Post by newsfeeder on Aug 23, 2006 8:15:46 GMT -5
Barilla says he'll run against Bateman
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Oswego's acting mayor decided it was time for a change on the city's zoning board.
So when ZBA Chairman Frank Barilla's term expired earlier this summer, acting Mayor Randy Bateman ousted Barilla from the position he had held for more than two decades.
"The term expired and we wanted to get a new mix of people," Bateman said this week.
The acting mayor also replaced zoning board members Anthony Pauldine, a local contractor and business owner, and Josephine Price. Bateman named Sue Sweet, a zoning board member since July 2004, as the ZBA's new chairwoman a decision Barilla supports.
"It's time to get a change," Bateman said. "Nobody accused any of the people who were replaced of doing a bad job."
Barilla said he was called into the acting mayor's office in June. At the time, Bateman told him that "other councilors suggested to him that it was time for a change," Barilla said.
"I think the biggest reason I was removed was political," Barilla said Tuesday. "I don't particularly like him, and he doesn't particularly like me. So it's bye-bye, you see."
But Barilla, who was appointed zoning board chairman in 1982, said he isn't going away quietly.
He wants to run for mayor against the very person who replaced him. Barilla said he doesn't intend to get on the ballot for November's mayoral race in Oswego, but he plans to wage a write-in campaign.
Barilla isn't interested in revenge, he said. Rather, he said he sees himself as a qualified candidate for mayor.
"I had quite a few people come to me and ask if I'd be upset if they wrote me in. I said, 'No.' I feel the voters of Oswego should have a choice," he said. "I have no animosity. I'm not doing it over sour grapes."
Barilla served as a city councilor in the late 1960s. He ran for mayor in 1991 but lost to Terrence Hammill. In 2001, Barilla waged a write-in campaign and narrowly defeated former Councilor David Hall in the Democratic primary. But Hall won the general election and 3rd Ward council seat that year.
Part of Barilla's decision to run for mayor this year, he said, is that he's unhappy with Bateman's leadership.
"I have a problem with the way we're spending money when we have a problem with high taxes in the city of Oswego," Barilla said.
"It seems like when someone dislikes the zoning board's decision, they file an Article 78 to overturn the decision. Our acting mayor has chosen not to have the city's two paid lawyers represent the zoning board on some cases. They're farming out the services to other lawyers," he said. "We need to try to save every penny so we can put it toward lowering the taxes."
As chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Barilla said he always made sure he knew what was going on by talking to neighbors before issuing variances or special permits to people who wanted to construct or renovate buildings. Barilla also noted that ZBA members are not paid.
"Frank was thorough in his performance on the Zoning Board of Appeals. He always gave people the right to speak and present their case," said Anthony Leotta, the city's zoning administrator who worked with Barilla and other zoning board members.
"He had the skill to compromise contentious situations. I saw some situations where the neighbors were in opposition when they entered City Hall and left shaking hands because of the way he dealt with the people," Leotta said. "I always felt he was fair in the decisions that were made. You can't really expect any more than that from the board members."
Some years ago, the city notified any property owner within 200 feet of a proposed zone change so he or she could attend a hearing. Barilla changed that to 100 feet. He said that simplified the process and saved money.
"I miss the job," Barilla said, adding that residents still stop by his business, Barilla's Auto Service on West Bridge Street, to talk about zoning issues.
"Even though I'm not the zoning board chairman, I'm here for the city and anyone that has any questions about zoning. I have no hostility," he said, "but I am going to give (Bateman) a run for his money - and keep him honest."
from www.syracuse.com/news
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Oswego's acting mayor decided it was time for a change on the city's zoning board.
So when ZBA Chairman Frank Barilla's term expired earlier this summer, acting Mayor Randy Bateman ousted Barilla from the position he had held for more than two decades.
"The term expired and we wanted to get a new mix of people," Bateman said this week.
The acting mayor also replaced zoning board members Anthony Pauldine, a local contractor and business owner, and Josephine Price. Bateman named Sue Sweet, a zoning board member since July 2004, as the ZBA's new chairwoman a decision Barilla supports.
"It's time to get a change," Bateman said. "Nobody accused any of the people who were replaced of doing a bad job."
Barilla said he was called into the acting mayor's office in June. At the time, Bateman told him that "other councilors suggested to him that it was time for a change," Barilla said.
"I think the biggest reason I was removed was political," Barilla said Tuesday. "I don't particularly like him, and he doesn't particularly like me. So it's bye-bye, you see."
But Barilla, who was appointed zoning board chairman in 1982, said he isn't going away quietly.
He wants to run for mayor against the very person who replaced him. Barilla said he doesn't intend to get on the ballot for November's mayoral race in Oswego, but he plans to wage a write-in campaign.
Barilla isn't interested in revenge, he said. Rather, he said he sees himself as a qualified candidate for mayor.
"I had quite a few people come to me and ask if I'd be upset if they wrote me in. I said, 'No.' I feel the voters of Oswego should have a choice," he said. "I have no animosity. I'm not doing it over sour grapes."
Barilla served as a city councilor in the late 1960s. He ran for mayor in 1991 but lost to Terrence Hammill. In 2001, Barilla waged a write-in campaign and narrowly defeated former Councilor David Hall in the Democratic primary. But Hall won the general election and 3rd Ward council seat that year.
Part of Barilla's decision to run for mayor this year, he said, is that he's unhappy with Bateman's leadership.
"I have a problem with the way we're spending money when we have a problem with high taxes in the city of Oswego," Barilla said.
"It seems like when someone dislikes the zoning board's decision, they file an Article 78 to overturn the decision. Our acting mayor has chosen not to have the city's two paid lawyers represent the zoning board on some cases. They're farming out the services to other lawyers," he said. "We need to try to save every penny so we can put it toward lowering the taxes."
As chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Barilla said he always made sure he knew what was going on by talking to neighbors before issuing variances or special permits to people who wanted to construct or renovate buildings. Barilla also noted that ZBA members are not paid.
"Frank was thorough in his performance on the Zoning Board of Appeals. He always gave people the right to speak and present their case," said Anthony Leotta, the city's zoning administrator who worked with Barilla and other zoning board members.
"He had the skill to compromise contentious situations. I saw some situations where the neighbors were in opposition when they entered City Hall and left shaking hands because of the way he dealt with the people," Leotta said. "I always felt he was fair in the decisions that were made. You can't really expect any more than that from the board members."
Some years ago, the city notified any property owner within 200 feet of a proposed zone change so he or she could attend a hearing. Barilla changed that to 100 feet. He said that simplified the process and saved money.
"I miss the job," Barilla said, adding that residents still stop by his business, Barilla's Auto Service on West Bridge Street, to talk about zoning issues.
"Even though I'm not the zoning board chairman, I'm here for the city and anyone that has any questions about zoning. I have no hostility," he said, "but I am going to give (Bateman) a run for his money - and keep him honest."
from www.syracuse.com/news