IS PROFESSIONALISM NEEDED FOR CITY GOVERNMENT?

  

If you attend the meeting and debate tonight that is being sponsored by Remiga Foy’s group SUCCESS here are some facts you may want to keep in mind or ask if you get a chance.

I would say that Joe Dalton being the PROFESSIONAL he is did a good job over the years transforming Saratoga to what it is today.  The question is did he do this alone? No.  Without the support of the businesses that were still here and a great citizen volunteer base along with a part time government it wouldn’t have been done.

The word Professional accounts for a great part in the City’s success.  I wonder how much better (not that Saratoga Springs isn’t a beautiful City) the City would be?  Paying a professional to do such a great job was key to the City’s evolvement.   Let’s look at some comparable salaries in chambers throughout the State and we find our Chamber  President, was and the new one may be the highest paid in New York State and maybe around the country.

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

2008 -  Joseph Dalton - $194,767 – plus $4,502.00 other income from Chamber

2009 – Joseph Dalton - $199,716.00 - plus $29,891.00 other income from Chamber

2010 – Joseph Dalton – $123,889.00 – plus $47,256.00 in other compensation from Chamber

            Todd Shimkus - $70,006.00 – plus $19,241.00 in other income from Chamber

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce only serves a few communities in the County.

The Southern Saratoga County Chamber,

 who has its own high paid President serves- Ballston Lake, Ballston Spa, Burnt Hills, Charlton, Clifton Park, 

Crescent, Halfmoon, Jonesville, Malta, Mechanicville, Rexford, Round Lake, Stillwater, Vischer Ferry and Waterford

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

2008 – Dennis Paget - $121,798.00 – no other income from Chamber

2009 – Nancy Poelger - $118,750.00 – Plus $6,250.00 in other income from Chamber

2010 - Nancy Poelger - $118,750.00 – Plus $6,250.00 in other income from Chamber

The Greater New York Chamber of Commerce

2008 - Mark Jaffe - $135,000.00 – plus - $7,000.00 in other income from Chamber

2009 – Mark Jaffe - $115,063 – plus no other income from Chamber

2010 – N/A

When a professional is involved in business, whether in a non profit, business or government it should run efficiently, streamlined and the Director should do his/her job as directed by the board, in the case of government the heads of the City would be the elected Mayor and Council.  Leaving an organization or government with part time unqualified people in charge is bound to have an affect on its performance especially with the ever changing tax laws and burdens placed on business and the ever increasing State and Federal mandates placed on City governments.  The point boils down to this, do we need professional management to deal with the ever changing times or do we leave it to unqualified leaders who “can be replaced every 2 years, if they don’t do the job”).  It seems to me that we can go for a long time replacing no nothings every 2 years.  Why we may even nee Remiga to run again as everyone in Saratoga would have taken their turn.

Ask this question tonight if you dare and see what the response is.