"Flawed and Disturbing" Is What Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro Calls Central Hudson's Roll Out Of New Billing System

Central Hudson, the area’s deliverer of energy and gas, announced that they launched a new “customer information system” on September 1, 2021. As a result, some people did not receive a bill for months, according to complaints voiced on social media and submitted to A Little Beacon Blog. Some people received an “Estimated” bill for 4 months in a row, which according to New York State law, is not within regulation. Central Hudson’s Media Relations Director, John Maserjian, explained that regulation to A Little Beacon Blog:

“The reason Central Hudson reads meters every other month is due to a requirement in 2016 by utility regulators. Prior to 2016, Central Hudson billed every two months with actual meter readings. The state then required Central Hudson to bill monthly, however we were unable to read meters every month without raising rates. The state agreed to allow for estimates every other month, which we have been providing since then. We are now looking into alternatives that would allow for more consistent actual meter readings.”

On February 10, 2022, Central Hudson issued a press release alerting customers to rising electric and gas rates, citing various reasons for the spike, including colder weather this winter, the closure of Indian Point, and a shortage of liquefied natural gas in Europe as the United States is one of the main exporters of liquefied natural gas to Europe, in addition to Qatar and Russia (pre-Russian invasion of Ukraine).

Delivery Dollars In The Details

Residents across the region opened their eyes to how they were being billed by Central Hudson, and started complaining. Especially if they were used to a bill for $500 and received one for $2,500 after receiving no bill for 4 months. According to some customers who shared their experiences with A Little Beacon Blog, they were not offered a payment plan unless they called Central Hudson, usually in a panic about their bill.

According to a letter posted on customers’ February bills, only 5% of customers were effected. According to the wave of complaints in social media, that number seemed higher. Hearing the complaints, The City of Beacon’s Councilmember George Mansfield brought up the confusion he was hearing from residents, which prompted a meeting to be scheduled with Central Hudson and the City of Beacon to present to Beacon residents during a City Council Meeting.

The meeting was scheduled but postponed after the last blizzard caused extreme electricity outages in Ulster County, which Central Hudson worked hard to restore. High level employees of Central Hudson did present to Beacon’s City Council weeks later on February 22, 2022.

Days earlier, on February 16, 2022, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro issued a statement via press release stating his discontent with Central Hudson’s treatment of billing customers. His statement in full is below:

“Central Hudson‘s roll out of a new billing system and failure to communicate effectively with our residents in anticipation of increased energy costs is flawed and disturbing. 

“Gas prices globally have spiked, and nationally we are experiencing an unbearable rate of inflation. Locally, New York State’s decision to close Indian Point shifted the region from a reliance on steady, stable and affordable energy to an unstable commodity*. Bitter cold temperatures have further exacerbated the situation by increasing demand. 

“Some of what we’re experiencing can be attributed to bad decisions and bad policy in Albany and Washington, but Central Hudson bears much responsibility here. They knew a rate increase was imminent. They have absolute control over their operations and communications. It is clear based on the countless individuals who have communicated with my office that Central Hudson’s outreach efforts have failed.  

“The shocking utility bills our residents are receiving adds insult to the injury from last year‘s flawed rollout of their new billing system. Central Hudson has an obligation to keep our community informed about the cost of the energy they deliver. 

“Too many families living paycheck to paycheck cannot bear the weight of inflation. Add to that a confusing and shocking utility bill increase and we have a recipe for disaster.

“Central Hudson must do better. They can do better. It’s time they provide assistance and relief to our residents.”

What Is The “Unstable Commodity” Marcus Molinaro Referred To?

In his statement above, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro referred to an “unstable commodity.” A Little Beacon Blog followed up to see which commodity he was referring to. His response:

“The unstable commodity is natural gas. The reference to ‘unstable’ relates to the short and long term instability that are often exhibited with raw materials, such as oil or natural gas, due to sudden changes in market conditions that affect supply and demand.

“Indian Point was not a raw material energy producer – the plant had a consistent output that did not fluctuate due to resource availability. It provided approximately 13% of the state’s electricity serving more than 2 million homes.

“To offset the power to provide electricity, New York State permitted three natural gas fired power plants. These plants are subject to the ‘instability’ of fluctuations in natural gas pricing which we are experiencing. The natural gas (commodity) needed for these three plants is not generated locally.

“Demand for natural gas has increased globally—spikes in frigid temperatures and the demand for electric vehicles have further increased the demand on natural gas as a significant amount of the state’s energy comes from natural gas-fired plants. At the same time, the banning of certain ways to source natural gas and the termination of projects or infrastructure to transport gas to the states have reduced supply.”

Reasons For Rising Rate Repeatedly Left Out Of Communications

Despite the closing of Indian Point, residents of Beacon and neighboring municipalities had the opportunity to opt-in to a fixed rate on their energy bill of .06361/kwh (kilowatt hour), which was in a locally legislated deal known as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) structured and organized by Hudson Valley Energy in July 2019.

After a change in energy supplier (Direct Energy to Columbia Utilities) that rate was renegotiated to $.06572/kwh, far lower than what Central Hudson’s current rate for electricity is ($.21 for February 2022). The rate that Central Hudson charges for electricity is a variable rate, which means that it can change, and is not locked in, like Beacon’s rate is. Central Hudson’s new rate will reach $.21/kwh, as you can see in their chart of monthly rates here.

