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.