John Purcell 08/26/10 County, Nisky and Glenville also looking into possible cost-cutting solution
Fiscal concerns are on the minds of many as budget deadlines loom over the horizon and municipalities have the option of offering a retirement incentive to possibly create savings. What savings there could be was under dispute in the Town of Rotterdam.
The Rotterdam Town Board held a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 19, to discuss the option of adopting Part A of the 2010 Retirement Incentive offered by the state. After hearing the publics concerns during privilege of the floor, the board failed the resolution by a 3 to 2 vote. The two board members approving the resolution were Town Supervisor Francis Del Gallo and Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski.
“This is insanity — it was already settled weeks ago in your last agenda meeting that you weren’t going to be moving forward with this,” said Kelly Rhinesmith. “Probably sooner rather than later we’ll end up rehiring these people at probably higher salaries … I don’t understand why we’re even talking about it tonight when it was settled this was not something that would realize any savings what-so-ever for the town.”
Kevin March echoed Rhinesmith’s statements on why the issue was being discussed.
“Why are we here on such short notice, because of the fact that we need to get something pushed through that you couldn’t do when it was the appropriate time?” said March.
Any municipalities wishing to explore the New York State & Local Retirement System’s 2010 Retirement Incentive Program Part A need to pass a resolution by Aug. 31 and Part B by Sept. 1.
Part A provides eligible employees with one additional month of service credit for each year of employment, but the total amount of additional service credited can’t exceed three years. The positions also must be targeted and eligibility should be determined based on seniority.
Del Gallo stressed the incentive was being voted on to keep the option available for the board, but if they didn’t pass the resolution they would lose the option.
“If we don’t vote yes tonight we have no other choice,” said Del Gallo. “If we do vote yes, then we have another three months to make a choice.”
Patrick T. Aragosa, comptroller for Rotterdam, attended the meeting and Del Gallo pried Aragosa if the town would be able to save any money.
“Frank, if it was my money, I wouldn’t spend it that way,” said Aragosa. “I’m in a tough spot here, but I’m trying to give you guys everything you need … It is going to be difficult to save based on the premium you have to pay.”
Aragosa said the town would be required to save 50 percent over two years if the incentive was approved. According to Aragosa’s calculations it would be around six to seven years to see a savings if nobody is rehired into the positions. Rotterdam had suggested five targets for individuals to receive the incentive.
“I don’t care what you say, somebody has got to be rehired back, so that delays the process even more,” said Aragosa. “You’re not going to live without some of these positions.”
Rhinesmith stated earlier during the meeting it would be fiscally dangerous to award these incentives to individuals.
“Every single one of you with any fiscal responsibility what-so-ever should just all say no,” said Rhinesmith.
Frank Salamone advised the board to listen to the town comptroller and take the suggestions offered.
“[Aragosa] has never seen this incentive realize any sort of cost savings and I don’t understand why we don’t take his expertise into consideration here and just listen to him,” said Frank Salamone. “I don’t understand why anyone would try to counter that and I hope that this board takes his advice into consideration and votes down this measure. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Godlewski referred to figures the board had, which were a composite of the worst case senerio; the board can say no at a later date and “cherry pick” individuals to receive the benefit.
“If we go back and massage the numbers, maybe if you massage the numbers a little and you’re more selective, then the financial scenario might not be as bad as presented here,” said Godlewski.
Aragosa agreed with Godlewski and said if positions were taken off the list it would “soften the blow.” Also, Aragosa said there would be no penalties associated with the incentive if the town approved it and didn’t implement it.
Though the resolution failed in Rotterdam, there will be public hearings and votes on the retirement incentive in other local municipalities before the upcoming deadlines.....................>>>>...................>>>>................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1282837647
They ALWAYS hire the next person at what the last guy went out making because government is inherently corrupt and stupid, and careless of how much money is spent and wasted. How is that for truth that hurts.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
They ALWAYS hire the next person at what the last guy went out making because government is inherently corrupt and stupid, and careless of how much money is spent and wasted. How is that for truth that hurts.
It's truth people have always known. And both parties do it!!! No big surprise here!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
It will just be used as a podium puck to 'assist' REMS....