The source of the lower-priced rate negotiated by Hudson Valley Energy is 100% renewable energy. Usually that does not sit well with proponents of power plants like Indian Point. Currently, the 100% renewable energy is in a fixed, stable rate, and energy and gas prices are variable and spiking.

When the new, locked-in Beacon rate became available in 2019, about 10% of Beaconites opted out, according the Jeffrey Domanski of Hudson Valley Energy, a Beaconite who manages the group-rate fixed rate for Hudson Valley Energy. That was then. Currently, he says that 15% of Beaconites have opted out, with 70% of Beaconties enrolled in the locked-in rate.

Beaconites and any resident of one of the municipalities enrolled in this program can opt-in at any time by contacting Jeffrey directly at cca@hudsonvalleyenergy.org. Those municipalities currently include the City of Beacon, Town of Clinton, Village of Cold Spring, Town of Marbletown, Town of New Paltz, Village of New Paltz, Town of Philipstown, City of Poughkeepsie, Town of Red Hook, and the Town of Saugerties. Learn more about the program here.

Why Isn’t The Lower Locked-In Rate From Beacon’s CCA Headline News?

Why isn’t every Beaconite opted in to the lower locked in rate? Because messaging on it has been confusing from Central Hudson from the beginning. A Little Beacon Blog reported on that confusing letter from Central Hudson years ago, and the confusing messaging hasn’t stopped. Customer service representatives at Central Hudson claim to barely know about it, despite it being signed into legislation by Beacon’s City Council. Messaging from door-to-door peddlers of solar panels have also sown confusion and doubt about the program, according to this writer’s own experience with 2 of them.

At its core, the locked-in energy rate is drawing from 100% renewable energy. Which in and of itself, can draw skepticism from people. Couple that with the solar panel sales people who come door to door (illegally, by the way, as they should not do that without a Peddler’s Permit which they never show - they show their photo ID from their employer but that’s not the same thing as a Peddler’s Permit. they prey on people, especially the elderly who will fall for their very well-crafted sales pitches).

How To Get The Locked-In Rate

This is a developing story. A Little Beacon Blog has more reporting to share with you on it. Know this: If you want to opt-in to the fixed energy rate for Beacon, which is $.06361/kwh instead of the $0.21995 Central Hudson’s variable rate is now up to, email Jeffrey directly at cca@hudsonvalleyenergy.org.

The locked-in rate is not guaranteed to be lower at all times, as the rest of the market fluctuates. Since its start in 2019, it has outperformed the variable fossil-fuel market rate.

For questions about the fixed rate for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), do not email or call Columbia Utilities, as Central Hudson has instructed you to do. As this is a legislated agreement with several municipalities, it is odd that Central Hudson’s customer service representatives, as well as printed letters from Central Hudson’s marketing department, would divulge such little information about how to get in touch with the point person of the many municipal-wide Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program that is written into Beacon’s city code.

The point person to hook you up for free to this locked in rate is Jeffrey Domanski of Hudson Valley Energy at cca@hudsonvalleyenergy.org.

NOTE: This locked in rate is not the Budget Billing plan that Central Hudson encourages customers to start. There is much skepticism about that Budget Billing plan, and if it is based on Actual readings, and how many customers have gotten money back if they used less energy and gas then Central Hudson projected for them.

To be continued…

Sales Tax Eliminated For Clothes & Shoes Under $110 In Dutchess County - Plus - Forfeited Beacon Sales Tax Renegotiated Without Disclosing Beacon's Collection To Public

Starting March 1st, 2022 residents and visitors shopping in Dutchess County will not pay sales tax on individual clothing or footwear items costing less than $110. This cut in sales tax was first announced in October 2021, and adopted when Dutchess County passed its budget in December 2021. Sales tax generated from Beacon continues to be forfeited to Dutchess County - meaning the City of Beacon does not collect the money generated from sales tax to spend at its digression.

For decades, the decision for Beacon, Poughkeepsie and other municipalities in Dutchess County has been to funnel sales tax money to Dutchess County, and receive negotiated payments from Dutchess County in return. The dollar amount of sales tax generated from Beacon has not been disclosed by Dutchess County or New York State, as reported by A Little Beacon Blog, and continues to not be disclosed during Beacon’s recent negotiations with Mayor Lee Kyriacou in 2022 and signed legislation to continue the practice.

But First - The Benefit For Shoppers

According to Dutchess County’s press release from Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro sent 2/28/2022: “The sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear was adopted as part of the 2022 County Budget which provided for and is part of several efforts to deliver sustained tax relief to Dutchess County residents with more than $20 million in annual tax relief, including the largest property tax decrease in County history.”

“Starting Tuesday, residents and visitors will now pay less when they need to make essential clothing and footwear purchases. Combined, we are delivering $20 million in sustained tax relief.”

This means that every item in a store that is clothing or footwear and is under $110 will not be charged sales tax. Shops that ring their sales up manually will need to remember to do this when writing out the receipt. Shops that use point of sale (POS) systems and bookkeeping software like QuickBooks will have an easier time of assigning what products within their inventory have sales tax attached.

Different Sales Taxes Attached To Each Purchase In New York State

There are different taxes attached to retail sales. “In New York State, clothing, footwear, and items used to make or repair exempt clothing which are sold for less than $110 per item or pair are currently exempt from the State’s 4% sales tax,” according to Dutchess County’s press release.

