Massena Village DPW new hire

[DiggerDoo]

Don't you think it is amazing how the newspaper leaves out details on what flack was being directed to village board members about the new hire ? The truth had to come out in a letter to the editor as to why there is turmoil over the appointment.

The gentleman is from Virginia and does not hold a valid NYS drivers license. Apparently the new hire has ties to the mayor.

The new hire should be terminated at once because there are a lot of people without work that have lived in Massena all of their lives and would love to work on the village crew.

if the mayor is responsible for this guy being hired, why is the mayor getting a free pass on the situation? Starting a comittee for next time just sweeps this situation under the rug and it is not going to happen again. The mayor should have some kind of accountablilty for his actions. What makes this new hire any better than a resident of Massena? By the mayors actions is he really looking out for the good of the community he serves? Is the new hire a family member like son in law to the mayor? It is not fair to the people that our elected mayor can play favorites like that and expect to get away with it. Massena is political enough without giving solid jobs to outsiders. People need to stand up to their elected officials and demand accountability and get rid of corrupt politicians.

[paper 60 cents lol]

just a good ol boys club thats all massena is. I love throwing out my candybar wrappers when driving through town, sometimes i even toss out a little garbage, gives the town workers something to do

[dude]

how about hoss he drive village truck all over the place like he owns it theres no village symbol on the side of truck or caution flashes on top he also uses it for is personal use thats why the village has no money the truck should be left at the village garage not at his house

[The Garbage Man]

losers

[Delmendo]

Yes, I agree..I think local jobs should go to local people.

[Delmendo]

If I get hired full time at the walmart will the state and county pay for my health care?

[MR superman]

well u know the old saying its who u blow not who u know

[Harry]

dude wrote:

how about hoss he drive village truck all over the place like he owns it theres no village symbol on the side of truck or caution flashes on top he also uses it for is personal use thats why the village has no money the truck should be left at the village garage not at his house

Amen to that.Whenever they get a new truck,guess who has it.

[Tinker88]

The mayor gets front page denying any involvment in the hiring of Mr. Shakallis.

Why would someone from Virginia relocate to Massena NY of all places? St. Lawrence county is a very economically poor region where Virginia has a lot more to offer anyone as far as quality of life and employment opprotunities. How could a guy relocate here to this region and within 5 months get a job with the village without political "help". There are people who lived here their entire lives hoping to better themselves and their families only to have an outsider get a job they were applying for. Massena is very political and it's obvious from your kids playing sports and what job you can get or not get like at the plants or working for the village or state. A persons last name or political influences help get people certain jobs. There is no shortage of drivers that hold a CDL here in Massena. What about the people who were promised to be helped finding new employment from the idled Alcoa East plant or the now closed GM plant. Those laid off workers supposed to sell popcorn at the mall because an outsider got a good job with the village? So it just so happens the mayor has known this guy's family and he ends up here and gets a job with the village. No politics were involved so say's the mayor. In this good ol boy town I say bunk. I bet Mr. Shakallis used the mayor as a reference on his application. I believe the permanent life long residents have been slighted on this blunder. Politics play a huge part of the inner workings within the village of Massena.

[vigilantejustice]

Droopy Draws wrote:

The mayor gets front page denying any involvment in the hiring of Mr. Shakallis.
Why would someone from Virginia relocate to Massena NY of all places? St. Lawrence county is a very economically poor region where Virginia has a lot more to offer anyone as far as quality of life and employment opprotunities. How could a guy relocate here to this region and within 5 months get a job with the village without political "help". There are people who lived here their entire lives hoping to better themselves and their families only to have an outsider get a job they were applying for. Massena is very political and it's obvious from your kids playing sports and what job you can get or not get like at the plants or working for the village or state. A persons last name or political influences help get people certain jobs. There is no shortage of drivers that hold a CDL here in Massena. What about the people who were promised to be helped finding new employment from the idled Alcoa East plant or the now closed GM plant. Those laid off workers supposed to sell popcorn at the mall because an outsider got a good job with the village? So it just so happens the mayor has known this guy's family and he ends up here and gets a job with the village. No politics were involved so say's the mayor. In this good ol boy town I say bunk. I bet Mr. Shakallis used the mayor as a reference on his application. I believe the permanent life long residents have been slighted on this blunder. Politics play a huge part of the inner workings within the village of Massena.

I totally agree with you. I have applied and been interviewd in the past(although not recently)for a village job and the mayor was always a part of the process. For Mr. Delosh to actually want us to think that Mr. Shakallis just happened to pick Massena, NY to relocate to without the some sort of a promise of a job is ludicrous. Massena is an economically depressed region right now. I would really like to see the qualifications of the other applicants, but we all know that will never happen because I am sure that is a "Personnel Matter" and wont be discussed in public. Nothing against Mr. Shakallis, I don't know him and he may very well be qualified for the job but I have to believe there are village residents who are also qualified. I think if Mr. Delosh chooses to run for mayor again he will suffer the same fate as Mr. Edwards.

