Massena Board Hiring Again Despite Warnings From Mayor, Macaulay's No Vote Pledge
MASSENA - Despite hearing warnings from Mayor Randy G. DeLosh about the village's financial health and a pledge by Trustee Joseph A. Macaulay to vote against hiring any new full time employees, the village board appointed a new paid firefighter and part-time account clerk Tuesday and agreed to seek applicants to fill another post at the Department of Public Works.
Board members have warned of financial storms for months now, citing dismal sales tax projections and dramatic increases in pension costs as reasons for worry moving into their annual budget talks.
The mayor has pointed out that the tremendous pressures facing the village in this budget season may mean very difficult sacrifices, possibly even job cuts.
In his 12 years of service through village government, Mr. DeLosh says this year's budget is the worst he has ever seen. While Mr. DeLosh has not yet revealed how he plans to address the community's losses in his upcoming budget proposal, he did warn residents it was going to be a tough year.
"We're looking this year at shortfalls that are tremendous," Mr. DeLosh said. "As I sit down there and I'm going through this I'm thinking, OK, unemployment benefits are going to carry people through to this point. What happens after that point? Are they going to get extended? Then I see the state going into the type of situation they're going in right now. Our sales tax is being reduced. Last year I budgeted $1.5 million, this year $1.3— where's it going to come from? It's tough, I won't lie to you."
In addition to the losses in state aid and sales tax revenues village officials have already raised concerns about, Governor David A. Paterson's proposed 5 percent reduction in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) funding would also spell the loss of over $144,000 in village revenues, according to Mr. DeLosh.
The board voted unanimously for a resolution opposing any reductions to the AIM funding, which they plan to forward to their state representatives.
"Any reduction in AIM funding will result in regressive property tax increases at the local level or disrupt local government budgets resulting in service cutbacks at a time when municipal governments are already under fiscal strain," the resolution says.
In spite of those fiscal worries, the board voted to hire two people and canvass to fill a third position with the Department of Public Works on Tuesday. Village officials are also in the midst of two other job searches - one for a second DPW post and one to replace a police officer departing soon to work for another agency.
In a unanimous vote, the board agreed to appoint Melissa Ward of 11 Owl Avenue as a part-time account clerk in the accounts payable department at $12.50 per hour, effective March 4. Ms. Ward will work 15 hours a week and, following a training period that ends June 1, will receive a salary increase to $13 per hour.
She will replace Lisa Tyo, who held the position for some time before moving to a full time post in the water department.
The village's new personnel committee was involved in the hiring process and reviewed 17 applications for Ms. Tyo's replacement. Mr. Macaulay said he was pleased with the process, noting that members of the new committee were present at each of the six interviews.
While Mr. Macaulay was in favor of filling the part-time position, he spoke out against a proposal to hire a firefighter/fire driver to replace Dale Beaulieu, who has retired.
"I'm not in favor of hiring any full-time employees until we see the budget," Mr. Macaulay said, referring to the proposed 2010-2011 budget the mayor will prepare by the end of the month.
The board agreed to hire Walter Bean for the firefighter/fire driver post at $14.49 per hour, with Mr. Macaulay voicing the only vote against. Mr. DeLosh did not vote for or against either appointment.
Mr. Bean was one of five qualified individuals included on the civil service list the department considered for the position. Mr. DeLosh said Mr. Bean is a former General Motors employee. He is a resident of the village.
