City department head travel irks mayor

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December 27, 2009

<br><br><img src="/homepage/images_image_276103054" alt="">  Council sends department head to Califorina conference

By JOE LoTEMPLIO The Press Republican Sun Dec 27, 2009, 10:28 PM EST

PLATTSBURGH — City of Plattsburgh councilors agreed to send a department head to California for a conference, much to the dismay of the mayor, who says the trip is unnecessary.

Environmental Manager Jonathan Ruff sought approval at this week's meeting to attend the "Utility Management Conference: Common Challenges, Management Solutions," in San Francisco Feb. 21 to 24, 2010.

The cost is not to exceed $2,551, and there is money in the department budget for the trip.

The conference deals with wastewater, sludge and dam issues, as well as techniques for financing water tanks and other environmental issues.

Ruff told councilors that he hoped to learn methods that could save the city money.

Councilor James Calnon (I-Ward 4), the city's budget officer, said the conference should be helpful to the city.

"It is important that all of our staff, particularly management, have updated training, and this seems like an appropriate conference for him to go to."

The council approved the trip by a 5-to-1 vote with Calnon, Timothy Carpenter (D-Ward 1), Michael Kelly (D-Ward 2), Amy Valentine (D-Ward 5) and Chris Jackson (D-Ward 6) voting in favor and George Rabideau (R-Ward 3) voting against it.

Mayor Donald Kasprzak said he was disappointed with the council's decision.

"Over the last few years, I have not agreed with many council decisions on how they spend taxpayer dollars, and I did not support this trip for $2,551.

"I believe that in this age of technology that we could have gotten CDs on this material or participated in a Webinar (Interet classes) and received the same benefits."

Kasprzak said that just because the money is in the budget does not mean it has to be spent.

"I am fiscally conservative, as everybody knows, and I have a problem with politicians who continue to spend money in ways I don't agree with. This is why we are facing the financial problems we see in Washington and Albany."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com