Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I think I hear the pathetic and annoying "chirping" of some insignificant piss-ant.

Listening to your own voice bounce off the walls of auntie's basement?  Or do you record it so you can play it back and pretend that you have some friends?

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I think I hear the pathetic and annoying "chirping" of some insignificant piss-ant.

Another nonsense comment.

Just WHY can't you admit that Brucker would NEVER have said anything if Riggi did not bring it up.   Vince Riggi IS THE ONE who FIRST questioned it.   HE is the one that deserves praise from you!!!!!!!

Explain DV, WHY didn't Brucker EVER bring this up BEFORE Riggi brought it up after becoming a council rep?    Huh?    Got an answer DV????

Tell us WHY Brucker NEVER brought it up before.   Come on DV, tell us why it was NEVER brought up before Vince Riggi became a council rep.   Come on DV, waiting for an answer

Of course, he will not answer the question because then he would have to admit that Brucker is NOT the one who suggested it.   So he just answers with usual nonsense babble.   Next comment he makes he'll be spewing his obscenities

Quoted from mikechristine1

Another nonsense comment.

Just WHY can't you admit that Brucker would NEVER have said anything if Riggi did not bring it up.   Vince Riggi IS THE ONE who FIRST questioned it.   HE is the one that deserves praise from you!!!!!!!

Explain DV, WHY didn't Brucker EVER bring this up BEFORE Riggi brought it up after becoming a council rep?    Huh?    Got an answer DV????

Tell us WHY Brucker NEVER brought it up before.   Come on DV, tell us why it was NEVER brought up before Vince Riggi became a council rep.   Come on DV, waiting for an answer

Of course, he will not answer the question because then he would have to admit that Brucker is NOT the one who suggested it.   So he just answers with usual nonsense babble.   Next comment he makes he'll be spewing his obscenities

He really is predictable isn't he..........................

Quoted Text

Too many feeding at the trough in Schenectady

    Re Jan. 20 editorial, “Tahoe too costly for cop cars”: If you like sick humor, the city politicians and police force seem to provide plenty of it. Lots of $100,000 salaries with generous vacation and sick pay.
    If you have insomnia, then go for overtime and you can work 90 hours a week, like some have averaged, to make sure you get over $100,000. Then retire after 20 or 25 years from one of those jobs, take another and get a pension while you work toward another pension. By the time these public servants are in their 80s, the taxpayers will have shelled out a couple million dollars for each of them.
    While I do not claim to be a moralist, it always amuses me sick when I see you don’t have to be sick to get paid for it. Moreover, you can save that so-called sick pay for the last one or three years, along with more overtime, to boost your pension. Then there are the perks. Now some of these patriotic city servants want those gas-guzzling SUVs instead of compact cars to drive to and from work.
    So if you are one of those Schenectady private-sector citizens lucky enough to have a $40,000 year job and maybe even a 401(k) pension plan, which you most likely had to pay for entirely by yourself over your career, don’t get sick when you find out about another perk — most public-sector employees do not have to pay state income tax on their huge pensions, which they contributed very little toward. Some even get their monthly Medicare payments to Social Security paid for by taxpayers.
    OK, I made you sick. But really, I feel bad about it all. I lived in Schenectady for 30 years and it is a shame to see the results of greed and politicians taking care of each other. Sick humor is epitomized when you look at the membership of the Conservative Party and how nothing really changes with Democrats or Republicans.
    Hopefully, the independent Alliance Party under Roger Hull will be back for another try and there will be no hankypanky in the process. I just wish I could have voted for them.

    MARY KUYKENDALL
    Middle Grove

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00703&AppName=1

Very very well spoken letter, speaking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Nothing but the truth ?  Bargaining unit employees cashed in sick leave cannot boost their pensions.  

Quoted from visitor

Nothing but the truth ?  Bargaining unit employees cashed in sick leave cannot boost their pensions.  

Sick leave can be used to boost paychecks and thus boost pensions by using it to count as hours worked and then logging in OT.  FACT!

