Amherst has a dog control department but no dog shelter. The dogs are sheltered and cared for in Clarence, which I understand has 20+ kennels / cages. I would imagine Amherst contracts to pay Clarence for the services.Originally Posted by gorja
What's your point? That Lancaster dog control is overstaffed? Adequately staffed? That Lancaster's dog control department is mismanaged? Adequately compensated at $14 / hr.?
Like town Dog Control Committee Chair Councilmember Wozniak, are you in favor of enlisting volunteers to care for the dogs? A stupid and dangerous idea, IMHO!
If anything, the town / Dog Control Committee is nickel & diming a department that is understaffed and underpaid while putting out a record spending General Fund budget increase of $2.4 million. An 8.7% increase from the 2021 budget.
I see Clarence has 2 FT at about the same rate of pay as Mrs Karn and 2 - 1800 hour PT at $15.60 per hour at least in the 2021 budget for a total of $145,046. No link for the 2022 budget.
While Cheektowaga personal services for Animal control is $105,000 in 2022.
Lancaster is $106,000
So is Cheektowaga and Lancaster underpaying or is Clarence overpaying?
Georgia L Schlager
Gorga, do feel as though the economy is static enough to not have any more raise in the cost of living and general inflation. Did we not see the cost of the original plan rise right out of our ability to afford it? Do you have any problem with the Senior Citizen Bldg getting their requests answered with more funds?
Mr. Wozniak penny pinches with the dogs while he makes sure his newphews get their fair share of the budget.
Frank Lee Speaking....
Apples to oranges unless you provide a comparison of services provided, registered dogs, monthly dog activity reports, etc.
Lancaster incorporates two Villages, a county park, a dog park, etc. All this crap for a request for $1,200 additional to properly staff and pay the employees. What are you missing on Karn's report on short staffing and missing coverage on dog care. You are a 'dog loving' pet owner. Where are you going with this?
The dog control department does not receive any revenue from the licensing of dogs as other municipalities and has a court that is disinterested in penalizing violators, thereby not only not generating revenues it should, but encourages violators to be repeat offenders not fearing consequence.
We should care about what is taking place in our town instead of playing the Wozniak 'yet, but' game.
Whose in charge of dog court?
Georgia L Schlager
Whatever happened with this?
"A salary adjustment was also made in the budget, to allow the lead dog control officer full-time rather than part-time status."
https://www.lancasterbee.com/article...-budget-filed/
Georgia L Schlager
Great, well deserved, but still lacking in overall support for a very important office, which acts in humane interests.
IMHO, the DCO does the work of many, so why should she not, at the very least, receive the full salary of one?
LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"
That was a pittance compared to what she said she needed to run a proper, well operated dog shelter. Wozniak is a penny-pincher when it comes to the care of your dogs. He couldn't care less about anybody's dog. He's a lazy politician who lied to his constituency about getting the county to fix William street.
His actions over the last couple years show it.
Frank Lee Speaking....
Ask Councilman Wozniak at Monday evening's town board meeting.
Hopefully, he will speak into the microphone and not rest his ear of it.
LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"
DCO Jean Karn was hired in June of 2017.
Full time, @35 hrs., no benefits, not eligible for overtime until putting in 40 hours of work, Salary $50,000. (2018 budget)
In 2021 Karn’s salary was $51,511. In the 2022 tentative budget, Karn requested $2,541. Her request was denied. She is scheduled to earn $51,511 – same as in 2021.
Four budgets later Karn has realized a salary increase of $1,511, 3% over four years and still doesn’t collect any benefits.
In the proposed 2022 budget personal services line item (DCO & Assistants) total cost $106,887. In the 2012 budget the DCO earned $47,000 and assistants $44,000 for a total of $95,217. That is an increase of 12% over 10 years. During that ten-year period the population and number of dogs has increased significantly.
In Tuesday night’s Special Budget Meeting, DCO Karn gave a stellar presentation on why her department budget request for ‘personal services’ should have been approved. With skyrocketing inflation, wage increases in all occupations rising ($16/hr.) at Tim Hortons, her department is short-staffed and underpaid.
A $11,200 increase in the department’s ‘personal service’ request to right the department was denied by Supervisor Ruffino and Councilmembers Wozniak and Mazur. What the hell were they thinking.
At that special meeting, Mrs Karn stated that she was the only Part Time department head. I certainly don't have any issue with
increasing the amount per hour for her assistant DCOs. I also don't have an issue with Bertozzi working 35 hours all year round and another DCO working 35 hours during warm weather as long as they are not all scheduled to cover the day shift.
I question when her position was changed from FT to PT?
Georgia L Schlager
DCO Jean Karn was hired on June 23, 2017, as part time salaried, working 35 hours per week. She was never full time.
There is a resolution on Monday’s agenda (#14) to make her full time at the current annual salary approved in the 2021 Budget of $51, 511.00.
It will be interesting to see how the three Amigos (Ruffino, Wozniak, and Mazur) will vote. Maybe Wozniak can find someone to volunteer for the position.
Isn't there an old saying Lee, "Do it yourself, this way you know that it is done."
Words worth Mr. Wozniak to heed?
LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"
So which is it?
Originally posted by Lee Chowaniec:
DCO Jean Karn was hired in June of 2017.
Full time, @35 hrs., no benefits, not eligible for overtime until putting in 40 hours of work, Salary $50,000. (2018 budget)Originally posted by Lee Chowaniec:
DCO Jean Karn was hired on June 23, 2017, as part time salaried, working 35 hours per week. She was never full time.
Georgia L Schlager
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