Page 7 of 7 FirstFirst ... 567
Results 91 to 103 of 103

Thread: Showdown looms over city budget

  1. #91
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1,586

    Thumbs down Say Cheese!

    Quote Originally Posted by highestpropertytaxes View Post
    great point Andrea. And why is the news not really pointing out that it seems fishy that the assistant comptroller would quit as well? Doesn't anyone see how that is another political ploy to create a false sense of urgency or are the sheep that dumb?
    Yep......more dancing with the wolves.......!


    may stay to train successor



    By Jay Tokasz
    News Staff Reporter
    Published:July 17, 2012, 12:03 AM


    Lackawanna Mayor Geoffrey M. Szymanski and the City Council are considering a one-year contract for longtime City Comptroller Robert Marciniak that would allow him to train his likely successor.

    Marciniak submitted a letter of resignation effective Friday after the council trimmed his salary to $10,000.

    The council had anticipated Peggy Bigaj-Sobol, the deputy comptroller, would be able to fulfill fiduciary duties for the city, including transferring funds and remitting payroll taxes.

    But Bigaj-Sobel, who was appointed to the post in May, told city officials she needed more training from Marciniak to take on those responsibilities.

    Without a comptroller, the city faced the possibility of not being able to move money between accounts.

    Szymanski and Erie County Deputy Comptroller Michael R. Szykala warned that Marciniak's departure could have made it difficult for the city to pay vendors and employees, and Szymanski last week urged the council to reconvene to address the issue.

    The council on Monday called a special meeting for 4 p.m. Thursday to consider a budget amendment for the comptroller's post.

    Council President Henry R. Pirowski said Monday that the situation wasn't as dire as indicated by the mayor, who called a press conference last Wednesday to discuss the "grave danger" the city faced.

    City workers were never in jeopardy of not being paid, said Pirowski.

    "That's just blatantly not true," he said. "To put that idea in people's minds was disappointing."

    All the mayor needed to do was appoint a certified public accountant to perform the tasks of the comptroller, Pirowski said.

    "I'm more than positive that there's more than one CPA in the City of Lackawanna," he said.

    Nonetheless, council members were willing to put their differences with the mayor aside and keep Marciniak on staff to train Bigaj-Sobol and ensure the city fulfills its financial obligations, he added.

    A longtime city employee, Marciniak was being paid $30,000 as a part-time comptroller. He also receives a pension from the state retirement system.

    jtokasz@buffnews.com
    ************************************************
    1. Job Qualifications
    2. Civil Service Qualifications
    3. Civil Service List?

    4. Poli-tricks! WTfunk?!?

  2. #92
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    406
    What a bunch of bull. What job gives you a years training??? A one year contract to train for a job, it should be more like two weeks max. If you need more than 2 weeks training the successor is not qualified to do the job. Or is it just to keep Marciniak on the current salary of his. Or are we saying we need a year to hide questionable practices. Who is calling the shots here???.

  3. #93
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    75
    Nicommetto trained for that position with stipend. Surdyke took a full paycheck from asst. comptroller position all the while working part time for city and the same went for Housing. Marciniak doesn't need to train a clerk for a year, hire someone
    with qualifications and remove BOTH! I hope the council has the kahunas not to cave into the falsehoods Created by others. As far as the asst. comptroller, she has proven she can take any heat. Dump her too!

  4. #94
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    55
    Quote Originally Posted by stonecold View Post
    Nicommetto trained for that position with stipend. Surdyke took a full paycheck from asst. comptroller position all the while working part time for city and the same went for Housing. Marciniak doesn't need to train a clerk for a year, hire someone
    with qualifications and remove BOTH! I hope the council has the kahunas not to cave into the falsehoods Created by others. As far as the asst. comptroller, she has proven she can take any heat. Dump her too!
    Yes, maybe if the mayor appointed people who were qualified, we the city wouldn't be in "grave danger"

  5. #95
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1,586

    Cool Exactly!

    Quote Originally Posted by highestpropertytaxes View Post
    Yes, maybe if the mayor appointed people who were qualified, we the city wouldn't be in "grave danger"
    Exactly!

    And no offense to anyone nor their families......BUT, this tangled web is a perfect example of the ........well, I have to be the lady that I am.........
    and just say more poli-tricks played off the backs of the hard-working citizens who foot the bill for their dance!
    They did get caught in their own web with this one......and I can't help chuckling about them in the hot seat now.

    Please.......go sit in your lawn chair; and Geoff/Council, Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee, Interview and hire a competent non-political finance person that will find the graft/and be a true checks and balance employee for the people's best interest.....
    Lastly, stop wasting our time and money trying to force your square peg into our round hole!

