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November Ballot Offers Public Chance to Vote on Pension Forfeiture for Corrupt Officials
For years, state lawmakers convicted of abusing power related to their public duties have been able to collect a state pension and sometimes even behind bars. Thankfully, this could change for future criminals if voters approve an amendment to the state constitution in November. This election year, New York state voters will have the opportunity […]
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For years, state lawmakers convicted of abusing power related to their public duties have been able to collect a state pension and sometimes even behind bars. Thankfully, this could change for future criminals if voters approve an amendment to the state constitution in November. This election year, New York state voters will have the opportunity to amend the state constitution to permit the forfeiture of state pensions for those public officials convicted of a felony related to their public duties (for example: bribery). The reform is overdue and will hopefully act as a deterrent to those officials who might otherwise be tempted to exploit their public positions for personal gain.
If polled, it is likely most people in New York state would think this is a common-sense proposal and many would question why it has taken so long to institute such a change. There are two answers as to why it has taken so long. First, there was political resistance to instituting such a reform and, unfortunately, such resistance is all too common in Albany. Second, any process to amend the state constitution is lengthy and rightfully so. Back in 2009, I, and others, proposed to change the constitution to allow for pension forfeiture but that resolution was not considered in committee. Since then, legislators have introduced various resolutions in both houses to require pension forfeiture for corrupt public officials who entered the retirement system prior to 2011, but they failed to gain support with the Assembly Democratic majority until 2016.
Because pension benefits are protected by the New York State Constitution, the state constitution must be amended in order for pension forfeiture to take effect. Moreover, before pension forfeiture could appear on the ballot, it had to be passed by two separately elected legislatures. The first time the pension forfeiture amendment resolution passed was in the spring of 2016 and it passed a second time in January 2017. Just to get the measure on the ballot, the procedure alone has taken almost two years.
It should be noted that the public’s vote on pension forfeiture is separate and apart from the question as to whether New York State should hold a constitutional convention. That also is a question that will appear on this year’s ballot. However, whether to hold a constitutional convention is a separate question and people can vote to support pension forfeiture for public officials and also against the state holding a constitutional convention.
Given its popularity, I have every confidence that New Yorkers will vote in favor of the pension forfeiture. Many government reformers have long demanded this change. Just during the past 10 years, there have been more than 22 state officials who have either pled guilty or were found guilty of corruption-related criminal charges.
Passing this reform amendment will help bring accountability to Albany. Serving the public is a privilege and an honor. With this amendment in place, it is a good step toward restoring public trust and enacting sensible punishments that help provide justice. To view the questions that will be on this year’s ballot, visit the New York State Board of Elections website at https://www.elections.ny.gov/ProposedAmendments.html.
William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.
I’ve been reminded recently of the old cowboy song, “Home on the Range.” You know the line, “Where never is heard a discouraging word”? That is not the United States right now. It feels like pretty much everywhere I turn, all I hear is discouragement. But the question we have to confront is not, “What’s going
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I’ve been reminded recently of the old cowboy song, “Home on the Range.” You know the line, “Where never is heard a discouraging word”? That is not the United States right now. It feels like pretty much everywhere I turn, all I hear is discouragement.
But the question we have to confront is not, “What’s going wrong?” It’s, “How do we respond?”
As always, the answer to our problems does not lie in efforts to tinker with the structures we have built or the systems we’ve created. It lies in us — in the American people. Whatever our political beliefs, we share some characteristics that I think give us cause for hope.
I’ve always thought that Carl Schurz, a German–born U.S. senator from Missouri, summed up something basic about the American character when he said, on the floor of the Senate in 1872, “My country right or wrong; when right, to keep her right; when wrong, to put her right.”
Americans respect the ideals of this country. They’re devoted to those ideals — freedom, liberty, justice for all — and they want the nation to live up to them. Even when we believe the nation is falling short of its ideals, we’re moved not by malice or hatred, but because we want to make the U.S. stronger and fairer.
