervisor and engineer, we are looking at NY Penal Law §175.35 & §175.30, Offering a False Instrument for Filing, as in presenting a fraudulent budget and flawed engineering documents which become part of the public record for a referendum to a public office with the intent to defraud, and there we are looking at a Class E felony (first degree) or a Class A misdemeanor (second degree).
And until we have a quorum of Poestenkill town officials holding session inside the Rensselaer County Jail, this infantile political crap will never end.
Then we are looking at NY Penal Law §175.35 & §175.30, Official Misconduct where a public servant is guilty of official misconduct when, with intent to obtain a benefit, they commit an act relating to their office knowing it is unauthorized.
And then we have collusion between the supervisor and the engineer to knowingly submit fraudulent information which can lead to conspiracy charges, and if the fraudulent budget is intended to facilitate the misappropriation of public funds or if the engineer is paid through fraudulent means, this may violate NY Penal Law Article 155.
So a lot of research is going on in those areas.
And then we have civil violations in the context of the New York False Claims Act, State Finance Law §187-194, where the supervisor and engineer could be liable for civil penalties and treble damages (three times the amount of loss to taxpayers) for knowingly submitting false claims or causing false claims to be paid.
And how about deliberate ignorance on the part of the supervisor?
For the record, rejecting the PE's warning "out of hand" does not protect the supervisor, as the False Claims Act defines "knowingly" to include "deliberate ignorance" or "reckless disregard" of the truth.
And then there is professional misconduct which would apply if the engineer has violated ethical duties to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
And Municipal Law violations, people, as pursuant to Town Law §209-e & §209-q, the procedure for establishing a water district requires a valid public interest determination so that a referendum based on fraudulent financial information is invalid, and that is according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
As to a summary of further legal action, the resident who is a PE has done the correct first step by formally notifying the supervisor, and given the rejection, the next steps typically involve notifying the New York State Comptroller's Office (Division of Local Government and School Accountability), the District Attorney, or the New York State Attorney General's Public Integrity Bureau.
And then there is the further question of has the supervisor violated the education law?
And based on New York State Education Law, the town supervisor may have violated statutes regarding the unauthorized practice of engineering by actively engaging in producing or approving the technical engineering plans, regardless of their position as supervisor.
For the record pursuant to Education Law § 6512), it is a Class E felony for any person not authorized to practice professional engineering to "practice or offer to practice or hold themselves out as being able to practice" engineering in New York.
As to engineering requirements pursuant to Town Law § 209-q. water improvements and municipal projects require comprehensive engineering maps, plans, and reports (MPR) which are generally prepared by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
As to the supervisor's liability, if the supervisor and outside "engineer" presented a fraudulent budget based on "seriously flawed" engineering that they knew or should have known was incompetent, that would constitute a severe violation of public trust and in fact has.
As to ignoring technical advice, by disregarding the findings of a qualified PE inhabitant and relying on engineering the supervisor "judges" to be acceptable, the supervisor may be deemed to have knowingly acted to facilitate a fraudulent project.
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 7th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - ON POESTENKILL'S SERIOUS PROBLEM OF A PLAGUE OF LAWYERS AS OUTRIGHT LUNACY RUNS RAMPANT AND SHEER MADNESS ENGULFS POESTENKILL AS A RESULT OF THE UNCHECKED SPREAD OF OBSCENE IMBECILITY WHICH IS PROVING ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY - AND AGAIN, HOOKING WATER DISTRICT NO.2 TO THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED WATER DISTRICT NO.1 IS SOMETHING ONLY A CERTIFIED MORON OR LUNATIC COULD HAVE COME UP WITH, AND MY GOODNESS, PEOPLE, WELCOME TO POESTENKILL!"
As we consider the fact that in addition to all the other tax dollars the town board wastes or squanders, such as on all the water leaking out of the colander or sieve known as Water District No. 1, we are presently wasting precious tax dollars that could go to an otherwise productive use paying for three fancy-grade, high powered Albany lawyers (fancy-grade Albany lawyers are said to far outstrip an ordinary Rensselaer County lawyer in intellectual horsepower which is why Poestenkill crossed the river) to provide legal protection for two more lawyers with their hands in the public till in Poestenkill, they being Larry Howard and the dearly departed Ian Silverman who got the boot from Michelle who wanted her own lawyer in there, let us start out by considering this timely question as lawyers descend on Poestenkill like a plague of locusts, to wit:
Q: Is it both logical and rational to think that in a municipal corporation pursuant to Town Law 2 with an officer of the court as its town attorney that one would expect to find no government corruption?
end quotes
The answer is that based on New York state legal frameworks and historical oversight data, it is generally considered logical to expect a municipal corporation — as a legal entity — to have structures in place to prevent corruption.
However, it is not considered rational to conclude that such structures guarantee a complete absence of government corruption.
And as we are seeing here in Poestenkill with Ian Silverman and Larry Howard, both of them officers of the court, that statement that it is not considered rational to conclude that such structures guarantee a complete absence of government corruption, especially here in Poestenkill, is dead on the money, as we see from an October 3 2002 decision of Rensselaer County Supreme Court Justice James B. Canfield in the Matter of Paul R. Plante v. Planning Board of the Town of Poestenkill, Rensselaer County Index No. 204938, where Rensselaer County Supreme Court Justice James B. Canfield, a former Rensselaer County district attorney, stated that "Poestenkill's extremely casual approach to determining environmental impact also bears notice," and "(T)he administrative record here reflects Poestenkill's complicity with Showers and Valente in using the proposed subdivision as a means of avoiding SEQRA review by reducing the impact of the immediate proposal without inquiring into the possibility of further development at a later date," and "(R)egardless of Showers and Valente's misinformation, Poestenkill's determination of no environmental impact would have to be rejected based on Poestenkill's failure to even give the appearance of complying with SEQRA."
The lawyer in that case who was responsible for that burst of corruption was none other than Patrick Tomaselli, the patron saint lawyer of Poestenkill with his shrine on Poestenkill's Walk of Heros on the way into town hall, who rightfully holds the title of "Honored Father of Corruption" here in Poestenkill where it is considered a high public honor.
Going back to the collapsed structure of NY municipal law here in Poestenkill, we first come to the legal and structural safeguards, or the "logical" framework, which has been systematically dismantled here in Poestenkill to the point of where if you just moved here, you would never know it ever existed, where we have Town Law § 2 defining a town as a municipal corporation, which is a legal entity subject to state oversight and established with a formal governance structure.
With respect to the town attorney, keeping in mind that Patrick Tomaselli was exactly that, as an officer of the court and the principal legal advisor, the town attorney has an ethical obligation to ensure town actions are legal and to advise against illegal activity.
So why then is Ian Silverman a defendant in a lawsuit?
