file photo by Boyd Loving
I made the following comments at last night’s Village Council meeting re the Mayor’s plan to turn CRAB (Community Relations Advisory Board) and FAC (Finance Advisory Committee) to ad hoc committees:
I will address three points, Ad Hoc Committees, CRAB and FAC.
The Mayor misuses the term Ad Hoc. An Ad Hoc Committee is by definition one that is created to serve a specific function for a limited period of time.
By their sheer function, CRAB and FAC cannot be Ad Hoc Committees.
Regarding CRAB, I have lived in the is country since 1958, and I have never seen the country so divided on so many issues. We are polarized along political, religious, social, economic, religious and gender lines.
Regarding CRAB, I have lived in the is country since 1958, and I have never seen the country so divided on so many issues. We are polarized along political, religious, social, economic, religious and gender lines.
We need CRAB as we have never needed before, to help bring people together. And for CRAB to work it has to be populated by smart, strong, independently thinking individuals.
Regarding FAC, it is ironic that the reason we have a strong CFO is thanks to FAC and Roberta Sonenfeld. And let’s not forget that under Roberta’s predecessor, 16 tons of change flew out of the Village coffers.
And having a strong and active FAC is not a reflection on Bob Rooney’s capabilities. In fact, he should be the first to insist on a strong, independently minded FAC that will help him manage the financial affairs of the Village. We have a budget of some $50 million and if we were a corporation the CFO would work under the guidance of the Board’s finance committee.
I am tempted to comment on the Mayor’s motives in looking to neuter these two critically important committees but I will desist.
Thank you.Rurik Halaby
Thank you.Rurik Halaby
All comments that begin with “I’ve been living here since….” should be ignored. You have no more right to comment than a person who move in yesterday.
I have lived in this country longer than that because I was born here. So what?
FAC and CRAB have become partisan and are wasting their energy on the wrong things. Both must go.
Hope he is not a Steeler fan.
It is true that Mr. Halaby has exactly the same rights as any other Village resident. I don’t necessarily agree with his comments, but he does have the same right as any other resident. The main difference is he is a concerned resident and he does go to meetings and speaks up about things that are of concern to him. I doubt that you can say that about 90% of the other Village residents. We have a core group of “movers and shakers” who do avidly participate and the town as a whole should be very grateful to them. We should also be grateful to our entire Council for being there, spending valuable hours and often receiving abuse. Without the council and the numerous villagers who also spend their time, and also receive abuse, Ridgewood would accomplish a grand total of nothing. Now here comes the hated word “civility”. Each of us has a right to disagree and a right to express our opinions. But, would it be possible for us to present our side and let our opponents express their side without going to war over it? Being nasty and derogatory toward those who disagree with us, just makes us look like fools. And a parting request–if I were our Mayor’s parents, I would consider having all that traffic and noise coming from across the street horrendous. I certainly would not consider that a “benefit” for them. Could that cease to be an issue?
Sure Anon, whatever you say. I gather you are a member of the amen corner… you writing style matches your facebook postings.
Brian….nothing says Steelers fan like that bowtie!
CRAB? What a stupid acronym.
PESMITH, always so sure of herself.
6:08, yes, every resident has the right to express opinions. Have you actually watched Mr. Halaby in action, especially in person? Do you think it’s OK for him to poke his finger at the council, disparaging them and saying they are liars? Were you there when he thumped a tote bag on the lectern and pulled out the American flag and the Constitution and accused the council of not following them? He has frankly forfeited his right to express his opinions because they are always expressed in hostile, nasty, unacceptable ways. He is lucky that the council has not banned him from the lectern entirely. I think they should. His behavior “brings the room down.” It’s dreadful. We are talking about years and years, at the Valley hearings and so on.
It would be very difficult to have people banned from the Council meetings. I do think that if any member of the public is being outright abusive that they should be given three warnings and if not heeded, we do have police presence at every meeting. However, the Council would have to pass a measure that would allow this to happen. Personally, I can’ t see that being done. Only in Utopia would that type of action be allowed so I guess we have to live with what we have. (And, unfortunately, we do have people who express themselves in extremely inappropriate ways.)
Did the Mayor fear FAC on her funding scheme to buy the Elks HQ?