“Consumers currently pay the Dutchess County sales tax rate of 3.75% and the 3/8th% Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MTA) tax, for a total of 4.125% tax on these purchases,” the press release outlined. “Effective March 1st, 2022, Dutchess County becomes one of only 9 counties in New York to eliminate county sales tax on clothing and footwear items under $110, and the only county in the mid-Hudson Valley region to do so.”

Those counties are or have been: Chautauqua County, Chenango County (outside the following) Norwich (city), Columbia County, Delaware County, Dutchess County, Greene County, Hamilton County, Tioga County, and New York City.

The sales tax exemption is a per-item exemption and doe snot include the 3/8th% MTA tax.

According to the press release, Dutchess County retailers were notified of the upcoming sales tax change by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Specific details of the exemption are available online Publication 718-C – Sales and Use Tax Rates on Clothing and Footwear.

Details Of Type Of Clothing Exempt

According to the legislation, “the exemption applies only to clothing and footwear worn by humans. It also applies to most fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks, zippers, and similar items that become a physical component part of exempt clothing, or that are used to make or repair exempt clothing.”

Items not included in the exemption include costumes or rented formal wear; items made from pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, or imitations; athletic equipment; or protective devices, such as motorcycle helmets.

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What This Means For Sales Tax Collected From Beacon

New sales tax sharing agreement for 2023-2032 have been negotiated and are being signed into law. The dollar amount of sales tax generated from stores in Beacon has not been disclosed to the public by Mayor Kyriacou, who very briefly briefed the City Council at a Workshop meeting in February 2022, and more in depth at the following meeting, where the renegotiated rate was unanimously voted Yes on.

According to Dutchess County’s 2/28/2022 press release announcing this new sales tax cut: “The clothing and sales tax exemption goes into effect as the County is working with the Cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie to update the current sales tax sharing agreement, which provides millions of dollars in sales tax revenue to local municipalities each year. The current agreement expires in 2023, and requires the authorization of each City Council, the County Legislature, and the NYS Comptroller.

“The agreement allows Dutchess County Government to continue to collect a 3.75% County Sales and Use Tax, with the Cities of Poughkeepsie and Beacon surrendering their right to receive one-half of the non-state sales and use tax (which equals 1.5%) collected within their respective municipalities. (The agreement is among these three parties because under state law, only county and city governments have the right to impose a local sales tax; towns and villages do not have that right.)

“The new agreement will be a streamlined agreement that eliminates the complicated formula for sales tax growth contained in the current agreement. The new agreement, which will run from 2023 to 2033, will be a simple percentage formula. Each of the cities will see a graduated increase in the percentage of sales tax received over the term of the agreement, with the City of Poughkeepsie increasing their percentage of sales tax collected from the current 4.59% to receiving 6.02% by 2030. The City of Beacon will go from its current 2.00% to receiving 2.62% by 2030. Local towns and villages will continue to share 9.5% of total county sales tax collected.

“Over the last 10 years, we have distributed more than $300 million in sales tax to our 2 cities, 20 towns and 8 villages. This new agreement increases the percentage of sales tax the two cities will receive, while ensuring the towns and villages sales tax revenue is protected and grows as sales tax receipts grow,” County Executive Molinaro said.

“The City of Beacon Council voted to approve the new agreement on Tuesday, February 22nd. The City of Poughkeepsie Council is expected to vote on the agreement on March 14th. It will then go to the Dutchess County Legislature for vote at the April board meeting.”

Generated Sales Tax Grew In 2021

According to a press release made by Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinar’s office on 10/13/2021: “Dutchess County has seen revenues rebound strongly in 2021, with sales tax receipts well exceeding original projections year-to-date and continued federal reimbursement for many of the COVID-19 expenses as well as American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. This has enabled the County to fill many of the positions that had been held vacant this year and restore full position funding in the 2022 Executive Budget, expand and enhance programs, while also reducing the property tax levy – the amount collected from property taxpayers.”

While Dutchess County indicates that they know the sales tax number generated to them by surrounding municipalities who have forfeited their right to collect their own sales taxes, the totals for each municipalities continues to not be disclosed by Dutchess County, or Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou, if that number was disclosed to him while negotiating with the county on the rate.

Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver said, “At a time when many costs are going up for families, I am very proud that Dutchess County Government is doing all we can to lower costs for our residents. This sales tax exemption helps people hang on to their hard-earned money and also makes Dutchess County an even more attractive shopping destination for visitors. We have worked hard to make smart, conservative fiscal decisions over the years so we can keep providing savings to our citizens.”

Knowing the sales tax number generated by each municipality would help all Dutchess County residents know if their municipality were getting a good deal from the County when being cut a check to be used at each municipality’s digression, in addition to being provided services by Dutchess County.

Beacon Paid $50,452 To Willing and Able Highway Department Employee To Not Work

In 2021, the City of Beacon paid $50,452 of admin leave to Reuben Simmons, an employee with the Highway Department who is of mixed race and identifies as Black. ALBB has confirmed this amount with Reuben when we asked if he would make public his payments from the city for 2021. This is as per union rules as Reuben understands them, when an employee is presented with a discipline, the City can give up to 30 days suspension without pay, after which the employee is placed back on payroll while the process continues. Reuben has been served with 2 disciplines totaling 60 days over a course of at least 8 hearings with the City and their attorneys.

