Hiring freeze proposal receives icy response
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

If forced to follow a proposed hiring freeze, three department heads told the Amherst Town Board that services would be cut or affected.

The department heads spoke at Monday's meeting during a public hearing about Council Member Deborah Bruch Bucki's resolution to create a local law that would commit the town to reduce the size of the workforce gradually among full-time and seasonal employees.

"We need to make changes or else costs will go up, up, up," she said, adding this is one step to hold the line on taxes.

The only person to offer support was Supervisor Satish Mohan.

He said this was a minimal step in what needs to be done to save the town money and he said he applauded her actions. The estimated increase in employee costs has been more than 5 percent per year.

Council Member Dan Ward's criticism of the proposal was that it would destroy flexibility by making the action a law. The Town had temporary hiring freezes put in place in the past.

It wasn't until each of the board members made their comments that the public hearing was opened to speakers - which is not the normal order. As residents waited in line to speak, the board continued to talk at length, not acknowledging the speakers.

"This is not a speech making contest by public officials, which it sounded like," George Richmond of Canterbury Woods said when he was finally recognized.

He said the proposal was not available for public review and needed to be before a decision could be made.

Jane Cox of Harlem Road said that major cuts have already taken place.

"I don't know who you think will do the work," she said.

Town Engineer Jeff Burroughs agreed, saying in the past 10 years his department has dropped from 125 to 98 employees.

"I can't afford to lose six more employees," he said, adding that the calculation is an estimate based on Bucki's proposal.

He said the department is having a hard enough time finding skilled employees to do the work. With many senior employees reaching retirement age, he needs professionals who can handle the work.

Building Commissioner Thomas Ketchum also opposed the rules of the law, saying 92 percent of his budget is personnel costs.

He said, if his manpower was reduced it would be difficult to handle the volume of work to maintain the level of revenue the department brings in.

"If you cut the staff there is no way it will not affect services," he said. "I don't think that is what you are aiming for."

He also said there was no need to create a law because temporary freezes had been in place on and off, and exceptions were always made.

Interim Youth Board Director Mark Johnston also spoke against the proposal.

The public hearing was held open until the next meeting, Monday, Nov. 5.

If changes were to occur, the law would not affect departments with 10 or fewer employees, mandated staffing levels or public safety.