Regular Session - December 3, 1996
10419
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9 ALBANY, NEW YORK
10 December 3, 1996
11 2:05 p.m.
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14 REGULAR SESSION
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18 LT. GOVERNOR BETSY McCAUGHEY ROSS, President
19 STEPHEN F. SLOAN, Secretary
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10420
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 THE PRESIDENT: The Senate will
3 come to order. Would everyone please rise and
4 join with me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
5 (The assemblage repeated the
6 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. )
7 THE PRESIDENT: May we bow our
8 heads in a moment of silence.
9 (A moment of silence was
10 observed.)
11 THE PRESIDENT: The reading of
12 the Journal.
13 THE SECRETARY: In Senate,
14 Monday, December 2nd. The Senate met pursuant
15 to adjournment. The Journal of Friday, November
16 29th, was read and approved. On motion, Senate
17 adjourned.
18 THE PRESIDENT: Without
19 objection, the Journal stands approved as read.
20 Presentation of petitions.
21 Messages from the Assembly.
22 Messages from the Governor.
23 Reports of standing committees.
10421
1 Senator Skelos.
2 SENATOR SKELOS: Madam President,
3 there will be an immediate meeting of the Rules
4 Committee in Room 328 of the Capitol. That's
5 the small conference room right off of the
6 Majority Leader's office.
7 THE PRESIDENT: There will be an
8 immediate meeting of the Rules Committee in Room
9 328.
10 The Secretary will read. (Pause)
11 The Secretary will read. Senator Stafford?
12 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
13 from the Committee on Finance, offers up the
14 following nomination: Commissioner of the
15 Department of Correctional Services, Glenn S.
16 Goord.
17 SENATOR STAFFORD: Mr. President.
18 THE PRESIDENT: Senator
19 Stafford.
20 SENATOR STAFFORD: Before I yield
21 to Senator Nozzolio, who will handle this as
22 always with his sensitivity, ability and
23 correctness, I just want to share with all of us
10422
1 what a fine note for us to begin our
2 deliberations here upon returning to Albany than
3 to consider Glenn Goord for Commissioner of
4 Correctional Services.
5 Those of us who know him know the
6 job he has done and will do. I could go on and
7 on about his abilities, as Senator Nozzolio so
8 well will point out, but I would make one point
9 here and emphasize that in doing his work since
10 the time in the mid-Hudson area when he was in
11 charge of grievances in certain facilities in
12 our Department, from that time until the time he
13 has become acting Commissioner of the Department
14 of Correction, he has done his best -- he has
15 done his best to be fair and, if you say that
16 about a person, you don't have to say too much
17 more and, with that, I compliment the Governor
18 upon this fine appointment. I compliment the
19 nominee and, with that it's a pleasure to yield
20 to the Senator from the Finger Lakes.
21 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
22 Senator Stafford. Senator Nozzolio.
23 SENATOR NOZZOLIO: Thank you,
10423
1 Madam President, and thank you very much,
2 Senator Stafford, distinguished Senator from the
3 Adirondacks, our distinguished leader and
4 chairman of the Finance Committee. It is a very
5 difficult act to follow your lead, but I think
6 it is certainly important for this body to
7 recognize the quality appointment that Governor
8 Pataki has presented -- that this body recognize
9 the quality appointment that Senator Pataki has
10 put before us in the nomination of Glenn S.
11 Goord as Commissioner of Corrections.
12 Commissioner Goord -- and I call
13 him "Commissioner" because he has been serving
14 for the last number of months in this capacity,
15 for all intents and purposes has run the
16 day-to-day operations of the Department -- tried
17 to implement -- has been doing a very good job
18 in implementing the policy changes that we have
19 put forth and is working in this capacity at
20 this very trying time in our corrections
21 history, a trying time but a time of great
22 opportunity to do the right thing.
23 Governor Pataki has put forth
10424
1 this appointment because of the confidence he
2 has in Glenn Goord. Through Glenn's long
3 history of working in the Department, serving as
4 operating officer, Deputy Commissioner, Assist
5 ant Commissioner for Operations, throughout his
6 tenure which has been long in the Corrections
7 Department, working his way up through the
8 chairs in the various capacities of administra
9 tion within the Department, Glenn has demon
10 strated a commitment to field the best possible
11 system we can have in this state.
