|
|
Post by Clipper on Apr 19, 2012 16:50:37 GMT -5
Budget cuts force demotions of Utica police officers
UTICA —
Police Department job cuts in the city’s 2012-13 budget forced demotions for a number of officers.
The cuts were based on seniority from the officers’ initial hire date, not merit.
That budget, which became active April 1, included 17 cuts to police positions, including a number to higher-level jobs.
The city initially refused to release the officers’ new positions. But according to the Utica Civil Service Commission minutes, they are as follows:
* Michael Bailey was bumped from deputy chief to captain, and his annual salary went from $102,392 to $80,897.
* Louis Capri, lieutenant to sergeant, $72,841 to $66.221.
* Steven Brucker, lieutenant to sergeant, $72,841 to $66,221.
* David Mickle, captain to lieutenant, $80,897 to $73,542.
* James Watson, captain to lieutenant and then to sergeant, $80,125 to $66,221.
* Wayne Manolescu, captain to lieutenant and then to sergeant, $80,125 to $66,221.
* Michael Murphy, sergeant to officer, $64,950 to $56,775.
* David Dare, sergeant to officer, $64,950 to $56,775.
* Donald Cinque, sergeant to officer, $65,587 to $57,331.
* James Garcia, sergeant to officer, $65,587 to $57,331.
* Edward Noonan, lieutenant to sergeant and then to officer, $72,145 to $57,331.
* Sean Dougherty, sergeant to officer, $65,587 to $57,331.
* The following officers were reinstated from their investigator positions, with salaries that went from $59,046 to $56,775: Amed Cardona, Kevin Strife, Stanley Fernalld, Edin Selimovic, Raymond Maldonado, James Laurey and Joseph Trevisani.
* Bryan Coromato and Gregory Faccioli were reinstated from investigator to officer, and their salaries went from $59,046 to $57,331.
Copyright 2012 The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York. Some rights reserved
Looks like the cuts are hitting hard at UPD. If my math is right, the demotions will save approximately $149,000 and change. While it is spread so that it impacts a good many officer's pay checks, it is only enough to actually save 2-3 lower level patrol officer positions. Cutting the budget and cutting the fat is a tough pill to swallow. All I can say is that the way it is being done through demotions has to be demoralizing for those that worked hard to achieve the promotions and the pay raises. I have to imagine there will have to be some serious belt tightening in the households effected. Sad, but necessary. Blame it on the past administrations that allowed it to get out of hand to begin with.
Sadly those that caused the problems to happen, aren't the one's that are losing a large chunk of their paycheck to resolve their foolishness. The cops losing rank and pay aren't the idiots that negotiated Pylman's ridiculous salary and contract or the one's that bought it out for an exorbitant price.
However people may view the salaries paid to police officers, I DO feel sorry for the officers effected. NOBODY can afford to take a cut in pay in todays economy, but bottom line, it is better than losing their job. At least they are still employed.
Now if the common council will man up and take their licks too. They damn sure don't deserve health benefits for a part time job, and there doesn't need to be as many as there is. Cutting council seats will save money, just as cutting other positions in other departments. They should not be exempt from the downsizing of city government.
Now we need to see where the cuts were made in the fire department. It is sad that public safety is the largest part of a budget and the first to see cuts. Hopefully no one will die or be injured as a result of the cuts.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 19, 2012 23:03:24 GMT -5
 Knowing quite a few of the officers and firemen who got demoted I can honestly say the cut in pay hurts as it would any family who has an established budget according to the pay they receive but to be demoted was demoralizing to say the least and very hard to accept. After working for many years and some even went back to school for courses to be eligible for a promotion that was a huge slap in the faces of those who work so hard to receive them. Demoting was totally uncalled for bringing the moral down very low and left no incentive or desire to be the best of the best. Down sizing by attrition would have brought the same results since there are many in both the UPD & the UFD getting ready to retire and would have left the men with the good moral they need to do their jobs effectively. But Utica has common council members (which many aren't needed) that went for the neck and for the last drop of blood instead of cutting in their own department to ease the pain of others. SHAMEFUL!!!!!! 
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2012 15:38:28 GMT -5
I feel sorry for these guys, too. I bet the banks that hold their mortage's won't adjust mortage's based on the new salary. If I was demoted and lost that much money I would certainly take my time responding to any city calls to the UPD and UFD.
These idiot common council members should be working for free with no perks of any type. I won't be voting for any of them or the Mayor come next election. This city of Utica sure does stink. Too bad I am stuck in this rat hole of a city.
|
|
|
|
Post by JGRobinson on Apr 20, 2012 21:23:22 GMT -5
These are changing times, state, city and federal jobs that once were rock solid are all on the chopping block now. The cronies and admins will keep theirs until the last lifeboat is casting off then grab it and run like hell. All of the Public services will be transformed now ready or not. I wouldnt be quick to try to convince my grandkid to chase a good Government job in this day and age, it could be gone before you get a chance to have your nameplate stuck on your cubicle.
Law enforcement will be flooded with overqualified peacekeepers very soon. The Military is shedding now Gulf Vets like a dog in spring and will Molt like a snake once we exit Afghanistan and that will be soon.