And that answer is because instead of advising against illegal activity, Ian was a proponent of the illegal activity along with Frank Burzesi, a New York state licensed professional engineer, and Larry Howard, another lawyer.
So there is an illusionary safeguard, people, relying on lawyers to advise against illegal activity here in Poestenkill, where we were informed by another lawyer in the swarm who have gone through here feeding off the Poestenkill taxpayers like rats in a farmer's corncrib, that one being Lois Phillips, a planning board attorney, of the reason that in her own words, "lawyers are called rented pencils" and that is because what you need them to say, when you are paying the freight, is what you will have said, and it makes absolutely no difference to them which side of the law that puts them on, because who can do anything about it?
And that was in an open planning board meeting here in Poestenkill with Joe Ryan as chairman on the transfer station issue where Lois deemed an incomplete application complete.
Which brings us to practical realities, or the "rational" perspective on the prevalence of corruption in New York where despite legal structures, local governments in New York, including small towns like Poestenkill, are susceptible to corruption scandals, particularly regarding zoning, building, and contracts.
As to supposed checks and balances, which are a pipe dream, Article 18 has been described as "disgracefully inadequate" by state commissions, with "huge gaps" in regulation, meaning that conforming to state law does not automatically prevent corrupt behavior, and people, that is by intent because corruption in this state has been in place since the 1800's, and because he tried to clean it up as governor, Teddy Roosevelt got kicked up to vice president to get him out of here, so powerful are the champions of corruption.
And as to the role of town attorneys, which are political positions, while the town attorney is an officer of the court, they are often retained or appointed by the very Town Board members they advise, in this case Michelle Garafolo, and of course, as we have seen far too often in this town, that is what creates potential conflicts of interest or pressure to align with the board's interests.
And people, the existence of New York Penal Law Article 496, Corrupting the Government, implies that such activity is a recognized risk, not an impossibility, and that is from the Office of the New York State Comptroller which knows whereof it speaks.
So, bottom line, while it might be reasonable on the surface to expect that a town with a town attorney will be a more orderly municipal corporation, actually expecting zero corruption, and Poestenkill is a poster child for this, is not supported by the practical experience of municipal oversight in New York, which system is designed to provide mechanisms for identifying, managing, and prosecuting corruption, rather than guaranteeing its absence.
And there for the moment we shall rest.
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 7th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 FIASCO, CONTINUED - ON POESTENKILL'S SERIOUS PROBLEM OF A PLAGUE OF LAWYERS AS OUTRIGHT LUNACY RUNS RAMPANT AND SHEER MADNESS ENGULFS POESTENKILL AS A RESULT OF THE UNCHECKED SPREAD OF OBSCENE IMBECILITY WHICH IS PROVING ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY - AND AGAIN, HOOKING WATER DISTRICT NO.2 TO THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED WATER DISTRICT NO.1 IS SOMETHING ONLY A CERTIFIED MORON OR LUNATIC COULD HAVE COME UP WITH, AND MY GOODNESS, PEOPLE, WELCOME TO POESTENKILL!"
As we consider the fact that in addition to all the other tax dollars the town board wastes or squanders, such as on all the water leaking out of the colander or sieve known as Water District No. 1, we are presently wasting precious tax dollars that could go to an otherwise productive use paying for three fancy-grade, high powered Albany lawyers (fancy-grade Albany lawyers are said to far outstrip an ordinary Rensselaer County lawyer in intellectual horsepower which is why Poestenkill crossed the river) to provide legal protection for two more lawyers with their hands in the public till in Poestenkill, they being Larry Howard and the dearly departed Ian Silverman who got the boot from Michelle who wanted her own lawyer in there, let us start out by considering this timely question as lawyers descend on Poestenkill like a plague of locusts, to wit:
Q: Is it both logical and rational to think that in a municipal corporation pursuant to Town Law 2 with an officer of the court as its town attorney that one would expect to find no government corruption?
end quotes
The answer is that based on New York state legal frameworks and historical oversight data, it is generally considered logical to expect a municipal corporation — as a legal entity — to have structures in place to prevent corruption.
However, it is not considered rational to conclude that such structures guarantee a complete absence of government corruption.
And as we are seeing here in Poestenkill with Ian Silverman and Larry Howard, both of them officers of the court, that statement that it is not considered rational to conclude that such structures guarantee a complete absence of government corruption, especially here in Poestenkill, is dead on the money, as we see from an October 3 2002 decision of Rensselaer County Supreme Court Justice James B. Canfield in the Matter of Paul R. Plante v. Planning Board of the Town of Poestenkill, Rensselaer County Index No. 204938, where Rensselaer County Supreme Court Justice James B. Canfield, a former Rensselaer County district attorney, stated that "Poestenkill's extremely casual approach to determining environmental impact also bears notice," and "(T)he administrative record here reflects Poestenkill's complicity with Showers and Valente in using the proposed subdivision as a means of avoiding SEQRA review by reducing the impact of the immediate proposal without inquiring into the possibility of further development at a later date," and "(R)egardless of Showers and Valente's misinformation, Poestenkill's determination of no environmental impact would have to be rejected based on Poestenkill's failure to even give the appearance of complying with SEQRA."
The lawyer in that case who was responsible for that burst of corruption was none other than Patrick Tomaselli, the patron saint lawyer of Poestenkill with his shrine on Poestenkill's Walk of Heros on the way into town hall, who rightfully holds the title of "Honored Father of Corruption" here in Poestenkill where it is considered a high public honor.
Going back to the collapsed structure of NY municipal law here in Poestenkill, we first come to the legal and structural safeguards, or the "logical" framework, which has been systematically dismantled here in Poestenkill to the point of where if you just moved here, you would never know it ever existed, where we have Town Law § 2 defining a town as a municipal corporation, which is a legal entity subject to state oversight and established with a formal governance structure.
With respect to the town attorney, keeping in mind that Patrick Tomaselli was exactly that, as an officer of the court and the principal legal advisor, the town attorney has an ethical obligation to ensure town actions are legal and to advise against illegal activity.
So why then is Ian Silverman a defendant in a lawsuit?
And that answer is because instead of advising against illegal activity, Ian was a proponent of the illegal activity along with Frank Burzesi, a New York state licensed professional engineer, and Larry Howard, another lawyer.
So there is an illusionary safeguard, people, relying on lawyers to advise against illegal activity here in Poestenkill, where we were informed by another lawyer in the swarm who have gone through here feeding off the Poestenkill taxpayers like rats in a farmer's corncrib, that one being Lois Phillips, a planning board attorney, of the reason that in her own words, "lawyers are called rented pencils" and that is because what you need them to say, when you are paying the freight, is what you will have said, and it makes absolutely no difference to them which side of the law that puts them on, because who can do anything about it?
And that was in an open planning board meeting here in Poestenkill with Joe Ryan as chairman on the transfer station issue where Lois deemed an incomplete application complete.
