Fairview 's Biggest Problem . . . . . . . .

By Virginia A. Buechele

Fairview Fire District's [FFD] biggest problem is too many politicians. This opinion piece will point directly to one, our New York State Assemblyman Joel Miller and his flawed reasoning behind his betrayal as outlined in his June 21 “Valley View” in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Other than politics, a big problem for Fairview is the relatively small size of the district (4.58 square miles) compared to the large number of tax-exempt properties (47.8 % of the total assessed value - 2008) and the large volume of emergency responses to those same properties (50% of the response volume - 2008) due in large part to Marist College and the student housing their properties are composed of including dormitories and townhouses.

Now Miller, based on his flawed reasoning, states the impact of the currently proposed 465 Bed Dutchess Community College [DCC] dormitories will be of little consequence (“negligible') to FFD. Where has he been the last 14 years?

At the Sept. 2, 2008 FFD Commissioners' Meeting Miller stated:

"Keep in mind I'm in the Arlington Fire District - I pay $1,900 a year - for my - that's my fire assessment."

"I thought my bill was 300 bucks - the last time I looked it was $300 bucks - I hadn't looked in years. Someone came up to me and said you know I pay such and such and I said you've got to be kidding, I pay 300 bucks - I had to change my socks now - anyway it's all getting expensive."

If he lived in Fairview , he would have needed to change his socks long ago and often. However, such was not the case. What his tax bill amounts to must be “negligible” to him or it wouldn't have taken him years to look at his own tax bill. Where's Miller been the last 14 years?

June 21, 2009 in a Valley View in the Poughkeepsie Journal Miller says, “We need to return our focus of funding a reasonable, comprehensive and far-reaching consensus . . . .” Again, where has he been the last 14 years while he was filling all of us in Fairview with empty promises? Why the need to re-focus? How did he lose his focus in the first place?

Miller claims to have spoken with unnamed parties as the basis for his betrayal. The question is who did he not speak with? To the best of my knowledge he has not spoken with Town of Poughkeepsie Police , the Town of Poughkeepsie Building Inspector , Town of Poughkeepsie Traffic Consultants , nor the faculty and staff of DCC among others.

Miller asserts the DCC dormitories will be “Fireproof with Sprinklers”. Flawed reasoning again! Fire Resistant - MAYBE. Fireproof-NEVER. All one has to do is research New York State Building and NFPA Codes and they will quickly realize Sprinklers have to be connected to an Alarm System and that system has to be connected to a Central Dispatch/Alarm Company which in DCC ‘s case will alert the Dutchess 911 Emergency Response System for dispatch. Who will 911 dispatch? Why FFD of course! Time for Miller to change his socks again?

Miller further asserts the DCC dormitories have the blessing of the Dutchess County Legislature. Flawed reasoning again! The legislature approved negotiating a lease with DCC for construction of the dormitories on the originally proposed county owned site. The lease was never negotiated or approved by the legislature.

Miller's reasoning seems to be that since SUNY has blessed the dormitories, the dormitories will move forward without the blessing of the community in which DCC resides. To the community and Miller's taxpaying constituents this says you don't matter. Your opinions are negligible, or shall we say of little consequence. DCC is a COMMUNITY College Miller! Where have you been the last 14 years?

This writer will refrain from addressing the numbers Miller spouted in his June 21 “Valley View” in this newspaper and his comments on the $75,000 “DCC agreed to pay Fairview ”. Law suits loom on the horizon and to comment at this time would not be prudent on my part.

Eight terms in office for Miller is many terms too many. Let's all insure we do not see another.

This writer will say for the record, Mr. Miller has told her via a recorded answering machine message, “anger clouds reasoning”. This writer says NO, Mr. Miller, my reasoning is clear and unclouded. My reasoning is the reason for my anger. At this point in time it can be said we agree on only one thing and that is to disagree and on my part, vehemently so.

------------------------------------

Virginia A. Buechele is a retired paralegal and the Co-Coordinator of Fairness for Fairview, a Citizen Advocacy Group, whose mission reads “Through advocacy at all levels of government and by raising public awareness of the issues facing our community, Fairness for Fairview seeks to establish financial equity in order to protect the health safety and welfare of the residents, firefighters and emergency responders in the Fairview Area of the Towns of Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park. To discuss this matter in detail, contact Virginia at 845-452-6417 or e-mail ginnyflies@usa.net .