  6. #96
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    406
    Lackawanna council restores comp. pay

    Updated: Thursday, 19 Jul 2012, 6:26 PM EDT
    Published : Thursday, 19 Jul 2012, 6:26 PM EDT
    Vic Baker
    Posted by: Eli George



    LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Lackawanna City Council held an emergency meeting late Thursday.

    Council members voted to restore the part-time salary of City Comptroller Robert Marciniak to $30,000. Marciniak will return to the job now, averting a fiscal crisis that would have left the Steel City unable to pay its bills.

  7. #97
    Member FMD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    5,739
    Let the city go bankrupt! It is the only way to awake the populace to the problems! The problem is that most people are unaware of the mounting fiscal crisis, too worried about American Idol. Let the municipalities go bankrupt, when the **** hits the fan, and ONLY when the **** hits the fan will real change come about.
    Willful ignorance is the downfall of every major empire in history.

    "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." - Mao, 1938

  8. #98
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    107
    Quote Originally Posted by getalife123 View Post
    Lackawanna council restores comp. pay

    Updated: Thursday, 19 Jul 2012, 6:26 PM EDT
    Published : Thursday, 19 Jul 2012, 6:26 PM EDT
    Vic Baker
    Posted by: Eli George



    LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Lackawanna City Council held an emergency meeting late Thursday.

    Council members voted to restore the part-time salary of City Comptroller Robert Marciniak to $30,000. Marciniak will return to the job now, averting a fiscal crisis that would have left the Steel City unable to pay its bills.
    :sigh:

  9. #99
    Member FMD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    5,739
    So it can pay some dude $30K while it is fiscally bankrupt?
    Willful ignorance is the downfall of every major empire in history.

    "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." - Mao, 1938

  10. #100
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    107
    When your kids do something wrong you don't reward them by giving them what they want. And even worse than that is taking a stand and saying you are going to do one thing, and then turning around and giving in. Now they know you don't mean business. Totally disappointing.

  11. #101
    Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    233
    As per the city charter :The mayor appoints the comptroller period. The council may have cut his salary but they can restore what they cut and do nothing that is about it. The mayor is a peice of work and plays politics with everything. Why don't you ask him why he couldn't find anyone else? Its his responsibilty to do so and not the councils. The guy (Marcinak) QUIT/Resigned/Left/Split what ever you want to call it and yet the old school political hack of a mayor could not find anyone? GIVE ME A BREAK!

    Now imagine the spin and chaos the Pied Piper of Lackawanna Szymanski would have inflicted on the city and the sitting council members if they did not have a comptroller to sign the checks even though he could do it himself? Look at the BIG picture please! If you need an example see the spin about the lack of help recycling pickup. Please its rigged! The people of this city need to wake the hell up and realize the mayor is more of the same crap that we have had for years. He's a player not a go getter.
    Last edited by bluethunder; July 19th, 2012 at 10:04 PM.

  12. #102
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1,586

    Post All I can do is shake my head......

    Quote Originally Posted by getalife123 View Post
    What a bunch of bull. What job gives you a years training??? A one year contract to train for a job, it should be more like two weeks max. If you need more than 2 weeks training the successor is not qualified to do the job. Or is it just to keep Marciniak on the current salary of his. Or are we saying we need a year to hide questionable practices. Who is calling the shots here???.
    Council OKs contract with Marciniak
    By Jay Tokasz
    NEWS STAFF REPORTER
    Published:July 20, 2012, 12:04 AM
    1 Comment

    The Lackawanna City Council on Thursday signed off on a deal that keeps longtime City Comptroller Robert Marciniak in the post for another year to train his successor.

    In the process, Marciniak was able to pad his paycheck in 2013.

    According to the new contract, Marciniak, who has been paid about $30,000 annually as part-time comptroller over the past several years, will be able to take home that same $30,000 in 2013 for just seven months of work.

    "When the mayor says the city is going to shut down if you're not there, I guess you get to write your own ticket," said City Council President Henry R. Pirowski. "It's something quite plainly I wasn't thrilled about."

    Marciniak, who has spent 39 years as a city employee, already earns a state pension of more than $40,000 per year.

    His $30,000 in city pay is the maximum he is allowed annually under state pension law.

    When the Council adopted a budget that cut his pay to $10,000, Marciniak submitted his resignation. Mayor Geoffrey Szymanski argued that Marciniak's departure would prevent the city from fulfilling its fiduciary duties and made a public plea for the Council to reconvene and restore Marciniak's pay.

    The Council had anticipated that Peggy Bigaj-Sobol, assistant comptroller, would assume fiduciary responsibilities for the city, including transferring funds and remitting payroll taxes.

    But Bigaj-Sobol, who was appointed to the post in May, told city officials she needed more training from Marciniak.

    Without a comptroller, the city faced the possibility of not being able to move money between accounts.

    Marciniak's new contract calls for him to be paid $1,154 every two weeks for a minimum of 19 hours of work per week from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 and $2,000 every two weeks from January through July 2013.

