Health & Fitness
“Certain Benefits”
Response to Thomas E Ferb letter, "To The Residents of Patchogue", from Gregory P Powers. Candidate for Patchogue Village Trustee
"Let the people know the facts, and the country will be safe." President Abraham Lincoln, 1861
Mr. Tom Ferb, with all due respect, those “certain benefits” are not for him to decide, but for the people to allow through open disclosure. That disclosure should have happened at a Village board meeting with trustees voting on a resolution to allow such benefit, then having the Residents a chance to voice their concerns on the matter. OPEN GOVERNMENT only happens with proper disclosure and the right of Residents to be able to address those issues.
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Mr. Tom Ferb, the standard mileage reimbursement would have been better for the Residents of the Village as you should know. From your experience as an executive, you know the value of recording transactions such as business travel in your car. The Residents would be far better off knowing where the Mayor is going and coming from in his business dealings for the Village. A log showing those transactions makes for better OPEN GOVERNMENT. Really, did the Mayor only use the Village gas only for Village Business and not any for personal use?
Mr. Tom Ferb, what kind of charges are on his Village credit card? Is the Village credit card used for meals or for purchasing gas? Did he receive Village Board approval through a resolution that would have informed the Residents and the board? Does the Mayor keep a log of what purpose those charges serve?
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Mr. Tom Ferb, you talk about, “certain benefits that senior executives are usually afforded”, while those “certain benefits” are always disclosed to a board and to shareholders of companies. If not then lawsuits always follow from shareholders from one’s self enrichment. Do you believe that the Residents don’t need to be informed of those “certain benefits” that our “chief executive” received?
Mr. Tom Ferb, as for those other “certain benefits” did the mayor get village broad approval and do the Residents know of those benefits? Please inform us of the additional “certain benefits” our Mayor Paul Pontieri has.
Let’s not forget what a Trustee stands for. Trustee should always make decisions based on due diligence and in the best interest of the Residents. Trustee should never be beholding to anyone except our Residents.
Gregory P Powers
Candidate for Patchogue Village Trustee
252 Bay Avenue