12 He has also demonstrated consist
13 ently his desire to work with the elected
14 representatives of the state Legislature in
15 fashioning the best possible system we can
16 fashion. He's keen in his ability in labor
17 relations, in dealing with complex management
18 issues, in trying to fashion new ways that we
19 can deal with the burgeoning corrections
20 situation that we have and the need to develop
21 an expansion program I think, is certainly in
22 Glenn's -- within his jurisdiction and well
23 within his talent, and we look to his
10425
1 leadership.
2 I should also say that Glenn has
3 from the top on down, and this is a compliment
4 not just to Glenn, not just to his -- Glenn
5 Goord's -- management style but also to the
6 spirit Glenn Goord has put forth with our
7 correction system from the administration on
8 through the lines into the system we have which
9 New Yorkers and this Legislature should be
10 certainly proud of, and our corrections officers
11 and all correctional personnel have been dealing
12 under significantly trying times, significantly
13 trying circumstances, during these past number
14 of months and with the 25th anniversary of
15 Attica with our system expanded to the limits,
16 every one of those brave men and women who work
17 in our correctional system need to be
18 commended. They work hard. They have done much
19 to put sensitivity into this system under some
20 very trying circumstances and they are to be
21 commended.
22 But here we are to thank Governor
23 Pataki for putting Glenn Goord's name in
10426
1 nomination. He will be a truly outstanding
2 corrections commissioner. He already has, in my
3 opinion, earned that distinction through his
4 months of service and, as Senator Cook, I know,
5 will be discussing more of a personal aspect in
6 the fact that Senator Cook represents Glenn
7 Goord, that certainly we all join Senator
8 Stafford, Senator Cook and thank Governor Pataki
9 for this excellent nomination.
10 Thank you, Madam President.
11 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
12 Senator Nozzolio. Senator Cook.
13 SENATOR COOK: Thank you, Madam
14 President.
15 As Republicans, of course, having
16 a new Governor for a couple of years, we've been
17 very pleased to see the heads of departments
18 that have changed and the philosophies that are
19 changed, but the one place where there's been a
20 very, very smooth transition and I think
21 indicative of the professional qualities of the
22 leadership of the Department, has been in
23 Corrections, because we have indeed seen people
10427
1 who have been active for a number of years who
2 have continued in leadership capacities in that
3 agency, and with good reason, because it is a
4 well run agency. It is one that takes pride in
5 what it does and in doing it well, an agency
6 that is unfortunately confronted constantly with
7 expanding requirements.
8 Glenn Goord is a person who has
9 worked in the trenches in a variety of
10 capacities, someone who has demonstrated time
11 and again his leadership abilities and who comes
12 into this position as Commissioner with a vast
13 background of knowledge and understanding which
14 I think could be unequaled by anyone else and in
15 particular anyone brought from the outside. Of
16 course, we're particularly produced as well that
17 he does come from our part of the state.
18 I may have more prisons in my
19 district than any other Senator, but I think
20 maybe -- and we, of course, regard this as a
21 very important function in state government as I
22 indicated before, unfortunate that we do have to
23 incarcerate so many people, but it's important
10428
1 that the Commissioner, the leadership of that
2 agency understand their function, understand why
3 they're there and understand the job that needs
4 to be done, and Glenn certainly fits all of
5 those requirements.
6 He has the high personal
7 qualities in addition that commend him for any
8 leadership post, and I am very pleased to second
9 his nomination.
10 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
11 Senator Cook.
12 Senator Abate.
13 SENATOR ABATE: I, too, rise in
14 support of Glenn Goord. There's no more
15 difficult job than running a correction
16 department. Most other managers get an
17 occasional day off or a night off. Running a
18 correction department the size of this state
19 means you work seven days a week 24 hours a day
20 and then some, so it requires the leadership of
21 a very special kind of person, and I believe
22 that Glenn Goord, over the course of 20 years,
23 has demonstrated his commitment and knowledge
10429
1 and his dedication to improving the state prison
2 system. He enjoys support from within and
3 without.
