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County's CSEA employees slated for 1.8 percent annual pay raise with new contract

By Howard B. Owens

The county has reached a new four-year contract agreement with its largest employee union, granting employees represented by the bargaining unit a 1.8 percent annual raise.

The immediate budget impact is an increase in spending this year on employee salaries and $114,291 more in payroll expenses.

The Civil Service Employees Association represents at least one employee in every department of the county, with the largest concentration being in the Department of Social Services, Health and Mental Health. Other unions represent Sheriff's deputies, nursing home staff, dispatchers and jailers and Highway Department workers.

County Jay Gsell said negotiations were much less contentious this year then in rounds past and it took only two or three meetings to arrive at an agreement. He credited the negotiating team from CSEA's Rochester office -- in the past, it's been a negotiator from Buffalo who met with county officials -- for working quickly to get an agreement in place.

The employees voted 158-13 in favor of the contract, Gsell said.

The contract also changes how expenses for health insurance are shared.

Cost sharing between the county and county employees started a few years ago and the employee share was capped at 10 percent of the employee's wage.

The new formula will calculate the share based on the bi-weekly cost of the premium. This year, the employee will pay 10 percent of the premium, then 11 percent in each of the following years and 12 percent in 2019.

The county's healthcare costs, which is a self-funded insurance program, have been going up 3 to 5 percent per year. This formula will distribute those rising costs to employees.

The highway workers are already under a contract with this new language, Gsell said, and the county will seek to get the other three unions to agree to the new terms.

"It's easier for us to be somewhat uniform and also clean up these contracts and the number of clauses," Gsell said. "(The contracts) with health care and compensation, changes get so convoluted at times. It's in our best interest to try and simplify them, but also understand there needs to be more cost sharing between employer and employee. It's the real world."

The pay raise, at 1.8 percent per year compounded would take an employee at $15 an hour to $16.11 in 2019. For an employee at $20 an hour, the rate in four years would be $21.48.

That's an extra $117.60 in pay bi-weekly for the $20-an-hour employee.

If the employee is currently covered by a healthcare plan worth $1,100 per month, and that premium went up 3 percent each year, in four years, the premium would be $1,238. The employee's share would increase from $55 bi-weekly to $74.28.

These are dollars not adjusted for inflation, which is currently less than 1 percent.

The Ways and Means Committee recommended Wednesday that the County Legislature approve the new contract.

With three votes against funding GCEDC, legislature approves 2013 budget

By Howard B. Owens

New version of what was originally posted at 9:45 p.m., Wednesday, to include more information.

On a 6-3 vote Wednesday, the Genesee County Legislature passed a 2013 budget that holds the line on property taxes, raises the pay for management and includes a $213,000 subsidy for GC Economic Development Center.

The three no votes came from legislators Ray Cianfrini, Frank Ferrando and Marianne Clattenburg, who all objected to the subsidy.

It's rare for members of the public to speak at regular meetings of the Genesee County Legislature. In fact, there is never a regular agenda slot for public comment, but last night one resident did show up and was permitted to speak.

Kyle Couchman (photo at right) was at the meeting to suggest the majority of the legislature is out of touch with the wishes of their constituents.

He pointed to a poll that ran on The Batavian that he said indicated 70 percent of county residents oppose continued funding for GCEDC.

"I find it a bit ridiculous that people would glaze it over," Couchman said.

Cianfrini (top photo) said he agreed with Couchman's assessment of voters' wishes.

"The public is overwhelmingly opposed to we as a legislature funding GCEDC while they continue to insist upon paying bonuses to their employees," Cianfrini said. "As a result of last week’s vote, it appears a majority of our legislators are not sensitive to the public’s mood on this matter."

Over the past few years, Cianfrini said, the legislature has made budget cuts that have cost county employees their jobs. Those job losses have meant hardships for individuals and families as former employees struggled to make ends meet, he said.

"Yet we continue to fund the Genesee County Economic Development agency with taxpayer dollars so that a few privileged employees can share in the astronomical bonuses the board of GCEDC continues to award," Cianfrini said.

Incoming GCEDC Board Chairman Charlie Cook has said previously that while employees will be paid bonuses based on 2012 performance measurements, as the board is contractually obligated to do, there will be no performance bonuses for 2013.

Ferrando (bottom inset photo) said the legislature should not give GCEDC a blank check. There should be some method for ensuring the funds from the county are being used appropriately.

"I do my best to listen to the constituents who put me here," Ferrando said. "Everything I hear, they object to funding GCEDC, at least without some strings attached."

For Clattenburg, who also opposes taxpayer money going to bonuses, the big issue is that while GCEDC has done a great job of driving business development in the county, none of GCEDC's efforts seems to be focused on the City of Batavia, which Clattenburg represents (along with Ferrando and Ed DeJaneiro).

