Quoted from senders

The control board will just be a 'complaint board' just like all other government agencies have for the public to think something
is going to change, when in fact it's just a sounding therapy board so the public thinks it was 'herd' heard....

the conversation about the cost is almost a moot point....we pay our captors well....they provide the abundance or the lack of
straw, depending on their vacation/travel needs and costs.....

remember Spartacus?

Spartacus? WTF does Spartacus have to do with anything?

I'm not seeing any slave revolts, gladitorial combat, or (ca.)6000 people hanging from crosses on Central Ave. from Schenectady to Albany. (Because that was the fate of Spartacus's army).

Get off the movies senders.
----------

P.S: The Spartacus series on Starz has been excellent even with Liam McIntyre taking over as Spartacus, after the surprising death of Andy Whitfield (I still think Andy was better).

Quoted from BuckStrider

Spartacus? WTF does Spartacus have to do with anything?

I'm not seeing any slave revolts, gladitorial combat, or (ca.)6000 people hanging from crosses on Central Ave. from Schenectady to Albany. (Because that was the fate of Spartacus's army).

Get off the movies senders.
----------

P.S: The Spartacus series on Starz has been excellent even with Liam McIntyre taking over as Spartacus, after the surprising death of Andy Whitfield (I still think Andy was better).

American workers are the gladiators of the world economy and the 'champions' live in hollywood

spartacus listened to a system that obfuscated the truth at almost every turn....

it was a cast system set up by the Romans...they only specifically focused on the gladiators and Capua, but the bigger picture
is EVERYWHERE...

what's the value of the money we earn and taxes we pay?

Quoted from visitor

Paying only 5% is indeed a great benefit.  That percentage will undoubtedly increase; however, I think there needs to be a concerted effort to find ways to get cheaper plans. It costs between $15k and $20k for a family plan, yet most of the employees rarely use that amount of service.  I think that ultimately you will see the public sector follow the trend of the private sector and go to the high deductible plans.

City Manager - not sure how that would happen - petition grass roots movement.  And, that's only as good as the selection process and the pols leaving the CM alone to do what is necessary.

With the new pension plans - pension costs will decrease.  Health insurance is the next big thing to address.  

5% is a joke.  Its like a slap in the taxpayers face.   As for a high deductible plan for city workers, it will never happen.  You need a deductable before you go high deductable.  

Pensions are a joke.  You guys pad the OT before retirement.  That is clear.  Your honor system isn't honorable for the taxpayers.

the ability to increase pensions by ot was a perk that did not make financial sense. the new tier places restrictions on that.

so it would be impossiblebfor them to transition to a high deductible system?

Quoted from visitor

the ability to increase pensions by ot was a perk that did not make financial sense. the new tier places restrictions on that.

so it would be impossiblebfor them to transition to a high deductible system?

and then there are COLA's....I don't think they should exist for pensions/retirements just because someone was a
public worker....

Quoted from visitor

the ability to increase pensions by ot was a perk that did not make financial sense. the new tier places restrictions on that.

so it would be impossiblebfor them to transition to a high deductible system?

How about the 20 SPD who just retired? They were not new tier there Visitor.

Kinnda' like all of Schenectady...the Mayors double-up on salary and pension, Superintendents getting a STAR exemption for leaving the state, legal counsel getting life-time medical benefits....it's the fiscal raping of Schenectady but all those who can do so!!!!

Quoted from visitor

the ability to increase pensions by ot was a perk that did not make financial sense. the new tier places restrictions on that.

so it would be impossiblebfor them to transition to a high deductible system?

Funny how you think a high deductiable plan is possible in the city.  It is unlikely to ever happen since there is no incentive for the city employees to do so.  The only way that it may happen is if the employee is given the "carrot" or option to keep 99% of the savings of moving to this plan.  You an I both know it.  

There was an option at my job this year for a high deductable plan.  The only reason I even considered it was that I may be able to cut my premiums coming out of my paycheck considerably or a savings of $400 to $500 a month.  The city employees (according to your numbers provided (5%)) only pay $750 a year in premiums now.  Can you provide any reasons or how a move to a high deductable plan would be possible.  On top of it dont the city employees also enjoy a great umbrella insurance policy also?  