4 I've had the pleasure of working
5 directly with Commissioner Goord. I think he is
6 fair minded. He has the respect of his staff.
7 He wants to look at improving not only security
8 within the prison but also the treatment and
9 services for the inmates. So he has a
10 comprehensive view. He's a manager; he's a
11 leader; he's done just about every job in the
12 system which I think will put him in very good
13 stead to meet the challenges of the next few
14 years.
15 So it's with great pleasure that
16 I look forward to working with Commissioner
17 Goord, and I think he will do exceedingly well.
18 Not only has he done so in the past but in the
19 future he will do exceedingly well, and do honor
20 to this position.
21 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
22 Senator Abate.
23 Senator Waldon.
10430
1 SENATOR WALDON: Thank you very
2 much, Madam President. I rise also to second
3 the nomination of Glenn Goord. I would like to
4 hope that the kind of cooperation and access
5 that I've experienced from my days as a Deputy
6 Commissioner of Human Rights and a Commissioner
7 of Investigation with Ben Ward and Tommy Cough
8 lin and Commissioner Coombe will exist under his
9 leadership as the, in fact, commissioner serving
10 at the pleasure of Governor Pataki.
11 I agree with my colleagues that
12 his job is a most difficult one. It is difficult
13 not only because of the logistics of running
14 such a large system, but it is difficult because
15 if there's not a meaningful understanding and
16 relationship between those who are imprisoned
17 and those who are the guards, chaos ensues, and
18 so it takes a high level of professionalism, a
19 high level of sensitivity to cause those who are
20 subordinate to the Commissioner to adopt his
21 policy in terms of a sense of cooperation and
22 fairness to get the job done.
23 My concern is that in this state
10431
1 as well as other states across the nation
2 there's a disproportionate number of minorities
3 in the prisons, and I'm not here to attack the
4 reasons that they're there but I'm hoping that
5 there will continue to be a sensitivity to those
6 who speak Spanish, to those who have in their
7 background the culture of the Caribbean, to
8 those who are African-American, to those who are
9 Muslims, so that their needs will be met as best
10 as they can be in the setting that is a prison.
11 Now, I believe that if
12 Commissioner Goord is able to relate to the
13 accomplishments of his predecessors and to
14 recognize that those of us -- that those of us
15 here in the Legislature are going to be very
16 supportive of his needs in terms of the finances
17 in order to ensure that we don't have a
18 revisitation to Attica and other such
19 circumstances, that he will do very, very well.
20 I applaud the Governor in his
21 choice. In reviewing his resume it seems as if
22 he's eminently qualified for this position. I
23 just hope that beyond the resume there will be a
10432
1 sensitivity that is not always found in such
2 positions as a Commissioner of Corrections where
3 the power is ominous and absolute.
4 Thank you very much, Madam
5 President.
6 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
7 Senator Waldon.
8 Senator Farley.
9 SENATOR FARLEY: Thank you, Madam
10 President.
11 Let me just say that -- how
12 pleased I am to second the nomination of Glenn
13 Goord. You know, representing a lot of state
14 workers, along with Senator Hoblock and Senator
15 Bruno and myself, this gives a lot of
16 satisfaction to a state employee who has come up
17 through the ranks and really made it to the top
18 and he's done it on his merit, he's done it on
19 his abilities and certainly we're so very, very
20 pleased for him to run our Department of
21 Correctional Services which is unfortunately one
22 of our growing areas in this state.
23 Many of us are -- have prisons,
10433
1 and some people would like some more. We feel
2 very deeply that the violent criminal should be
3 locked up. There's a lot of problems in the
4 correctional department, but if anybody can
5 solve them and address them, it's going to be
6 our new Commissioner, and I wish you well.