Which brings us to practical realities, or the "rational" perspective on the prevalence of corruption in New York where despite legal structures, local governments in New York, including small towns like Poestenkill, are susceptible to corruption scandals, particularly regarding zoning, building, and contracts.
As to supposed checks and balances, which are a pipe dream, Article 18 has been described as "disgracefully inadequate" by state commissions, with "huge gaps" in regulation, meaning that conforming to state law does not automatically prevent corrupt behavior, and people, that is by intent because corruption in this state has been in place since the 1800's, and because he tried to clean it up as governor, Teddy Roosevelt got kicked up to vice president to get him out of here, so powerful are the champions of corruption.
And as to the role of town attorneys, which are political positions, while the town attorney is an officer of the court, they are often retained or appointed by the very Town Board members they advise, in this case Michelle Garafolo, and of course, as we have seen far too often in this town, that is what creates potential conflicts of interest or pressure to align with the board's interests.
And people, the existence of New York Penal Law Article 496, Corrupting the Government, implies that such activity is a recognized risk, not an impossibility, and that is from the Office of the New York State Comptroller which knows whereof it speaks.
So, bottom line, while it might be reasonable on the surface to expect that a town with a town attorney will be a more orderly municipal corporation, actually expecting zero corruption, and Poestenkill is a poster child for this, is not supported by the practical experience of municipal oversight in New York, which system is designed to provide mechanisms for identifying, managing, and prosecuting corruption, rather than guaranteeing its absence.
And there for the moment we shall rest.
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 8th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 FIASCO IN POESTENKILL WHERE 'AS SLIPSHOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE' HAS BECOME OUR ACCEPTED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AS OUTRIGHT LUNACY RUNS RAMPANT AND SHEER MADNESS ENGULFS POESTENKILL AS A RESULT OF THE UNCHECKED SPREAD OF OBSCENE IMBECILITY WHICH IS PROVING ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY - AND ONCE AGAIN, HOOKING WATER DISTRICT NO.2 TO THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED WATER DISTRICT NO.1 IS SOMETHING ONLY A CERTIFIED MORON OR LUNATIC COULD HAVE COME UP WITH, AND MY GOODNESS, PEOPLE, WELCOME TO POESTENKILL!"
Yes, people, "as slipshod as is humanly possible" has indeed become our accepted standard of excellence, not only here in Poestenkill, where professional engineer and Republican councilman Frank Burzesi admonished professional engineer Paul Plante to be less thorough, as it is thoroughness by a professional engineer that is the bane of slipshod as practiced as an art form here in Poestenkill by Frank, as we experienced in 2025 with the Water District No. 2 public hearing scam, but in Republican-controlled Rensselaer County, as well, as witnessed by the slipshod job "Believe in Steve" McLaughlin, Rich Crist and Rob Bayly did on old 66 where after paving over the potholes, they neglected to paint a center line, so when it is foggy as it often is through there, it is hard to see where the road is and "Believe in Steve," Rich and Rob could care less, because if they did care, there would be a center line on that stretch of road instead of a sign informing you of the obvious, which is that there is no centerline.
And that takes us back once again to the 8 January 2026 Poestenkill town board meeting at 31:58, where we had Republican supervisor Michelle Garafolo informing us as follows:
MICHELLE: Um, the next item on the agenda is Water District No. 1 leaks.
I am going to ask, um, before discussing that resolution for our water manager to update on our Water District No. 1.
end quotes
Yes, people, because it was slipshod from the get-go, our vaunted Water District No. 1, through which water must pass to reach Water District No. 2 in the cock-a-mamie Laberge design, still leaks like a sieve today, as it has done since Republican Dominic Jacangelo was in charge of installing it, which takes us back to the town board minutes for the January 13, 2022 Town Board meeting, where we had present Republican councilwoman Butler, Republican councilman Hass, Republican councilman Van Slyke, Republican councilman Wohlleber, and Republican supervisor Hammond, where during the public comment period, Dom Jacangelo brought up the subject of the new 2022 Benefit Unit charge (BU), which is on the 2022 Property Tax bill for anyone located in the Water District, and there was a lengthy discussion covering the last ten years, with the following points being discussed, to wit:
Because of water leakage due to past contractor errors, the Town had to hire a professional leak locating service to find, and then a contractor to fix the contractor caused problems.
end quotes
Now, seriously, people, if that is not slipshod on steroids, what could possibly be?
In a well-run town with competent government and competent public officials, it is inconceivable that such a pathetic clown show as Dominic highlighted to the people of Poestenkill at the January 13, 2022 Town Board meeting could ever have happened, and yet, it did, and as we heard on 8 January 2026, four years later, it is still leaking like a sieve, which takes us back to Dominic on 13 January 2022, to wit:
D. Jacangelo discussed the numerous start up problems with the Water District and mentioned that by working with C.T. Male and the contractor, the Town was able to get the contractor to go back and dig up and fix many locations which had been missing “Thrust Blocks”; the contractor did this at his expense, not the Town’s.
Supervisor Hammond said that he had become aware of the contractor’s other deficiencies such as installing service lines through large, galvanized culvert drainage pipes (an improper installation procedure) which was now causing the Town to spend locating and repairing dollars.
He said that the Town Attorney had told him that since the problems were created over ten years ago that there was nothing that the Town could legally do.
end quotes
Yes, people, the fruits of slipshod come home to us in Poestenkill.
WHY?
Why do we have slipshod, inept, incompetent and unresponsive town government here in Poestenkill?
Think it over, and stay tuned, for more is yet to come!
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 8th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 FIASCO IN POESTENKILL WHERE 'AS SLIPSHOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE' HAS BECOME OUR ACCEPTED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AS OUTRIGHT LUNACY RUNS RAMPANT AND SHEER MADNESS ENGULFS POESTENKILL AS A RESULT OF THE UNCHECKED SPREAD OF OBSCENE IMBECILITY WHICH IS PROVING ITSELF A FATAL AND INCURABLE FLAW IN POESTENKILL TOWN GOVERNMENT TODAY - AND ONCE AGAIN, HOOKING WATER DISTRICT NO.2 TO THE SERIOUSLY FLAWED WATER DISTRICT NO.1 IS SOMETHING ONLY A CERTIFIED MORON OR LUNATIC COULD HAVE COME UP WITH, AND MY GOODNESS, PEOPLE, WELCOME TO POESTENKILL!"