Reuben has worked for the City of Beacon in the Highway Department since 2002, where he started in the Summer Help position. He worked his way up to Laborer, then Maintenance Worker. During that time, he was appointed Union President for the City of Beacon CSEA Local 814 Unit 6662.

In 2017, Reuben was appointed Highway Superintendent, the lead position in that department, by then Mayor Randy Casale, with the support of then City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero. In 2018, Dutchess County reached out to the City of Beacon to let the City know that the job title was incorrect, and that Superintendent of Streets was the proper title, but required a different Civil Service exam to qualify for the position. Fellow employee Michael “Micki” Manzi qualified for the test, and replaced Reuben as Superintendent of Streets. All of the people mentioned here except Reuben are white. To this day, the job title is stated on the City of Beacon’s website as Highway Superintendent.

During this transition under the management of then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, Reuben was not given the opportunity to take the required Civil Service exam in order to accept or maintain his job position of Highway Superintendent. Extending this opportunity to someone in an existing role is not unheard of in the City of Beacon. Listen to Reuben tell it in his own words on the “Wait, What Is That?” podcast.

For example: at the 5/17/2021 City Council Meeting, current City Administrator Chris White announced that longtime Water Department employee Ed Balicki, who is white, would become Superintendent of Water and Sewers. “We are moving Ed to the proper title,” explained City Administrator White to the City Council at that meeting. “Ed will have to take a Civil Service Exam…We don't think there will be any issue.” Ed passed the exam, and was re-titled.

In Reuben’s case, he was stripped of his title, and demoted back down to Maintenance Worker, then promoted to Working Supervisor, and demoted to Maintenance Worker within a 2 year period. During the first week of January 2021, he was placed on his first round of unpaid leave, and the order of City Administrator Chris, accompanied by a stack of charges against him signed by City Administrator Chris, which ALBB did see documentation of. These charges amounted to lists of generalities of what intersections Reuben was accused of not doing work, returning late from lunch, and an auto accident that Reuben reported to his supervisor Michael Manzi by way of announcing it on the Highway Department radio, and again in a later discussion, according to Reuben.

Auto accidents are not uncommon in the Highway Department, or other departments within the City of Beacon where vehicles are driving by city employees. What is not disclosed by the City of Beacon is when these auto accidents happen, and if they are reported. For example, the public is not informed of when the new Highway Garage gets a dent in a garage door,, for instance, or if an employee did get into a fender bender, and if that incident got reported or not. Additionally, the public is not regularly informed when an employee resigns or is fired, but the public is informed of each new hire when that employee is presented to the City Council the night of a vote to hire them.

Recently, two employees of the administration resigned, which were announced during City Council Meetings: Beacon’s first HR Director, Gina Basile, who left after a year and seven months on the job, according to her LinkedIn, and the Mayor’s Assistant, Collin Milone.

Gina was tasked with reviewing the Highway Department’s work atmosphere, and found it to be troubled: “Beacon’s New HR Director Hears From City Employees About Discrimination, Inequality, Growing Tensions; Suggests Solutions; Begins With Highway Department.”

Shortly thereafter, a Diversity and Inclusions Statement was presented and passed in the City of Beacon, when then City Councilmember Air Nonken Rhodes stated: “This isn’t lip service.”

The City of Beacon has hosted at least 8 hearings against Reuben in 2021, which involve the city’s labor attorney and an arbitrator. During the 8th meeting, the City of Beacon actively closed the meeting to the media, by requesting that ALBB leave the call (ALBB was sent an invite to the hearing via Zoom by the arbitrator at Reuben’s request). The city attorney stated that the meeting was closed, and that Reuben had wanted it closed. Reuben denied that, stating that he wanted the hearings open to the public from the beginning, and then stated it again in an article on ALBB.

During this time, In 2021 alone, the City of Beacon under the direction of City Administrator Chris has made two transfers to cover unplanned costs from unrelated areas of the budget to another area of the budget called “Employee Discipline,” bringing that unbudgeted total to over $110,000.

Reuben was put on unpaid leave in January 2021 for a 30 day period, followed by a second 30 day unpaid leave period for disciplinary reasons. The City of Beacon has not made public what those disciplinary reasons are (though ALBB has seen the first stack of the vague charges), or why they have spent so much money for a willing and able Highway Department employee to not work for over a year, during a national labor shortage. During the summer of 2021, the City of Beacon could not completely fill the 6 Summer Jobs it seasonally fills to fill its department.

Rental Application Assistance (Ayuda) Offered By Community Action For NY State Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The flyer for assistance with rental relief distributed by Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County in English.

June 1, 2021 was the first day that the Emergency Rental Assistance Program opened in New York State. Money is on the table to help those who meet income thresholds, and within the order of priorities. Getting that money can be confusing, as you wade your way through applications. Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County, with an office on Main Street in Beacon, says they are here to help. Their Beacon office is on 10 Eliza Street, which is in the Rite Aid parking lot behind Antalek and Moore Insurance.

To help you apply: call Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County at 845-452-5104 or email info@dutchesscap.org. You can also visit www.dutchesscap.org and click “Apply for Services.”

How Community Action Helps With The Application:

The flyer for assistance with rental relief distributed by Community Action Partnership For Dutchess County in Spanish.

