AUGUST 1 - AUGUST 7, 1998
AUGUST 7, 1998
What's that supposed to mean?
'round the square in yesterday's Era had a curious opening
paragraph. "STICKER SHOCK: Get your school taxes yet? You
might want to sit down before you open the envelope. It will put the past year's chatter
about property assessment, tax rates, evaluations etc. into quick (and perhaps painful)
perspective." Chatter? Was what we did, chatter? Was what the school board did,
chatter? Was what the taxpayers didn't do, chatter?
The "quick (and perhaps painful) perspective" of it all is the fact
that THE SCHOOL BOARD, no one else, raised taxes ten percent. Since Cheri O'Mara,
the least qualified of all the finalists for the job, became superintendent, taxes have
increased each and every year. Since Cheri O'Mara, not even one of the finalists for the
job until her then husband and school board president, Jim, pulled off some political
finagling, teachers salaries have become the highest in the state. The not so quick and
very painful perspective is the fact that because we have the least qualified
superintendent of all the persons considered at the time, we now pay the price in our tax
bills. That is "STICKER SHOCK." That is also a damn shame!
Look at your tax bill! I have. Are you happy about it? I'm not! It's a
pile of crap. What is also a pile of crap are the following things.
First. The School Board blindly took what Cheri and Kathy said and gave them the ten
percent. Second. The people who pay the taxes sat back and said absolutely nothing. Third.
What the hell do you think is going to happen next year? Fourth. Use your
imaginations and ask yourselves; where do you think this is going to end?
In a very short time, we won't be able to pay our school taxes because they
will be so high. We are already in the top 5% of the entire state. Are our
students also in the top 5% of the state? I hardly think so! What is in the top 5% of the
state are teachers' and administrators' and public relations director's salaries. Why do
we need a public relations director anyway? That's a waste of $55,000 plus when you factor
in benefits and expenses, etc. Is it necessary to have someone who will tell consistent
lies for the school district instead of just having Cheri and Kathy wing it like they have
become so adept at doing? Remember the furniture that wouldn't match for $550,000? Where
does the furniture cost factor into the STICKER SHOCK? Guess!
The Bradford Area School District is $35,000,000.00 in debt. That is
thirty five million dollars! Wow! Remember when we were borrowing twenty three million
dollars to make money on the interest? I do. It was the prom queen and Cheri
O'Mara who came up with that bit of wisdom. Where's the profit? Why did taxes go up ten
percent? Good work girls! Why should we believe anything you say?
The opening quip in 'round the square appears to me to be the first in
a subtle series of conditioning shots. The shots will be well placed and timed in
order to attempt to move attention from the School District as the source of the tax
increase. The mention of the "chatter about property assessment" seems to shift
the attention to the County and the commissioners. In fact the county commissioners and
the tax assessment office had nothing to do with the School Board's decision to raise our
taxes in the Bradford Area School District by the legal limit of ten percent. It was their
decision alone. The County had nothing to do with it.
There was one way not to have the tax increase that we received. It is
interesting that no one thought of it. We could have saved the increase and even come out
ahead. It has everything to do with controllable dollars and cents. It makes sense, too.
Lower everyone's salary and benefits by ten percent. Then where would we be? Would it be
in the top ten or fifteen percent, instead of the top five percent? Let's get a grip on
things and remember where we live and who we are. Let's start to live within our means.
Maybe Cheri and Kathy and the School Board should all go back to school and learn that
when you add and subtract and it doesn't come out right and balance, you don't add in
extra numbers called taxes.
AUGUST 6, 1998
They all look alike to me
Governor Ridge spoke on Tuesday. Ivan Itkin spoke on Wednesday.
So did Peg somebody who is a third party candidate. They all want to be
Governor of Pennsylvania. And so does Douglas Clark.
Tom Ridge has forgotten what he promised us four years ago. He is busy
telling us what a great job he has done even though he hasn't lived up to his campaign
promises. He has made it so when two kids get into a fight in a school yard its a felony.
Sure, there is a problem with violence in schools and with violent teens, but more laws
are just more laws. Where is the common sense? Where is the human factor?
Laws like the ones that have been enacted that demand that the
District Attorney try a thirteen year old as an adult and pursue felony charges when he or
she bloodies the nose of another thirteen year old in a school yard confrontation make
little sense to me. It leans too much to the side of Fascism and is too authoritarian.
Even with the harsh punishment of our children, nothing has changed. Tom says it has, but
it hasn't. He has just clogged up our juvenile justice system and run up the costs for the
counties.