Yes, people, "as slipshod as is humanly possible" has indeed become our accepted standard of excellence, not only here in Poestenkill, where professional engineer and Republican councilman Frank Burzesi admonished professional engineer Paul Plante to be less thorough, as it is thoroughness by a professional engineer that is the bane of slipshod as practiced as an art form here in Poestenkill by Frank, as we experienced in 2025 with the Water District No. 2 public hearing scam, but in Republican-controlled Rensselaer County, as well, as witnessed by the slipshod job "Believe in Steve" McLaughlin, Rich Crist and Rob Bayly did on old 66 where after paving over the potholes, they neglected to paint a center line, so when it is foggy as it often is through there, it is hard to see where the road is and "Believe in Steve," Rich and Rob could care less, because if they did care, there would be a center line on that stretch of road instead of a sign informing you of the obvious, which is that there is no centerline.
And that takes us back once again to the 8 January 2026 Poestenkill town board meeting at 31:58, where we had Republican supervisor Michelle Garafolo informing us as follows:
MICHELLE: Um, the next item on the agenda is Water District No. 1 leaks.
I am going to ask, um, before discussing that resolution for our water manager to update on our Water District No. 1.
end quotes
Yes, people, because it was slipshod from the get-go, our vaunted Water District No. 1, through which water must pass to reach Water District No. 2 in the cock-a-mamie Laberge design, still leaks like a sieve today, as it has done since Republican Dominic Jacangelo was in charge of installing it, which takes us back to the town board minutes for the January 13, 2022 Town Board meeting, where we had present Republican councilwoman Butler, Republican councilman Hass, Republican councilman Van Slyke, Republican councilman Wohlleber, and Republican supervisor Hammond, where during the public comment period, Dom Jacangelo brought up the subject of the new 2022 Benefit Unit charge (BU), which is on the 2022 Property Tax bill for anyone located in the Water District, and there was a lengthy discussion covering the last ten years, with the following points being discussed, to wit:
Because of water leakage due to past contractor errors, the Town had to hire a professional leak locating service to find, and then a contractor to fix the contractor caused problems.
end quotes
Now, seriously, people, if that is not slipshod on steroids, what could possibly be?
In a well-run town with competent government and competent public officials, it is inconceivable that such a pathetic clown show as Dominic highlighted to the people of Poestenkill at the January 13, 2022 Town Board meeting could ever have happened, and yet, it did, and as we heard on 8 January 2026, four years later, it is still leaking like a sieve, which takes us back to Dominic on 13 January 2022, to wit:
D. Jacangelo discussed the numerous start up problems with the Water District and mentioned that by working with C.T. Male and the contractor, the Town was able to get the contractor to go back and dig up and fix many locations which had been missing “Thrust Blocks”; the contractor did this at his expense, not the Town’s.
Supervisor Hammond said that he had become aware of the contractor’s other deficiencies such as installing service lines through large, galvanized culvert drainage pipes (an improper installation procedure) which was now causing the Town to spend locating and repairing dollars.
He said that the Town Attorney had told him that since the problems were created over ten years ago that there was nothing that the Town could legally do.
end quotes
Yes, people, the fruits of slipshod come home to us in Poestenkill.
WHY?
Why do we have slipshod, inept, incompetent and unresponsive town government here in Poestenkill?
Think it over, and stay tuned, for more is yet to come!
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 15th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 FIASCO IN POESTENKILL, CONTINUED - 'MILKING THE PIG' POESTENKILL STYLE AS DOMINIC JACANGELO SHOWS US HOW IT IS DONE - WHERE 'AS SLIPSHOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE' HAS BECOME OUR ACCEPTED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN POESTENKILL, ANOTHER WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 FIASCO IS EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITH WATER DISTRICT NO. 2!"
In Rensselaer County politics, the only politics that matter here in Republican (party of Trump) - controlled Poestenkill, the taxpayers are known euphemistically as "the Pig," and politics, whether Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter, they both play the same game, is known as the art of "milking the pig" to get out of it (us) all that they can as long as they can, and with complacent taxpayers such as we have in Poestenkill, the take can be quite a haul. which is what makes politics such a worthwhile game to play here in Rensselaer County, what with the high cost of public office these days with inflation and all, a county where feeding off the taxpayers is not a crime, and hey, the taxpayers actually welcome it and like it, as it makes them feel valued.
Which takes us back to the town board minutes for the January 13, 2022 Town Board meeting, where we had present Republican councilwoman Butler, Republican councilman Hass, Republican councilman Van Slyke, Republican councilman Wohlleber, and Republican supervisor Hammond, and where, during the public comment period, with regard to the botched-up Water District No. 1, known as "Poestenkill's Colander" or irrigation system, Dom Jacangelo brought up the following, to wit:
Because of water leakage (in Water District No.1 which still persists) due to past contractor errors, the Town had to hire a professional leak locating service to find, and then a contractor to fix the contractor caused problems.
end quote
Which raises the unanswered question of exactly how it was that Dominic Jacangelo, who was in charge of that project, failed to see any of those contractor errors at the time they were committed.
But it was politics, people, so Dominic played the game the right way, the Rensselaer County way, so that when those errors were committed, why, my goodness, Dominic simply didn't see them, because he was looking off in a different direction, because, people, in Rensselaer County, if you know what is good for you in politics, that is what you do!
And don't worry about the mess, because that is what we have taxpayers for, to clean it up, at extra expense, of course, to buy some more poloiti8cal "good will!"
And speaking of the mess Dominic left behind, because let's face it, everything Dominic Jacangelo knows about installing public water supplies would fit on the head of a very small pin, lo and behold, at the 8 January 2026 Poestenkill town board meeting at 31:58, we had Republican supervisor Michelle Garafolo informing us as follows:
MICHELLE: Um, the next item on the agenda is Water District No. 1 leaks.
I am going to ask, um, before discussing that resolution for our water manager to update on our Water District No. 1.
end quotes
Yes, people, all those years, all that water simply wasted, nobody knows who is getting billed for it, and the problem still persists!
And so, while Dominic Jacangelo's Water District No. 1 caper, where Dominic had a second contractor come in and fix all the flaws of the first contractor, might look insane to a normal sane, rational and logical person, the fact is that it was considered brilliant politics on Dominic's part to do it that way, spread around the largesse, so to speak, and just because the first contractor royally screwed up the job, hey, this is Poestenkill, we have exceptionally low performance standards, so that is no reason to not pay them and make them feel bad about themselves for doing the lousy job Poestenkill expects from them.
And anyway, as Keith Hammond said, the Town Attorney had told him that since the problems were created over ten years ago that there was nothing that the Town could legally do.
And my goodness, people, but here in Poestenkill, isn't that always the way it goes?
Money pours out the door, nobody can account for it, the lawyers can't do anything about it, because they don't want to make political enemies, and as always, it is the taxpayers, the "Pig" getting milked, who are responsible for paying the bills, which raises the question of why, when Poestenkill has a contract with Brunswick, did we not know of this water leakage all along?
Specifically from the Brunswick Water Transportation Agreement:
2. The measurement of water delivered to POESTENKILL shall be undertaken by POESTENKILL with the approval of BRUNSWICK and TROY.
