LETTER: Venesky responds to Dudzinski’s claims

To the editor:

I am writing to respond to Mr. Dudzinski’s “meet the candidates profile.”

Specifically, “Why are you running for office?”

I’d will respond to his falsehoods and then ask you to look into his record when he was supervisor, a record that he does not talk about and one that I’m sure that he would like you to forget.

Mr. Dudzinski makes numerous allegations of corruption yet he offers no proof of any wrongdoing. If there is any, I encourage Mr. Dudzinski to see the District Attorney and file formal charges. He hasn’t, and won’t, because there is no corruption. This is mudslinging of the worst kind. Smear people yet offer no proof. It says a lot about ones character or lack thereof.

We at your town hall have run a town with such pride and one so clean, that I challenge anyone to find even a piece of chewing gum stuck under a desk. His made-up allegations are insulting to every hard working team member at Town Hall.

Mr. Dudzinski did not attend even one meeting on the highway garage. We had many. The case was made, the voters who payed attention approved it. It was needed but neglected when he was supervisor. It will serve this Town and it’s residents for generations to come. It is not a Taj Mahal. It’s a well thought through; bare bones project. The overrun is not in the millions of dollars but is $1.4 million. That unanticipated overrun was caused by his and his running mates passing petitions to force a public referendum which put the project behind by one year. This was not discretionary spending like building a swimming pool or a water park. This was for a needed piece of infrastructure. Without a highway garage, there is no highway department. The referendum alone cost the taxpayers $36,000. The rest of the increase was caused by the increased cost of labor (prevailing wage): materials and tariffs on the price of steel. This is not an unsubstantiated allegation like Mr. Dudzinski throws around; this is documented fact. We’ll make up the difference out of fund balance over the next two years. The town assessments are mandated by the state of New York. As a former town supervisor, he should know that.

The audit by the New York State Comptroller’s office is routine. They like to audit on a seven-year schedule. We haven’t been audited in nine years. Audits are a good thing. They help make us better. After two weeks in Town Hall, there have not been any discrepancies of note. I anticipate that when they are done, they will verify what all of you expect. i.e. a well-run, fiscally responsible town run by hard working people.