7 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
8 Senator Farley.
9 Senator Markowitz.
10 SENATOR MARKOWITZ: Thank you
11 very very much. I've had the pleasure in my
12 term in the Senate to work with an outstanding
13 Corrections Commissioner, Commissioner Coughlin,
14 then Commissioner Phil Coombe, but throughout
15 that time the one man that they depended upon to
16 implement most of the policies of corrections
17 was Glenn Goord, and so he's done it the
18 old-fashioned way. He worked hard. He worked
19 his way through the system, and he has merited
20 this appointment by the Governor, and I can say
21 that in speaking to his subordinates and
22 colleagues today and yesterday that there's an
23 enormous amount of respect from each of the
10434
1 institutions, from here in the state Capitol and
2 in my experience personally with him, I think he
3 will be one of the finest Corrections
4 Commissioners that New York State ever had.
5 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
6 Senator Markowitz.
7 Senator Volker.
8 SENATOR VOLKER: Madam President,
9 let me just say that when we had the -- the
10 hearing before Crime and Corrections, I
11 mentioned to Senator Nozzolio, I mentioned about
12 the fact that back in the '70s we had a meeting
13 or meetings on the election -- the nomination of
14 a Commissioner of Corrections that went on for
15 several months, and the nominee, in fact, had me
16 investigated at the same time that we were
17 investigating him and we had to tighten up
18 security in the Capitol because there was so
19 many people that came and created some havoc.
20 Obviously, with Glenn, there's a
21 whole different -- a whole different situation
22 because I think everybody in this chamber
23 realizes that he's a professional, that he's
10435
1 done a fine job as the Acting Commissioner and
2 that he knows exactly what the Corrections
3 Department, the prison system needs. In fact,
4 let me just say quickly that I've travelled a
5 little bit, not a great deal any more, but a
6 little bit to some criminal justice conferences,
7 but I traveled to one in Connecticut that I was
8 very pleased to listen to several of the experts
9 in the penology field tell about the innovations
10 in the prison system in New York and what was
11 being done and, of course, Glenn's name was one
12 of those that was used, even though he was
13 Acting Commissioner at the time.
14 He is a fine man. He is a -
15 he's done a good job already, and I know he'll
16 make a great Commissioner. I commend the
17 Governor and I wish him the very best.
18 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
19 Senator Volker.
20 Has everyone who wishes to speak
21 on the nomination of Glenn Goord been heard?
22 The question is on the
23 confirmation of Glenn S. Goord as Commissioner
10436
1 of the Department of Correctional Services. All
2 in favor signify by saying aye.
3 (Response of "Aye.")
4 Opposed nay.
5 (There was no response. )
6 Glenn S. Goord is hereby
7 confirmed as Commissioner of the Department of
8 Correctional Services.
9 (Applause)
10 The Secretary will read.
11 THE SECRETARY: Senator Lack,
12 from the Committee on Judiciary, offers up the
13 following nomination: As judge of the New York
14 State Court of Claims, Leon Ruchelsman.
15 THE PRESIDENT: Senator Lack.
16 SENATOR LACK: Thank you, Madam
17 President.
18 It's my pleasure to rise as
19 chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to
20 move the nomination of Leon Ruchelsman as a
21 judge of the New York State Court of Claims,
22 and, Madam President, Judge Ruchelsman who is
23 joining us is currently a judge of the Civil
10437
1 Court of the city of New York, having been
2 elected in 1992 and is still serving. He has
3 been designated to Criminal Court where he has
4 served with distinction.
5 He was an associate court
6 attorney for ten years in the New York State
7 Supreme Court, county of Kings, before assuming
8 his elected judgeship in 1992. He has aided
9 political asylum for Soviet and Iranian refug
10 ees, skillfully negotiating with immigration
11 officials.
12 As a practicing attorney, he's
13 had over 20 criminal law opinions published in
14 the New York Law Journal since he was elected
15 some four years ago to the Civil Court.
16 Madam President, it is my
17 pleasure and honor to move the nomination to the
18 Court of Claims of Judge Leon Ruchelsman of the
19 county of Kings.
20 THE PRESIDENT: Does anyone wish
21 to be heard? Senator Kruger, I'm sorry.
