Town Approves Hiring of a Police Officer

The Yorktown Town Board, during their September 7 meeting, approved hiring of a police officer, since the police department is down four positions this year.

Supervisor Susan Siegel and Councilman Nick Bianco cast their opposing votes, after the board had unanimously agreed to hire a police officer at the August 31 special town board meeting.

Councilman Jim Martorano said he does not remember a time when the board had decided on an issue only to discuss it during the next meeting, and stood behind his original vote.

Sigel and Bianco voted against hiring a police officer after they received information from the town comptroller about the 2011 expenses. The town will also face a 4.8 percent tax increase in pension and health benefit costs for next year.

"I don't want to hire someone today only to lay them off in November," Bianco said.

"Public safety is critical, but how much could tax payers afford," Siegel said.

The police department had lost two police officers, one due to retirement and another to resignation, one office assistant, and a dispatcher would be leaving for 90 days on maternity leave in October. Police Chief Daniel McMahon said those positions were funded in the 2010 budget.

He had suggested to the town board, during the executive session, that he hires a dispatcher for the soon-to-be vacancy for three months, who would then be assigned to the police academy. This would cost the town less, because otherwise they would have to pay $8,000 in overtime to fill the vacancy.

Siegel commended the Chief for being able to manage overtime costs and spending $170,000 out of the budgeted $300,000. To which he responded that overtime has been reduced, because the police department had eliminated their traffic and drug unit.

"There is a cost and effect to everything," McMahon said.

"We can't have it all," Siegel added. "We'll have to make decisions."