Town of Lancaster~Nov 1st Public Hearing

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"If you want to have a real chance at helping to shape the 2011 budget for the Town of Lancaster, Nov. 1st is your chance. If you decide to sit out on the public hearing, don't expect to find a sympathetic ear when you decide to cry foul once the budget has been adopted." by Editor Lisa Johnson in today's issue of the Lancaster Bee. Lisa Johnson, in reading your editorial I would have to say JOB WELL DONE! I enjoyed the informative article and the jest injected into your editorial.

Read the following Town Officers proposed salaries:

Supervisor~~~as Supervisor $74,441
Giza is also the Budget Officer (I really didn't know that) $8,122 giving him a grand total of : $82,563

Town Clerk~~~as Clerk $71,145
Coleman is Records Mangement Officer $6,535
Coleman is Registrar of Vital Statistics $3,000
Coleman is Zoning Board of Appeals $3,390
Giving her a grand total of $84,070 And I thought her salary included these duties, so as Clerk what does her duties include? I thought it included record management, statistics, wow !!

The Council Members $18.975 (2.75% raises)

Giza quoted saying the increases are reflected by the healthcare and the pensions.

Oh the Superintendent of Highways $69,788
Armatura is also the Drainage Coordinator (thought that would be part of the highway duties) $5,450
Grant total $75,238 Wow!!!

Now we all appreciate that they forgoed their increases last year of 2%. Your constituents thank you for that. However, this years increases are 2.75%. I feel that they should hold the line again and forgo their increases. I also feel they do make a decent salary. What I didn't realize is that the jobs were segregated with an additional salary per duty. Did you?

Lisa Johnson said in her last paragraph, "Agree or disagree, but if you want to be heard when it counts, take your turn at the microphone during the budget hearing---or hold your peace for another year."

[Lee Chowaniec]

"If you want to have a real chance at helping to shape the 2011 budget for the Town of Lancaster, Nov. 1st is your chance. If you decide to sit out on the public hearing, don't expect to find a sympathetic ear when you decide to cry foul once the budget has been adopted." by Editor Lisa Johnson in today's issue of the Lancaster Bee. Lisa Johnson, in reading your editorial I would have to say JOB WELL DONE! I enjoyed the informative article and the jest injected into your editorial.

Read the following Town Officers proposed salaries:

Supervisor~~~as Supervisor $74,441
Giza is also the Budget Officer (I really didn't know that) $8,122 giving him a grand total of : $82,563

Town Clerk~~~as Clerk $71,145
Coleman is Records Mangement Officer $6,535
Coleman is Registrar of Vital Statistics $3,000
Coleman is Zoning Board of Appeals $3,390
Giving her a grand total of $84,070 And I thought her salary included these duties, so as Clerk what does her duties include? I thought it included record management, statistics, wow !!

The Council Members $18.975 (2.75% raises)

Giza quoted saying the increases are reflected by the healthcare and the pensions.

Oh the Superintendent of Highways $69,788
Armatura is also the Drainage Coordinator (thought that would be part of the highway duties) $5,450
Grant total $75,238 Wow!!!

Now we all appreciate that they forgoed their increases last year of 2%. Your constituents thank you for that. However, this years increases are 2.75%. I feel that they should hold the line again and forgo their increases. I also feel they do make a decent salary. What I didn't realize is that the jobs were segregated with an additional salary per duty. Did you?

Lisa Johnson said in her last paragraph, "Agree or disagree, but if you want to be heard when it counts, take your turn at the microphone during the budget hearing---or hold your peace for another year."

Considering there have been in the last 10 years but two or three of us speaking at the budget public hearings, I would expect the same turnout.

As for the three council members who opted not to take salary increases last year, two were running for re-election and the one didn't care as he was elected Highway Superintendent. And, Supervisor Giza took a two percent wage increase.

In my opinion, the council members would be foolish to not take their salary increases again unless all other elected officials and department heads refused theirs as well. Giving up part time position salaries is a drop in the bucket compared to the salary increases for non union white collar workers. But that's why they just reapproved (last week) their getting the same considerations as the white collar union workers.

Please keep in mind that according to the proposed budget the town will fork out $544,000 more in Employee Benefit costs this year. Keep in mind that the town's Personal Services costs will increase by $583,000 - those costs include salary, longevity pay, overtime, perks, etc. increases.

That still leaves $900,000 unaccounted for. The town is using $400,000 less in Fund Balance Reserves this year. Why, because of reval they can increase the tax rate from $8.19 per thousand dollars of property assessment to only$8.28. Generally when a reval is done the tax rate is lowered. But in my opinion we are spending more this year and using less fund balance reserves so that next year during election time a fiscally responsible budget can be presented and the controlling (all Democratic Party) incumbent candidates can say "what good boys are we." That's politics 101 folks.

If you think Lancaster is any different, in fact, any worse than other municipalities, think again. Visit the web site of other towns and see what they pay their elected officials, police, etc; that is, if the budget is on the web site. See how they value their people. You may be surprised.

