Regardless of whom you vote for, be aware that this is a very important election in Saugerties Village history.
The single largest expense in our Village's budget is the Village Police Department weighing in at $1,400,000.00. Poorly negotiated PBA contacts that have been approved by prior administrations, including the New Vision Party have helped create the proverbial "Elephant in the Room". It seems as though the fox was guarding the hen house, with perks and benefits even Donald Trump would blush at.
Just for example; Saugerties Village Lieutenant Tom Rea and Chief Doc Kimble have been permitted to accrue a combined 500 days (approximately 250 days each) of sick and vacation days at their highest pay rate to date! No wonder why Saugerties Village is in such a fiscal mess. It's time to put an end to this madness. Vote tomorrow March 16, 2010 from 12 NOON to 9:00 PM at Saugerties Village Hall 43 Partition Street.
VOTE "YES" to Proposition No.1 to MERGE Village and Town Police Departments and Row "A" for the Democratic candidates to get the job done!
David Radovanovic
Saugerties Village Democratic Party
(845) 247-0909
Showing posts with label saugerties police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saugerties police. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saugerties Village Public Hearing to Abolish Police Department - January 4, 2010
Saugerties Village will hold a public hearing January 4th, 2010 to abolish the Village Police Department.
Location: Village Hall at 43 Partition Street
Time: 7:00PM
Date: January 4, 2010
Telephone: 845-246-2321
There are many reasons why Saugerties Village tax payers can't afford to pay 43% of our budget ($1,3000,000.00) for a dysfunctional police department, though here is one:
JANE DOE v VILLAGE OF SAUGERTIES, VILLAGE OF SAUGERTIES POLICE DEPARTMENT, and POLICE OFFICER TYRONE CHRISJOHN
Location: Village Hall at 43 Partition Street
Time: 7:00PM
Date: January 4, 2010
Telephone: 845-246-2321
There are many reasons why Saugerties Village tax payers can't afford to pay 43% of our budget ($1,3000,000.00) for a dysfunctional police department, though here is one:
JANE DOE v VILLAGE OF SAUGERTIES, VILLAGE OF SAUGERTIES POLICE DEPARTMENT, and POLICE OFFICER TYRONE CHRISJOHN
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEARING - Tuesday
| 2nd PUBLIC MEETING: Referredum to Consolidate Police Services. |
|---|
Sept.8 @7:00PM | Senior Citizen's Center
|
This is the second of two (2) meetings that the Village of Saugerties Board of Trustees will hold to discuss the results of a two (2) year study to combine the police departments of both the Village and Town of Saugerties. This meeting is an opportunity for the public to voice their opinions, ask questions and express their support for a referendum (possibly in October) which will allow Village voters to vote on the merger of the two police departments. The Village is currently $7,000,000.00 in debt and tax revenues have falled far short of Village projections. The Study (which is available online HERE). It clarifies the savings and benefits of combining police departments. |
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saving Money is So Boring
Saugerties Police Consolidation - Town of Saugerties Study of Service Configuration Options for the Village...
The first of two [possibly three] public meetings whose focus is Saugerties Police Consolidation took place last night at the Senior Citizen's Center. Admittedly, I entered skeptical of the presentation [given by Tim Weideman of Fairweather Consulting]. However I walked away with the impression there are folks in local government who are working [hard] for the tax payers' best interest. It was apparent that combining services should have happened long ago.
It's hard to argue with the figures. Although terribly boring, the presenter was clear with his findings - there would be no tax increase for Saugerties Town and a huge savings for Saugerties Village. "Playing devil's advocate", Mr. Weidman explained that in the worst senario if cost-savings are not implemented as proposed, Town tax payers would see an increase of 4% in the third year of implementation.
I'll try to simplify this for all concerned; presently Saugerties Village is paying 53% of its $2,000,000.00 general budget to run the Village Police Department. If Village and Town police departments merged into one entity, Village taxes would be decreased by 21% since the cost of police services would be shared equally between the Town and Village. Presently, Village tax payers are responsible for two tax bills [not including school taxes], one for services provided by the Village and the second is for services provided by the Town. Those bills combine equaling an "Effective Tax Rate" of $9.32 per thousand dollars for [accessed value]. Town property owners pay $3.12 per thousand.
