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Retirement incentive nixed by board

by jmaloni
Thu, Aug 19th 2010 12:00 pm

by Susan Mikula Campbell

The Town of Niagara Town Board on Tuesday decided against offering the New York State and Local Retirement System Incentive to its employees.

"It's kind of unaffordable for a small town like us," Supervisor Steve Richards said.

He explained that the full incentive would cost the town about a half million dollars when the cost of paying for unused sick and vacation time was added in for about six employees interested in the program.

"Once again, the state isn't going to help local authorities pay for this," commented Councilman Robert Clark.

Councilman Charles Teixeira added the incentive would benefit only the employees who chose to retire and wouldn't provide any savings for the town and its taxpayers. "We would have to borrow money to pay for it," he said.

Richards said the town might reach out to the Niagara-Wheatfield School District to see what kind of incentives can be offered outside the state program.

"I think there's a better answer to this," he said.

In other matters:

  • A demonstration of the new voting machines from the Niagara County Board of Elections will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, at the town's community center in Veterans Park off Lockport Road.
  • The board approved a resolution to support Wheatfield Supervisor Robert Cliffe's letter to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer concerning the heavy burden and unfair inequities being placed on New York state property owners by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's floodplain insurance requirements.
  • New members Dwight Thomas, Al Hornung and Dan Molnar were approved for Town of Niagara Active Hose Volunteer Fire Company. The board also appointed Fire Chief Daniel J. Hosie as hearing officer for a public hearing (yet to be scheduled) regarding the refinancing of the firehall at 6010 Lockport Road.
  • John C. Colucci, of M.J. Colucci & Son Niagara Funeral Chapel on Military Road, was appointed to represent the Town of Niagara on the board of trustees for Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls was originally a part of the Town of Niagara and Oakwood was the town's original burying ground, Richards said. About 6,000 Town of Niagara residents are buried there.
  • The board accepted the liquor license renewal for Judi's Lounge, 2057 Military Road.

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