"I don't think the focus on the city hasn't gone where it needs to go and that's where my constituents are," Clattenburg said. "I would hope that next year when this comes around I'll be able to support the GCEDC, but I can't do it this year."

None of the other legislators spoke up to defend their votes on the budget, though Esther Leadley did say, for the benefit of the first-year legislators, that if the budget didn't pass, the responsibility would fall to the county's budget officer (County Manager Jay Gsell).

"That means considerably more in terms of tax levy," Leadley said.

For 2013, the county's property tax rate will remain the same at $9.89 per thousand of assessed value.

The $144,980,450 spending plan represents a 2.2-percent increase over 2012, with much of the increase in spending driven by state mandates, especially in pensions and Medicaid.

The tax levy for 2013 will be $26,303,725, an increase of about 2 percent over 2012.

Pay raises for management were approved unanimously in a separate resolution vote.

The following positions will receive a 1.5 percent pay increase:

The following are elected officials and department heads in line for a salary increase of 1.5 percent next year:

  • County Manager Jay Gsell -- $1,551 raise for 2013 salary of $104,935;
  • Sheriff Gary Maha -- $1,374 raise for a salary of $94,957;
  • County Treasurer Scott German -- $1,282 raise for a salary of $87,377;
  • County Clerk Don Read -- $1,207 raise for a salary of $82,702;
  • County Attorney Charles Zambito -- $1,338 for a salary of $91,338.

Listen:

Rural Perspective on Complete Streets Legislation

By Timothy Hens

On a recent drive from Batavia to Geneseo I found myself, like several other vehicles, stuck behind a very slow moving piece of agricultural equipment that was taking up the entire lane and the paved shoulder. Although it was a bright sunny day in February, there were whiteout conditions from the snow blowing off the tops of the built-up banks along the shoulder of the road. It was challenging driving and being a County Highway Superintendent, I couldn’t stop thinking about the new “Complete Streets” legislation being considered by our State Legislature in Albany.

 A complete street is when all users, such as bicycles, pedestrians and wheelchairs, are considered in the design and construction of a roadway.  Common complete street initiatives include sidewalks, crosswalk enhancements, bicycle lanes, speed humps and other traffic calming measures. The idea of complete streets is an offshoot of the Livable Communities movement which is the latest urban planning fad. It is a noble initiative aimed at making our communities an easier place to live by making jobs, shopping, dining and medical needs all footsteps away. A sample outcome would be to have a senior housing complex less than a block from both a grocery store and the doctor’s office with sidewalks and paths in between and options for alternate means of transportation. 
 
On this fine February day, I just couldn't see how a complete street would accomodate a pedestrian or a bicyclist between the snow bank and the 18 foot wide Grouser travelling ahead of me.
 
The “Complete Streets” bill proposed by Albany would mandate that state and local governments study and consider making enhancements to roadways when building, re-building or rehabilitating streets with federal or state aid. The current legislation is backed and being pushed by AARP and several other groups as the demographic that benefits the most from these enhancements would be senior citizens. More senior pedestrians are killed by vehicles than any other age group. For this reason alone, it makes absolute sense to improve the safety of our roadways for all users. The bill, however, fails to differentiate between urban streets and rural roads. This lack of differentiation is one of many reasons why the New York State Association of Counties recently passed a resolution against the bill. 
 
A complete street might make perfect sense in Queens, but it has no place on a rural county or town road. Many of these roads are narrow with limited shoulders and often deep drainage ditches. They are used by farm equipment and often are covered in mud or manure. Widening one of these roads to accommodate even a bike lane would be a significant undertaking. The relocation of ditches triggers la engthy environmental review and possible involves the taking of additional right-of-way which is another lengthy and often controversial process. Often times, rural roads are “roads by use”, which means the landowners actually own the property to the centerline of the road and there is no established right-of-way. In this case, the municipality has no jurisdiction outside of the bounds of the roadway. Just imagine the disputes that would arise over trying to negotiate right-of-way with 40 or 50 separate land owners.
 
While, the proposed bill provides exceptions to complete street improvements based on lack of need and burdensome cost, the need for a study or evaluation is still required. The study process will add delays and costs to road projects that are already significantly under funded. In urban areas, most municipalities have their own well staffed engineering departments that could perform the studies. In rural counties and towns, often times there is no engineering function at all. In most cases, rural areas would need to hire an outside consultant to formally determine that there is no room for pedestrians or bicycles when a large piece of farm equipment travels a narrow rural road.  Do we need consultants to tell us that there are limited pedestriansa long a back country road with no houses?  These common sense decisions shouldn’t require an expensive study.
 