Such flow measurements shall be made by an approved metering device or devices owned by POESTENKILL at a location or locations determined by POESTENKILL and approved by BRUNSWICK and TROY.
Any and all such metering devices shall be capable of being read remotely by Brunswick and shall be inspected and calibrated at least quarterly by POESTENKILL.
A copy of the inspection and calibration reports shall be filed with the BRUNSWICK Water Department.
The cost of such quarterly inspections and calibrations shall be paid by POESTENKILL.
BRUNSWICK may request POESTENKILL to test and certify to the accuracy of any metering device at more frequent intervals.
The costs of such additional tests shall also be paid by POESTENKILL.
B. Master Water Meter Chamber.
POESTENKILL shall install at its own expense a master water meter chamber on the Brunswick side of the boundary line between Brunswick and North Greenbush, with the location of same currently contemplated to be on the north side of Spring Avenue, approximately 600 feet east of Creek Road.
This master water meter, which shall be owned and maintained by POESTENKILL, shall be used to determine the volume of water being transported from BRUNSWICK to POEST'ENKILL at this location and hence determine the water supply payments due from POESTENKILL to TROY and the water transportation payments due from POESTENKILL to BRUNSWICK, as set forth in paragraph 11 hereof.
The specifications for this master water supply chamber shall be approved in writing by TROY and by BRUNSWICK prior to purchase and installation by POESTENKELL.
The master water meter chamber shall be equipped for a radio read device as used by BRUNSWICK (see also paragraph 2 hereof).
This connection shall be the only metered connection to the BRUNSWICK water system unless BRUNSWICK approves, in writing, an additional connection.
end quotes
So, with all of that in the contract language, how on earth has our so-called town "government" not been aware of this serious problem all along?
Which raises the question of where a municipal corporation in New York pursuant to town law 2 creates a water district and has a water transportation contract with a neighboring municipality which requires the town getting the water to conduct daily meter readings at the point of entry, who in the town getting the water is responsible for seeing those contract terns enforced in the town?
That answer is as follows:
In a New York town that has established a water district pursuant to Town Law, the Town Board holds the primary authority and responsibility for managing the district, including the enforcement of contracts with neighboring municipalities.
And that is from the New York State Senate.
Regarding the specific requirement for daily meter readings at the point of entry, responsibility again falls under the following officials:
Town Board: Under Town Law § 198, the town board is authorized to manage water districts and adopt regulations for their operation.
They are responsible for overseeing contract compliance.
It is the Poestenkill Town Board that must ensure the contract terms are met to avoid disputes regarding water usage charges, and while the duty to read the meters may be delegated to personnel, the responsibility to enforce the contract resides with the town officials responsible for the water district's administration.
So why hasn't it been done?
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 15th 2026 Edition
"THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 FIASCO IN POESTENKILL, CONTINUED - 'MILKING THE PIG' POESTENKILL STYLE AS DOMINIC JACANGELO SHOWS US HOW IT IS DONE - WHERE 'AS SLIPSHOD AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE' HAS BECOME OUR ACCEPTED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN POESTENKILL, ANOTHER WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 FIASCO IS EXACTLY WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITH WATER DISTRICT NO. 2!"
In Rensselaer County politics, the only politics that matter here in Republican (party of Trump) - controlled Poestenkill, the taxpayers are known euphemistically as "the Pig," and politics, whether Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter, they both play the same game, is known as the art of "milking the pig" to get out of it (us) all that they can as long as they can, and with complacent taxpayers such as we have in Poestenkill, the take can be quite a haul. which is what makes politics such a worthwhile game to play here in Rensselaer County, what with the high cost of public office these days with inflation and all, a county where feeding off the taxpayers is not a crime, and hey, the taxpayers actually welcome it and like it, as it makes them feel valued.
Which takes us back to the town board minutes for the January 13, 2022 Town Board meeting, where we had present Republican councilwoman Butler, Republican councilman Hass, Republican councilman Van Slyke, Republican councilman Wohlleber, and Republican supervisor Hammond, and where, during the public comment period, with regard to the botched-up Water District No. 1, known as "Poestenkill's Colander" or irrigation system, Dom Jacangelo brought up the following, to wit:
Because of water leakage (in Water District No.1 which still persists) due to past contractor errors, the Town had to hire a professional leak locating service to find, and then a contractor to fix the contractor caused problems.
end quote
Which raises the unanswered question of exactly how it was that Dominic Jacangelo, who was in charge of that project, failed to see any of those contractor errors at the time they were committed.
But it was politics, people, so Dominic played the game the right way, the Rensselaer County way, so that when those errors were committed, why, my goodness, Dominic simply didn't see them, because he was looking off in a different direction, because, people, in Rensselaer County, if you know what is good for you in politics, that is what you do!
And don't worry about the mess, because that is what we have taxpayers for, to clean it up, at extra expense, of course, to buy some more poloiti8cal "good will!"
And speaking of the mess Dominic left behind, because let's face it, everything Dominic Jacangelo knows about installing public water supplies would fit on the head of a very small pin, lo and behold, at the 8 January 2026 Poestenkill town board meeting at 31:58, we had Republican supervisor Michelle Garafolo informing us as follows:
MICHELLE: Um, the next item on the agenda is Water District No. 1 leaks.
I am going to ask, um, before discussing that resolution for our water manager to update on our Water District No. 1.
end quotes
Yes, people, all those years, all that water simply wasted, nobody knows who is getting billed for it, and the problem still persists!
And so, while Dominic Jacangelo's Water District No. 1 caper, where Dominic had a second contractor come in and fix all the flaws of the first contractor, might look insane to a normal sane, rational and logical person, the fact is that it was considered brilliant politics on Dominic's part to do it that way, spread around the largesse, so to speak, and just because the first contractor royally screwed up the job, hey, this is Poestenkill, we have exceptionally low performance standards, so that is no reason to not pay them and make them feel bad about themselves for doing the lousy job Poestenkill expects from them.
And anyway, as Keith Hammond said, the Town Attorney had told him that since the problems were created over ten years ago that there was nothing that the Town could legally do.
And my goodness, people, but here in Poestenkill, isn't that always the way it goes?
Money pours out the door, nobody can account for it, the lawyers can't do anything about it, because they don't want to make political enemies, and as always, it is the taxpayers, the "Pig" getting milked, who are responsible for paying the bills, which raises the question of why, when Poestenkill has a contract with Brunswick, did we not know of this water leakage all along?
Specifically from the Brunswick Water Transportation Agreement:
2. The measurement of water delivered to POESTENKILL shall be undertaken by POESTENKILL with the approval of BRUNSWICK and TROY.
Such flow measurements shall be made by an approved metering device or devices owned by POESTENKILL at a location or locations determined by POESTENKILL and approved by BRUNSWICK and TROY.