On the pensions?   FACT: Pensions are an outdated financial instrument that cripples the intitutions that use them.  Any and all companies not handcuffed by a union has moved away from them.  Why, because they bankrupt the host.  

Your tier system changes only drag out the death.   It humors me to know that current city management still allows you guys to aid in the padding of the pensions of the boys on the way out.  Again I ask you, can you tell me why you guys continue to call yourselves public safety when you continually work overtime hours that most regulators have deemed unsafe for the private sector.   Do Schenectady police officers routinely go over the speed limit or pull their weapon?   Do time cards get regularly pulled in court proceedings to show the competence of an arresting officer?    


HOURS-OF-SERVICE RULES



Property-Carrying CMV Drivers (Valid Until July 1, 2013)

Passenger-Carrying CMV Drivers



11-Hour Driving Limit
May drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

10-Hour Driving Limit
May drive a maximum of 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty.



14-Hour Limit
May not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

15-Hour On-Duty Limit
May not drive after having been on duty for 15 hours, following 8 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time is not included in the 15-hour period.



60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit
May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit
May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days.



Sleeper Berth Provision
Drivers using the sleeper berth provision must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two.

Sleeper Berth Provision
Drivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 hours in the sleeper berth, and may split the sleeper-berth time into two periods provided neither is less than 2 hours.

Obviously they would have to find some kind of incentive - hence the term negotiation.

They bankrupted the host because the manner in which they were structured.  I suppose you think the private sector plans like Enron are preferable - work for your entire life then when it's time to retire, you get told there is no money.

Ad them in allowing them to pad their pensions?  OT is dependent on available work and available manpower.  It's a busy city.   And, unfortunately some people have to work extra hours.  Maybe you cannot function after too many hours, some people can.  And, some people have to.  It's not ideal that officers work excessive hours, but to assert that they are not competent because of not getting enough sleep on some days is absurd.  

Aid pension padding - senior people typically work in detective assignments - that OT has been reduced by about 1/3 over the past three years. 2006 - 2008 avg was 900k, last three years it was about 650,000.  And, the police do not have control over their workload.

Quoted from visitor

Obviously they would have to find some kind of incentive - hence the term negotiation.

They bankrupted the host because the manner in which they were structured.  I suppose you think the private sector plans like Enron are preferable - work for your entire life then when it's time to retire, you get told there is no money.

Ad them in allowing them to pad their pensions?  OT is dependent on available work and available manpower.  It's a busy city.   And, unfortunately some people have to work extra hours.  Maybe you cannot function after too many hours, some people can.  And, some people have to.  It's not ideal that officers work excessive hours, but to assert that they are not competent because of not getting enough sleep on some days is absurd.  

Aid pension padding - senior people typically work in detective assignments - that OT has been reduced by about 1/3 over the past three years. 2006 - 2008 avg was 900k, last three years it was about 650,000.  And, the police do not have control over their workload.

get rid of the public pensions and pay it straight up in pay....when passed on to the posterity it fractures ties and adds
into the mix stuff that doesn't have to be there because the leaders lack the balls to grab the bull by the horns....

Quoted from visitor

Obviously they would have to find some kind of incentive - hence the term negotiation.

They bankrupted the host because the manner in which they were structured.  I suppose you think the private sector plans like Enron are preferable - work for your entire life then when it's time to retire, you get told there is no money.

Ad them in allowing them to pad their pensions?  OT is dependent on available work and available manpower.  It's a busy city.   And, unfortunately some people have to work extra hours.  Maybe you cannot function after too many hours, some people can.  And, some people have to.  It's not ideal that officers work excessive hours, but to assert that they are not competent because of not getting enough sleep on some days is absurd.  

Aid pension padding - senior people typically work in detective assignments - that OT has been reduced by about 1/3 over the past three years. 2006 - 2008 avg was 900k, last three years it was about 650,000.  And, the police do not have control over their workload.

The employee compensation and retirement plan structure didnt bring Enron down.  Enron had corruption in a part of the company, not the whole company and that brought the company down.  The citys financials are about as transparent as Enrons.  They dont use GAAP accounting like almost everyone else.  See the link below.  What are they hiding?


