Friday evening please join us for dinner, drinks and dessert, while enjoying the very talented "Taylor Brothers". Saturday evening we have a musician performing at XO, Fred the "HUMAN I-POD"-a Huntington resident.
Week-End Musical line-up at XO Restaurant
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Lisa Levine May 20, 2013 at 10:39 am
Hey Smith and Advocate - Jeez you guys have no idea what your talking about and are confusing the…Read More reserves with the amounts over budgeted. They are not the same thing... The Unreserved Fund (rainy day fund) is a separate fund for contingencies. That is the fund that was reduced in Sachem etc.. causing issues for those districts. Nowhere have I ever heard Mr. T or Mr. H. ever say that the unreserved fund should be touched. They both unequivocally said the issue they have is with the millions of dollars that the board builds into the budget each year but never spends.. why should clubs/programs/classes/employees be cut when we have a $5M plus overage built into the budget and the Unreserved Fund is fully maxed out? Makes no sense.. Keep the Unreserved Fund topped out at $6M and cut some of the add'l money they are hiding in the $5m over budgeted - like perhaps down to $3.5m-$4m. Use that money for the kids instead!!
Commack Resident May 20, 2013 at 10:32 am
Can I suggest that the administrator of this site start labeling these types of blogs and board…Read More postings as the opinion of the person posting and not an actual news story or endorsed by Patch. I know it says Speak Out but I think you need to go further, particularly in light of the volume of the same sort of opinion based postings. It is getting very hard to figure out what are Patch endorsed news stories and what are opinion pieces by members of the community. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but many of these blogs are ending up on the main news feed of the site and are misleading. In particular, there was a "review" of the candidates debate from a supporter of certain candidates that almost seemed like a news story and not a story that was openly supporting 2 candidates, which it obviously was. Opinions are fine but opinions that aren't clearly labeled as such delegitimize any journalistic integrity that the Commack Patch may desire.
Also, on both sides, I think there should be more civility in these postings rather than shouting people down and name calling. Why can't we find common ground on some of these issues instead of screaming and yelling?
Mike Spinelli May 20, 2013 at 10:26 am
@ John Smith & Devil's Advocate - You guys are wrong and just spewing misinformation. Neither…Read More Hartman or Tampellini said anything about spending down the reserves..in fact at meet the candidates night they both said they favored keeping the Unreserved Fund fully maxed at the full 4% ($6M) allowed by law. The problem they have is with the additional $5M+ that is over budgeted into the budget every year... There's no need to have a total of over $11M for contingencies.. The Unreserved Fund is supposed to be for unexpected contingencies and while it makes sense to over budget some $$ amount in the event expenses on the line items get exceeded, having another $5M+ is excessive when you are cutting kid's programs/clubs etc.. The District could have cut down the amount they over budgeted to $4M and applied the other $1M to restore clubs/programs and jobs that they cut...like the nurses that cost a mere $40k so as to ensure no child is put at risk in the vent of an emergency. So you both need to get your facts straight before you start talking about things.
Commackvoter May 19, 2013 at 11:28 am
Yes John Smith, agree that the PTA SHOULD have video taped and posted it somewhere for the community…Read More to view. This is the 21st century and there is no excuse for them not offering this for those who could not attend. Same goes for the CUFSD but at least the law prohibits them from banning taping public meetings.
MJS May 19, 2013 at 10:29 am
It will be interesting to see what Mr. Behar does if he loses, since he is totally opposed to Prop…Read More 2. So if Prop 2 passes, and he chooses to take advantage of it and run again then in my eyes, and those of the Community, he will reveal himself to be a total Hypocrite. The same would go for Egan, since he too opposes Prop 2.
Retired May 19, 2013 at 08:45 am
Hey John - No one is being slick. You incorrectly assumed that it was suspicious that there was no…Read More video tape of the meet the candidates night. I can understand why you would think that but the fact is that the PTA did not allow any video. I wish video could have been done so the community could have seen each candidate themselves and make their own assessment. If you don't believe what I say just contact the PTA and confirm it with them....
MJS May 19, 2013 at 10:29 am
It will be interesting to see what Mr. Behar does if he loses, since he is totally opposed to Prop…Read More 2. So if Prop 2 passes, and he chooses to take advantage of it and run again then in my eyes, and those of the Community, he will reveal himself to be a total Hypocrite. The same would go for Egan, since he too opposes Prop 2.
Retired May 19, 2013 at 09:52 am
@RL - I agree with term limits, but the law says that can only be proposed by the Board. The public…Read More cannot submit such a proposition. The board, at least the current one, will never agree to that b/c they want to keep themselves in power at any cost. By adding 2 new people Prop 2 may a provide an opportunity to have people on aboard that will consider proposing term limits, as well as other changes. So, yet another reason to Vote YES to Prop 2.
RL May 17, 2013 at 08:08 am
I agree new blood can be used and some new thinking and the way to accomplish that is to vote new…Read More faces in. Does having more people create a larger bureaucracy thought. Having served on a number of private, charity and corporate boards I can tell you more is not always the answer. I think term limits would be a better approach. This way you don't have the same though process year after year. Two terms six years seems reasonably to me.
Concerned Commackian May 18, 2013 at 09:18 pm
Commack Parent is right. Its definately a cost…Read More issue.....BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!!! Thanks Parent, that was the best chuckle ive had all day!
LINANA May 17, 2013 at 12:28 am
Since past precedence for a number of years has been to send out literature informing ALL residents…Read More (including those with no children in the schools) of candidates bios, does the omission of the bios raise a legal issue? ??? We all pay school taxes and district has the obligation to provide us with this info. Shame on them!!!!
Teacher's union is also "encouraging" votes for Egan & Behar and against adding two additional seats to the board. People with a vested interest "encouraging" you to vote a particular way should raise flags!!! Hopefully people will think for themselves and make an informed vote for the candidate they feel will best represent the students & residents of Commack.
MJS May 19, 2013 at 10:28 am
It will be interesting to see what Mr. Behar does if he loses, since he is totally opposed to Prop…Read More 2. So if Prop 2 passes, and he chooses to take advantage of it and run again then in my eyes, and those of the Community, he will reveal himself to be a total Hypocrite. The same would go for Egan, since he too opposes Prop 2.
MJS May 19, 2013 at 12:47 pm
It will be interesting to see what Mr. Behar does if he loses, since he is totally opposed to Prop…Read More 2. So if Prop 2 passes, and he chooses to take advantage of it and run again then in my eyes, and those of the Community, he will reveal himself to be a total Hypocrite. The same would go for Egan, since he too opposes Prop 2.
ergodic May 16, 2013 at 11:09 am
Hey, PTA, BOE/// try lending a hand///don't criticize things you don't understand///the community is…Read More clearly beyond your command///your 100 year road is rapidly aging///and, the times, they are changing.
CUFSD has experienced a decline in total enrollment from a peak of 7830 in 2008-09 to 6934 (projected) in 2013-14, a decrease of 11.4%. During that period, spending per pupil increased from $19,759 to $25,871 - an increase of 30.9%. This performance does not reflect well on the financial management capabilities of the BOE. And, is it a surprise that NYSUT is an advocate for the status quo? A more democratic approach to decision-making via a vote for Prop 2 should be helpful.
re May 16, 2013 at 12:01 am
Vote yes for the additional members of the board. Save our schools. Save our schools with fair…Read More representation.
Join a new taxpayers representation committee at the Commack community assoc effective September 2013.
Our next meeting is May 30 at 7pm at the Bristol assisted living community room( next to sears)
Do not let this civic group wither away as it would be a victory for the school board that monitors any opposition to the way the district operates.