Any and all such metering devices shall be capable of being read remotely by Brunswick and shall be inspected and calibrated at least quarterly by POESTENKILL.
A copy of the inspection and calibration reports shall be filed with the BRUNSWICK Water Department.
The cost of such quarterly inspections and calibrations shall be paid by POESTENKILL.
BRUNSWICK may request POESTENKILL to test and certify to the accuracy of any metering device at more frequent intervals.
The costs of such additional tests shall also be paid by POESTENKILL.
B. Master Water Meter Chamber.
POESTENKILL shall install at its own expense a master water meter chamber on the Brunswick side of the boundary line between Brunswick and North Greenbush, with the location of same currently contemplated to be on the north side of Spring Avenue, approximately 600 feet east of Creek Road.
This master water meter, which shall be owned and maintained by POESTENKILL, shall be used to determine the volume of water being transported from BRUNSWICK to POEST'ENKILL at this location and hence determine the water supply payments due from POESTENKILL to TROY and the water transportation payments due from POESTENKILL to BRUNSWICK, as set forth in paragraph 11 hereof.
The specifications for this master water supply chamber shall be approved in writing by TROY and by BRUNSWICK prior to purchase and installation by POESTENKELL.
The master water meter chamber shall be equipped for a radio read device as used by BRUNSWICK (see also paragraph 2 hereof).
This connection shall be the only metered connection to the BRUNSWICK water system unless BRUNSWICK approves, in writing, an additional connection.
end quotes
So, with all of that in the contract language, how on earth has our so-called town "government" not been aware of this serious problem all along?
Which raises the question of where a municipal corporation in New York pursuant to town law 2 creates a water district and has a water transportation contract with a neighboring municipality which requires the town getting the water to conduct daily meter readings at the point of entry, who in the town getting the water is responsible for seeing those contract terns enforced in the town?
That answer is as follows:
In a New York town that has established a water district pursuant to Town Law, the Town Board holds the primary authority and responsibility for managing the district, including the enforcement of contracts with neighboring municipalities.
And that is from the New York State Senate.
Regarding the specific requirement for daily meter readings at the point of entry, responsibility again falls under the following officials:
Town Board: Under Town Law § 198, the town board is authorized to manage water districts and adopt regulations for their operation.
They are responsible for overseeing contract compliance.
It is the Poestenkill Town Board that must ensure the contract terms are met to avoid disputes regarding water usage charges, and while the duty to read the meters may be delegated to personnel, the responsibility to enforce the contract resides with the town officials responsible for the water district's administration.
So why hasn't it been done?
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 17th 2026 Edition
"THE INTENTIONAL WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 TAXPAYER SCAM IN POESTENKILL - YET ANOTHER WHITEWASH IN POESTENKILL IS ON THE WAY - WHEN THE TOWN BOARD ITSELF IS LAWLESS BY INTENT, THEN WHY WOULD WE BE SO FOOLISH AS TO EXPECT THEM TO FOLLOW THE LAW WITH REGARD TO WATER DISTRICT NO. 2, WHICH IS A REPLAY OF THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 SCAM - 'MILKING THE PIG' POESTENKILL STYLE ONCE AGAIN AS MICHELLE GARAFOLO INTENDS TO DO IT FOR LABERGE - AND WHO WAS IT THAT PAID FOR MICHELLE GARAFOLO'S CAMPAIGN LITERATURE - WHO IS IT THAT OWNS MICHELLE - WHOSE TRINKET OR FOB IS MICHELLE GARAFOLO - THE CANDID WORLD WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!"
Yes, people, now that newly-elected Republican supervisor Michelle Garafolo has made it crystal clear that she is intent not only on conducting a whitewash and cover-up of how Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi openly colluded with Laberge on April 3, 2024 at the fire house to present the taxpayers stuck in Water District No. 2 with a fraudulent budget to get Water District No. 2 approved, but further, is intent on blowing off the law to ram through more money for Laberge, in a replay of exactly what happened with Water District No. 1, where the "Pig" (the Poestenkill taxpayers) got milked but good, her demonstrated complete and total that disregard for the law as written brings up the important question of just who is it that owns and controls Michelle Garafolo.
Or asked a different way, how come Michelle Garafolo's glossy campaign propaganda does not tell us who paid for it?
It is the law, afterall, but yes, I know, this is Poestenkill, a chronically corrupt small town, and we have our own way of doing things here, at least if one happens to be a Republican like Michelle Garafolo, because if we look at the campaign literature for Democrat Andrew Tyler Batista for Poestenkill town board in the same election cycle, it clearly states on its face "Paid for by the Poestenkill Democratic Committee," just as the law requires.
So, if Democrat Andrew Batista was able to understand and comply with the law, what about Michelle, because I have before me three separate pieces of campaign propaganda from Michelle prior to the election as evidence of her intent to flout the law if elected, and not one of them states who paid for them, which raises the question of who owns Micheel Garafolo, besides Laberge?
And by way of comparison, if we look at the campaign propaganda of Republican Rob Bayly for the same election, we find in fine print, "Paid for by RLCC."
So, if Republican Rob Bayly knew to follow the law, what about Republican Michelle Garafolo?
Is she somehow special?
Or heaven forbid, is she a female Donald J. Trump to whom no laws but her own apply?
And that would be the icing on the cake to be rewarded with a female Donald Trump here in Poestenkill!
As to this RLCC that paid for a political ad for Rob Bayly in the 2025 Rensselaer County legislative race, that of course is the Rensselaer Liberty Campaign Committee, a political action committee (PAC) associated with Rensselaer County Republican leadership that supports GOP candidates according to the Times Union.
As to who the RLCC really is, it is a PAC known to be managed by influential county Republican operatives, including Rich Crist, the director of operations for County Executive Steve McLaughlin, and the account has historically been used to fund Republican legislative campaigns in Rensselaer County, paying for political advertisements, mailers, and other campaign expenses for GOP candidates, such as Rob Bayly, the Vice Chair of Finance for the County Legislature, to maintain or expand the Republican majority in the County Legislature.
Bottom line, the RLCC is a major component of the fundraising and campaign machinery for the Rensselaer County Republican party.
So was it the RLCC that paid for Michelle Garafolo's campaign propaganda?
Does Rich Crist own Michelle Garafolo lock, stock and barrel?
Why doesn't Michelle want us to know?
And the very fact that even before she assumed office she was already ignoring and flouting the law does not bode well of our future here in chronically corrupt Poestenkill.
Next up, given Michelle has made it patently clear that she intends to play hard ball here by continuing to flout the law, is how to file a complaint about Michelle's whitewash of the collusion of Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi with Laberge to create a fraudulent budget for Water District No. 2 to get it rammed through with Comptroller's Division of Local Government and School Accountability which is headed by Robin L. Lois, CPA, Deputy Comptroller at Office of the State Comptroller, Local Government and School Accountability, 110 State Street, 12th Floor, Albany, NY 12236 localgov@osc.ny.gov .
