PBXTech
06-24-2009, 07:10 AM
Suffolk lawmakers table proposed police cuts BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com
10:12 PM EDT, June 23, 2009
The Suffolk Legislature balked Tuesday at authorizing seven police layoffs and a $5.5- million cut in police salaries to force the Suffolk PBA to make $6.8-million in concessions.
The legislature voted 18-0 to table the resolution despite a last-minute memo from County Executive Steve Levy saying that without the bill it would be "nearly impossible" to negotiate a deal because the police union has been "totally uncooperative" in ongoing talks.
But Jeff Frayler, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association president, told lawmakers in Riverhead that the union would agree to concessions if the county would guarantee no more cuts. He added that both sides would also abide to a pending state labor board case on whether the county can legally replace police with deputy sheriffs on the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway.
Without guarantees, Frayler said, "we could give $6.9 million and they could tear the department apart . . . We just put language on the table to protect our members."
The police layoff resolution was similar to an earlier approved measure that threatened layoffs to other unions. They have agreed to lag payrolls. Levy wanted the bill to pressure the PBA to give concessions, part of $30 million sought from all bargaining units.
Later, Levy said lawmakers were "shameless in their kowtowing to a special interest."
He added, "They sent the message that you have to give concessions if you are a $50,000 employee, but you don't if you are a PBA member who makes three times as much."
But many legislators said they worried about authorizing layoffs when there are not enough officers on the street, despite claims by Levy that services are being enhanced. "We've had four or five incidents in the last 10 days," said DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville). "We're going through a crime wave in my district."
In his memo Levy also warned that without legislative action he will be forced "to make up for these lost concessions" in ways that "will certainly raise concerns to legislators." Levy later said the plan was still being devised.
In other action the legislature confirmed the appointment of former Presiding Officer Gregory Blass to a five-year term as the new social services commissioner to replace Janet DeMarzo, whom lawmakers would not reappoint to a new term.
Blass said he would have a "very open mind" about the placement of homeless sex offenders, now housed in trailers next to the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead. He declined to comment because of a pending lawsuit by Riverhead and Southampton about the site.
Suffolk legislators also declined to act Tuesday on two measures deemed urgent by Levy. They tabled a bill to approve a home rule message that would have allowed the county to bond for $8 million in retroactive early retirement payments. Legislators also tabled resolutions to purchase the John P. Cohalan court complex in Central Islip. The Cohalan deal would save the county up to $8.4 million, Levy's office said.
10:12 PM EDT, June 23, 2009
The Suffolk Legislature balked Tuesday at authorizing seven police layoffs and a $5.5- million cut in police salaries to force the Suffolk PBA to make $6.8-million in concessions.
The legislature voted 18-0 to table the resolution despite a last-minute memo from County Executive Steve Levy saying that without the bill it would be "nearly impossible" to negotiate a deal because the police union has been "totally uncooperative" in ongoing talks.
But Jeff Frayler, Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association president, told lawmakers in Riverhead that the union would agree to concessions if the county would guarantee no more cuts. He added that both sides would also abide to a pending state labor board case on whether the county can legally replace police with deputy sheriffs on the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway.
Without guarantees, Frayler said, "we could give $6.9 million and they could tear the department apart . . . We just put language on the table to protect our members."
The police layoff resolution was similar to an earlier approved measure that threatened layoffs to other unions. They have agreed to lag payrolls. Levy wanted the bill to pressure the PBA to give concessions, part of $30 million sought from all bargaining units.
Later, Levy said lawmakers were "shameless in their kowtowing to a special interest."
He added, "They sent the message that you have to give concessions if you are a $50,000 employee, but you don't if you are a PBA member who makes three times as much."
But many legislators said they worried about authorizing layoffs when there are not enough officers on the street, despite claims by Levy that services are being enhanced. "We've had four or five incidents in the last 10 days," said DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville). "We're going through a crime wave in my district."
In his memo Levy also warned that without legislative action he will be forced "to make up for these lost concessions" in ways that "will certainly raise concerns to legislators." Levy later said the plan was still being devised.
In other action the legislature confirmed the appointment of former Presiding Officer Gregory Blass to a five-year term as the new social services commissioner to replace Janet DeMarzo, whom lawmakers would not reappoint to a new term.
Blass said he would have a "very open mind" about the placement of homeless sex offenders, now housed in trailers next to the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead. He declined to comment because of a pending lawsuit by Riverhead and Southampton about the site.
Suffolk legislators also declined to act Tuesday on two measures deemed urgent by Levy. They tabled a bill to approve a home rule message that would have allowed the county to bond for $8 million in retroactive early retirement payments. Legislators also tabled resolutions to purchase the John P. Cohalan court complex in Central Islip. The Cohalan deal would save the county up to $8.4 million, Levy's office said.