According to a person who attended the town budget hearings last week, the Town Board is proposing to pay the soon to be elected Receiver of Taxes (Linda Bablin) a salary of $8,000 annually to do a 3 month job. During this time period Linda will be working her regular full-time job and unable to get to the tax office until after 5 pm during the week. Because Linda will be working full-time and can't man her office during the day, the Town Board is proposing to have the Town Clerk's office collect the taxes during the day Monday-Friday and pay that office $6,500 annually.
Malta voted against abolishing the Receiver of Taxes position (had it passed, the Taxes would have been collected by the Town Clerk). It appears that the voter's decision has been successfully circumvented! Supervisor Paul Sausville, Councilwoman Maggi Ruisi, Councilwoman Tara Thomas, Town Clerk Flo Sickels and soon to be Receiver of Taxes Linda Bablin are all voting members of the Malta Republican Committee. Tara, Maggi & Paul all decide the salaries of the Receiver of Taxes (and all other appointed and elected officials). They don't even need Peter Klotz or John Hartzell to agree, because they have a majority vote. How's this all feeling to you?

Taxpayers....Please take notice

Thanks for that explanation Sue. I thought we had voted on this and was surprised to see that the Town Clerk is going to collect taxes even though we voted against it.
If Linda Bablin can't work the hours required why would she get the job?

Kathie, I just wanted to add my 2 cents for what it's worth on this subject. The judges really do a lot of work and deal with budgetary pressures, over-loaded dockets, work pressures, etc. When you consider the disparity in income of a typical private practice attorney with the type of experience that judges are required to have, it begs the question "what caliber attorney would even want the job of a judge"? I truly believe that increasing the salaries of the judges will provide us with quality judges.

Perhaps to the non-lawyer, a judge's job appears simple. I can honestly tell you that a lot of time and effort beyond sitting on the bench goes into their job. Just in Saratoga County, our judges are required (on a rotating basis) to also preside over the drug court treatment program, review pistol permits, etc. Not being a judge, I am sure there are a ton more duties that they are required to perform (including administrative reporting to the state) that I/we don't even know.

Sorry, just my 2 cents...

F those filthy rat judges - they deserve nothing !! Our court system is a joke ! Stiff people for a $175 seat belt fine when repeat offenders get "another chance".....

quote "what did i tell you if i ever saw you in here again ?? ....well ...i will give you one more time ......."

It's all about getting the revenue.

Yikes, Kathie! No need to get testy! Unless you actually ARE a Supreme Court Judge in the 4th Judicial District, you couldn't possibly have "first hand" knowledge.

I'm just saying that as a practicing attorney in the 4th Judicial District and beyond, having quality judges is important.

I believe the judges put in their time, however most of the leg work to build up to most decissions come out of the district attorney's office. It is the DA's (not our DA on this site)
office that make the case. The presiding judge is the referee and the person that is called upon to give out the punishment.
I base this on experience.

Nooner... I respectfully disagree. DA's have nothing to do with civil laws and can only articulate the prosecutor's position on the criminal side.

Well, here is my example...I got a ticket in the town of Malta awhile back. I came in front of Judge Nichols, who said I should get a lawyer.
I seen the assistant DA there and approached him. He says I can only talk to your lawyer.
So I canceled, went back with a lawyer, he talked to the assistant DA that night, mada a plea to lesser charge when judge said how do you plead on this. I pled the way the Assistant DA told my lawyer to do.
SO the judge had nothing to do with anything but to ask a question an impose a small fine.
This goes on in bigger courts as well, I sat on a jury that lasted all of 1/2 day do to a plea bargain from the persons lawyer to DA.
So what schooling do you have to compare against my experiences.
You may have the name, but sometimes your knowledge is questionable.

Yikes, Nooner! Yes, I do have knowledge of that which I speak... But, clearly my opinion differs from yours.

Mine is not opinion...mine is fact.
If you were referring to the State Supreme
court judges, or family court, then perhaps
your opinion may be useful.
Do you have in court experience or book references. I'll see that you get updated books in the library Or you may want to visit some court rooms..AND I don't mean on TV.

I don't know how much clearer I have to be, Nooner! YES, I appear in court. YES, I have experience in all levels of courts in NY (with the exception of the Court of Claims, 2nd Circuit and Court of Appeals). So, when I give my opinion on this topic (while still ONLY my opinion), it does come from some element of actual experience.

Now I know a little more about you.
You appear in court and you have an opinion.
Are you a stenographer?
Are you a criminal?
You can not be a lawyer, can not be a judge,
Are you profional jurer?
Let me know when I get hot.
You are a news person covering the court cases?
I am not giving up till I get it.

I'm a court officer.

quote:

Originally posted by Irish Law Girl:
I'm a court officer.

and don't forget about my side job...

She is the sargent of arms, plus a redheaded stripper at night, that one we are sure of..lol
I think Kathy is close.
Not too many court officers....
Let's narrow this down farther, you work in the county court?
By your blogs you do not travel far from home so it is close.
Does your job have you in the accual court room?
Do you watch a security TV?
Come on Kathy help out!