Editorial - Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho - To The Messenger Tax Dollars Go!

Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho – to the Messenger tax dollars go!

If you haven’t heard about it, or seen it on the town’s streaming video, or read about it yet, at the Thursday, Feb.23^rd Smithtown Town Board meeting, in a split decision; three for, (Wehrheim, Creighton, Malloy) and two against, (Vecchio, Mc Carthy), the Board voted to give the town’s legal notices to the Smithtown Messenger.

What?… That’s correct, The Smithtown Messenger.

Now why should it make a difference to you?  Apparently, the Smithtown News did not publish the councilmen’s names or photo’s enough and the boys got angry and took their marbles away.  The problem is the marbles are our dollars, and not theirs.  And the bigger problem is, where and how was this discussed.  Since suspending Town Board public work sessions over a year ago, taxpayers don’t get to see any of the decision making process, and there is never an explanation.

The ads come from $$$ tax dollars … taxpayer dollars to the tune of $30,000, will go to the paper that will side with the new supermajority of Wehrheim, Creighton and Malloy.   This is not a new problem…The Smithtown News has been a good friend to Supervisor Vecchio.

So here is a question for Councilmen Wehrheim, Creighton and Malloy…  How do you spend our taxpayer dollars?  What consideration was given to the number of subscribers a newspaper has?  Perhaps you negotiated a new lower fee for the legal ads?  That’s what fiscal conservatives should do.  Inquiring minds want to know…  So I’m sure you can supply the public with the competitive bids you solicited.  Please tell us what deal you negotiated for the taxpayers… five, ten or fifteen percent less?

If recent history is any indication, as in the appointment of our new part time Town Attorney, at $125,000 annual salary, a 10.7 percent boost over the previous full time attorney’s salary, taxpayers will be paying more money for less. 

I for one can wait to see all the wonderful articles and photos of Councilmen Wehrheim, Creighton, and Malloy, in the Smithtown Messenger.

Hi - Ho

Pat