22 SENATOR KRUGER: It is my
23 distinct pleasure to rise today to second the
10438
1 nomination of Judge Ruchelsman as a judge of the
2 Court of Claims of the state of New York.
3 Judge Ruchelsman brings to the
4 bench a distinguished record. More particularly
5 he brings all of the attributes that one would
6 associate with a fine justice. His compassion,
7 his integrity, his caring, his commitment and
8 his knowledge of the law makes him an excellent
9 choice for this nomination. I wholeheartedly
10 support his nomination and I would move that my
11 colleagues join me in that support. Thank you.
12 THE PRESIDENT: Does anyone -
13 does anyone else wish to be heard on the
14 nomination?
15 The question is on the
16 confirmation of Leon Ruchelsman as justice of
17 the Court of Claims. All in favor signify by
18 saying aye.
19 (Response of "Aye.")
20 Opposed nay.
21 (There was no response. )
22 Leon Ruchelsman is hereby
23 confirmed as judge of the Court of Claims.
10439
1 Congratulations.
2 (Applause)
3 The Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Senator Stafford,
5 from the Committee on Finance, offers up the
6 following nominations: Member of the State
7 Commission of Correction, Alan J. Croce.
8 THE PRESIDENT: Senator
9 Stafford.
10 SENATOR STAFFORD: Madam
11 President, it's a pleasure for me to emphasize
12 that all of the appointments today we're
13 considering are just excellent. Every one was
14 unanimously approved, and it's a pleasure for me
15 to now yield to the Senator from Suffolk County.
16 THE PRESIDENT: Senator LaValle.
17 SENATOR STAFFORD: Senator
18 LaValle.
19 SENATOR LAVALLE: Thank you,
20 Madam President.
21 I rise to move the nomination of
22 Alan Croce, who is from Mattituck in Suffolk
23 County. Today during the committee meeting of
10440
1 Crime and Corrections and the Finance Committee
2 Alan Croce demonstrated to both committees his
3 background in the skills that he has for the job
4 that the Governor has nominated him for.
5 We are very proud of Alan Croce
6 who is our undersheriff in Suffolk County, and
7 he has demonstrated that his standard was the
8 standard that I believe I heard Senator Abate
9 talk about that Corrections is a 7-day-a-week,
10 24-hour-a-day job. He has demonstrated that as
11 the undersheriff and he has during the Crime and
12 Corrections meeting, indicated that as his
13 standard.
14 He has a very broad and
15 comprehensive background not only in corrections
16 but in criminal justice and his own personality
17 as a communicator and a person who listens will
18 bring to the policy-making process, I think,
19 proper decisions to something that is very, very
20 important and then many times a very volatile
21 agency, and so it is with great pride that I
22 rise to move Alan Croce's nomination as
23 Commissioner of the Commission on Corrections.
10441
1 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
2 Senator LaValle. Does anyone else wish to speak
3 on the nomination?
4 SENATOR LACK: Madam President.
5 THE PRESIDENT: Senator.
6 SENATOR LACK: Madam President, I
7 stand to second the nomination of Alan Croce as
8 a Commissioner of the Commission on Correction.
9 I've known Alan for too many years, I think, for
10 both of us to say as many years ago. As a
11 former Assistant D.A. in Suffolk County, I'm
12 aware of the work he's always done in the
13 sheriff's office. As undersheriff of Suffolk
14 County, he has been more than the underpinning
15 of the department. He really is our -- is our
16 sheriff's office. I'm sorry to see him retire
17 but I'm happy for him in terms of his new post.
18 He is certainly a qualified
19 appointment from the Governor. I'm happy for
20 someone from Suffolk County. I'm even more
21 happen it's for Alan. Hopefully it will bring
22 him to Albany occasionally, so there might be a
23 couple other things he might want to do while
10442
1 he's here, more than he's been able to do in the
2 past, and from the standpoint of family unity,
3 I'm happy to see that, and so I'd like to just
4 stand, Madam President, and offer my warmest
5 congratulations both as a worthy opponent but
6 because on a family level it helps to bring a
7 family together.
8 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
9 Senator.
10 Senator Johnson.
11 SENATOR JOHNSON: Yes, Mr.
12 President.
13 I'd just like to add my words of
14 congratulations to Alan Croce on this nomination
15 and certainly feel he's super-qualified, a very
16 upstanding citizen, a person you can communicate
17 very effectively with, I'm sure the residents of
18 the facilities and the general public and the
19 legislators, and I think it's a wonderful
20 choice.