Even with the Homestead Act, Tom Ridge has not delivered on Tax Reform
for property owners. He has not given us the right of referendum as he promised. He has
also forgotten the revamping of the School Districts not being directly responsible
to the tax payers by allowing us to vote on the budgets. All of that was last time
rhetoric.
Enter Ivan Itkin and that nit wit woman, Peg what's her name. They
want to give us everything Ridge promised. Sure they do. They sound alike and they all
look alike to me. Why should we even bother to vote for governor?
And then there is Douglas Clark. Douglas personally lobbied the County
Commissioners before and during their banquet at the Hilton last night. He was wearing a
pair of slacks and a tee shirt-not the Brooks Brothers tailored suits and was not
surrounded by body guards. Douglas handed out a photo copy of a hand written one page
position statement. He says:
"Welcome to the New Pennsylvania. Being a county leader puts you in a priveledged
(sic) position, because I believe Harrisburg should let counties make their own decisions,
and be there for paying the bills so you become a mini-governor, doing what the people of
your county want. If Pollyanna County wants to try something new, why should Cassandra
County have an opinion?
"Douglas Clark is not a politician. My specialty is unity among those who fight
(gangs and families) each other. I really hate anyone who gets by by getting over.
"My main job right now is to teach 12 million Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
residents that when they look into a mirror, they are looking at the governor! Very easy
message. But I'd like your help, both financially and time. 12 million people say we need
a change. help me change Pennsylvania for the better!"
Douglas Clark for Governor! The young black man looks and sounds
better than the rest of them. They all look alike to me.
AUGUST 5 , 1998
Important business passed at CCAP Convention
The McKean County Commissioners, along with Warren County Commissioner Howard Brush,
Cameron County Commissioners Tony Moscato and Dave Dracula, and Elk County Commissioners
June Sorg and Joe Koch voted together to pass several measures that will impact the
taxpayers of their counties.
Resolution 2 was passed over the objections of the Tax Reform Committee and the
recommendations of the Resolutions Committee. It calls for the state returning to counties
1/2 of a % of the 6% state sales tax for the purposes of economic development,
infrastructure improvement, and related regional projects.
Resolution 11 which called for a moratorium on the implementation of the Welfare
Department plan regarding the closure of state mental hospitals was passed. Resolution 13
calling for the state to reimburse counties for state prisoners housed in county jails at
the rate they claim is their own cost in State Prisons was also passed along with
Resolution 14 which calls for an increase from 80% reimbursement to 100% for Adult
Probation departments.
McKean County's Resolution 17 which called for the state paying real estate taxes
instead of payment in lieu of taxes was also passed after opposition from Lebanon County.
The lady from Lebanon County cited necessary reasons such as water sheds and the like for
opposing the resolution. However, I rose to point out that large amounts of lands are
currently in state hands. I also pointed out the fact that we were paid only pennies an
acre for the necessary services we currently provide. Joining the issue with severe
economic drains on county treasuries, the resolution was overwhelmingly passed.
Finally, a debate ensued regarding our stand on tax reform. Sold out by the State
Legislature after our support of tax reform legislation and the Homestead Act, the
commissioners are reacting against the failure of the legislators to act in our best
interest. It was pointed out that we had a sound platform on tax reform. We instructed our
leadership to put forth the platform in its entirety.
We had no support in the House or the Senate for tax reform even though we were
promised reform if we supported the Homestead Act. It appears that more and more
commissioners are becoming outspoken on this issue. I see more commissioners joining me in
demanding that the house and senate act in the manner we would like them, instead of
moving to suit themselves.
This was a successful convention in as much as the rural counties were able to vote as
a block and carry their issues to the state platform.
AUGUST 4, 1998
Success in Pittsburgh
Yesterday the resolutions and platform committee of the County Commissioners'
Association accepted and endorsed a resolution and change submitted by McKean County
Commissioner Harold Beck. The resolution calls for the support of House Bill 1510 .The
Bill calls for the state to pay real estate taxes on all new purchases of property in the
Commonwealth. Now the entire body of CCAP will vote on the measure endorsed by the McKean
County Board of Commissioners at its business meeting today.
AUGUST 3, 1998
A plaque at Fort Erie
Fort Erie, Ontario once held a commanding position in history. During
the War of 1812 the Americans, invaded by the British, counter attacked. Canada. Oliver
Hazzard Perry, defeated the British Navy on the Great Lakes. When that happened, the
American Navy began to bombard the British fort that commanded the Niagara River. Under
continuous fire and facing starvation, the garrison surrendered. Holding the fort, the
United States could establish supply lines to support a Canadian Expeditionary Force.