The new Town of Saugerties Chief of Police Louis Barbaria presented the savings [and benefits that will be realized by the merger] through shared services, personel, equipment and technologies. If merged, the Village would have two detectives to work crime cases. In addition, the policing technologies that the Village would benefit from [which Town Police presently have] include "GPS, Mobile Data Units, License Plate Readers and MobileCop Technology". Chief Barbaria also presented the discussions that are ongoing to include a cross walking guard [at school crossings] will be hired in order to relieve the patrol officers who presently work in that position.
Working families in Saugerties Village can no longer afford to pay half our total budget to sustain the staus quo. The "Saugerties Public Safety Service Configuration - A Study of Service Configuration Options for the Village and Town Police Departments" is available at Town (246-2800) and Village (246-2321) offices for review or copy.
David Radovanovic
100 Dock Street
Saugerties, NY 12477
saugerties-ny.blogspot.com
(845) 247-0909
The first of two [possibly three] public meetings whose focus is Saugerties Police Consolidation took place last night at the Senior Citizen's Center. Admittedly, I entered skeptical of the presentation [given by Tim Weideman of Fairweather Consulting]. However I walked away with the impression there are folks in local government who are working [hard] for the tax payers' best interest. It was apparent that combining services should have happened long ago.
It's hard to argue with the figures. Although terribly boring, the presenter was clear with his findings - there would be no tax increase for Saugerties Town and a huge savings for Saugerties Village. "Playing devil's advocate", Mr. Weidman explained that in the worst senario if cost-savings are not implemented as proposed, Town tax payers would see an increase of 4% in the third year of implementation.
I'll try to simplify this for all concerned; presently Saugerties Village is paying 53% of its $2,000,000.00 general budget to run the Village Police Department. If Village and Town police departments merged into one entity, Village taxes would be decreased by 21% since the cost of police services would be shared equally between the Town and Village. Presently, Village tax payers are responsible for two tax bills [not including school taxes], one for services provided by the Village and the second is for services provided by the Town. Those bills combine equaling an "Effective Tax Rate" of $9.32 per thousand dollars for [accessed value]. Town property owners pay $3.12 per thousand.
The new Town of Saugerties Chief of Police Louis Barbaria presented the savings [and benefits that will be realized by the merger] through shared services, personel, equipment and technologies. If merged, the Village would have two detectives to work crime cases. In addition, the policing technologies that the Village would benefit from [which Town Police presently have] include "GPS, Mobile Data Units, License Plate Readers and MobileCop Technology". Chief Barbaria also presented the discussions that are ongoing to include a cross walking guard [at school crossings] will be hired in order to relieve the patrol officers who presently work in that position.
Working families in Saugerties Village can no longer afford to pay half our total budget to sustain the staus quo. The "Saugerties Public Safety Service Configuration - A Study of Service Configuration Options for the Village and Town Police Departments" is available at Town (246-2800) and Village (246-2321) offices for review or copy.
David Radovanovic
100 Dock Street
Saugerties, NY 12477
saugerties-ny.blogspot.com
(845) 247-0909
Friday, August 14, 2009
IMPORTANT MEETING: Monday, August 17 - Results of Saugerties Police Consolidation
Village and Town of Saugerties Police Consolidation - Available online at http://www.scribd.com/doc/18770030/Saugerties-Police-Consolidation-Town-of-Saugerties-Study-of-Service-Configuration-Options-for-the-Village-and-Town-Police-Department
The public is invited to attend the 2 planned reviews, regarding the proposed law to consolidate the Village and Town Police departments, under the supervision of the Town of Saugerties.
The first meeting is:
- Monday, August 17. This is a Village Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Senior Citizen's Center. Tim Weidemann from Fairweather Consulting will present the results of the police consolidation study. This is for information (for the boards and for the public) . . . the public comment time for this will be the September 9th meeting.
- Tuesday, September 8. Village Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Senior Citizen's Center (Market Street) - This is a Public Hearing on the consolidation and there will be time allotted for comments from the public.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Saugerties Overtime Database
Check out the overtime of Saugerties Town Police in 2007. Click link above.
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