Dan's Papers - September 5, 2008

Dear Dan,
Like a brief downpour on a sweltering afternoon, my recent visit to Shelter Island was a welcome relief from the status quo of everyday life. As the crowded ferry chugged its way back to North Haven and the last remaining rays of sunshine succumbed to the vastness of the night sky over the Peconic, a sense of change emerged. Although it was late August, it felt more like a late September afternoon as the brisk winds affectionately glanced across my cheeks as I watched a group of sailboats meandering their way towards Gardiners Bay. The feeling was unmistakable. Like a parking meter that was soon to expire, the relentless grip of summer across the East End was losing its hold, soon to be replaced with a new season. The coming of fall tells us of changes in our lives. Autumnal Equinox will soon be upon us. Reluctantly, we are forced into surrendering the warmth and serenity of summer in favor of cooler uncertain days. It is Mother Nature's way of letting us know that the good times are over and that our planet is tilting away from the sun. Like the fuel gauge on our dashboards pointing to the ominous E, it is warning us that much less inviting days are on the horizon. Like the squirrels who are busily hoarding acorns in anticipation of winter, we too must prepare for what winter has in store for us. Autumn on the East End, that brief interlude between summers scorching heat and winter's icy grip, signifies in its own spectacular fashion that change is approaching. Red and golden leaves lose their grip on branches and drift silently toward the earth, still warm from summer's last intense rays. Tall, withered cornstalks stand at attention like rows of tired infantrymen, soon to be buried beneath the soil by a plow that curls the earth. It is a time for reflection, a brief pause in our busy lives to enjoy natures vivid color extravaganza. Dancing leaves scatter in the wind, in direct defiance of our attempts to rake them into neat little piles. As the intensity of the sun's rays diminish in the autumn chill and the trees shed their leaves in order to sustain energy for the change ahead, a sense of loss emerges. No longer will the long days of summer fill our desires for warmth and tranquility. The familiar smell of Coppertone will be replaced with the distinct odor of the earth. It's difficult to explain, but summer provided a safe haven where many of life's problems appeared to be erased by the caressing rhythm of the surf. Like the changing seasons, so too will our priorities change. No longer concerned about overexposure to the sun's intense radiation, we will substitute our sun block in favor of a comfortable sweatshirt. The sound of oil delivery trucks rolling down the street will overshadow the annoying, but friendly sound of ice cream vendors trying to peddle their last remaining cones. The almost forgotten sound of school buses will return in full force, eager to transport children to their classes. The harmonic chirping of birds will be unable to compete with the steady pulse of acorns dropping to the cooling earth from dwindling limbs shaken by busy squirrels. Sadly, all we will be left with are cherished memories of days gone by.
Unlike an incandescent bulb, which can be replaced when its slender filaments lose their intensity, our position from the sun cannot be altered. Silently and with little warning, we will continue our journey away from the sun. Whether we like it or not, we are at nature's mercy. Blind to our fate and ultimate destiny, the earth continues to spin unmindful of our likes and dislikes. As the autumn winds are poised to blow across our land, I am comforted by the scientific fact that summer will return next June. Until then I will try to enjoy what nature has to offer, even though the sight of Canada geese passing overhead on their way to kinder climates will make me a little jealous.

Dear Dan,
Your recent article, which attributes some of the East Hampton Town financial mess to Jay Schneiderman, was unfortunately replete with errors and inaccurate information.
The Schniderman administration never relied on borrowed funds for any of its operations. Town financial law prohibits the use of borrowed or designated funds to operate the government on a daily basis.
McGintee on the other hand did just that when he ran out of money due to his hiring binge and consistent phony budgeting. In 2007 McGintee transferred Community Preservation money to the operating fund in potential violation of the law. The Highway accounting issue you refer to in your article was a capital accounting matter and had nothing to do with the operational budget and McGintee's muti-million dollar operating deficit. The external auditors simply broke out Highway capital projects from non-Highway projects.
The external auditors, who have a responsibility to report as they believe accurate and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practices, posted highway expenses to the one account but the revenues to pay for the projects to another. Their method was questionable and Jay did question it, but ultimately it was the external auditors independent decision to prepare the reports as they saw fit. In the combined capital account the numbers were recorded. I'm afraid you were suckered by McGintee into reporting something that McGintee made sound important but had absolutely nothing to do with the McGintee deficit or the McGintee accounting problems.
In a letter to the East Hampton Star several weeks ago I quoted a letter from the town's financial advisor from 2003 (who remains the advisor) which explained how Moody's Investor's Service upgraded the town's credit rating in 2003 partially based on the outstanding financial management under the Schneiderman administration.
I would be happy to send you the letter if you would like an impartial opinion on the strength of the financial performance and accomplishments of the Schneiderman administration.