Americans in overwhelming numbers believe in and respect what this country stands for. All of us also recognize that this nation has its faults — some of them deep-seated and stubborn. We believe that America can do better. But there is a broad streak of pragmatism in this country. Again and again in times of adversity, we see Americans of all backgrounds and political perspectives pitching in to help out. Americans believe in the values of hard work, the importance of family, self-sufficiency, community engagement, and involvement.
This is why, however dire things appear in Washington, D.C., I continue to believe that we have it within us to set the country back on a productive track. We know that in order for us to progress we all have to give something back — that with freedom and liberty comes responsibility.
And when we see others stand up for the nation’s ideals and act to broaden opportunity for others, it sends, as Robert Kennedy said, “a ripple of hope” through the community that, in time, becomes an unstoppable current of change.
Lee Hamilton is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years, representing a district in south central Indiana.
ABC Creative Group recently hired KRISPIN DOLBEAR as VP of creative services. He brings 20 years of experience in design, web development, and project management to ABC, where he will oversee the creative department that includes digital developers, designers, and copywriters. A graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College, Dolbear consistently enhances his professional and technological
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ABC Creative Group recently hired KRISPIN DOLBEAR as VP of creative services. He brings 20 years of experience in design, web development, and project management to ABC, where he will oversee the creative department that includes digital developers, designers, and copywriters. A graduate of Mohawk Valley Community College, Dolbear consistently enhances his professional and technological knowledge in all forms of marketing. Prior to joining ABC, he served as designer and senior web developer for Eric Mower + Associates in the Syracuse office.
CALVIN CORRIDERS has been named retail products specialist at Pathfinder Bank. He began his career in 2015 as a personal banker for KeyBank. This January, Corriders accepted the position as loan processor at Pathfinder Bank. He graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Corriders has played an instrumental role in Pathfinder Bank’s
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CALVIN CORRIDERS has been named retail products specialist at Pathfinder Bank. He began his career in 2015 as a personal banker for KeyBank. This January, Corriders accepted the position as loan processor at Pathfinder Bank. He graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Corriders has played an instrumental role in Pathfinder Bank’s Smart Savers Program, a partnership between Pathfinder Bank and Van Duyn Elementary school to help students take their first steps on the road to financial responsibility.
Barton & Loguidice (B&L) has added two employees to its Syracuse office. ZACHARY COMSTOCK has joined the Facilities Group as a senior architect. He received his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from SUNY-ESF. Comstock is a registered landscape architect in New York state. WALTER GROSVENOR, JR. has joined the Solid Waste Group as a CAD
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Barton & Loguidice (B&L) has added two employees to its Syracuse office. ZACHARY COMSTOCK has joined the Facilities Group as a senior architect. He received his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from SUNY-ESF. Comstock is a registered landscape architect in New York state. WALTER GROSVENOR, JR. has joined the Solid Waste Group as a CAD technician. He received his associate degree in mechanical technology from Cayuga Community College.
Oswego County OB-GYN, P.C. and Oswego Health has hired obstetrician/gynecologist AYESHA L. TURNER, M.D. A native of Brooklyn, she completed her medical training through a seven-year program that combined the required education for both her undergraduate and medical degrees. Turner attended the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education in New York City and took part
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Oswego County OB-GYN, P.C. and Oswego Health has hired obstetrician/gynecologist AYESHA L. TURNER, M.D. A native of Brooklyn, she completed her medical training through a seven-year program that combined the required education for both her undergraduate and medical degrees. Turner attended the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education in New York City and took part in clinical rotations at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She most recently completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University at Buffalo.
Indium Corporation has promoted JIM MCCOY and JEFF RIVET. McCoy has been named talent acquisition supervisor, responsible for enhancing recruiting efforts and will also manage Indium’s internship program. McCoy joined Indium in 2014 as a talent acquisition coordinator, and has made many contributions, including having led the company’s first job fairs in 2015 and 2017.