21 He's spoken to a lot of them,
22 communicated effectively with them, yes, and I
23 want to associate myself with some of the
10443
1 extraneous remarks of Senator Lack just to say
2 he's an outstanding appointment, a tribute to
3 the Governor and Suffolk County for bringing
4 forward such a wonderful nominee. Thank you.
5 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
6 Senator Johnson.
7 The question is on the nomination
8 of Alan Croce as a member of the state
9 Commission of Corrections. All in favor signify
10 by saying aye.
11 (Response of "Aye.")
12 Opposed nay.
13 (There was no response. )
14 Alan Croce is hereby confirmed as
15 a member of the state Commission of
16 Corrections. Congratulations. (Applause).
17 The Secretary will read.
18 THE SECRETARY: Commissioners of
19 the Tax Appeals Tribunal, Donald DeWitt, Carroll
20 R. Jenkins, Joseph W. Pinto.
21 THE PRESIDENT: Senator
22 Stafford.
23 SENATOR STAFFORD: Mr. President,
10444
1 we're very pleased again to point out that Mr.
2 DeWitt, together with all, was unanimously
3 approved and I believe that Senator Farley is
4 neighboring to Mr. DeWitt. I would also point
5 out that I believe this is a reappointment and
6 he is chairman of the tribunal, is president -
7 excuse me, president, and has done an excellent
8 job. Anyone who can deal with taxes and be -
9 come out of the committee unanimous, we've got
10 to -- I guess two others did too, but who has
11 also served and is being reappointed certainly
12 is to be complimented.
13 On a real serious note, Mr.
14 DeWitt understands the subject. He handles his
15 position with a tremendous amount of ability,
16 with dignity and sensitivity, and it's a
17 pleasure for me to move his nomination.
18 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you,
19 Senator Stafford.
20 Senator Farley.
21 SENATOR FARLEY: Yeah, I'd rise
22 to second Don DeWitt's nomination. He's well
23 qualified, and I applaud the Governor for doing
10445
1 that. He's a former Marine and a graduate of
2 Albany State which is -- is where I teach, and I
3 don't think you were one of my students but I
4 know that he's eminently qualified, and it's
5 with pleasure that I second his nomination.
6 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: Any
7 other Senators wish to speak on the nomination?
8 The question is on the nomination of Donald
9 DeWitt, Carroll R. Jenkins and Joseph W. Pinto
10 as Commissioners of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
11 I'm sorry. Senator Farley.
12 SENATOR FARLEY: Yeah, as long as
13 we're going to do all three of them, I would
14 like to speak on behalf of Carroll Roger Jenkins
15 who is my constituent from Schenectady. He's
16 had a long history of being involved with
17 Taxation and Finance. He again is eminently
18 qualified. He's been a distinguished attorney
19 in the practice of law in Schenectady and he's
20 also a former member of the legislative family,
21 having served as a counsel to "Rap" Rappleyea in
22 the Assembly and he comes very highly recom
23 mended and is -- I've forgotten, Senator Volker
10446
1 mentioned he also has studied the Russian
2 language and a very, very interesting candidate
3 and somebody that we're very proud of, and I'm
4 pleased to move his nomination.
5 And as long as we're doing all
6 three, and I don't see Senator Bruno here from
7 my -- I'd like to move the nomination of Joseph
8 Pinto, who's also with us from Clifton Park, a
9 neighboring community to me. I share Saratoga
10 County with Senator Bruno and I know that Joe
11 Pinto is a respected lawyer and a person that
12 has served in the community as a member of the
13 board of education of the Shenendehowa Central
14 School and has been an outstanding citizen.
15 He's a graduate of the Notre Dame University and
16 the Vermont Law School and somebody that I'm
17 confident will be a real credit to the Governor
18 in this appointment and I'd also like to move
19 his nomination.
20 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: Thank
21 you, Senator.
22 Any other Senators wishing to
23 speak on any one of the three nominations?
