Reply With QuoteLancaster’s Town Board approved a resolution to appoint Elizabeth Bertozzi to the position of Assistant Dog Control Officer full-time in the Control of Dogs’ Office, effective January 17, 2022 at an annual salary of $29,537.50 on step which represents 85% of the full salary of $34,750.00, contingent upon approval by Erie County Department of Personnel, and that such appointment shall be subject to all applicable provisions of law and shall be governed by the same terms and conditions as apply to other non-represented, full-time Town employees.
The resolution was approved by all four councilmembers. Supervisor Ruffino cast the lone ‘no’ vote. Prior to casting his vote Ruffino asked resolution sponsor Councilman Leary whether this full-time position included benefits. Leary confirmed it did. Ruffino commented that this position would inflate the dog control budget to around $200,000.
Leary responded that a lot of research was done using the payroll supervisor and town attorney and it was unfortunately discovered that the position that existed was not setup right – should not have existed. “Anyone working over 30 hours should have been entitled to benefits. I don’t know how that went through before, but after the research performed this is the appropriate thing to do.
Ruffino: This will bring our department budget close to $200,000, where Cheektowaga does it for $120,000, Amherst for $115,000 and West Seneca for $86,000.
Leary: They do it differently.
Ruffino: Maybe we are doing it wrong.
Leary: Maybe we are doing it right, Hopefully, we will be the cream of the crop, the best dog operation in the county.
Ruffino: I disagree. Why are other towns doing it for less money? They don’t use full-time people. This should be investigated. This is my dispute.
Comment
• The 2022 Lancaster Dog Control Department budget is $130.437. Subtracting the current wages already paid Bertozzi and making this a full-time position with benefits, the budget will come nowhere near $200,000.
• The department is not staffed with 5 assistant DCO’s as stated in the Schedule of Salaries. There are only 3. Bertozzi’s added hours will help to right size staffing requirements.
• Leary is spot on in saying other municipalities do it differently. If Ruffino had done some research and investigated other town budgets he would be hard pressed to find a comparable budget that defines department budgetary line items presented, and with a DCO that presents monthly activity reports and an annual report:
2021 Dog Control Report
2,841 Complaints or calls received
1,582 Calls responded to / follow-ups
137 Compliance notices
680 Final notices
181 Court appearance tickets issued
48 Dog bite reports filed
82 Dogs redeemed.
18 Dog rescue transfer
11 Dog transfers to SPCA
0 Dogs euthanized
2 Deceased dogs
16,865 Miles patrolled with van
• Instead of chasing nickel & dimes Mr. Supervisor, do some research to determine who cost the town well over $100,000 in miscalculating the construction cost of the new shelter, why construction costs were made omitting safety features required and reinstated with additional ‘change order’ costs, and why we are still absent in meeting the NYS Animal Companion grant application design submitted – 6 kennels instead of 9, a one-car garage instead of two, etc.
• It is time the residents of Lancaster had a functional dog control operation with appropriate oversite, where we have access to job descriptions of the staff; why the dog licensing fee revenue goes into the General Fund and not to the department; why with 181 court appearance tickets issues the town only received $175 in fines; why no dog census undertaking is taking place as promised by the town several years ago which would add department revenue.
• We are now in the process of constructing a shelter that will meet the safety requirements of dog / staff / public and the wellbeing of the animals. The staff needs due consideration.
Public safety is #1, and ‘yes’ for many of us ‘Dog Lives Matter’!
Originally Posted by Lee Chowaniec