We asked Samantha Riley, Director of Family Resources for Community Action, to walk us through how Community Action helps with the applicaation process, and what kind of issues people have come up against. Here’s what she told us:

“We are available to help screen for eligibility and to assist with families with applying for the program. This looks different for every person depending on their ability. The application must be completed online by both the tenant and landlord. Some families just need to be talked through the process and can apply on their own, and others can’t do it on their own for various reasons.”

Samantha continued: “Our first priority for assisting families with applying is to assist those who do not have internet access at home. For those families, if they just need access to a computer we have a computer at each of our locations for the public to use. If families need help filling out the application, we can assist them 1:1 either in person or over the phone; preferably by appointment.

“The required Documents need to be uploaded to the online application. We mostly right now are getting calls about families needing help with that process, which we can help with.”

To help you apply: call Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County at 845-452-5104 or email info@dutchesscap.org. You can also visit www.dutchesscap.org and click “Apply for Services.”

About New York State Emergency Renal Assistance Program (ERAP)

The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance, and utility arrears assistance.

Eligibility

New York residents are eligible for ERAP if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Household gross income is at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). These income limits differ by county and household size. A household may qualify based on current income or calendar year 2020 income that is at or below 80 percent AMI.

• On or after March 13, 2020, a member of the household received unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced financial hardship, directly or indirectly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The applicant is obligated to pay rent at their primary residence and has rental arrears (rent overdue) at their current residence for rent owed on or after March 13, 2020.

• The household must be at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which can be demonstrated by having rental arrears owed on or after March 13, 2020.

Benefits

Households approved for ERAP may receive:

• Up to 12 months of rental arrears payments for rents accrued on or after March 13, 2020.

• Up to 3 months of additional rental assistance if the household is expected to spend 30 percent or more of their gross monthly income to pay for rent.

• Up to 12 months of electric or gas utility arrears payments for arrears that have accrued on or after March 13, 2020.

Apply

Program open as of June 1, 2021. Applications are now being accepted. Apply here >

To help you apply: call Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County at 845-452-5104 or email info@dutchesscap.org. You can also visit www.dutchesscap.org and click “Apply for Services.”

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El dinero está aquí para ayudar a aquellos que están económicamente aplastados por la pandemia, pero solicitarlo puede ser un trabajo de tiempo completo, además de ser difícil de entender. ¡La Asociación de Acción Comunitaria del Condado de Dutchess tiene un programa para eso! Samantha Riley de Community Action se ha acercado al Blog de A Little Beacon con la esperanza de hacer correr la voz de que están aquí para ayudar. Así es como funciona: El Programa de asistencia de emergencia para el alquiler del estado de Nueva York (ERAP) proporcionará un alivio económico significativo para ayudar a los hogares de ingresos bajos y moderados en riesgo de quedarse sin hogar o inestabilidad de la vivienda al proporcionar asistencia para el alquiler atrasado, asistencia temporal para el alquiler y asistencia para el pago de servicios públicos.

Elegibilidad

Los residentes de Nueva York son elegibles para ERAP si cumplen con todos los siguientes criterios:

• El ingreso bruto del hogar es igual o inferior al 80 por ciento del ingreso medio del área (AMI). Estos límites de ingresos difieren según el condado y el tamaño del hogar. Un hogar puede calificar según los ingresos actuales o los ingresos del año calendario 2020 que sean iguales o inferiores al 80 por ciento del AMI.

• A partir del 13 de marzo de 2020, un miembro del hogar recibió beneficios por desempleo o experimentó una reducción en sus ingresos, incurrió en costos significativos o experimentó dificultades financieras, directa o indirectamente, debido a la pandemia de COVID-19.

• El solicitante está obligado a pagar el alquiler en su residencia principal y tiene atrasos en el alquiler (alquiler vencido) en su residencia actual por el alquiler adeudado a partir del 13 de marzo de 2020.

• El hogar debe estar en riesgo de experimentar falta de vivienda o inestabilidad de la vivienda, lo que puede demostrarse si se adeudan pagos de alquiler a partir del 13 de marzo de 2020.

Beneficios

Los hogares aprobados para ERAP pueden recibir:

• Hasta 12 meses de pagos atrasados ​​de alquiler para alquileres acumulados a partir del 13 de marzo de 2020.

• Hasta 3 meses de asistencia adicional para el alquiler si se espera que el hogar gaste el 30 por ciento o más de sus ingresos brutos mensuales para pagar el alquiler.

• Hasta 12 meses de pagos atrasados ​​de servicios públicos de electricidad o gas por atrasos que se hayan acumulado a partir del 13 de marzo de 2020.

Solicitar

Programa abierto a partir del 1 de junio de 2021. Ahora se aceptan solicitudes. Aplicar aquí>

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Dutchess Community Action Partnership is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Contact them by phone: 844-NY1RENT (844-691-7368)
For the hearing impaired, TTY phone number: 1-833-843-8829.

