New York

October 2, 2008: Niagara County lawmakers may formally add their names next week to the list of those interested in the terms of the compensation package of former Niagara Falls Bridge Commission Executive Director Thomas Garlock.

Niagara Falls Democrat Renae Kimble has sponsored a resolution that calls on the commission to release information about any severance package Garlock may have received when he left the binational agency in July. Read the full article here.

Yonkers official: Fuel records do exist
September 19, 2008: The city's inspector general said yesterday that he has records detailing fuel use by Yonkers' fleet of vehicles - information representatives of Mayor Phil Amicone have repeatedly refused to give The Journal News.

Inspector General Philip Zisman told The Journal News that he is conducting an audit of gasoline usage records from a fuel management system, known as Gasboy, which oversees the city's fuel pumps. Read the full article here.

Utica teacher pact should be public
September 16, 2008: Taxpayers are told that it’s good news that Utica public school teachers have approved a new contract with the district.

But taxpayers will have to take officials’ word for it. Neither the union nor the district will make the details public.

And that’s just plain wrong. Read the full editorial here.

City denies data on workers' take-home cars
September 15, 2008: The Journal News requested records of the amount of gasoline used and the miles driven by employees with the city-owned vehicles dating to 2003. The newspaper made the request under the state's Freedom of Information Law.

"Please be advised that no individualized records exist," wrote city Records Access Officer Eric Arena last month, responding to a May 9 request for information. Read the full article here.

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