10447
1 The question is on the
2 nominations of Donald DeWitt, Carroll R. Jenkins
3 and Joseph W. Pinto as Commissioners of the Tax
4 Appeals Tribunal. All in favor signify by
5 saying aye.
6 (Response of "Aye.")
7 Opposed.
8 (There was no response. )
9 Donald DeWitt, Carroll R. Jenkins
10 and Joseph W. Pinto are hereby confirmed as
11 Commissioners of the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
12 Congratulations.
13 (Applause)
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Member of the
16 Public Employee Relations Board, Joseph
17 Farnetti.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:
19 Senator Stafford.
20 SENATOR STAFFORD: Mr. President,
21 it's a pleasure to move it, please.
22 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
23 question is on the nomination of Joseph Farnetti
10448
1 as a member of the Public Employment Relations
2 Board. All in favor signify by saying aye.
3 (Response of "Aye.")
4 Opposed.
5 (There was no response.)
6 Joseph Farnetti is hereby
7 confirmed as a member of the Public Employment
8 Relations Board.
9 Secretary will read.
10 THE SECRETARY: Members of the
11 Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Alan B.
12 Friedberg, Lawrence H. Silverman.
13 SENATOR STAFFORD: Move it,
14 please.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:
16 Question is on the nomination of Alan B.
17 Friedberg as a member of the Metropolitan
18 Transportation Authority and Lawrence H.
19 Silverman as a non-voting member of the
20 Metropolitan Transportation Authority. All in
21 favor?
22 (Response of "Aye.")
23 Opposed.
10449
1 (There was no response. )
2 The nominees are confirmed.
3 Secretary will read.
4 THE SECRETARY: Member of the
5 Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, the
6 Reverend Monsignor Robert J. Giroux.
7 SENATOR STAFFORD: Move
8 confirmation.
9 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
10 question is on the nomination of the Reverend
11 Monsignor Robert J. Giroux as a member of the
12 Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority. All in
13 favor significant by saying aye.
14 (Response of "Aye.")
15 Opposed nay.
16 (There was no response. )
17 Reverend Monsignor Robert J.
18 Giroux is hereby confirmed as a member of the
19 Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority.
20 Secretary will read.
21 THE SECRETARY: Member of the New
22 York State Olympic Regional Development
23 Authority, Jack Shea.
10450
1 SENATOR STAFFORD: Move
2 confirmation.
3 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
4 question is on the confirmation of Jack Shea as
5 a member of the New York State Olympic Regional
6 Development Authority. All those in favor
7 signify by saying aye.
8 (Response of "Aye.")
9 Opposed nay.
10 (There was no response. )
11 Jack Shea is hereby confirmed as
12 a member of the New York State Olympic Regional
13 Development Authority.
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Member of the
16 State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation
17 Commission for the city of New York, Seema E.
18 Goldstein.
19 SENATOR STAFFORD: Move
20 confirmation.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:
22 Senator Marcellino.
23 SENATOR MARCELLINO: I don't want
10451
1 to interrupt if you want to complete the
2 appointment. I just want to get up and speak on
3 a prior appointment.
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
5 question is on the nomination of Seema E.
6 Goldstein as a member of the State Park,
7 Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission
8 for the city of New York. All in favor signify
9 by saying aye.
10 (Response of "Aye.")
11 Opposed nay.
12 (There was no response.)
13 Seema Goldstein is hereby
14 confirmed as a member of the State Park,
15 Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission
16 of the city of New York.
17 Senator Marcellino.
18 SENATOR MARCELLINO: Yes, Mr.
19 Chairman. I thank you very much for allowing me
20 to speak on the appointment of Lawrence
21 Silverman as the alternate non-voting member for
22 the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
23 Mr. Silverman is a resident of my
10452
1 district and represents the riders of the Long
2 Island Rail Road and all the commuter railroads
3 and in that capacity he has done yeoman's work
4 in speaking out for the concerns and the needs
5 of the ridership of these commuter rails, and
6 it's a very difficult job and, of course, he's
7 done it on a volunteer basis without any
8 remuneration and he's to be commended for his
9 effort and his ability to vocalize their
10 concerns in a very concise way.