BTW - Why is Lancaster's budget not on the web site? If it is, tell me where to find it.

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Truly, what would it take to get people off their asses and come to a meeting and voice their concern about the budget that will affect them?

People are apathetic. I get that, but for goodness sakes get out there and say nay or just show up and show a force of angry taxpayers that cannot take it anymore.

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I hope people show up for the public hearing, each year that passes, the budget gets worst for lacking of citizens involvement.

I don't want to sound like a salesman, but go to the hearing and go out and vote in November removing all the incumbents. Thompson for those in Buffalo need to vote him out. Another scandal.

[gorja]

Also, vote out former Aurora Gold attorney Mark Aquino.

Do we want a town councilman who has in his repertoire the practice of being deceptive and abusive?


http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/20...apr30b_08.html

[therising]

Thompson for those in Buffalo need to vote him out. Another scandal.

When you say another scandal, that implies there's a scandal in Lancaster.
I'm sorry, I must have missed something -- what's the scandal in Lancaster?

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When you say another scandal, that implies there's a scandal in Lancaster.
I'm sorry, I must have missed something -- what's the scandal in Lancaster?

No no no therising, in the morning news, it was......
"Scandal over downstate casino jolts Albany", sorry I should have been more descriptive.

[gorja]

Originally posted by Lee Chowaniec:
If you think Lancaster is any different, in fact, any worse than other municipalities, think again. Visit the web site of other towns and see what they pay their elected officials, police, etc; that is, if the budget is on the web site. See how they value their people. You may be surprised.

Yes, it could be worse. Look at Hamburg.

Proposed elected officials salaries-

Supervisor- $84,587
Budget dir. stipend $15,000 WOW
Total for supervisor $99,587
Drescher & Malecki does the accounting for the budget but the supervisor wants $15,000 for signing off on it.

Councilmen- $19,210 They are not taking their raises. Last year's raise was the first in 15 years for councilmen.

Town clerk- proposed $74,026 She's not taking her 3% raise.
She's staying at $71,870
Vital stat stipend $3,662
Tax rec. stipend $2,500
Total for town clerk- $78,032

Highway supt. $84,032
Stipend $2,500
Total for Highway supt. - $86,532

Town justices $61,442

[gorja]

I goofed when I wrote this-

Councilmen- $19,210 They are not taking their raises. Last year's raise was the first in 15 years for councilmen.

It should be-
Councilmen- $19,210 They are not up for raises this year. Last year's raise was the first in 15 years for councilmen.

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Yes, it could be worse. Look at Hamburg.

Proposed elected officials salaries-

Supervisor- $84,587
Budget dir. stipend $15,000 WOW
Total for supervisor $99,587
Drescher & Malecki does the accounting for the budget but the supervisor wants $15,000 for signing off on it.

Councilmen- $19,210 They are not taking their raises. Last year's raise was the first in 15 years for councilmen.

Town clerk- proposed $74,026 She's not taking her 3% raise.
She's staying at $71,870
Vital stat stipend $3,662
Tax rec. stipend $2,500
Total for town clerk- $78,032

Highway supt. $84,032
Stipend $2,500
Total for Highway supt. - $86,532

Town justices $61,442

Hmmm, it appears the Supervisor makes more than the Clerk. I believe the Clerk is the most valuable employee to the town residents. In my opinion only. I do believe this person needs to be quite intellegent at best.

[Tangodown]

I goofed when I wrote this-


It should be-
Councilmen- $19,210 They are not up for raises this year. Last year's raise was the first in 15 years for councilmen.

Really? 15 years with no raise?...........If that is true than I would have NO BEEF whatsoever with them taking a 2.75% raise at all.....regardless of what the doomsday economy ranters here spout off, political affiliation, or what not.

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Really? 15 years with no raise?...........If that is true than I would have NO BEEF whatsoever with them taking a 2.75% raise at all.....regardless of what the doomsday economy ranters here spout off, political affiliation, or what not.

Don't get all excited tango, she is referring to Hamburg. And I agree with you that incremental raises are appropriate ~~However, not at this time of fiscal troubles.

[gorja]

Originally posted by Tangodown:
Really? 15 years with no raise?...........If that is true than I would have NO BEEF whatsoever with them taking a 2.75% raise at all.....regardless of what the doomsday economy ranters here spout off, political affiliation, or what not.

My post was referring to Hamburg not Lancaster.

From the Buffalo News- http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article216284.ece
He declined to take last year’s 4 percent raise, the first for councilmen in 15 years. He also does not receive health benefits or a health care stipend

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My post was referring to Hamburg not Lancaster.

From the Buffalo News- http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article216284.ece
He declined to take last year’s 4 percent raise, the first for councilmen in 15 years. He also does not receive health benefits or a health care stipend

That is awesome!!

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Come out on Nov. 1st and speak your mind!!!!! ON THE BUDGET, are you happy with it???