Last night (Thursday, Dec. 4) behind closed doors in an executive session, the Colonie Town Board approved the demotion of two town employees that were involved in a parking lot paving job at the West Albany Rod and Gun Club.
The employees, William Neeley, formerly the town’s public works operations supervisor was demoted to senior civil engineering technician and Thomas Romano, formerly a highway maintenance supervisor, was demoted to civil engineering technician.
In terms of salary loss, Neeley’s salary will now decline from $80, 825 to $67, 109 and Romano’s salary will decline from $68,366 to $58, 562.
United Public Service Employees Union Regional Coordinator Kathy Wright, who has been defending the employees since they were first placed on suspension by town officials, attended the meeting in which the fate of the employees was decided, and said she wanted to be clear of what the town was penalizing the employees with before appealing the decision-which she promised would be happening.
Last month, Bethlehem Hearing Officer Paul Dwyer recommended to town officials that the employees be placed on a 60-day suspension without pay. According to Wright, the employees have already served five weeks without pay from their original suspension while the hearings were going on.
Last night’s decision exceeds Dwyer’s recommendations.
For more on this story, check back at www.spotlightnews.com, or read the Wednesday, Dec. 10 print edition of the Colonie Spotlight.
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