I was hoping to have an upbeat post on the Saratoga Housing Authority today. I still want to say the place has been cleaned up and in all honesty the grounds of Stonequist Apartments look better than Congress Park. Jefferson is still a bit ghetto but it’s improving. The nights there have been quieter too. Every single tenant complaint that I looked into has been quickly settled to the satisfaction of the tenant. The bedbugs by any measure are a thing of the past. Ed Spychalski has been doing a good job.So why am I disappointed? The meeting started with members of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority board electing a new chairman. There were two nominations, Ken Ivins and the usually absent disembodied Skyped in voice of Mr. Arrogance himself Eric Weller.For the first time he was there in the flesh.He does exist? was my first thought
Guess who won? That’s right Eric Weller. Looking tan in a nice Hawaiian shirt Eric beamed his approval.
Things will be going back to the status quo pronto. The media was blasted for its coverage again. Weller said he “didn’t feel comfortable talking about the cities compliancy plan”. An announcement was made that HUD’s rating of Saratoga Housing Authority went up. I will be forwarding that to Sen. Chuck Grassley. Then later when Ken Ivins asked why he had to read about Spychalski recently severing the SSHA’s annual work contract with the nonprofit Saratoga Springs Affordable Housing Group, in the paper. He was politely told by Weller that such matters are the sole responsibility of Spychalski. Then he again stated the board sets policy and doesn’t manage. He then went on describe the state Comptroller’s audit as a waste of time and taxpayer money. No word if he jetted back to OZ yet or if he will Skype in as Chairman in the future. On a more hopeful note after the executive session they froze salaries for a year.
They have come a long way and yet they haven’t learned a thing
24 comments:
How about Mr. Ed-"he's-doing-a- good-job"-Spychalski claiming they severed their ties with the affordable Housing Group because they were charging only $12,000 for management, maintenance, etc., etc. and according to Ed that meant he and Cindy were doing all this volunteer work. First of all they're very well paid salaried employees and I don't think salaried employees can count time they spend in the office as "volunteer"time even if it's outside of the regular work day. Secondly, I thought Ed according to Brunelle got all this extra pay because he had Allen Drive to manage as well. Same for Cindy who has quite a nice salary allegedly partially I understood bacause of all the extra Allen Drive work. So now they're volunteers?? And what about all the maintenance work--done by volunteers as well or are we to believe the lovely Johanna was in charge of that and she and her disabled boyfriend took care of all the grounds work? While we're at it I assume Ed was the one who decided there will be a salary freeze since he seems to have complete unsupervised control over everything. So why are all the slaries frozen? Why not freeze the high enders and let the lower paid employees catch up. I understand there is quite a difference in how salaries have been claculated over there over the years. More of Ed "doing a good job"
I understand your frustration. i meant that grounds and tenant complaints were being better taken care of.
I was glad when he dumped Allen Drive.I was never comfortable with this arrangement, the co mingling of funds and while work was being done on Allen, Jefferson looked like shit.
I believe "once a scumbag, always a scumbag". I have a feeling things are going to go back to crap once they think it's safe and no eyes are on them anymore.
But Ed-I'm-such-a-great-manager-that-I-deserve-a 6-figure-salary-couldn't even dump Allen Drive in a professional manner. Aside from the amazing fact that he didn't bother to discuss this major change in policy with his Board, he didn't even realize he had to give 90 days notice for this change and now has left the Affordable Housing Group high and dry. They're used to paying $12,000for management, maintenance, etc. Good luck keeping to that budget as they search for a replacement especially because Johanna and those amazing volunteers are no longer willing to pitch in any more. You have to wonder what really lead to this dramatic move. I noticed HUD was cc'd on some of those letters Ed wrote about ending SSHA's relationship with SAFG. Could someone actually have asked some questions about the illegal co-mingling of funds? Will stopping make everything ok? Is Ed never held accountalble for misdeeds as long as he just stops--for now.
I agree on Allen Drive. Getting rid of it is a good thing. Especially when the maintenance crew is half the size it used to be.
What's up with Congress Park anyway? It looks the worst I've ever seen it. Grass is so high it'll take a bush-hog to clean it up!
Also understand they had the Gov. scheduled to attend a dinner last night and he was a no show. Why? Because he's not scheduled until NEXT Wed. Gotta luv it! Good job Skippy & Donna.
