The Council passed, along strict party lines, a budget which contains an across-the-board 10% cut in city departments, with the exception of items that the city is contractually bound to pay. The new budget will mean a .9 mill increase which will amount to $148 in taxes per year for the average Middletown property owner.
The major debates of the evening came over a proposal by Mayor Sebastian Giuliano to move the payroll for non-certified staff represented by two of the city unions (MMPA and local 466), from the control of the Board of Education, and into the control of the city. The payroll amounts to about $13 million annually.
Several members of the union, union representatives and leaders spoke in favor of the move. The gallery was packed with union members and supporters.
Farm Hill School secretary Brooke Carta asked the council to consider adopting Giuliano's plan, but if not to consider an alternative.
"If you can't vote to move the payroll for Board of Education employees and local 466, then at least hold off of giving the Board of Education the money now," Carta said.
"Frechette made it clear to you," Daniels said. "He's autonomous from you"
MMPA president John Milardo accused the Board of Education of taking money from the city, not spending it as planned, and not returning the excess money to city coffers.
Thibodeau warned Council members that while they were worried that the payroll move might mean incurring penalties from the State Board of Education, they should worry about the very real threat of specific claims against the city because of complaints made by Local 466 employees.
Democratic Council member Hope Kasper read the Council amendment which withdrew Giuliano's proposal for moving payroll saying that it risked a huge penalty from the State Board of Education, and was immediately met with a counter amendment by Council member Phil Pessina which reinstated the payroll shift.
Pessina spoke passionately in favor of allowing the city to have control of the payroll. He also insisted that the amended budget was not delivered to Republican members soon enough for detailed review, and that the general public had no time to examine the proposed changes.
When the vote came, the Democratic members of the Council all voted for the amended budget, the Republican members against.
5 comments:
The Mayor continues to give away tax dollars to the unions, how about bringing their pensions and health care into line with the public sector? Is it because Seb has relatives and friends working for the city? Why is Mayor Deb allowed to participate in MMPA contracts which here husband is the union leader?
TIME TO TAKE OUR CITY BACK, TAX PAYERS, TOGEATHER WE CAN CHANGE THE ENTITELMENT MINDSET OF THE UNIONS.
The unions gave up some of their health care coverage last year and pay higher premiums and co pays this year to say jobs, they also gave up raises. KNOW YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU CRITICIZE THE UNIONS THATS WHY THEY ARE CALLED UNION CONCESSIONS
To clarify the ill informed Anonymous' comment of 10:43am. The City general government employees pension fund is solevent due to good investments with employee contributions. Middletown taxpayers have not put 1 cent into the pension fund for us for 60 or more years. Only employees contribute to the fund; no taxpayer money.
As for Personnel Director Debra Milardo's participation in MMPA contract negotiations, which I have also participated in, tell me what law or ethic rule or policy has be broken? Do you think for one minute I, as a Union representative, or the City, would not have gotten those questions answered before any type of negotiations took place? You make inflamatory comments due to a personal agenda you have, not knowing what roles we even had during negotiations. If you really want to "take our City back"; your time would be better spent going after those who are in charge of taxpayers money; such as your Common Council members and your Board of Education administrators. But once again, it's easier for some people to deflect the real issues, to keep the same politicians in office selling voters the same old trash they want to hear. The real change will take place when voters change their mindset, and elect new blood on the Common Council and Board of Education.
Respectfully,
John Milardo, MMPA President
Common Council decides to burn 65k of tax payer money.
http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/05/15/news/doc4bee04fd59783122037763.txt
Apparently, the Council's egos got the best of them and since they did not think of cutting the fireworks themselves, they decided just to torch the money after all.
To the last anonymous poster- you have used the 8-hour coffee break line on the Middletown Press blog too in your berating of John and Debbie Milardo, both city employees, and in your praise for the BOE. It is obvious who you are angry with and that you are probably someone on the BOE themselves. No union worker gets an 8 hour coffee break, nor do the Milardos spend 8 hours a day together as you claim.
May 13, 2010 10:43 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
City Unions such as MMPA and 466 made/will make concessions this fiscal year and last - which means giving up something boys and girls- Some facts:
1.Because of concessions they will not get raises this year nor did they last year.
2.Because of concessions,they pay more for health insurance premium wise, and co pay wise.
Retirees pay for health insurance should they continue to take it
No tax payer money is put into pension funds. Again not free.
3.Despite urban myths, is no free lunch or coffee for City employees. There is no secret cafeteria in the basement- there are cash-money vending machines in city hall & a coffee pot upstairs that city employees bring in their own coffee and cups for.
4. There is no flex time, and all but necessary over time for police and emergency staff, not including plow drivers, has been cut from budget last year and this year.
5. On average, office employees work 8:30- 4:30 with a 1 hour lunch break and a 15 min morning coffee break. And its never been any more than that. That's a full day.
6. City vehicles are used for city business only, and anyone who violates this is disciplined.
Taxpayers get a full days work out of the employees; who's salaries are generally lower than that of the private sector equivalent, although in exchange for this lower wage, and union dues, unions bargain against lay offs and are sometimes successful. They call it "collective bargaining." Saturday and Sunday, also another perk brought to the public by Unions.
It is easy where in an recession those not in a union can be jealous of this protection and react with allegations of misconduct. Life is unfair, I'm sure everyone's job has its advantages and disadvantages.
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