Monday - Sick/Personal Day or Holiday - 8 hours
Tuesday - Sick - 8 Hours
Wednesday - Sick - 8 hours
Thursday - Sick - 8 Hours
Friday - Work - 20 Hours - 8 Regular and 12 OT due to 3 bullsh1t "Callbacks"
Saturday - Work -20 Hours - Would all be 20 Hours OT since 40 hours was met part of the way through Friday.
Sunday - Work -20 Hours all OT

You can replace Sick Days with any combo of Personal or Holidays and the same thing happens.  

So this officer would get paid 40 Hours regular pay and then 42 Hours of OT.  

visitor, tell me this can't or doesnt happen......

TiB That's not what they emant and you know it - they said save sick pay for last three years to boost pension.  they meant the buyout.

and most employees now are on earned sick leave.  after 8 days they ahve to get medical verification of illness.  

if you run out of sick days in a year you can go on leave no pay status - that has happened.

and they get vacation days and work holidays.  


they can work their vacation

Quoted from visitor

and they get vacation days and work holidays.  


they can work their vacation

Right, so the same scenario can happen.  I dont know any private company that would allow more than 1 or 2 days sick without a doctors note.  Here they can have 8 before they need it.  You seem to be in the know and I cant get a copy of the contract.  It's not on SeethroughNY.com  

How many sickdays do they accrue per pay period?  I heard it is an obcene amount.  VanNordens was also an crazy amount.  They have the contract of a lifetime.  Its like CEOs with the golden parachutes.  

Van Norden was salaried - different category and you are seeing those benfits ending. That was what the transfer of powere re: who could authorize employee benefits.  And, I am not stating these are sound business practices, because it is not.

I think they can earn 15 per year, have to certify after 8 but if there is a pattern of abuse other steps can be taken.  

Some places, mostly private sector, simplify this and lump it all together as earned personal time.  

One of the reasons why Compensatory time became a problem with the police deaprtment as because when Schdy did not have the crime issues it has today,  officers were afforded a very generous TC policy in lieu of raises.  And, TC was needed to some degree to prevent burnout because fo some of the ridiculous schedules they had.  For example, once cycle had patrol sergeants working eight days in a row.

Quoted from visitor

Van Norden was salaried - different category and you are seeing those benfits ending. That was what the transfer of powere re: who could authorize employee benefits.  And, I am not stating these are sound business practices, because it is not.

I think they can earn 15 per year, have to certify after 8 but if there is a pattern of abuse other steps can be taken.  

Some places, mostly private sector, simplify this and lump it all together as earned personal time.  

One of the reasons why Compensatory time became a problem with the police deaprtment as because when Schdy did not have the crime issues it has today,  officers were afforded a very generous TC policy in lieu of raises.  And, TC was needed to some degree to prevent burnout because fo some of the ridiculous schedules they had.  For example, once cycle had patrol sergeants working eight days in a row.

Either way, we have the perfect storm here.  They may need more officers and it might lower the overtime and get better results but I wouldnt ever add any until someone removes the risk of any benefits being lost and there still being a ton of overtime and sick leave.

8 days sick time leads to someone else getting 12 to 24 hours of OT.  The 4 hours mandatory OT also has a hair trigger.  To easily used.  Too many people hanging around.........takinng a few extra minutes filling out the report to get into OT land.  Just to easy.  Pay for performance is the way to go.  No arrests and convictions then no pay......

Arrests for money = bounty hunting, could lead to abuse.

Quoted from visitor

Arrests for money = bounty hunting, could lead to abuse.

Thats not what I meant.  Link raises to arrest conviction rates.  Lots of arrests but no convictions then no pay.

You sound like you know alot about the system.  Do you think it is set up properly for the long term?    

if you are talking about the contractual issues I would say no.  

They need to adopt a system which would fairly and objectively calculate fair benefit packages for workers who do
not have the ability to strike.  

redo the contract so that is fair and competitive yet taxpayer friendly and adjustible