eastwickpress

Dear Eastwick Press,

I am a regular reader of your weekly paper. I find it to be very accurate and informative. For whatever  reason, I did not pick up the November 29  issue. My apologies.

On Monday, morning December 2, I started to receive phone calls in regard to a special Town Board meeting  held on Tuesday, November 19, to adopt the budget. The calls were  pertaining to a small salary increase for one of our part-time workers. I was dumbfounded. I was asked several times why I did not advocate for a salary increase for this exceptional worker. Totally caught off guard, I asked, “What are you talking about? I most certainly  did advocate for this individual. As a matter of fact a Councilperson made the motion and before you could blink your eye, I  seconded the motion. I also stated that no one deserves a raise more than this  individual. I was then asked, “Haven’t you read the Eastwick Press?” My response was, “No.”

Later in the day I had the opportunity to read the paper and to my horror, Supervisor Higgins stated that Board Members Marie Claus  and Rick Ungaro rejected the idea of a salary increase for the part-time worker who cleans the town hall and works at the Town transfer station. I’m wondering if Supervisor Higgins and I were at the same meeting.

I certainly don’t recall Marie Claus rejecting the idea of a pay increase for this worker. What I do recall is what every good Board member should do. Marie Claus asked questions pertaining to the number of hours worked in the  position and how it would impact the budget that the Board had just adopted 5 minutes  prior to this discussion. Also in attendance at the special meeting to adopt the budget was former Supervisor Tyler Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer pointed out to  Supervisor Higgins that he did not need to request additional funds from the Board for this very small increase. Mr. Sawyer took the time to show Supervisor Higgins there was money for the salary increase within Higgins’ own budget. The Board then approved it unanimously.

Furthermore

I find it disheartening that Supervisor Higgins would say that at the November 18 Town Board meeting changes were made to the 2014 preliminary budget  in an aggressive, speculative, rash and uninformed manner.

At the November 12 budget workshop I felt a sense of true teamwork between the Board members. I myself presented to the Board several budget line revisions. My suggestions then fell into the hands of Councilman Mike Crandall who took the role of mediator with the other three Board members. It is my opinion as a resident first and a Board member second, the Board did exactly what we were supposed to do – only take what we needed to operate by trimming some of the cushion from the budget.

I would also like to say I thought it was absolutely ludicrous that Supervisor Higgins would not allow the Highway Superintendent to speak at the workshop when asked by the Board members, particularly when he controls better than half of the Town’s budget.

In regard to cutting appropriations, here is an example –  for independent auditing and accounting contractual expenses $5,700 was budgeted and after speaking to the independent auditor at the budget workshop  this line was reduced to $3,000. Another example is control of dogs contractual expenses. In 2012 actuals were $93. Actuals through September 30, 2013 were $140 so why would you budget $1,700? After speaking to the DCO the Board reduced it from $1,700 to $1,000. So if that is aggressive, speculative, rash or uninformed I am guilty.

In regard to revenues, I find it amazing that Supervisor Higgins would use $65,000 as a projected mortgage tax revenue, particularly when that number is based on homes bought and sold and refinanced. If Supervisor Higgins knows something about the real estate market perhaps he could give his Board members a tip. In the past the Town of Grafton has used a conservative $55,000 as the projected mortgage tax revenue, $10,000 less than what Higgins had budgeted. In regard to sales tax revenue the Board was very conservative at  $205,000 when the total estimated 2013 sales tax would be close to $239,196.  With a modest 1% growth rate the total estimated 2014 sales tax should be $241,588.

As a resident of Grafton I thank the other Board members for making these revisions because none of us as Board members would have ever expected to find the $12,500 mathematical error in the budget that Supervisor Higgins presented and tried to adopt at November 18 Town Board meeting.

Aggressive, speculative, rash and uninformed, perhaps Supervisor Higgins needs to look into the mirror.

Rick Ungaro

Town Board Member

Hello,

I very much enjoy the Eastwick Press and would like to think that the information follows a road map that leads to accuracy. In the case of the November 19th “Grafton Special Town Board Meeting” article published in last Thursday’s paper I find there to be inaccuracies. I’m not only disappointed in the printed recollection of events but discouraged that it was included without having an Eastwick Press reporter present. The meeting was held in the small conference room; 5 Grafton residents were in attendance.

My recollection of the conversation is what I believe to be much more accurate than the article in print. Supervisor Higgins brought up the subject of a pay increase for the part time worker who cleans the town hall. He said it was based on a conversation he had with Road Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck. Supervisor Higgins claimed it would be difficult to get someone to clean the town hall for the amount they currently paid. Councilwoman Messenger made a motion to increase the pay,  immediately seconded by Councilman Ungaro. Marie Clause never stated she rejected the idea, instead she asked a few questions concerning the number of hours in the position and if the raise would be for only the cleaning hours or would it also include the part time hours on the recycling portion. The group then discussed how that increase would compare to the 1.5% increase the Highway Employees were to receive. Fortunately, Mr. [Tyler] Sawyer was at the meeting to interject pertinent information about the funds already being in the budget that would cover the small amount. After light was shed on the questions it appeared that the entire Council agreed with the increase.

At the first Budget Meeting Cathy Goyer asked why a pay increase was not included for the same part time employee that cleans the town hall, Supervisor Higgins said he had no idea and moved on.

I realize how difficult it may get for the reporters of the Eastwick to attend all meetings in multiple towns, in this case they would have heard something much different than what was put in print.

Sincerely,

Linda Laveway

16 Trail Riders Way, Grafton

Editor’s response: Obviously, we would have preferred to have a reporter at the November 19 Grafton Special meeting. To do this we needed to be informed in a timely manner about the meeting. 

The description of the meeting in the Eastwick was clearly attributed to the Grafton Town Supervisor. Publishing reports by government officials is a courtesy we have extended to officials in other towns as well. Clearly, when we do not attend a meeting we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the report of that meeting. We understand, even hope, that if there are inaccuracies the record may be expanded by interested parties, as in this case, by Laveway’s letter to the editor. Just keep in mind – we cannot vouch for the statements in this letter either.