Saturday, January 28, 2006
F.O.I.L. Request Denied.
Is there illegal proceeding and criminal activity being conducted in Taghkanic N.Y. and throughout Columbia County by the Zoning Boards in conjunction with the NEW YORK STATE POLICE and Sheriff's Department ???
Richard Graham of Taghkanic was denied several e-mail communication that took place between Barbara Hermance, Taghkanic ZBA Chairperson and the Town Attorney Robert Fitzsimmons. Also denied him were e-mail communications sent by Board member Robert Rochler (A.K.A) Rocky who is a New York State Police Investigator.
As most of us know, all to well, whenever a Town Supervisor denies a F.O.I.L. request for information that is directly related to the person asking for it you can bet that there was illegal proceedings, malicious intent to cause harm and possibly criminal action that took place.
This should not come as shock to anyone who lives in Taghkanic when we have a Supervisor, Betty Young, who was caught not telling the truth under oath in a civil-rights law suit (see Graham V. Columbia County USo2cv996) and got away with it. Nor should we be surprised that Zoning Board, Chair Barbara Hermance is involved here. Many Residents attending the comprehensive plan meetings heard her say she wants to keep the comprehensive plan for the Town"VANILLA". Add into the mix a New York State Cop named Robert Rochler who was accused by Graham of fixing tickets and you have a stew of corruption.
The questions now is will the full Town Board allow this type of activity to continue? Is Hermance using Rochler to conduct illegal background checks through his office in the State Police on the people that come before her Board or was Graham singled out? The e-mail should tell us. Was there Malicious intent to cause harm, drain resources or discredit the names of a tax-paying residents?
The e-mails and details of the phone conversations will tell us.
Is Supervisor Young denying accesses to these documents to cover-up for her son-in-law Robert Rochler? The e-mails will tells us.
Is it any surprise to anyone in Taghkanic that we now have the Towns Republicans Attorney, Robert Fitzsimmons acting more like he's defending criminal clients in an open court then representing the best interest of the people? Of course I firmly believe in the client attorney privilege that Barbara Hermance and Robert Rochler are now hiding under. However I don't believe the tax payers should ever have to pay to cover-up deliberate wrong doing by public officials. All to often we pay for legal advice that is unrelated to Town matters. Mr Graham came before the Zoning Board and applied only for an interpretation of the regulations, doesn't anyone find it strange that its taken nine month for something so simple.
Is it any wonder that we get upset when we find that our government maybe wire tapping our phones to keep us safe? Are we seeing here how the Patriot Act can be abused by Small Town public officials through what is called the "trickle down effect."?
We a residents should not allow this type of malicious behavior to continue by local officials.
My personal suggestion to anyone who has submitted and application to the Taghkanic Zoning Board or Planning Board is to contact you attorneys on this matter. If you feel that there as been illegal intrusion into your life or your rights are being violated contact the A.C.L.U. on-line for a complaint form or call them at 518- 463-8594. Be sure to use key words like Taghkanic, illegal investigations, State Police, FOIL denial and "Vanilla."