[Tinker88]

The "So sue me" remark was very unprofessional of the Mayor also. The story the mayor tells is incredibly ironic if he is telling the truth. You are correct it could hurt upcoming re election bids in years to come if this turns out to be a political coverup. It went to the entire board for a vote. How come none of the other board members balked about an outsider getting this position over senior residents? It's only 1 job in question however it would have been nice to see a local person who went to school here, worked in the area all of their lives, purchased a home here and pays taxes here and their kids go to school here kind of guy should have gotten that job. The board also should be ashamed of themselves for not hiring a local resident for tht job. Nobody on the board was offering any opinion after the letter to the editor where Mr. Portolese uncovered this to the public. They apparently all knew about it and had no qualms that the new hire was a recent move here and reports say he doesn't even posess a NYS drivers license because he is new here and has not got his transferred over yet. Did the mayor and the board think nobody would notice this? This is too small of a town to get away with such an obvious showing of favoritism. People will ask questions and wonder if elected officials really have the people they serve in their best intrest.

[Grilled Cheese]

The leadership around Massena is weak!!! Its time for a change!! Edwards is a joke and do is Delosh.

[fedup]

The mayor blasts a statement about the poor economic situation in Massena and he might be faced with laying off village employees and then he turns around and hires a friend on the village crew. What an asshole. Once a Delosh always a Delosh. You can take the kid out of the trailer park but you cant take the trailer park out of the kid. He is as corupt as the day is long.

[vigilantejustice]

Droopy Draws wrote:

The "So sue me" remark was very unprofessional of the Mayor also. The story the mayor tells is incredibly ironic if he is telling the truth. You are correct it could hurt upcoming re election bids in years to come if this turns out to be a political coverup. It went to the entire board for a vote. How come none of the other board members balked about an outsider getting this position over senior residents? It's only 1 job in question however it would have been nice to see a local person who went to school here, worked in the area all of their lives, purchased a home here and pays taxes here and their kids go to school here kind of guy should have gotten that job. The board also should be ashamed of themselves for not hiring a local resident for tht job. Nobody on the board was offering any opinion after the letter to the editor where Mr. Portolese uncovered this to the public. They apparently all knew about it and had no qualms that the new hire was a recent move here and reports say he doesn't even posess a NYS drivers license because he is new here and has not got his transferred over yet. Did the mayor and the board think nobody would notice this? This is too small of a town to get away with such an obvious showing of favoritism. People will ask questions and wonder if elected officials really have the people they serve in their best intrest.

I agree the village board is also at fault. Just another example of the "Good ole boys club."

[cal massena]

I read the paper today, and i am also appauled about this hire. I also read the letter to the editor from SANDY CARVEL, and boy did she hit the nail on the head. I will be at the next massena board meeting and i want to know for myself also, what qualification did this guy have that got him the job over other very qualified people from massena. Who in there right mind would move all the way to good ole depressed MASSENA NEW YORK, from VIRGINIA, which has more jobs to offer than us up here. And oh, how conveinient that he just happens to know this guy from the military, it all sounds too susicious to me, and i want answers. This town is soooooo corrupt, its not funny, it is all who you are in this town. IF you have a big name in this town, and you have money, you have it made here. I For one also used to live in VIRGINIA, i moved back here only because of family and i went to school here, however, i can tell you for sure, that there are alot more jobs to be had in VIRGINIA, than NEW YORK STATE. i urge everyone, to go to the next town board meeting, and ask for answer. VERY FISHY TO ME.

[candycane]

Our elected officials work for We The People, and those who are corrupt will be voted out by We The People. When is the next mayoral election?

[SUZY]

yes please people get out and voice your concerns about this, seems very odd to me. go to the next town board meeting, ask questions. our voices count.

[Randy Delosh]

I cant help that I am much better then all of you people!!! I am the all and mighty Wizard aka "Mayor" Of Oz or Massena whatever way you want to look at it. No that 28 year old is not my son even know we do look alike!!>>??????? People on the topix page need to get jobs to take up more of there time. I wish I could help you get a job but I got one lined up for another 28 year old in Californa....that is also not my son!!

[general motors]

Mr.Delosh acted the same at GM. He and Mr.Cunningham wanted him to run for Pres of Local 465. And would do what ever it took for him to get position. Neither of them cared for the rest of us that worked at gm. He is a joke. Why he is still mayor and workes at the Sea-way.

[Tinker88]

Front page Massena Courier Observer Dec. 22 2009

"I don't have any authority on hiring" Direct quote from mayor Randy DeLosh.

Massena Courier Observer Dec. 23 2009

When he (mayor DeLosh) was present at the interviews for the DPW post, Mr. DeLosh stated that not only was he not there, he had no reason to be there, stressing that he does not get involved with the hiring process.

In the same article DPW Hire Still Seems Fishy

DPW Superintendant Hassan A. Fayad sat in on several interviews, including Mr. Shakallis. The DPW head said this was unusual, since the mayor is typically not involved in the interviews.

So now it is a coverup. Mayor Randy DeLosh lied in newspaper articles on Tuesday December 22nd and again on Wednesday Dec 23rd.

The mayor is probably thinking about drafting his resignation, which should be called for by the board and the people of Massena. The mayor has insulted the intelligence of the citizens he is supposed to be serving. Also he has insulted the qulaified individuals who applied for that DPW job and an outsider was given the job, and was given special consideration politically, by the mayor of massena who denies any involvment whatsoever. Haas Fayad contradicted the mayor's non involved story by saying the mayor was indeed present during several potential DPW new hires, including Mr. Shakallis'. Not only is the mayor guilty of playing favorites, but also lying about it in newspaper reports. We are getting a new town supervisor soon and perhaps it may be a good time for a new face in the mayors seat at the town hall. One that is honest and concerned about the people he serves.