ROTTERDAM Board’s lone Democrat to quit BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
The Town Board’s only Democrat, John Silva, plans to resign from his seat today, citing his inability to adequately serve in the position because of his job as a traveling health care consultant. The first-term board member said his fledgling health care consulting business had landed him an interim assignment for nearly fi ve months in California, as well as work in both Missouri and New Jersey over the next year. He had initially hoped telecommuting would allow him to stay in the area, but quickly realized it would be impossible. “It’s not working out that way,” he said Monday during a phone interview. “It’s not an appropriate position for anybody who wants to serve the people of Rotterdam.” Silva’s resignation comes a year after he took office in January 2008. The remaining four board members, all Republicans, will choose a successor for Silva, whose term expires in 2011. Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the board will give Silva’s seat to a Republican. He said he was dismayed by Silva’s departure because he worked well with the board’s majority. “It’s unfortunate,” he said. Town Republican Chairman Gerard Parisi said his party is already making plans to endorse a replacement for Silva. He said the committee will start interviewing candidates this weekend in an effort to quickly fill the vacancy. Tony Cervera, chairman of the Rotterdam Democrats, said he hadn’t spoken to Silva in several weeks, but was aware of his predicament with work. He was displeased to learn the Democrats would lose their only voice on the board for the next two years. “We had someone there to keep them honest and now we don’t,” he said. Silva won election to the board in November 2007. He formerly served as the chief executive officer of Hometown Health Centers before resigning from the financially struggling clinic last autumn.
I get to work today, where someone brings in the gazette everyday, and I find this article buried on page B5 AFTER stories about Saratoga, Gloversville, Amsterdam, Montgomery, Fulton County AND the obituaries!!! How can they start their printings with a Schenectady article, shift to Saratoga, Gloversville, etc., throw in the obits THEN return to Schenectady County with an 'important' blurb about Rotterdam?
I realize that it is now the DAILY GAZETTE...but they are located in 'Schenectady County' aren't they? Or has their readership decreased in Schenectady that they are now catering to other outside areas? There is enough stuff going on in Schenectady County to fill the entire newspaper...if they would only print them.
Putting that aside, I like Silva. I thought he worked well with the entire board and it appeared that he focused on what would be best for Rotterdam. He'll be missed.
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
A shocker??? The only member who has missed more meetings than Silva is Della Villa. When will Rotterdam residents wake up and realize the total breakdown of the town government in Rotterdam is upon us. A do nothing town board who special interest is family and friends. Signore's kid, Tomassone's family connections with assessment reductions, Della Villa computer contracts and Mertz unholy alliance with Teddy. Only in Rotterdam could these blokes get away with this. John Paolino can you hear us!!!!!!!
I believe you just described the county legislatures or the schenectady city council. I would strongly suggest, if you haven't already, attend MORE THAN ONE county legislature meeting and a city council meeting.
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
I agree with PDQ....... but once again, what I love about this Republican propaganda site is that PDQ makes a valid point and Bumble does the "don't look at me, look at what the other kids are doing"....
I agree with PDQ....... but once again, what I love about this Republican propaganda site is that PDQ makes a valid point and Bumble does the "don't look at me, look at what the other kids are doing"....
First I'm a registered 'blank'. (no smart remarks please ) Second, everyone needs to start looking at the 'other kids' and see what they are doing.....REALLY!!! There is a bigger picture folks.
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
Agreed, the county leg needs to be looked at.....but once again, your ignoring the post about the town board in rotterdam. An all republican town board now, that is a good system of checks & balances......
it would as nice to have a democrat on that board if we could since Stevie is ruining the town over here and the wooden heards of the sheep go along. Nowhere in the county do we have any sort of an inbalance of the power and I think we need the D.A. or Cuomo to look into what kind of conspiracy they have going on over there and why they forced John to resign.
Agreed, the county leg needs to be looked at.....but once again, your ignoring the post about the town board in rotterdam. An all republican town board now, that is a good system of checks & balances......
I don't know what you are expecting me to say. I already said that I was a registered blank. I already said that I liked and will miss Mr. Silva. I approve of Tommasone and Mertz. Della Villa's ok and Signore is questionable.
As far as checks and balances go, Rotterdam still has the luxury of residential pressure. The problem is, as usual, there are always just the select few that will speak up or attend meetings. They rely solely on campaign rhetoric during election time without a clue of what has unfolded in the past years.
And again...if you want to talk about checks and balances just take a look at the county leg and the city council. They make decisions that impact our little town of Rotterdam with hardly any checks and balances. And people don't attend those meetings either. And the reason being?....they don't listen to the people.
Got it now?
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
Bumble you remain one of the phoney boloney posters. You went blank when Johnny Boy Mertz got the axe from Gerry Parisi. Who you kiddin. Signore is questionable???? Based on what? He wears the same sheep clothings as the others except his comes with a plumbers belt!! What has Della Villa done besides raises taxes ten-fold over his tenure at Schalmont and Rotterdam. You are a blank allright!!!
Bumble you remain one of the phoney boloney posters. You went blank when Johnny Boy Mertz got the axe from Gerry Parisi. Who you kiddin. Signore is questionable???? Based on what? He wears the same sheep clothings as the others except his comes with a plumbers belt!! What has Della Villa done besides raises taxes ten-fold over his tenure at Schalmont and Rotterdam. You are a blank allright!!!
Well you clearly have it all wrong on why and when I registerd a blank. Not that it really matters. What really matters is expecting some fiscal responsibility from our elected officials that is long overdue. And it will take 'all of us' to attend 'all' meetings and tell them.
“Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
Logged
) Second, everyone needs to start looking at the 'other kids' and see what they are doing.....REALLY!!! There is a bigger picture folks. 
I already said that I was a registered blank. I already said that I liked and will miss Mr. Silva. I approve of Tommasone and Mertz. Della Villa's ok and Signore is questionable. 