The most able of commanders had been recalled to protect Washington and
Philadelphia. Generals were swamped as they warded off British incursions up and
down the Atlantic seaboard. In an effort to distract the invaders, a bold plan was
conceived. In June, 1814, troops were dispatched from Pittsburgh to invade Canada and
attempt to capture the North American Headquarters in Montreal. A fast moving force of
1500 men was assembled at Fort Erie. From there they started their march along the
northern bank of Lake Ontario where they met token resistance.
They attacked and burned the garrison in Toronto sending its defenders
retreating up the St. Lawrence River. Full of victory, the Americans set out in
pursuit. Moving faster than their supplies, the Americans found themselves short of
ammunition and food. As they attempted to raid towns in an effort to resupply, they
encountered the British Navy on the river. The H.M.S. Charwell was coming down the river.
With it was a detachment of Marines. The Royal Marines, well supplied and
experienced from fighting Napoleon, fiercely fell upon the invading force. Even though
they were outnumbered five to one, the Marines cut into the American horsemen and dealt
them a damaging blow. Their commanding officer, Major MacPhee, was killed in the initial
attack. The subordinate and second in command, Captain Stratton, lost his nerve and
his will to fight. He ordered a retreat. The Marines were not as reckless as the
Americans. They followed at a safe distance and kept supply lines open.
The Americans paused in Toronto and were resupplied. Before they could
regroup, the Marines attacked again. Once more Stratton became bewildered and perplexed.
He could not think fast enough to counter the fast moving attackers. His losses mounted
with each surge by the Marines and finally he ordered the men to fall back to Fort Erie as
best they could. Pandemonium prevailed as the troops scattered in an attempt to save their
lives. As cowardly as the order was, it became the only reason why the majority of the
remaining force survived. The Marines were organized and well disciplined. They did not
know how to deal with such confusion and a force running willy nilly across the
countryside in retreat. They dug in and prepared their next move.
Fort Erie was protected by the navy. The U.S.S. Ohio, Somers, and
Porcupine were giving direct support to the fort as they controlled that part of the lake.
It would not be such an easy mark for the Marines. However, on August 11, 1814, a bold
move was made by Captain Alexandar Dobbs of the Royal Navy. He had anchored his ship off
Queenstown just below the rapids and the 180 foot cataract. He could not progress any
farther by water, so he conceived another plan.
Captain Dobbs, Lt. Colonel Nichol of the Royal Marines and seventy hand picked
men carried six small boats overland a total of seventeen miles. The final eight
miles were through dense brush that formed an nearly impeneratrable barrier. It would take
an entire day to go the final eight miles, but finally on August 12 in full darkness, they
reached the shoreline of Lake Erie. In the distance they could see their lighted
objective. They were to capture the three ships that were anchored and protecting the
fort. Shortly after 10 P.M. they approached the ships in their small boats. As they came
near, they were challenged. They answered the challenge with the reply that they were
provision boats bringing resupplies for the fort. The answer was accepted.
Within the hour the Somers and the Ohio were boarded and taken. The
fighting alerted the Porcupine and it cut loose its anchor and drifted away with the
current. However, the captains and the men of the two ships were taken prisoners of war.
They were quickly manned by British crews that began an immediate attack on their old
fortress. The Americans did not surrender as the British had assumed. The fort returned
fire and damaged the Somers. The Ohio withdrew while the Somers was afire. It then was
fallen upon by an awakened Porcupine which brought all guns to bear on its former sister
ship.
The Somers, burning, was abandoned by the British crew. It drifted
down the Niagara and ran aground on Grand Island, still flying the Union Jack. The Ohio
was damaged in the initial attack but was able to manuver and fire back on the Porcupine.
The gunners on the Porcupine were experts and along with the crew was a detatchment of
sharpshooters. The sharpshooters were deployed in the rigging and they brought a rain of
deadly musket fire down on the decks. the tactic made their cannon useless and they were
at the mercy of the American ship. As the fire continued, the number six cannon exploded
aboard the Porcupine. A hole was torn in its side and the first mate was killed. In the
confusion, the cannon stopped. As the fire stopped, the Ohio was able to escape to the
west.
Today, Fort Erie is back in the hands of the Canadian Government. The
only reminder of that battle and a war that raged on that land is the memorial that states
the following:
"Capture of the Somers and the Ohio and in commemoration
of the enterprize and undaunted courage fo Captain Alexander Dobbs and seventy officers
and men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, in capturing the two U.S. warships in
Lake Erie off this place the night of August 12-13, 1812."
AUGUST 1-2, 1998
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