Your right visitor, it is absurd of me to think that an officer cant continually work 20+ hours everyweek of the year (60 to 70 hours a week for a whole year) and responsibly drive a policecar or operate a handgun.  Your right.  The job is so stressful.....that is why such hours are routinely possible.  

http://cityofschenectady.com/pdf/Finance/Financial%20-%20Final%20Audit%202011.pdf



America are also described in Note 1. The effect on the financial statements of the variances
between these regulatory accounting practices and accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America, although not reasonably determinable, are presumed to be material.
In our opinion, because of the effects of the matter discussed in the preceding paragraph, the
financial statements referred to above do not present fairly, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, the financial position of the City of Schenectady,
New York as of December 31, 2011, and the results of its operations for the year then ended.
Further, the City of Schenectady, New York has not presented a management’s discussion and
analysis that accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America has
determined is necessary to supplement, although not required to be part of, the basic financial
statements.
As more fully described in Note 1, the regulatory basis financial statements referred to above do not
include the non-current government asset account group, which should be included in order to
conform with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Office of the State Comptroller
of the State of New York. The amounts that should be recorded in the non-current government asset
and the liability for postemployment benefits other than pensions are not known.
In our opinion, based on our audit and the reports of other auditors, except for the effect of such
adjustments discussed in the preceding paragraph, the regulatory basis financial statements referred
to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the City of Schenectady,
New York as of December 31, 2011, and the results of its operations for the year then ended in
conformity with the regulatory basis accounting principles prescribed by the New York State Office
of the State Comptroller.
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated May 3,
2012, on our consideration of the City of Schenectady’s internal control over financial reporting and
on our tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grant
agreements and other matters. The purpose of that report is to describe the scope of our testing of
internal control over financial reporting and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to
provide an opinion on the internal control over financial reporting or on compliance. That report is
an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and
should be considered in assessing the results of our audit.

The point re: Enron was that employees had a pension plan, unlike the public sector, which was not protected. They worked their entire life expecting promises made by management would be honored.

Most officers do not work 60 -70 hours.  I would think the average employee might work between 8-12.  

If people working long hours were automatically incompetent to perform their duties - the military could not function.

Quoted from visitor

The point re: Enron was that employees had a pension plan, unlike the public sector, which was not protected. They worked their entire life expecting promises made by management would be honored.

Most officers do not work 60 -70 hours.  I would think the average employee might work between 8-12.  

If people working long hours were automatically incompetent to perform their duties - the military could not function.

The saying "Pigs get fat, Hogs get the slaughtered" sums it all up.  The city is bought by all the unions which are greedy hogs.  Why else would we be rebuilding the Glendale nursing home $50 million.

I dont doubt your statement about most only working 8 to 12 hours. It verifies my point.  The police management is failing at leveling out the overtime amongst all the employees.  Again the hogs gobble up the OT with their seniority while creating a dangerous situation due to fatigue and irritability.  

Please don't compare the Schenectady police to the military.  Its not fair Apples and Oranges in so so many ways.  

Quoted from visitor

The point re: Enron was that employees had a pension plan, unlike the public sector, which was not protected. They worked their entire life expecting promises made by management would be honored.

Right, Visitor. Some companies go bankrupt, some do not abide by the pension/retirement laws in their state which protect workers funds.

CONVERSELY, the City of Schenectady has systematically forced hundreds of homeowners/taxpayers to flee, go into bankruptcy and eventually foreclose on their homes, because they will not take a stand on pension padding, limits on overtime, free rides home in City vehicles, free cell phones, lifetime medical benefits....etc...etc.

A private business not securing pension benefits hurts the employees...the City of Schenectady not putting their foot down on employee glutton has decimated the homeowners way of life.

Quoted from rachel72

How about the 20 SPD who just retired? They were not new tier there Visitor.

Kinnda' like all of Schenectady...the Mayors double-up on salary and pension, Superintendents getting a STAR exemption for leaving the state, legal counsel getting life-time medical benefits....it's the fiscal raping of Schenectady but all those who can do so!!!!

UPDATE! Mayor McCheese wants to give a huge bonus to some State lob he has located for finance. City finances must be taken over by a State Control Board. These DEM morons are going bankrupt and
handing out bonuses to the Friends and Family Club. It's disgusting and worse the fact that no one dares report on it.