11 I feel his appointment to this
12 particular council even as a non-voting member
13 would be a plus and he will serve the people of
14 the state of New York very well, and I commend
15 and recommend his appointment highly.
16 Thank you, sir.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: Thank
18 you.
19 Secretary will read.
20 THE SECRETARY: Member of the
21 Finger Lakes State Park, Recreation and Historic
22 Preservation Commission, Linda Jackson.
23 SENATOR STAFFORD: Move
10453
1 confirmation, please.
2 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
3 question is on the nomination of Linda Jackson
4 as a member of the Finger Lakes State Park,
5 Recreation and Historic Preservation
6 Commission. All those in favor signify by
7 saying aye.
8 (Response of "Aye.")
9 Opposed nay.
10 (There was no response.)
11 Linda Jackson is hereby confirmed
12 as a member of the Finger Lakes State Park,
13 Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission.
14 Secretary will read.
15 THE SECRETARY: Member of the
16 Saratoga-Capital District State Park, Recreation
17 and Historic Preservation Commission, Katharine
18 Tomasi.
19 SENATOR STAFFORD: Move
20 confirmation.
21 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: Yes.
22 The question is on the confirmation of Katharine
23 Tomasi as a member of the Saratoga-Capital
10454
1 District State Park, Recreation and Historic
2 Preservation Commission. All in favor signify
3 by saying aye.
4 (Response of "Aye.")
5 Opposed nay.
6 (There was no response. )
7 Katharine Tomasi is confirmed as
8 a member of the Saratoga-Capital District State
9 Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation
10 Commission.
11 Reports of select committees.
12 Communications and reports from
13 state officers.
14 Motions and resolutions.
15 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
16 move we adopt the Resolution Calendar in its
17 entirety.
18 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: At
19 this -- all in favor of adopting the Resolution
20 Calendar signify by saying aye.
21 (Response of "Aye.")
22 Opposed nay.
23 (There was no response.)
10455
1 The report is adopted. Senator
2 Skelos.
3 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
4 at this time, if we could return to reports of
5 standing committees. I believe there is a
6 report from the Rules Committee.
7 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:
8 Secretary will read.
9 THE SECRETARY: Senator Bruno,
10 from the Committee on Rules, reports the
11 following bill directly for Third Reading:
12 Assembly Print Number 11324, Court of Claims
13 Act, in relation to additional judges.
14 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President, I
15 move that we accept the report of the Rules
16 Committee.
17 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: All in
18 favor of accepting the report of the Rules
19 Committee signify by saying aye.
20 (Response of "Aye.")
21 Opposed nay.
22 (There was no response. )
23 Senator Skelos.
10456
1 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President, at
2 this time could we have the third reading of the
3 Rules report.
4 THE SECRETARY: Calendar Number
5 1807, from the Committee on Rules, Assembly
6 Print 11324, an act to amend the Court of Claims
7 Act, in relation to additional judges.
8 THE PRESIDENT: Read the last
9 section.
10 THE SECRETARY: Section 4. This
11 act shall take effect immediately.
12 THE PRESIDENT: Call the roll.
13 (The Secretary called the roll. )
14 THE SECRETARY: Ayes 53.
15 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
16 bill is passed.
17 SENATOR DOLLINGER: Mr.
18 President.
19 THE PRESIDENT: Senator
20 Dollinger.
21 SENATOR DOLLINGER: What was the
22 bill number we just did?
23 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:
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1 11324.
2 SENATOR DOLLINGER: This is the
3 Assembly bill?
4 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: The
5 Assembly bill.
6 SENATOR DOLLINGER: May I be
7 recorded in the negative, Mr. President?
8 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ:
9 Senator Dollinger will be recorded in the
10 negative.
11 Senator Skelos.
12 SENATOR SKELOS: Mr. President,
13 there being no further business, I move we
14 adjourn until the call of the Majority Leader,
15 intervening days to be legislative days.
16 ACTING PRESIDENT MAZIARZ: By
17 motion, the Senate stands adjourned to the call
18 of the Majority Leader, intervening days to be
19 legislative days.
20 (Whereupon at 2:47 p.m., the
21 Senate adjourned.)
22
23