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Indium Corporation has promoted JIM MCCOY and JEFF RIVET. McCoy has been named talent acquisition supervisor, responsible for enhancing recruiting efforts and will also manage Indium’s internship program.
McCoy joined Indium in 2014 as a talent acquisition coordinator, and has made many contributions, including having led the company’s first job fairs in 2015 and 2017. He has developed close working relationships within the community, and has helped create and lead Indium’s summer college internship program. McCoy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England College, and is working on his MBA from SUNY Poly.
Rivet has been promoted to supervisor, information systems. He is responsible for managing the help desk team and overseeing all hardware and applications and support activities. Rivet joined Indium in 2012 and has propelled multiple technological advancements, including improvements that allow for more efficient expansion capabilities and security features. He previously served as group leader – network administrator, leading the help desk, telecommunications, and networking teams. Rivet attended Mohawk Valley Community College for mechanical engineering and is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Leadership Skills for Success Program.
Indium also announced that long-time employee LEO DEVINE has accepted the position of business analyst. He joined the company in 2000 and has served in a number of roles with the company, including global communications manager, product line manager, global accounts specialist and most recently Northeast regional sales manager. In addition to his position at Indium, Devine is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Air Force, having served for more than 23 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and computer science from Marist College in Poughkeepsie and is also a graduate of the Defense Information Officer School and received his navigator aeronautical rating.
Currier Plastics has appointed RAYMOND MCKEE as director of manufacturing to fill the position vacated by STEVE FEASTER, who announced earlier this year his plan to retire. McKee was selected from a long list of candidates and it was the mutual ideology along with his experience in the plastics industry that ultimately earned him the
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Currier Plastics has appointed RAYMOND MCKEE as director of manufacturing to fill the position vacated by STEVE FEASTER, who announced earlier this year his plan to retire. McKee was selected from a long list of candidates and it was the mutual ideology along with his experience in the plastics industry that ultimately earned him the position. He holds a bachelor’s degree in plastics engineering technology from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. He previously held the position of production manager where he was directly responsible for efficiency, quality, safety and maintenance of the facility where he worked. McKee has also held positions as a production system coordinator and lean coordinator. Currier has added
DANIEL DEROLLER to the new product development team as project manager. He was chosen for the position because of the relationship he established and maintained as a sales & project engineer at a key vendor for Currier Plastics that designed and built both domestic and offshore tooling for the last five years. With more than 20 years of experience in the plastics industry, DeRoller will join Currier as a seasoned program manager.
Physicians Urgent Care at Griffiss opens in Rome
ROME, N.Y. — Physicians Urgent Care at Griffiss has opened in Rome, providing walk-in urgent-care services for patients age two and older. It’s located in
The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI)
The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) recently announced new hires and promotions. KELLY SMITH is the new CABVI base supply center manager at the Newport Naval Station in Rhode Island. FELIX MENDEZ is the new contact center manager. His educational background is in business management. DAVID HOLBERT, who started as an
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The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) recently announced new hires and promotions. KELLY SMITH is the new CABVI base supply center manager at the Newport Naval Station in Rhode Island. FELIX MENDEZ is the new contact center manager. His educational background is in business management. DAVID HOLBERT, who started as an IT technician, is now the IT manger. He has been with CABVI for two years. Holbert holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information sciences from ECPI University. He is an Army veteran and skilled computer scientist. KIM SCERBO, now the children’s service supervisor, has been employed by the agency for 11 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Utica College with a major in psychology and a minor in early childhood education also holds a master’s degree in education from SUNY Cortland. In addition, Scerbo earned her teacher of the blind and visually impaired certification from Dominican College and holds a NYS professional certification in early childhood education and literacy education. BETSY HARVEY-MINUTTI was recently promoted to senior manager of rehabilitation clinical services. She has been with CABVI for 20 years. Harvey-Minutti was originally hired as a case manager and has consistently shown care and dedication to the job but, more importantly, to the people CABVI serves. She graduated from SUNY Brockport with a bachelor’s degree in social work and received her vision rehab therapist training through Lighthouse in New York City.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.