Yes 12000 is a small amount to do a the work for that place. So doesn't that mean they did a good job covering for such a low amount? Go no further than blaming John Franck's grandstanding along with his girlfriend Mattigan who have wasting city tax dollars to stop this affordable housing project. Its common knowledge Franck and his best buddy John Kauffman are against poor people and providing housing for them. Franck is close to being a millionaire using his office to benefit himself no doubt. Kauffman got canned from EOC for doing a poor job and now has been working double time to do in the Allen Drive project.
How about Ivins and Collucci voting for Weller! What's up with that? Weller has announced he doesn't think the council has any authority over SSHA and has vowed to defy the Council's directive to bring salaries before the Council for approval. You'd think given those positions, that the Mayor's appointees would at least abstain instead of supporting the election of this absentee board member
Uh,oh 9:56 a trip down fantasy lane for you. Makin' it up as you go along again?
How does John Franck have a Mansion on North Broadway that he cut up into condos and is assessed at a lower rate than any other place in his neighborhood? Sounds like being the assessor for Saratoga is surely working in his favor.
omg-did Ken and Al really vote for Eric Weller for chair?! What wimps! Next we'll hear they're jauntng off to LasVegas and Miami with Eddy for "board training"
The bylaws have been changed several times in the past. The teeth in the bylaws was eliminated to enable the Board to limited power and tranferred to the Executive Director.Dies Weller have the ability? Yes. The question is does he have the committment necessary. being out of twon half the year does not show committment nor leadership. It is a position of convenience. Where were Brunelle and Weller during the hedbug issue? What did the Board do to adress the sitaution?? Nothing. The exisiting Board should be terminated from the board for lack of performance. As long as they have the majority things will never change.
All of John Franck's properties in the City of Saratoga Springs should be investigated for assessment. I'll bet you will find the same as North Broadway.If so he should be asked to resign from office.
How about Weller's quote referring to Ed in today's Gazette:"He's one of the most qualified executive directors you can find." Really? What exactly are his qualifications? No one seems to know if he even has a high school diploma. And has Dr. Weller actually checked around to find out the qualifications of other executive directors. I doubt it very much. Just goes to show a PhD doesn't necessarily make you smart.
Factchecker AKA BS spreader: These are all facts. Franck is against affordable housing being an advocate for the rich. The more housing that has some sort of rent control will in turn hurt the property valve on his many properties. Which by the way his properties just happen to assessed at lower than their worth. Talk about your tax breaks. He IS the assessment officier for saratoga. This really is a big conflict of interest. Kauffman has a vendetta with former chairman Dennis Brunelle because Brunelle was hired to clean up his mess at EOC. Now they are attacking The Allen Drive Project. Franck even denied one of their properties a tax break which is illegal for a not for profit organization.
So much for the Mayor's appointees "making a difference."
12:59--yea, yea, yea...keep on smokin' that stuff you're smokin'
Factchecker: talking about smoking stuff. How ironic your post is actually at 4:20. You keep stroking Franck's out of control ego but you will find out in near future how great he is. He can't shine the mayor's shoes even know he wants his seat. His own democrats don't like him. He is losing support on a daily basis. He will be sorry he opened this can of worms and the next year will be his turn to be dragged thru the mud.
I just think John John Franck is so dreamy!
So Eric Weller, welcome to SSHA, the graveyard of reputations. People in this city used to respect Dennie Brunnelle, Sister Charla, Lillian Miles but after watching them grant Ed's every wish they'll never be seen the same way again. Welcome to thier world
What an insult to the other housing authorities, comparing him to other executive directors? Wow? Did they have the bedbug problems SSHA has? Nope. Did they hire family members in violation of civil service rules? Nope. Did they waste money on trips and office furniture? Nope. Weller-Burnelle the only difference is in the spelling. Can’t wait till the HUD Inspector General’s report. We’ll see how great he is then. Oh yes, let’s not forget the story about volunteering? Wow, there really is an Easter Bunny!
6:40am: You are quite delusional aren't you. All your questions you just answered were wrong. The answer to all of them is yes. They have had problems with bedbugs. They all have family working there. They all go on training trips. (HUD set those trips up all over the country) They all have office furniture paid by Housing. Dos John Franck pay for his own furniture at city hall? @ 11:21 Eric Weller has been on this board longer than anyone there and longer than Brunelle. You and Factchecker actually should get your facts straight. And yes people actually did volunteer. It doesn't mean all wok at Allen Drive was volunteer. But some was.
Hey, let's see if we can get that hot chick who likes to walk around naked to lead the Memorial Day Parade. I'm sure participation in the event would be much better.
7:44--off the tracks again.
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