The Town of Lancaster recently promoted a patrol officer to Detective. When asked if that implied there would be another officer hired in the department, ‘yes’ was the answer.
Some of us would then have to ask what were the criteria used to make that decision. Was a study performed indicating our town was in need of another officer? Is there a clear indication that crime is on the rise in a town that is growing; that we are no longer right-sized? How does Lancaster compare in crime rate with like-sized municipalities?
When looking at today’s Buffalo News report comparing crime rates and trends in 2015 & 2016 for 15 municipalities, it is a question worth asking the town board how and why this decision was made. According to the FBI report crime in Lancaster is not increasing. Why the need for another officer?
http://buffalonews.com/2017/09/25/ov...nty-last-year/
It would also be appreciated if the News, Town, Lancaster Police, LVAC or whoever came out with a report that featured substance abuse numbers and categorized them according to calls and results – just numbers to indicate rate of addiction and no personal data.
Appearing before the town board on the drug issue, the Supervisor agreed that we have a serious issue with drugs in Lancaster. To that end I have asked for that information from several town agencies and was refused information of any nature that would indicate how serious, what type of abuse, heroin calls and resulting deaths.
The Town of Lancaster has made great strides in the last several years to bring more openness and transparency to the residents. Here are two areas where the doors remain closed.
In last year's supervisor's tentative budget, the police chief had requested -
1 Assistant police chief $105,000
1 additional Lieutenant $83,485
The supervisor's budget did not honor that request
The final budget in November also did not include or honor that request.
Since the position is NOT included in the budget and the crime rates do NOT justify the increased manpower in that position, why is this position being created?
Georgia L Schlager
http://wivb.com/2017/09/27/frustrati...-of-tonawanda/
Town Supervisor, Joseph Emminger says they can’t agree on health insurance. He says 48 percent of union members pay nothing for coverage, while employees hired after 2004 contribute some cost. Emminger is asking employees to pay five percent of what the town pays, which is $25,000 per year.
“That equates to a little over $104 a month we are asking everybody to contribute. In this day in age we certainly don’t think that is out of line,” said Emminger.
Oh the horror of having town employees contribute $104 per month for a health insurance premium that costs $25,000; especially in today’s world.
Kind of parallels what is taking place in Lancaster where town employees had to be dragged in kicking and screaming to start contributing to their $20,000+ premium policies.
Should this become an election issue in Lancaster as well? Maybe, but it won’t as no one has the balls to buck the town’s union employees and their voting power.
To all of the candidates: silence on the status quo, is de facto acquiescence to the status quo.Should this become an election issue in Lancaster as well? Maybe, but it won’t as no one has the balls to buck the town’s union employees and their voting power.
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