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Thread: Lancaster ratifies new police contract

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    Lancaster ratifies new police contract

    Lancaster’s town board ratified a Memorandums of Agreement which will be incorporated into a five (5) year contract between the Town of Lancaster and the police Cayuga Club. The resolution sponsored by Councilmember Robert Leary was approved by a 4-1 vote. Supervisor Ruffino cast the only ‘no’ vote.

    Prior to resolution vote Ruffino spoke on his reasons for his ‘no’ vote. He declared that although the police were deserving of the salary increase the board knew what money the board had to work with, and the use of ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funds was irresponsible when used in negotiating the contract agreement. “Okay to use for a ‘bonus’ as ARPA is one-time money.”

    Ruffino declared the raises impact future appropriations and future budgets where ARPA funds will not be available. Raises that do not represent one-time costs. “With these raises, we are going to have to come up – depending on where we are going to settle – because we did have a number in mind, but it’s going to be an additional $346,000 to $551,000 in the year 2025,” said Supervisor Ron Ruffino, who objected to the resolution’s passing before the vote. “It’s going to continue to compound. That’s my fear.”

    Comment – They are voting on a resolution where our town supervisor does not know what the numbers are, but making assumptions? When are we going to hear the numbers?

    Ruffino: I have to plan for what is going to happen in 10 years. The police merger was a great thing and helped the village, but we get their tax revenue (over $1 million right now), and it runs out in 2033 (estimated then from $1.2 - $1.5 million. What are we going to do when we get hot with an increase like that. We have to be financially responsible now.”

    Councilmember Mark Burkard (who sat on the negotiating team along with Leary and Attorney Fowler) asked Ruffino whether the Town-Village police contract could be re-negotiated and was told ‘no’ by Ruffino, that it was a closed contract.

    Burkhard added that raises were already added in the 2023 budget and that ARPA funds could be used for town employees. “We also looked at the recent storms and what the employees did to keep the town safe.”

    Councilmember Leary interjected that the money will be used to settle this 5-year contract, a contract that has not been settled for over a decade. "The money we are going to save by not going to the attorneys is going to be fairly significant," declared Leary. "It is a good contract, it is a fair contract, equitable for the police department and the residents.”

    Leary commended the Cayuga Club, town board members, and Town Attorney Tom Fowler for their participation in the negotiations. He thanked the police for their professionalism during contract negotiations, their service, and their bravery. A deserving contract.

    Drama continues

    At the closing public comment session, Supervisor Ruffino asked if there was anyone who wished to address the board on any town matter. When he seen resident David Rinow rise to approach the podium to speak Ruffino asked for a board motion to go into executive session, a clear indication he was shutting out Rinow and the scheduled public comment session, declaring he would not be insulted any longer.

    He called again for a motion to go into execution session and was interrupted by a resident who declared he also wished to address the board. Ruffino recognized the individual and Councilmember Leary interjected and asked for clarification as to since when can the Supervisor deny a resident the opportunity to address the board. Ruffino declared because of the arrogance displayed him by the individual the last two times he spoke. Leary remarked that was Ruffino’s opinion but thought the rule was no one should be denied the opportunity to speak.

    Ruffino conferred with the Town Attorney and then announced for this evening he would not allow anyone to speak. For the third time he asked for a motion to go into executive session. Hearing dissenting voices he again stated, “I am not going to get pounded every week by the same people.” He said the town attorney said it was his decision to make. He called again for a motion to go into execution session and receiving no second to his motion declared there would be no executive session.

    The second resident wishing to speak interjected and asked what has happened to our democratic process where he was now being denied voice. Ruffino declared “Go ahead, you can speak. I will be looking into this.” Both individuals addressed the board.

    I will be very interested to hear of Supervisor Ruffino’s findings on his unilateral authority to deny a resident his right to address the board at a scheduled meeting ‘public comment session’ – where ‘Persons are allowed to address the Town Board on any subject.’

    Or a supervisor’s authority to shut down a public comment session without board approval.

    Over the 20+ years I had religiously attended town board meetings I had witnessed unruly, disrespectful. individuals escorted out of the building, but never a public comment session shut down in its entirety because of differences of opinion.

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    ****show

    Do you blame Ruffino??? Leary, Sojka & their lemmings have done nothing but belittle Ruffino for years. Seems to me what these clowns are doing to him is harassment. Leary will stop at nothing to become Town Supervisor. Too bad the rest of the board is too busy shoving their noses up Leary & Sojka’s ass. Burkhardt is just a Sojka yes man who has ZERO experience settling a union contract but hey, let’s just give all the town employees want they want without regard to the increase in taxes. Burkhardt wants to get more money out of the village…LOL!!! The village hasn’t expanded at all but the town has blown up with all these new tax friendly developments, yet the least experienced & under qualified council member thinks it’s ok to take money from the village so that his leader can hand out more patronage jobs & attempt to promote a clown to park’s supervisor.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Buffalobob View Post
    Do you blame Ruffino??? Leary, Sojka & their lemmings have done nothing but belittle Ruffino for years. Seems to me what these clowns are doing to him is harassment. Leary will stop at nothing to become Town Supervisor. Too bad the rest of the board is too busy shoving their noses up Leary & Sojka’s ass. Burkhardt is just a Sojka yes man who has ZERO experience settling a union contract but hey, let’s just give all the town employees want they want without regard to the increase in taxes. Burkhardt wants to get more money out of the village…LOL!!! The village hasn’t expanded at all but the town has blown up with all these new tax friendly developments, yet the least experienced & under qualified council member thinks it’s ok to take money from the village so that his leader can hand out more patronage jobs & attempt to promote a clown to park’s supervisor.
    I would really like to read the advisement from the town's auditors regarding this. Ruffino was reading their opinion against using those monies when the video messed up. That's why the video didn't start until 7:30pm. I wonder if the audio was salvageable. Maybe they could put the auditor's email in the next lot if Communications

    Georgia L Schlager

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