Most local governments already have a hard time keeping up with basic road maintenance. State highway funding has been relatively flat over the last 20 years while the price of oil and maintenance materials has skyrocketed. The burden of unfunded social service mandates has limited the capacity of local government to fund their own highway maintenance. This bill further misdirects funding and makes it harder to get the job done.
 
Where it makes sense, local governments already implement safety improvements that consider the needs of other users.  In the last 5 years, Genesee County has widened several roads to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic along higher volume roads and in hamlet areas.  Several new road signs have also been added to aid disabled citizens.  All of these improvements have been made without state oversight and have been performed in a way that allows a balancing of the public interest at the local level.
 
The best course of action for our elected officials in Albany is to reject this bill and allow our local governments to decide what is best for their citizens. To add a bill that further detracts from highway funding and creates another mandate is counterproductive.

Closure of Pembroke Plaza on Thurway could impact county sales tax

By Howard B. Owens

BATAVIA, N.Y. -- County officials are concerned that the closure of the Pembroke Plaza service area on the Thruway is costing the county sales tax revenue and they're looking to the state for help.

It's impossible to estimate the potential lose in fuel and sales tax because precise business tax information is confidential, according to County Manager Jay Gsell, but such taxes are an important source of revenue for the county.

The issue was raised by Legislator Mary Pat Hancock at Monday's Public Safety Committee meeting and Legislator Jay Grasso accepted the assignment of talking with State Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer.

Grasso works part-time for Ranzenhofer.

"Our first approach is to go through the appropriate channels as far as seeking insight or getting in touch with the right people," Gsell said.

One option, Gsell said, is to convince the Thruway Authority to erect signs letting people know fuel and convenience stores are located at Exit 48-A.

"It's a fairly close alternative," Gsell said. "Pricingwise, it's more competitive, or that's our anecdotal understanding, than what you might typically get at a rest stop."

Directing drivers to an alternative stop in Genesee County will help keep some of that revenue in the County, Gsell said.

Here's the section of the minutes covering the Pembroke Plaza issue:

Legislator Hancock reported that she became aware that the Thruway Gas Plaza in Pembroke was being closed today for renovations and it could remain closed for “several months.” This could have a big impact on Genesee County Sales Tax and she is anxious for everything possible to be done to try and redirect travelers to exit the thruway to make their gas purchases in Genesee County.  Closing this particular Plaza for gas sales means no gas from Angola to Scottsville which could be dangerous to travelers. It was the consensus of the Committee that Chair Grasso will speak to Senator Ranzenhofer to see what might be done to assist in this matter with the Thruway Authority.

I have a call into Jay Grasso to see if he has anything to add, or he can leave a comment.

UPDATE:  Jay Grasso called me as I was driving home, so I couldn't take notes. Hopefully, we can talk more later, but the main point is: A sign did happen to go up Monday evening suggesting 48-A as alternative.

County Public Safety Committee meeting minutes

By Howard B. Owens

PRESENT: Chair Grasso, Legislators Zambito, Cianfrini, and DeJaneiro. County Manager Gsell. Also Present: Legislators Hancock and Leadley, Sheriff Deputy Vllack, Planning Director Duval, Sheriff Maha, Highway Superintendent Hens, Daily News Reporter  Mruzek, and Legislature Clerk Pratt.

Chair Grasso called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM in the Legislature Conference Room.  The minutes of the previous meeting were approved upon motion of Legislator Zambito seconded by Legislator Cianfrini.

Sheriff Maha requested approval of an award of bid for professional assistance with regard to exploring opportunities for new Federal Financial Participation, reviewing prospects for expansion of existing participation and securing additional participation as appropriate for Genesee County.  One bid was received with our current provider, Justice Benefits, Inc. Payment will be in the form of 15% or revenue received.  Last year, approximately $15,000 was received as a result of their efforts.  This was approved for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Cianfrini seconded by Legislator DeJaneiro.

The Sheriff requested approval of a budget amendment in the amount of $5440 to be used for payment of services provided by Bergmann Associates as authorized in October of 2008 from E911 Money from Deferred.  This was referred to Ways & Means with a recommendation for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Zambito seconded by Legislator DeJaneiro.

The Sheriff requested approval of a budget amendment in relation to a Homeland Security Grant which has $3067 of remaining funds that can be used in 2009. This was referred to Ways & Means with a recommendation for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Zambito seconded by Legislator Cianfrini.  It is understood these funds will be used towards a new emergency response vehicle.

Chair Grasso asked the Sheriff for confirmation that paperwork has been received on new Byrne Grant funding.  The Sheriff stated it was.

Planning Director Duval recommended that a Public Hearing be set to consider inclusion of new parcels into existing Ag Districts as requested during the annual 30 day enrollment period.  One such request was received from the Town of Bergen. The hearing is proposed for April 8, 2009 at 7PM in the Old Courthouse.  This was approved for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Zambito seconded by Legislator DeJaneiro.

