By establishing programs in culture, arts, music, science and sports, we get our children moving and learning instead of sitting at home watching TV or sitting on the computer. State mandates are causing our children to lose a vital part of their education, which is necessary to compete for college and to educate a well-rounded individual. These goals I have set forth can be accomplished with bold leadership and the vision I will bring to the office as supervisor. I will harness my years of international development experience, and 21 years of business experience to make our vision a reality. For the sake of our children, our seniors and every resident in this town who wants a better life, I ask for your vote in the Democratic primary Sept. 15.
Senegal RPCV Robert Ament writes: Our town of Irondequoit , New York is being bankrupted by indecision
Our town is being bankrupted by indecision
By Robert Ament
Irondequoit Post
Posted May 29, 2009 @ 09:57 AM
Irondequoit, N.Y. —
Irondequoit is being bankrupted by an administration that is incapable of making any rational business decision! Supervisor Mary Ellen Heyman is costing us a fortune in outside consultant fees on engineering studies. This year alone, this administration has spent $175,000 to draft a master plan, $50,000 to negotiate a worthless lease for Kings Park, bonded $100,000 for the Town Hall campus, spent $900,000 for new DPW trucks and approved $72,000 for LaBella to study and engineer Pinegrove, and accomplished nothing.
It is my opinion that as supervisor, Ms. Heyman should not need an outside consultant for every matter that comes before the board. Even the board members have shown a complete lack of business knowledge and common sense. In the real world, when an engineering firm makes almost $1,000,000 in “math errors” and “mistakes” as LaBella did, they would be fired and the bill would not be paid. I called for LaBella’s contract with the town to be terminated. Ms. Heyman’s response was to tell us that “we all make mistakes and it proves we are human.” The state comptroller’s office is concerned.
In a business presentation on April 28, I slashed $1.6 million from LaBella’s report and showed the administration how to completely renovate Pinegrove for the long term, at least 20 years, for $261,000.
Instead they have decided to allot $517,000 for only a few improvements.
My goals are to provide a wireless high-speed Internet system for Irondequoit at no cost or low cost for residents, and eliminate the large fees we all pay now; plant 1,000 large trees to beautify East Ridge Road to attract more businesses, plant trees along the lake path, make every effort to bring a YMCA to our town (all the other towns have one), bring Pinegrove Community and Senior Center up to high standards, renovate the libraries and expand hours, and start a town-wide recreation/activity education program for children of all ages 3-18.
This last goal would be done collaboratively with the school superintendents, teachers and parents to provide our children a place to go and something to do when not in school: on weekends, after school and summer vacation, and would be entirely funded by small enrollment fees. This model is currently successful in Pittsford and Brighton.
By establishing programs in culture, arts, music, science and sports, we get our children moving and learning instead of sitting at home watching TV or sitting on the computer. State mandates are causing our children to lose a vital part of their education, which is necessary to compete for college and to educate a well-rounded individual.
These goals I have set forth can be accomplished with bold leadership and the vision I will bring to the office as supervisor. I will harness my years of international development experience, and 21 years of business experience to make our vision a reality.
For the sake of our children, our seniors and every resident in this town who wants a better life, I ask for your vote in the Democratic primary Sept. 15.
Robert Ament served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa, and worked in international development with the United Nations and the U.S. Agency for International Development in Sub-Sahara Africa, and has owned his business for 18 years. He is challenging Supervisor Heyman for Town Supervisor in the Democratic primary Sept. 15.