During Hot Mess Of Water Department Hires, Beacon Passes Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Related Links:

• Black Highway Department Employee & Community Organizer Put On 30-Day Unpaid Leave Since January 2021

• "Wait, What Is That?" Episode 5: Reuben Simmons And His One-Time Job Position As Highway Superintendent
  Hear it from Reuben himself, the summer before he was put on 30-Day Unpaid Leave

• Beacon’s New HR Director Hears From City Employees About Discrimination, Inequality, Growing Tensions; Suggests Solutions; Begins With Highway Department

• These 2 Black Beaconites Describe Being Ignored When Applying For Recent Water Department Or City Jobs

• "Beacon's Water Department Is A Completely Caucasian Department... Some Of Their [Highway Department Employees’] Behaviors Are Questionable"

• During Hot Mess Of Water Department Hires, Beacon Passes Diversity and Inclusion Statement

• Beacon Gets New City Administrator Chris White - Taking A Moment To Look Back At Past Administrator Actions

• Why Black Lives Matter (BLM) Signs In Storefront Windows Still Matter In 2021

Editorial Note: This article is long, but please consider reading in full. This article was intended to be a simple announcement of the City of Beacon passing “Resolution Adopting Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement” on October 5, 2020. However, during the City Council Meeting where that vote took place, a lot of discussion happened around the hiring practices of Beacon’s Water Department.

Reporting on employment within the City of Beacon has been difficult because discussions about the hiring, firing and disciplinary action of employees happens in a private meeting called an Executive Session, which happens after a public City Council meeting, or within City offices presumably during the work day. The Executive Session will be announced, and Council will go into it for a designated reason, for example: “Personnel” or “Real Estate,” and the camera shuts off.

Therefore, what is said in public is often framed carefully by the speaker, and can imply further issues, but not state them explicitly. It requires the listener to read between the lines in order to follow along with what is happening. Once the full picture is learned, often these public meetings about employment make more sense. Until then, many quotes are needed in order to figure out what is happening, or not happening.

Beacon’s Presentation Of Its Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement

Beacon’s Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement, posted on the new Human Resources page, like a shield. Job Postings are now listed underneath this document.

The City of Beacon signed into law a Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement on October 5, 2020. It came on an evening where the City of Beacon was announcing 2 new appointed hires to the Water Department: Justin Herring as Water and Sewer Superintendent, and Ricardo Brown as a Water and Sewer Maintenance Worker. During the presentation of the Diversity statement, the term “we’ve got work to do” was used several times. Councilperson Air Nonken Rhodes made a point to say: “This isn’t lip service.”

On the same evening, Mayor Lee Kyriacou also announced the hiring of Beacon’s new Human Resources (HR) Director, Gina Basile, who was hired on July 20, 2020 and previously worked as Human Resources Manager for the New York State Bridge Authority. She wanted the diversity statement published, which is currently included on the new main page of the Human Resources page, like a shield. You can read the Diversity and Inclusion Statement here, or it has been republished below for easy reading.

Mayor Kyriacou told the public: “We hired a professional HR person, Gina. We're not a big city; it's the first time we're doing this. We are sharing it with the Town of Fishkill. I look for sharing opportunities with the Town of Fishkill. I thank Gina for her work recently. Makes a difference on the messages we communicate to our managers, to our staff, and to our community as a whole.”

Public Calls In To Question The Hiring Process Of Water Department Hires

Two people called in to the public City Council Meeting on October 5, 2020, asking about the Water Department hiring process:

• Stefon Seward, a founding member of Beacon4Black Lives and appointee to the Police Chief Search Committee who identifies as Black, asked about the City’s expectations about that Water Department position, plus the Highway Superintendent position.

• The second caller was Weldon Henson, who called at the end of the meeting during the second opportunity for public comment, in order to express that he interviewed for an advertised Water Department job with Beacon’s new HR Director, Gina Basile, on August 26, 2020, but was never contacted after that. A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to Gina and the current City Administrator Chris White for confirmation, and received this response from Chris: “We do not comment on interviews and personnel issues.” ALBB would like to verify with Weldon, and if he is reading this, please feel free to reach out.

The callers’ questions, and the City’s answers, have been transcribed in full below. Because of their questions, more was expressed about the hiring process of city jobs, otherwise known as the Civil Service process. The hiring and firing process of city employees is hard to follow, namely because most discussions about them happen during Executive Session, which is a private meeting that happens after the public City Council meeting. Reporters reaching out with questions are usually told: “You’ll need to submit a FOIL,” (former Administrator Anthony Ruggiero told us this), or “The City does not comment on personnel items” (what current Administrator Chris White said to ALBB). Questions to the HR Director Gina Basile usually go unanswered, or she defers to someone else on staff.

Was The Water Department Job Posted Internally?
What Is The Hiring Process?

During the City Council meeting, questions were raised about if the Water Department job(s) were posted internally. It is not clear where that would be posted, or what the requirements are for that posting. As of today, there are job listings on the city website’s Human Resources Page, which is a new page for the City of Beacon. It is unknown if people are expected to refresh the page daily for new listings, or refresh a Dutchess County Civil Service employment page, or if employees are expected to simply notice flyers on the wall while they are walking by (if they are walking by), thereby putting the responsibility on them to see internal listings. It is unknown if emails are sent out to any lists, or if announcements are made in Department meetings, if such meetings happen.

The City Administrator last year, Anthony Ruggiero, explained that the job for the Water Department was posted internally at first, before being advertised publicly. After Anthony’s explanation, City Councilmember Amber Grant asked one more time about the internal posting before the final vote on the appointments of two people into the Water Department titles. This question of an internal posting seemed to be of high interest during the meeting.

In the past, and for another department, when asked if he knew about a Highway Department job opening, Reuben Simmons, a Maintenance Worker for the Highway Department, answered that he was not aware of open positions in the Highway Department toward the end of 2020 that were mentioned during City Council meetings in ways that indicated people were already being considered for the positions by the current Highway Supervisor, Michael (Micky) Manzi.