Highway Superintendent Hens recommended three reappointments to the Airport Advisory Board through December 2011.  The members include John Sackett of Byron, Thomas Geles of Darien and Kenneth Alfes of Darien.  This was referred to Ways & Means with a recommendation for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Zambito seconded by Legislator DeJaneiro.  Chair Grasso commented these were all excellent choices for the Board.

Highway Superintendent reviewed projects submitted for the Economic Recovery Program and announced that two in the Town of Batavia have been accepted as eligible. The two projects amount to $860,000 and will receive 100% reimbursement which is generally received within 2-3 weeks. The Projects will extend the life of the roads 10-15 years and the work as required, will be contracted out.  The resolution accepting this funding, establishing Capital Projects, amending budget, etc. was referred to Ways & Means with a recommendation for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Zambito seconded by Legislator Cianfrini. The timeline is that the design and approval are needed by April, to be bid and awarded by June, completion by September.  Legislator Hancock noted there were three other projects she thought were under consideration and Mr. Hens stated that these will be administered by the State.
Concern was expressed about a possible shortage of asphalt as experienced last year.  Mr. Hens reported that bridges are not covered under the project because the design and approval process is too long to have an immediate effect on the economy.

Mr. Hens reported that Parks Supervisor Osborn has recommended that a 1999 zero turn mower be declared surplus and sold either at auction or under the sealed bid process.  This was referred to Ways & Means with a recommendation for placement on the next Legislature Agenda upon motion of Legislator Cianfrini seconded by Legislator Zambito.

Legislator Hancock reported that she became aware that the Thruway Gas Plaza in Pembroke was being closed today for renovations and it could remain closed for “several months.” This could have a big impact on Genesee County Sales Tax and she is anxious for everything possible to be done to try and redirect travelers to exit the thruway to make their gas purchases in Genesee County.  Closing this particular Plaza for gas sales means no gas from Angola to Scottsville which could be dangerous to travelers. It was the consensus of the Committee that Chair Grasso will speak to Senator Ranzenhofer to see what might be done to assist in this matter with the Thruway Authority.

The next meeting will be April 13th.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 PM upon motion of Legislator Cianfrini seconded by Legislator Zambito.


________________________
Jerome Grasso, Chair
Public Service Committee

Submitted 03/17 cpp

County Ways and Means Committee agenda for Wednesday

By Howard B. Owens

WAYS &  MEANS AGENDA
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Old Courthouse


4:00 PM    Approval of March 4 minutes

4:00 PM    Lorie Cleveland, Real Property Director
1.    Department Review

4:15 PM    Referrals from Public Service
1.    Budget Transfer-Sheriff/Geodatabase Replication Program
2.    Budget Amendment-Sheriff/Homeland Security Carryover
3.    Airport Advisory Reappointment
4.    Establish Highway Capital Projects-Stimulus Package
5.    Surplus Equipment-Parks

County Manager Report
1.    Contract Renewal-NYMIR
2.    Out-of-state travel request-Undersheriff

Administrative Office Report

Chairman Report


REQUESTED ADDITIONS

    John Demske, Nursing Home Administrator
1.    Award RFP-Professional Design Services-Power Grid
2.    Budget Amendment-Capital Project

    Debbie Kerr-Rosenbeck, Youth Director
    1. Americorps Application-Stimulus Funding

    Matt Landers, Deputy Treasurer
1.    GCC Bonding Recommendation from Bond Counsel

    Karen Marchese, Personnel Officer
1. CSEA Contract Negotiations-expected to be held in Executive Session

Genesee County Coroner

By Nicole Brady

Greetings everyone! I'm new to running for a political position, but I am currently running for Genesee County Coroner. Thank you to many people who convinced me that I would be a great coroner and talked me into running this year!  I have a lot of background that would certainly follow along with this position and help me be most efficient at this job. My qualifications include:

Assistant to the Wyoming County Coroner for Tissue Recoveries for many years

Monroe County Medical Examiners Office Internship

BA in Biological Science from SUNY Brockport

Completed various forensic seminars and conferences

I hope that you will consider voting for me on the Conservative line in November.

Thank you!

Nicole Brady

The County Fair

By Tom Clark

My wife and I went to the County Fair tonight. We walked through all the animal exhibits, watched some of the horse competitions, admired the work that the 3-H Clubs are doing, enjoyed the performance of a talented your magician, and ate food from two granges. The weather was perfect for a liesurely stroll through the grounds. I was impressed by the number of young people who were participating in the Fair and those that were there to support their friends. We reccomend that you take the time tomorrow to enjoy a major part of our cultural base here in western NY.

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