The Rotterdam Town Board passed a resolution Wednesday, Jan. 23, that authorizes Supervisor Steven Tommasone to constitute a citizen committee that will survey and study salary ranges of the town’s elected and appointed officials.
The citizen committee will make recommendations to the town board as part of the 2009 budget process and will be composed of no more than five community members, said Tommasone.
The board’s 4-to-0 decision to establish the citizen committee comes on the heels of a thwarted resolution that would have provided $5,000 raises to the board’s four members bumping their salaries from $10,000 to $15,000.
At their Jan. 9 meeting, the board reached a two-to-two deadlock vote, effectively killing the resolution that would have provided for the raises.
New board member, Michael Della Villa, who was absent from the Jan. 9 meeting, but outspoken in his opposition to the raises, said he thought a citizen committee would be a good way to provide board members with research data so they can make an informed decision regarding town salary ranges.
The committee is something that needs to happen, said Della Villa. `They can compile data so we can see where we stand among other townships. Then we can make an educated decision about salaries.`
Rotterdam resident Michael O’Connor expressed his opposition to the formation of the committee during public privilege of the floor.
`This committee is being used as a vehicle to keep this issue front and center without any need,` said O’Connor referring to the board member raises.
O’Connor said the town should focus on other `real` issues like the need for a new water tower in Rotterdam Junction and the revitalization of Hamburg Street. He also said that previous community committees had been met with resistance by the board and proved ineffective.
Tommasone called on his fellow board members to have an open door policy for committee members to ensure good communication.
The resolution that establishes the committee takes effect immediately, but Tommasone said it will take some time to fill the committee with interested members.
He mentioned two possible members of the committee, Diane Marco and Kevin March.
Marco is a former town board member who retired at the end of last year after eight years of service. She was a strong proponant of the raises, citing the fact that there has been no increase in payment for board members in 17 years.
March is an active citizen and frequent attendee of board meetings. He spoke at several meetings stating his dissatisfactory opinion of the raises.
March said he would have interest in serving on the committee. He thinks the community needs to be more involved in Rotterdam’s political process.
`People need to take more action in what happens in the government both locally and nationally,` said March. `People need to speak out at meetings instead of complaining after the fact.`
Electronic signs discussed
The board also passed a resolution that is the first step in amending the town code to allow public schools and firehouses to use flashing signs.
The resolution, which passed unanimously, will refer the amendment of law to the planning board for further consideration.
The law now states that no sign can be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights.
Several schools and firehouses in Rotterdam have electronic, scrolling signs, which serve the purpose of providing vital information to townspeople and could be used during times of emergency, said Tommasone.
The change in code would allow these signs to remain in operation, but would outlaw private citizens from erecting or using lighted signs.
“