"look at the money we saved. now we can 'save' REMS".............I'll tell them if they are right at the BOOTH.......when I touch the SEND button......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
ROTTERDAM Board backs exit option BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Supervisor Frank Del Gallo will have the option of offering four town workers a retirement incentive during the budget process, but he’ll have to receive majority approval from the Town Board. Board member Matt Martin joined Del Gallo and Deputy Super Robert Godlweski in supporting the incentive during a hastily called meeting Tuesday. Board members Gerard Parisi and Nicola DiLeva, who both voted to defeat the incentive during a meeting earlier this month, were not present. Martin, who previously opposed offering the incentive, said he changed his mind to allow Del Gallo all available options during the budget process. He said the board will still have oversight to determine whether the incentives are cost-effective. “This is just an option,” he said in explaining his vote in favor of the resolution. “It by no means retires anyone today.” But Tuesday’s vote could face challenges, since several members of the board weren’t properly notified about the meeting according to state law. At least two board members were notified only 27 hours before the meeting was scheduled instead of two days in accordance with the statute governing town meetings. “Somebody could contest the validity of whatever they passed,” said Robert Freeman, the executive director of New York’s Committee on Open Government. Frank Salamone, a Repub- lican running for the board’s lone vacancy this fall, also questioned the legality of the meeting. He said there didn’t seem to be a pressing emergency to call the meeting, since the board had already addressed the incentives twice during the month of August. “I don’t see how an emergency of your making can allow you to have an emergency meeting without proper notice,” he said. Town Attorney Michael Godlewski disagreed. He said proper notice was offered prior to the meeting. “The position of the town attorney’s office is that the prescribed requirements under the law have been fulfi lled,” he said. Town officials had until September to approve the incentive, which is only available to workers older than 55 who have at least 25 years invested into the state retirement system. Under the proposal, board members would have the ability to offer workers one additional month of service credit for each year of town employment for up to three years of additional retirement credit. Comptroller Patrick Aragosa has indicated the total payout from the incentive could cost the town about $191,000 — in addition to about $85,000 in unused vacation time payments — if it were offered to all eligible workers. In the past, he said the payouts have ultimately cost the town because the positions are inevitably fi lled. A Freedom of Information Law request answered by the town earlier this month indicated only four employees among the work force of 179 full- and part-time workers who would be eligible for the incentive. They are Sandra LeVielle and Kathryn Matteo in the Receiver of Taxes offi ce; Robert Meers in the Highway Department; and Darlene Mullally, a confidential secretary to Del Gallo. Del Gallo defended offering the incentives, despite the comptroller’s assertions. He said the town is in a diffi cult fi nancial situation that may require layoffs in addition to the positions that would be left vacant through the incentive. “We just want the option to look at it,” he said following the meeting. Salamone, the only resident to comment during the sparsely attended meeting, chastised the board for offering Mullally a “golden parachute” less than nine months into her service with the town. He also criticized them for going against Aragosa’s advice. His assertions drew a strong rebuke from Tony Cevera, the town Democratic Committee’s former chairman, who defended Mullaly’s more than three decades of service elsewhere. He also defended Del Gallo’s ability to run the town like a business. “I doubt the comptroller has ever run a business,” he said.
Rotterdam Town board members rescind vote, passing retirement incentive
John Purcell 08/31/10
Everyone thought Rotterdam’s retirement incentive debate was over, but it might have just begun.
During a Rotterdam Town Board special meeting tonight, Aug. 31, three Town Board members rescinded the previous special meeting vote on Thursday, Aug. 19, denying the board the option to use Part A of the 2010 Retirement Incentive offered by the state. In addition, a new section was added to the resolution, which was not made available to the public till the night of the meeting.
Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski and board member Matthew Martin joined Del Gallo during the special meeting, but fellow members Nicola DiLeva and Gerard Parisi weren’t in attendance. Del Gallo and Godlewski both voted yes previously, but Martin switched his stance and supported the resolution.
Town Supervisor Francis Del Gallo e-mailed board members and the media around 3 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, announcing a special meeting to be held on the following day at 6 p.m. In the original agenda only resolution 238.10 was listed, calling for the adoption of the previously discussed retirement incentive.
New York State Town Law in Section 62 states, “The supervisor of any town may, and upon written request of two members of the board shall within ten days, call a special meeting of the town board by giving at least two days notice in writing to members of the board of the time when and the place where the meeting is to be held.”
“I think legally they may have an issue with the resolution if somebody bothers to challenge it,” said Parisi after the vote. “If the residents did, I think they might be able to overturn the resolution.”
DiLeva echoed Parisi statement and said, “We see the agenda and the last resolution they had last night is completely different than the one the gave to us today. I say shame on them … It is not transparent and not the way you run town government.”
DiLeva and Parisi said confirmed they did not receive written notice two days in advance. Also, when a resolution is significantly changed another public hearing would need to be held.
Section 3 of the new resolution no. 239.10 added that a list of all targeted employees must be approved by a majority of the board before filing the tentative budget.
Comparing this to running a business is a joke! No business would ever give this kind of incentive to "save money."
Sorry but this is done every day by 'private sector businesses'....EVERY DAY!!!
The difference being.....they don't use taxpayer's money nor do they 're-occupy' the positions!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
My point is private business retires people so the business saves money. This proposal will cost more money than it will save...
You crack me up Spidey. How about the sweetheart retirement deal handed to Jackie Denny??? Allowed to use 3 sick days a week for about 8 months before he retired. Quid pro quo for running in a Dem Primary, in which he got beat, then went on to lose the general and then went on to get a planning board appt. You are such a friggin hypocrite. You can't figure out what a political dimwit you really are because your giant sized ego is pickled by all that BOOOOOZE! IMHO
Peeps when did I say I agree with that? I think that's bad too!
You seem to have very strong GOP leanings. I trust you know all about the Jackie Denny "arrangement." Did you ever speak out about it or where you "compromised" by politics? Maybe you even peddeled it for your patron saints. I just think that the political rubbish in Town Hall left over by the Tomassone Admin should have been let go. The back stabbing has been horrendous and Tomassone, Signore and Parisi's finger prints are all over it. This whole retirement issue should have been a non controversial issue just like it was in other towns and cities.
FDG is surrounded by soldiers from a different political encampment. Now more than ever FDG should clean out the barn with a fire truck hose. Enough is enough! We voted for change!! Not politics as usual ala Steve Tomassone.
My understanding is that the Supervisor did NOT want to have to lay off people to bring the new budget into line ... and that the retirement incentives would allow those who want to leave to leave .. save some money and keep from laying off those on the other end of the seniority list.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
My understanding is that the Supervisor did NOT want to have to lay off people to bring the new budget into line ... and that the retirement incentives would allow those who want to leave to leave .. save some money and keep from laying off those on the other end of the seniority list.
Retirement incentive??? For someone there EIGHT MONTHS??
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