    The contract also stipulates that the Council be provided a monthly report on Bigaj-Sobol's training, and that either Marciniak or Bigaj-Sobol be present at Council meetings.

    The Council also agreed to increase Bigaj-Sobol's salary to $47,000, from $44,000.

    Szymanski said he was relieved a deal got done. "I can finally breathe easier," he said.

    jtokasz@buffnews.com
    Comments
    Sort:NEWEST FIRST | OLDEST FIRST
    So what are Peggy Bigay-Sobol's credentials to begin with if she is not ready to assume responsibility for the job and needs all this training? What a bunch of numbnuts the City of Lackawanna elects to run the City government.
    VINCENT SCARSELLA, DAVENPORT, FL on Fri Jul 20, 2012 at 09:01 AM
    Flag As Inappropriate
    ************************************************** ************************************************** ******

    Another example of once they " get in " they think they own the City and can spend OUR money any way they want to!

    NO Accountability to " THE PEOPLE " !
    Nothing against anybody.....I always say that , but.......come on, 39 years and retired for 5 and 1/2 years BUT still on the payroll for $30,000/year--AGAIN, AND $40,000/yr pension money?!? Soon to get or may have his Social Security too! I know he "earned it" but come on, RETIRE already! My gosh, life is so short, enjoy it!

    Everyone is talking and laughing at us about all this political dancing being callously done. Thanks Buffalo News for keeping the Citizens informed of their poli-tricks!

    The wifey makes appr. $40,000/yr as the Lackawanna Civil Service secretary(she won't lose her job/rights--just shift through attrition)......Please....just how many Civil Service tests do they give a year between the City-School-and LMHA ?? You all read the Front Page where they post them. The COUNTY that is a pro at conducting them ..... can easily handle the maybe couple a year we hold and save the Citizens BIG BUCKS!


    ie. Mrs. Marciniak Civil Srv. secretary appr. $40,000 + Cadillac benes
    Secretary: Frank Nigro
    salary about $1500.00/yr from City for being on this Board/also on LMHA Board where they take "2" exclusive trips/yr to attend their public housing conventions

    Telephone: 716.827.6467

    Email: civilservice@lackny.com

    Chairperson: Sharon Beres salary I believe $2000.00/yr

    Commissioners:

    Mark Moretti & Therese M. Polanski/ salaries appr. $1500./yr

    UPCOMING CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS
    CIVIL SERVICE MEETING MINUTES:
    APRIL 13, 2012

    I have not seen the final City of Lack. Budget for 2012/13' so I am not sure of any changes.....Civil Service and Assessment Board politically appointed members all get paid a nice little stipend to be on those boards.....

    Lack. could save a pretty big chunk of money by having the County do these jobs for us for a greatly reduced cost, AND it would take the POLI-TRICKS out of the equation....to a point!

    Double Dippers, etc.....when other people really need a break......no wonder our kids are heading south!

    Lastly, ALL of this BULL should go, and the powers to be should be following OUR City Charter and CODE instead of breaking and twisting it to serve their own agendas!!!

  13. #103
    Member andreahaxton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1,586

    Thumbs down So.....HOW WAS this dance choreographed??!!?? Boy oh boy...those wolves must have...

    Quote Originally Posted by bluethunder View Post
    As per the city charter :The mayor appoints the comptroller period. The council may have cut his salary but they can restore what they cut and do nothing that is about it. The mayor is a peice of work and plays politics with everything. Why don't you ask him why he couldn't find anyone else? Its his responsibilty to do so and not the councils. The guy (Marcinak) QUIT/Resigned/Left/Split what ever you want to call it and yet the old school political hack of a mayor could not find anyone? GIVE ME A BREAK!

    Now imagine the spin and chaos the Pied Piper of Lackawanna Szymanski would have inflicted on the city and the sitting council members if they did not have a comptroller to sign the checks even though he could do it himself? Look at the BIG picture please! If you need an example see the spin about the lack of help recycling pickup. Please its rigged! The people of this city need to wake the hell up and realize the mayor is more of the same crap that we have had for years. He's a player not a go getter.

    " The Council also agreed to increase Bigaj-Sobol's salary to $47,000, from $44,000. "


    Will someone please explain how a newer employee RAISE was given with only 11 days remaining of a CRITICAL/CRISIS Budget year?

    How was this done.....???!!! And why?????!!!!!!!
    Sounds like OUR Charter/Code is.........WHERE?!

Page 7 of 7 FirstFirst ... 567

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. CITY OF TONAWANDA 2005 budget.
    By Night Owl in forum North, Town, City of Tonawanda, Village of Kenmore Politics
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: April 12th, 2005, 09:26 PM
  2. Voter Referendum On City Budget & City Contracts
    By Unregistered in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: June 2nd, 2003, 03:50 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •