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Editorials
While being a proponent of downsizing our bloated federal, state and local government agencies and their staff, I fail to see the purpose of using the Village of Lancaster as the standard bearer for towns much larger in size and with development potential to reduce their board sizes.
I rarely disagree with the opinions stated by Buffalo News columnist Donn Esmonde, but his Sunday column favoring activist Kevin Gaughan’s mission to downsize West Seneca’s town board while using the Village of Lancaster as a success story is absurd; like comparing apples to oranges.
The Village of Lancaster has a population of near 18,000. Until recently, it was served by a seven member board; mayor and six trustees. It reduced its board size to five members. The only major components remaining to administer to are the highway department, Clerk’s Office and the court.
The Town of West Seneca has a population of 47,000, has its own police department, Assessor’s Office, Clerk’s Office, has developable land, etc. In other words, a lot more going on there than in the Village of Lancaster. So, while you two guys are giving kudos for a small village in getting down to a five member board, you want West Seneca, near three times in population size, with more official duties to administer to, and with developable land to reduce to a three member board? What am I missing here?
“Less is more,” says Mr. Esmonde in his column. “Somehow I do not think a shortage of elected officials is something we have to worry about. Take a step back, and we are—with 16 villages, 25 towns and three cities within the county line— among the most politically over-represented people in the nation. Village residents, for instance, are “served” by a village trustee, a village mayor, a town trustee, a town supervisor, a county legislator, a state senator, a state assemblyman and a multitude of staff and support people. Precious few Americans have.”
Shouldn’t Mr. Gaughan be looking to eliminate the villages? Haven’t they served their initial purpose? Why even Lancaster Village Mayor William Cansdale was quoted as saying,” “We’re better now with just five [trustees], and if we had to, we could do it with three,” said Cansdale. “Inevitably, I think the village will just dissolve [into the town].”
Why not now Mr. Cansdale? Why not act to help make that happen Mr. Gaughan?
Savings of significance
But considering the savings noted in reducing the size of town governments is focused more on benefits and perks than salaries, perhaps Mr. Gaughan should be focusing on why some towns are still paying for lifetime health benefits for part time board members; why stipends of 50% of the health care premium cost are given if a public sector worker has another source for coverage; focus on outrageous retirement contracts and perks and work to bring change?
According to a recent Buffalo News report, taxpayers will be paying more to subsidize the New York State Retirement System because of the depressed stock market. We have to pay more so that the public sector can maintain their retirement program. General Motors is filing bankruptcy and has already made contract revisions (program cuts & labor force cutbacks) to reduce salaries and health care premium costs to become a viable entity; done with union contract negotiations and agreement.
As is often said, the public sector is not a business, nor can it be run like a business. Indeed, if it were and was run like one it would have been out of business decades ago. Then and now is not a statement that applies to our state and local politicos and the public sector. Only they have the toughest decisions to make, budgets to worry about, the most dangerous jobs in the world, the most stressful, the most important regarding teaching our children, and on-and-on. The rest of us are just the shmucks having to pay their way. In today’s economy, if they were to quit their jobs, their ranks would be filled immediately.
In the town of Lancaster, the board recently voted to do away with the $6,600 stipend part time board members were getting while having a second source of coverage; their own full time jobs or spouse. To my knowledge, no one has been able to produce a written document (resolution)stating board members were entitled to receive this perk - as was approved by resolution for full time town employees. Considering some board members had been receiving this perk since 1996, shouldn’t this illegitimately gained taxpayer monies be returned?
I understand you have to start somewhere Mr. Gaughan, but are you sure you’re hunting in the right woods? While the media is reporting on out of control spending by state, local government and school district spending, you are focusing on removing part time government workers. While private sector businesses and residents are leaving the state because they won’t pay outrages taxes anymore to pay for inept and ineffectual government and failing public school systems that show little concern for the taxpaying public, you’re interested in saving pennies instead of dollars.
Choice please
Erie County Legislator Lynn Marinelli was quoted today as saying the people of today want any kind of change. Well, when it comes election time this fall, you will see the same old career oriented, self-serving politicos returned to office; most likely in the high 90’s percentage wise. Are New York voters that uninformed, apathetic or Party oriented that they keep voting the same bozos in office?
I only hope the Republican Party endorses some viable Town Board candidates this year; unlike the election of two years ago where no endorsed candidates appeared on the ballot. I am tired of casting write-in ballots. That’s not to say the Republicans have a guaranteed vote, but they would give the public choice.
I did leave out the Lancaster Conservative and Independence Parties endorsement of candidates because their Parties have already been compromised and/or influenced by the Democratic Party.
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