Lisbon Salary Restoration Public Hearing Wednesday
LISBON - Lisbon residents will have a chance to voice their opinion on the town board's proposal to restore $9,000 of salaries cut by the previous administration in November.
The hearing will be held at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday prior to the regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. The proposal was made by Councilor Alan D. Dailey at the January meeting.
"I know people will jump down my throat for this, but I don't think it's right," he said. "I have no idea why anybody would think someone would work for less than they did the year before" he said at the last board meeting.
His proposal was supported by newly-elected Supervisor James W. Armstrong who suggested holding the public hearing after town attorney Charles A. Nash informed the board that changing salaries after the budget has been passed requires a public hearing.
The proposed budget changes would restore wages to their 2009 levels as follows:
* Town Supervisor - from $8,000 to $12,700, an increase of $4,700.
* Dog Control - Sue Siedlecki from $5,000 to $5,400, an increase of $400.
* Four Town Councilors - from $1,600 to $2,400 for a total of $800 each.
* Deputy Town Clerk - Eileen McBath from $3,500 to $4,836 (Based on an hourly rate).
The salary cuts were approved in November by the previous board with former Supervisor Donald G. Strader, former councilor Thomas J. Schneller and councilor Vincent Winters voting in favor of the changes.
Councilor C. Roger Shoen opposed the cuts, saying that cuts to town employees should be made uniformly or not at all. At the November meeting, Mr. Strader defended the cuts, saying he believed workloads had decreased due to increased efficiency in running the office.
At the monthly board meeting scheduled to follow the public hearing, the board is expected to hear from newly appointed liaisons from the planning board, campground, library board, homecoming committee, museum committee and recreation committee.
The board will also be discussing a law that would require truck drivers to cover their loads and a possible resolution to show the board's support of the opposition to close the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility.