Reuben was the Highway Superintendent before Dutchess County told the City of Beacon that his job title did not exist - even though the former Mayor Randy Casale also held that job title decades ago - despite being recommended by and approved of by Anthony Ruggiero. Reuben was thereby demoted back down to Maintenance Worker, and Michael Manzi, a former co-worker, became Highway Superintendent of Streets. A slightly different job title that comes with a different required test and certification. It’s like being called “Boss” or “Boss The Boss,” with different tests to prove worthiness of either job title, but with similar (or the same) job responsibilities.

The “job title” question reference is notable because a single word change in a job title can alter someone’s career. Chances are, you don’t have to deal with this at your job. But City of Beacon employees do. The wording in a job title can mean that you lose almost everything that you have been working up for, if someone else wants your job and uses Civil Service rules to checkmate you out. Your job title and duties could change in the blink of a Resolution.

About The Hiring Process for City Employees, AKA “Civil Service” Jobs

The questions of Stefon and Weldon are transcribed below from the recorded City Council meeting. The previous City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero was always patient with explaining how the process works. The results of that process, however, can be surprising.

Stefon Steward: “I'm just curious if the titles on the agenda for the new hires are correct, and if they are, did the City consider hiring someone internally for this position? I was looking at the website... It says that Ed is on the Water and Waste Department. I want to know what Department does he manage, and does he have the proper license to run this plant and do this job? What are the duties and responsibilities for the Highway Superintendent. What are the City's expectations for this? Is it true that one of the appointees' family members, Justin Herring, has… The family does business with Beacon, is anyone getting any financial kickback from his appointment for his position?”

Ed Balicki, shown on the City of Beacon’s website as Water and Wastewater Superintendent on 3/2/2021. Justin Herring was appointed to his position on 10/5/2020.

Toward the end of the City Council Meeting, Anthony answered Stefon’s questions. As of today (March 2, 2021), Ed Balicki, who has worked for the City of Beacon since 2013 according to his LinkedIn profile, is listed on his LinkedIn as Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator at City of Beacon. But on the City of Beacon’s website, he is listed as Water and Wastewater Superintendent.

Yet this new job appointment is for Justin Herring to be Water and Sewer Superintendent. (Note the slight difference in words in the title there. That can play a major difference in Civil Service rules by disqualifying someone out of their current job.)

Further, according to Reuben Simmons of the Highway Department, Justin Herring was a candidate for the Operator or Maintenance worker position. In the Meeting Agenda, he is listed as Superintendent.

On March 2, 2021, ALBB has reached out to HR Director Gina Basile and City Administrator Chris White for confirmation of job titles since this October 5, 2020 meeting, and was told by Chris that a response would be forthcoming. This response of a job title confirmation so far has not come. If it does, this article will be updated. If you are reading this, then a response has not yet come.

Anthony Answers Questions Regarding The Job Title and Hiring Process

Anthony answered Stefon’s question: “Titles: Those titles are in the municipality known as Civil Service. There are ‘competitive,’ which means there is a list [of qualified people] where you have to take a test, and there are ‘non-competitive,’ where you don't [have to take a test.] These titles aren't, but by the Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA) contract, first you have to post them internally. If nobody applies internally, then you can go out and advertise.”

ALBB has inquired with the HR Director Gina Basile and the current City Administrator Chris White as to whether the City’s contract with CSEA is current. According to city employee Reuben Simmons, who served as a past Union President for the City of Beacon CSEA Local 814 unit 6662 from 2009 to 2017, the Highway Department contract has not been negotiated or signed since 2019. The current contract posted on the City’s Human Resources page as of today is dated 2010-2015, and looks to have been first uploaded to the City of Beacon’s website in October 2020. Which would seem to mean that the Water and Highway Departments are currently not in any contract.

Anthony continued: “In this particular case, that is what happened. Nobody applied internally, so we went out and advertised. Gina handled the process. As the Mayor indicated, she's creating something from nothing. She's trying to get organized. The department head prepares a memo to her ‘requesting this position is budgeted, I'd like to go through the process.’ It comes to me, we talk about it, and then I sign off on it. If it's OK, we go after the process. Gina takes it from there and advertises.

“She tries to make it as diverse as she can. As I was saying, she's creating a whole process as it is. She's got work to do, we've got work to do. She's been wonderful, by the way, let me just say.”

Anthony continued to address Stefon’s question about Herring: “They do not, from my understanding, do any work. They do haul. They do take their trucks and their haulers down to the wastewater treatment plant. We might rent some of the port-a-potties that we have in the parks, but that's to the extent that we know right now. Nobody's getting any kickbacks, certainly we will verify that. Certainly that has not happened.

“There was questions about some of the titles. Ed Balicki was switched up to the Water Department. He was handling both. His title was Chief Wastewater Operator. We do have to fix that title for him. He did go to school for Water Certifications and License, and also all the operators in the plants have all the license. So we are fully compliant.”

You can find this quote in minute 55 of the meeting video.

Question From An Apparent Applicant For The Water Department Position

At the end of the meeting, during the second opportunity for public comment, Weldon Henson called in to ask about what he describes as an un-responded-to interview he had for a job in the Water Department. His question is in minute 1:10 of the meeting video.