Stay tuned - the game is now on!
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 17th 2026 Edition
"THE INTENTIONAL WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 TAXPAYER SCAM IN POESTENKILL - YET ANOTHER WHITEWASH IN POESTENKILL IS ON THE WAY - WHEN THE TOWN BOARD ITSELF IS LAWLESS BY INTENT, THEN WHY WOULD WE BE SO FOOLISH AS TO EXPECT THEM TO FOLLOW THE LAW WITH REGARD TO WATER DISTRICT NO. 2, WHICH IS A REPLAY OF THE WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 SCAM - 'MILKING THE PIG' POESTENKILL STYLE ONCE AGAIN AS MICHELLE GARAFOLO INTENDS TO DO IT FOR LABERGE - AND WHO WAS IT THAT PAID FOR MICHELLE GARAFOLO'S CAMPAIGN LITERATURE - WHO IS IT THAT OWNS MICHELLE - WHOSE TRINKET OR FOB IS MICHELLE GARAFOLO - THE CANDID WORLD WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!"
Yes, people, now that newly-elected Republican supervisor Michelle Garafolo has made it crystal clear that she is intent not only on conducting a whitewash and cover-up of how Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi openly colluded with Laberge on April 3, 2024 at the fire house to present the taxpayers stuck in Water District No. 2 with a fraudulent budget to get Water District No. 2 approved, but further, is intent on blowing off the law to ram through more money for Laberge, in a replay of exactly what happened with Water District No. 1, where the "Pig" (the Poestenkill taxpayers) got milked but good, her demonstrated complete and total that disregard for the law as written brings up the important question of just who is it that owns and controls Michelle Garafolo.
Or asked a different way, how come Michelle Garafolo's glossy campaign propaganda does not tell us who paid for it?
It is the law, afterall, but yes, I know, this is Poestenkill, a chronically corrupt small town, and we have our own way of doing things here, at least if one happens to be a Republican like Michelle Garafolo, because if we look at the campaign literature for Democrat Andrew Tyler Batista for Poestenkill town board in the same election cycle, it clearly states on its face "Paid for by the Poestenkill Democratic Committee," just as the law requires.
So, if Democrat Andrew Batista was able to understand and comply with the law, what about Michelle, because I have before me three separate pieces of campaign propaganda from Michelle prior to the election as evidence of her intent to flout the law if elected, and not one of them states who paid for them, which raises the question of who owns Micheel Garafolo, besides Laberge?
And by way of comparison, if we look at the campaign propaganda of Republican Rob Bayly for the same election, we find in fine print, "Paid for by RLCC."
So, if Republican Rob Bayly knew to follow the law, what about Republican Michelle Garafolo?
Is she somehow special?
Or heaven forbid, is she a female Donald J. Trump to whom no laws but her own apply?
And that would be the icing on the cake to be rewarded with a female Donald Trump here in Poestenkill!
As to this RLCC that paid for a political ad for Rob Bayly in the 2025 Rensselaer County legislative race, that of course is the Rensselaer Liberty Campaign Committee, a political action committee (PAC) associated with Rensselaer County Republican leadership that supports GOP candidates according to the Times Union.
As to who the RLCC really is, it is a PAC known to be managed by influential county Republican operatives, including Rich Crist, the director of operations for County Executive Steve McLaughlin, and the account has historically been used to fund Republican legislative campaigns in Rensselaer County, paying for political advertisements, mailers, and other campaign expenses for GOP candidates, such as Rob Bayly, the Vice Chair of Finance for the County Legislature, to maintain or expand the Republican majority in the County Legislature.
Bottom line, the RLCC is a major component of the fundraising and campaign machinery for the Rensselaer County Republican party.
So was it the RLCC that paid for Michelle Garafolo's campaign propaganda?
Does Rich Crist own Michelle Garafolo lock, stock and barrel?
Why doesn't Michelle want us to know?
And the very fact that even before she assumed office she was already ignoring and flouting the law does not bode well of our future here in chronically corrupt Poestenkill.
Next up, given Michelle has made it patently clear that she intends to play hard ball here by continuing to flout the law, is how to file a complaint about Michelle's whitewash of the collusion of Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi with Laberge to create a fraudulent budget for Water District No. 2 to get it rammed through with Comptroller's Division of Local Government and School Accountability which is headed by Robin L. Lois, CPA, Deputy Comptroller at Office of the State Comptroller, Local Government and School Accountability, 110 State Street, 12th Floor, Albany, NY 12236 localgov@osc.ny.gov .
Stay tuned - the game is now on!
Re: THE PAUL PLANTE STORY
POESTENKILL CLARION, CHRONICLE & GAZETTE
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 18th 2026 Edition
"MICHELLE'S WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 TAXPAYER SCAM IN POESTENKILL - YET ANOTHER WHITEWASH IN POESTENKILL IS ON THE WAY AS MICHELLE MAKES IT CLEAR SHE INTENDS TO PLAY HARDBALL - WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 A REPLAY OF THE SUCCESSFUL WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 SCAM - MICHELLE TO 'MILK THE PIG' POESTENKILL STYLE TO 'GET IT DONE' FOR LABERGE - LIBERTY LANE LIGHT TRAPS BLAZE IN RETALIATION FOR CRIMINAL COMPLAINT TO RENSSELAER COUNTY DA - AND ONCE AGAIN, WHO IS IT THAT OWNS MICHELLE - WHOSE TRINKET OR FOB IS MICHELLE GARAFOLO - THE CANDID WORLD WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!"
So, yes, people, given that Republican Michelle Garafolo has now made it clear that she intends to be our local version of Donald J. Trump, with no laws applying to her, and given that Michelle has made it patently clear that she intends to play hard ball here by continuing to flout the law with regard to the Water District No. 2 budget, how to file a complaint about Michelle's whitewash of the collusion of Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi with Laberge to create a fraudulent budget for Water District No. 2 to get it rammed through with Comptroller's Division of Local Government and School Accountability which is headed by Robin L. Lois, CPA, Deputy Comptroller at Office of the State Comptroller, Local Government and School Accountability, 110 State Street, 12th Floor, Albany, NY 12236, becomes our next topic of conversation as the push-back to Michelle's Trump-style authoritarianism in Poestenkill arises.
And before we go further, here we have to ask ourselves the important question of beyond ineptness and incompetence in a town board, qualities which we in Poestenkill are greatly blessed with in quantity, what more must there to be to make the case that a town government like Poestenkill town government is chronically corrupt?
And that answer is that beyond mere ineptness and incompetence, a town government in New York becomes chronically corrupt when the ineptitude is used to camouflage, enable, or facilitate a systematic, ongoing course of conduct intended to defraud the public for personal gain, such as this Water District No. 2 Scam being pulled on us today by Michelle Garafolo.
