Oyster Bay passes 2018 budget, but revote likely
The issue of public safety tripped up what should have been a smooth path for the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board to pass the 2018 budget.
The 4-3 vote in favor of the spending plan exposed resistance to Supervisor Joseph Saladino’s aim to eliminate the 24-member Department of Public Safety and shift its duties and personnel to Nassau County.
Saladino opened the Oct. 24 town board meeting by noting that by passing the budget, councilmembers were taking an important step in right-sizing the town government and tackling the fiscal problems that plagued the town in the past.
“Together,” he said, summing up his eight months in office after delineating the positive steps, “we’ve laid the groundwork for a positive future.”
Saladino brought up what he called “one of the most difficult subjects—public safety.”
“This budget continues to defund that department,” he said. “It is important and it’s our fiduciary responsibility as elected officials to explore and seek savings for taxpayers in every corner of the government. We all know if you don’t squeeze the pennies out of government, you’ll never save a dime.”
The plan is under the rubric of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Shared Services Initiative. The town has already shared services with other municipalities, including salt, sand and asphalt bulk purchasing.
However, Saladino’s plan to dissolve public safety in a bid to save $1.3 million ran into opposition, as it had at the public hearings for the budget the week before.
The plan will need to be approved by the county and town governments and the respective civil service unions. The Civil Service Employees Association Local 881, which represents the town’s employees, came out officially against the plan. Leaders noted that the collective bargaining contract agreed to after bruising negotiations prohibited layoffs or transfers through December 2021.
At the Oct. 24 meeting, several speakers continued to criticize the plan, including town board candidate Bob Freier of Woodbury and Syosset’s Kevin McKenna. Both said they had spoken to Nassau County Executive candidate Jack Martins, who reportedly told them he was opposed to such a transfer.
After councilmembers Tony Macagnone and Rebecca Alesia expressed some skepticism over the plan, Saladino assured them that, “we will be taking another vote. This is just the initial process to send the information to the county so they can determine if there is a savings on their side.”
He added, “We feel it’s our responsibility to explore this with Nassau County. The budget is set up to do both, and give us an option to fully fund the department if the plan doesn’t go through. But this way, we’re doing the responsible thing by our taxpayers.”
Saladino noted that both options offer the same level of security at the town’s facilities.
Director of Finance Robert DaRienzo attested that the projected 2018 tax cut of $1.3 million dollars will remain the same whether the money for public safety is added in or taken out.
When it came time to vote on the motion to pass the tentative budget, the ayes came from Saladino, and councilmembers Joseph Muscarella, Lou Imbroto and Thomas Hand (who proclaimed that he was on the pubic record as favoring keeping public safety in the town).
When called upon, Macagnone said, “I can’t be proud of any budget based on getting rid of 24 workers, especially after last year, when we asked the workforce to work with us. We told them that we would protect their positions and we can keep them safe as long as they produced for us–and they have been. To the rest of the workers: be careful. They’ll be coming for you next. I vote no on this budget.”
Alesia, concurring with Macagnone, added her “no.”
Michelle Johnson said she supported the supervisor’s efforts in righting the town’s finances and praised his helping with the town’s turnaround.
“However, this issue with public safety is something I just can’t get past,” she noted. “I agree with the Shared Services Initiative on many fronts, but we’re talking about people and I don’t want them to have to wait till December to have an answer, so I vote no.”
Macagnone then introduced a walk-on resolution calling for the town to keep the public safety department. It was seconded by Alesia, and Saladino called on Town Attorney Joseph Nocella to weigh in. He advised that the resolution needed work and a recess was called so that his department could word it properly.
When the board reassembled, Nocella said that the proposed resolution needed to include budget figures and would need to be advertised and publicly noticed. Macagnone resisted the idea of delaying a vote.
A lengthy back-and-forth ensued, with Saladino assuring Macagnone and Alesia that their wishes for a vote on an amended budget would be fulfilled, but the town had to follow proper procedure.
“You’ve made your statement loud and clear,” Nocella told Macagnone.
“Everybody knows you want public safety restored. You’re going to get a proposed amended budget that’s going to restore it.”
“And has all the clout of the law,” interjected Saladino.
Macagnone responded, “Mr. Nocella, I’m going to say that I’ve always trusted your opinion and I’m going to go with it.”
He also asked that the public hearing on the amended budget be held in the evening on Nov. 28 so more of the public could be involved. Alesia seconded it and the board unanimously approved it.