Weldon: “I didn't quite hear you on the Water Sewer Maintenance. Were they looking for inside Beacon or outside Beacon for the hiring?”

Anthony: “Both. First, the first part of the process is to advertise internally, within the workforce, and then to advertise externally to anybody, if nobody internally is interested. So then it goes outside. For these positions, there is no list. So you can just advertise and interview candidates.”

Weldon: “Oh, OK, because I was a resident that applied for the job, actually got the interview for the job, but I never heard or received anything back.”

Silence followed from the City Council.

Anthony: “I can follow up with Gina on that.”

Weldon: “I had the interview on August 26, 2020, I think it was a Wednesday at 12:30pm.”

Mayor Kyriacou: “OK. And Anthony, you are able to do that? And Colin (the Mayor’s Assistant) has it on the record.”

Weldon: “Thank you for your time.”

Mayor Kyriacou: “Of course.”

The Voting Of The Diversity And Inclusion Statement

Sometimes, councilpeople state their thoughts before or after passing a Resolution. Statements from two councilpeople are below:

Councilperson Air Nonken Rhodes: “This isn't just lip service. I've observed in the ways that I've seen the City operate behind the scenes, and in conversations around hiring, and in everyday work. This is something that everyone I've talked with really believes in. I'm really glad to see it put in writing here. This will be something we can aspire to and really live up to. I'm glad to see this enshrined, and something we can look to in every hiring process.”

Councilperson Jodi McCredo: “Like we've said with so many other issues, this is a starting point. We do realize that we have a ways to go. This is a nice guidance towards making those changes and improvements that need to be made.”

The Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement

Find this statement here, and it has been republished below for easy reading:

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The City of Beacon is an equal opportunity workplace – and proudly so. We do not just accept differences – we embrace, support and celebrate them – knowing that diversity improves our performance and better serves our community.

The City of Beacon’s mission is to represent and serve all of our residents, including providing them with high quality services at reasonable taxes and fees, along with excellent customer service. The way we accomplish this is by representing everyone, listening to all ideas, and through the hard work and dedication of our employees.

We want to represent everyone. To do that well, we need a workforce that is representative of the community.

The City of Beacon is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our employees thrive when we achieve this. We aim to create a workplace that reflects and recognizes the diversity of our employees, and residents. We strive to provide services that benefit everyone in the community by including perspectives from backgrounds such as those that vary by race, ethnicity, social background, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, trans-gender status, veteran status, and national origin.

Having a diversified workforce builds a better team, enhances our skills, broadens our ideas, and is integral to effective performance.

Tax Tip: Unemployment Insurance Is Taxable - Put Some Aside In Savings - Opt-In For Tax Removal - Or Opt-In For A Cancel Movement

A whole lot of Unemployment Insurance was released at the start of the pandemic when businesses were shut down or furloughed. For New Yorkers, people could receive up to $504/week (depending on how much they earned during the year), plus an additional $600/week for a limited period of time of Pandemic Insurance regardless of yearly earnings. The number of weeks a person could receive Unemployment Benefits within the year was also extended, and on December 29, 2020, was extended again into 2021.

Receiving Unemployment Insurance proved difficult, as so many people were applying at one time, and many for the first time. The New York Department of Labor’s website crashed regularly, and calling in to a person was nearly impossible, according to Gothamist and other publications. New York State partnered with Google to fix the state’s website and increase the servers powering the website from 4 servers to 50, according to Syracuse.com.

According to data analyzed by lohud.com, unemployment claims in the Hudson Valley totaled 149,134 for the time period of March 14 through April 25, 2020. The previous year during the same time was 9,344 claims. That is an increase of 1,496%.

As of today, after the passage of 2 pandemic stimulus packages, Unemployment Insurance remains taxable, as it is viewed as income, which means that if you received Unemployment Insurance, you need to either check a box that you want taxes withheld from your unemployment benefit check, or “put aside 20% federal and 6% NYS,” advises Arthur DeDominicis, a local CPA in Fishkill.

New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance issued a reminder that citizens could opt in to having taxes taken out of their benefit checks, thereby removing the problem of needing to save money to pay it the following year. The reminder included directions on how to opt-in to having taxes taken out. Otherwise, recipients of Unemployment Insurance have the option of paying in quarterly estimates, or figuring it into their year end tax filing, the legwork for which starts right now.

Recipients of the benefit will receive a 1099-G from New York State. Other unexpected income tax situations can include large payouts from things like Travelers Insurance. If you bought Travelers Insurance on a plane ticket, then got delayed and were reimbursed for your hotel, clothing and food, a 1099 will also arrive in the mail to be included in the year end tax filing, and added to your overall income.

Six states do not charge their citizens income tax on benefits, according to Experian.com, and those include: Alabama, California, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Seven states do not charge income tax at all, and those include: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

Unemployment Insurance was extended for 2021, with legislation signed by Governor Cuomo on December 29, 2020, that outlines how additional weeks of benefits will work, including an additional $300/week supplement for those who meet the requirements. There is a new compensation opportunity for self-employed people called the “Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation” program (MEUC), which is defined as: “benefits are provided for individuals who earned at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income but are disqualified from receiving more substantial PUA benefits because they may be eligible for traditional state UI,” according to a press release by the governor.

Might New York State wave collecting tax on Unemployment Insurance? Might the new federal administration wave charging federal income taxes on Unemployment Insurance this year? Unlikely, but maybe if you ask…