As to chronic corruption such as exists here in Poestenkill going back to the 1980's in an unbroken chain, often involves a "network" of actors — elected officials, employees, and private contractors — who exploit the lack of supervision resulting from incompetence.
And that is what we have right now in Poestenkill with Michelle's Water District No. 2 Scam, where those of us who want the law enforced as written are greatly outnumbered by those who want no law so as to benefit themselves.
And this also is important, knowing the key elements that transform incompetent management into chronic corruption, which include:
1. Systematic Fraud and Financial Misappropriation
Systemic Defrauding of the Government: Engaging in a pattern of fraudulent pretenses or false promises to obtain money, property, or services valued over $100,000 (Class B Felony in NY).
That, people, is the basis of a criminal complaint in this matter to the Office of the Rensselaer County District Attorney, which criminal complaint not surprisingly has resulted in a new wave of retaliation by the loyal Republican political soldiers inhabiting Liberty Lane to make it into Hate Alley instead.
Then we have deep-rooted conflicts of interest such as violations of General Municipal Law Article 18, with at least one town official from Algonquin Estates having a personal financial interest in the Laberge contract with the town regarding Water District No. 2, and then voting on that contract.
And patronage, of course, with hiring or awarding lucrative positions to family members or political allies regardless of qualifications.
And then we have the skillful exploitation of incompetence here in Poestenkill, where "ineptitude" becomes a cover, so that our town officials claim ignorance or inability while ignoring blatant "red flags" such as failed audits and budget inconsistencies.
And let us not forget suppression of accountability, where the town council ignores or shuts down investigations into misconduct, ensuring a low chance of getting caught, while at the same time, actively punishing residents who report wrongdoing.
And there is also lack of transparency, as in deliberately withholding records, violating open meeting laws (such as holding improper executive sessions), and reducing public access to financial documents, that according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
So, all in all, checking all the boxes, we can see that we are living in a town that is chronically corrupt by design, and we now have yet another supervisor in a long line of supervisors who intends to keep it that way.
Will she prevail against law and order?
She obviously believes so.
Stay tuned!
Dedicated to egalitarianism over pettifoggery and snobbery, and the protection and preservation of intellectual liberty in Poestenkill for Democracy in Poestenkill dies in Darkness, while in Darkness, Corruption in Poestenkill Flourishes
"It is when authority in Poestenkill is abused that authority in Poestenkill becomes contemptable!"
"The law is far too precious a thing to be left in the hands of lawyers!"
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything!"
"The press is the scourge of tyrants and the grand palladium of liberty."
April 18th 2026 Edition
"MICHELLE'S WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 TAXPAYER SCAM IN POESTENKILL - YET ANOTHER WHITEWASH IN POESTENKILL IS ON THE WAY AS MICHELLE MAKES IT CLEAR SHE INTENDS TO PLAY HARDBALL - WATER DISTRICT NO. 2 A REPLAY OF THE SUCCESSFUL WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 SCAM - MICHELLE TO 'MILK THE PIG' POESTENKILL STYLE TO 'GET IT DONE' FOR LABERGE - LIBERTY LANE LIGHT TRAPS BLAZE IN RETALIATION FOR CRIMINAL COMPLAINT TO RENSSELAER COUNTY DA - AND ONCE AGAIN, WHO IS IT THAT OWNS MICHELLE - WHOSE TRINKET OR FOB IS MICHELLE GARAFOLO - THE CANDID WORLD WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!"
So, yes, people, given that Republican Michelle Garafolo has now made it clear that she intends to be our local version of Donald J. Trump, with no laws applying to her, and given that Michelle has made it patently clear that she intends to play hard ball here by continuing to flout the law with regard to the Water District No. 2 budget, how to file a complaint about Michelle's whitewash of the collusion of Tom Russell and Frank Burzesi with Laberge to create a fraudulent budget for Water District No. 2 to get it rammed through with Comptroller's Division of Local Government and School Accountability which is headed by Robin L. Lois, CPA, Deputy Comptroller at Office of the State Comptroller, Local Government and School Accountability, 110 State Street, 12th Floor, Albany, NY 12236, becomes our next topic of conversation as the push-back to Michelle's Trump-style authoritarianism in Poestenkill arises.
And before we go further, here we have to ask ourselves the important question of beyond ineptness and incompetence in a town board, qualities which we in Poestenkill are greatly blessed with in quantity, what more must there to be to make the case that a town government like Poestenkill town government is chronically corrupt?
And that answer is that beyond mere ineptness and incompetence, a town government in New York becomes chronically corrupt when the ineptitude is used to camouflage, enable, or facilitate a systematic, ongoing course of conduct intended to defraud the public for personal gain, such as this Water District No. 2 Scam being pulled on us today by Michelle Garafolo.
As to chronic corruption such as exists here in Poestenkill going back to the 1980's in an unbroken chain, often involves a "network" of actors — elected officials, employees, and private contractors — who exploit the lack of supervision resulting from incompetence.
And that is what we have right now in Poestenkill with Michelle's Water District No. 2 Scam, where those of us who want the law enforced as written are greatly outnumbered by those who want no law so as to benefit themselves.
And this also is important, knowing the key elements that transform incompetent management into chronic corruption, which include:
1. Systematic Fraud and Financial Misappropriation
Systemic Defrauding of the Government: Engaging in a pattern of fraudulent pretenses or false promises to obtain money, property, or services valued over $100,000 (Class B Felony in NY).
That, people, is the basis of a criminal complaint in this matter to the Office of the Rensselaer County District Attorney, which criminal complaint not surprisingly has resulted in a new wave of retaliation by the loyal Republican political soldiers inhabiting Liberty Lane to make it into Hate Alley instead.
Then we have deep-rooted conflicts of interest such as violations of General Municipal Law Article 18, with at least one town official from Algonquin Estates having a personal financial interest in the Laberge contract with the town regarding Water District No. 2, and then voting on that contract.
And patronage, of course, with hiring or awarding lucrative positions to family members or political allies regardless of qualifications.
And then we have the skillful exploitation of incompetence here in Poestenkill, where "ineptitude" becomes a cover, so that our town officials claim ignorance or inability while ignoring blatant "red flags" such as failed audits and budget inconsistencies.
And let us not forget suppression of accountability, where the town council ignores or shuts down investigations into misconduct, ensuring a low chance of getting caught, while at the same time, actively punishing residents who report wrongdoing.
And there is also lack of transparency, as in deliberately withholding records, violating open meeting laws (such as holding improper executive sessions), and reducing public access to financial documents, that according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
So, all in all, checking all the boxes, we can see that we are living in a town that is chronically corrupt by design, and we now have yet another supervisor in a long line of supervisors who intends to keep it that way.
Will she prevail against law and order?
She obviously believes so.
Stay tuned!