COLONIE TOWN BOARD MEMBER CALLS ON SUPERVISOR MAHAN TO

WITHDRAW CUNNINGHAM AND BURICK APPOINTMENTS

Colonie Town Board member Dan Dustin has called on Town Supervisor Paula Mahan to
withdraw the appointment of Jack Cunningham as Colonie’s Public Works Commissioner and
Michael Burick as Colonie’s Civil Service Commissioner, pending a public, bi-partisan search for
qualified candidates.

Reacting to the January 6, 2010, Times Union article “Ex-Bethlehem Supervisor Lands Job
Running Public Works Department in Colonie,” Dustin is urging his colleagues on the Town
Board to join him in rejecting the Supervisor’s proposed appointments and instead work together
as a Board to establish a transparent, bi-partisan search committee for qualified candidates that
reside in the Town. “There was absolutely no public process for the selection of these two
important positions” said Dustin. “Although they are appointed positions, there’s no reason why
we cannot embrace good government principles and seek the best, most-qualified individuals for
these positions. The Town residents deserve a highly qualified professional workforce,” he added.

Dustin also questioned the outsourcing of a high paying Town position to non- resident, Jack
Cunningham. “The position of Public Works Commissioner pays over $100,000 per year, before
we send our taxpayers’ hard earned money to a resident of another municipality, we should first
do thorough search for qualified candidates living in the Town. As a community working to get
out of debt, shouldn’t we look to keep that money here?”

Another source of concern for Dustin is Burick’s lack of experience to serve as Civil Service
Commissioner and his heavy involvement in Supervisor Mahan’s campaigns. The January 6,
Times Union article quotes Supervisor Mahan saying regarding Burick, "He has a good
background that would lend itself to coming in and learning this position”(emphasis added). In
response, Dustin said, “The Town’s Commissioner of Civil Service position should not require
on-the-job training on personnel matters or the Civil Service Law and Colonie Taxpayers
should not be asked to subsidize the learning curve of inexperienced appointees. Mr.
Burick’s lack of experience in these areas raises serious questions about his appointment to this
critical position.”

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