I hope these folks can hang on and search out other avenues and futures if hanging on wont work. I dont see it coming anytime soon but NY will again rise out of the ashes of its own burned bridges and ruined dreams. The sad part is the greatest hope I see is that the rest of the country is doing worse than they ever have and thats only a little better than us right now, we still got a chance!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 20, 2012 22:12:34 GMT -5
JR, your words sound good but I wouldn't want to be one whose pay got cut having a family , mortgage and every day living to cope with. Easy for us to say but we're not the ones who has to deal with it. If it were me with my family I'd be devastated. 
|
|
|
|
Post by JGRobinson on Apr 21, 2012 4:38:15 GMT -5
Unfortunately, their jobs dont translate to other employment gigs real easy other than security guard and that pays even worse. Mel lost her job last day of Dec, She did get another a couple months ago and her first check finally last week! Its been a challenging few months, I dont wish that on anyone.
|
|
boomer
Mild Pushover
Posts: 128 
|
Post by boomer on Apr 21, 2012 7:04:58 GMT -5
I feel sorry for these guys, too. I bet the banks that hold their mortage's won't adjust mortage's based on the new salary. If I was demoted and lost that much money I would certainly take my time responding to any city calls to the UPD and UFD. These idiot common council members should be working for free with no perks of any type. I won't be voting for any of them or the Mayor come next election. This city of Utica sure does stink. Too bad I am stuck in this rat hole of a city. Get out of Utica more often Alan. I am here perhaps 3-5 months a year now and everytime I come back it really looks smaller and sillier. It lets you remove yourself from thinking you're as desperate and screwy as those all around you. I don't mean that as a joke or poke I mean really try it. Re: Bobby's Point: "Downsizing by attrition" could have been avoided by "Upsizing with wisdom". From the tax increases you've suffered it looks like attrition wasn't any option. These people need relief. Utica always expected to "just charge more" for this and now this is what they get now that they have driven out all the earners with the neverending problems. I'd still be a homeowner here if the city police hadn't walked into my house without any notice and started walking all around the house like they owned it and arrested me for a "codes violation" on a house I hadn't even closed on yet, didn't yet own, and subsequently as a deliberate result never did. And I'm glad. I would be stuck here. This was all over an inoperable sink in a brand new kitchen in an unrented appt on the 2nd floor mind you. Lucky the Judge had a brain. It's vacant now. The policeman that was "arresting" me told me he didn't care he'd been with the city for 30 years. I told him I could see that. From the look of it they expected the free money to go on forever just yesterday the sheriff was talking about how he needed big GMC Hummers to do his job and that it would make everyone so much safer somehow. Meh. |
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 21, 2012 23:30:33 GMT -5
I'd still be a homeowner here if the city police hadn't walked into my house without any notice and started walking all around the house like they owned it and arrested me for a "codes violation" on a house I hadn't even closed on yet, didn't yet own, and subsequently as a deliberate result never did. And I'm glad. I would be stuck here. This was all over an inoperable sink in a brand new kitchen in an unrented appt on the 2nd floor mind you. Lucky the Judge had a brain. It's vacant now. The policeman that was "arresting" me told me he didn't care he'd been with the city for 30 years. I told him I could see that. As Paul Harvey would say, "now for the rest of the story." In all my years of working in this community and with the Codes department through my neighborhood watch group have I ever heard of anything like this. It's very laughable. Unless one ignores NUMEROUS violation tickets and fails to appear on their court days does the police EVER get involved in a code's issue. They don't show up suddenly on your doorstep on their own EVER unless they have a court order to do so but I will guarantee the owner of the property in violation knows it's coming sooner or later because of their defiance to comply with a court order to fix up their property. Because the courts are backed up with codes violations I know it takes months and sometimes years for the court to finally get those in violation to comply, fine them or arrest them. Once the police gets an order from the court it is not up to them to decide ANYTHING. Their job is to just bring in the person whose name is on that court order. You gave kudos to a "judge for having a brain" but most likely that same judge was the one who signed the court order to have you arrested, so what's your point and............"whats the rest of the story?"  |
|
|
|
Post by JGRobinson on Apr 22, 2012 6:11:46 GMT -5
I have to say, my only dealings with codes in Utica were really crappy in the latter 80's. They cared more for the entrenched slumlords than those of us ready to try to make Utica better. I never did have any problems with the police but didnt ask for any either.
The UFD did nothing but kinda save my house after some pyro torched it then suggested that I may have done it myself until I told him I had no insurance cause I couldnt get any, then I never heard another word about it, case closed. I wish they had just let the place burn, would have saved me a couple years of rebuilding, nightmares as a landlord and finally thousands that I had to pay in lue of tenants that wouldnt take out their own trash or pay their own light and water bills.
In the end, I lost 10's of thousands trying to invest in Utica, I wont make that mistake again! Me and my friends used to joke, I owned the Nicest little crackhouse in Utica!
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 22, 2012 17:18:52 GMT -5
Lots have changed since the 80's when codes really had no power to go after those in violation. This is one thing I can give kudos to Utica's common council for voting in legislation to now take the violators to court and have them prosecuted. I have owned my home on Andes Ave for 30 years and never had a problem complying with code's requirements even if there was a problem. Had a problem with my upstairs porch which my tenant then instead of telling me (couldn't tell by looking at it from downstairs) reported it to the section eight department and they sent codes over to inspect. They wrote me up and I did agree with them that it did need to be fixed. They worked very well with me. They gave me plenty of time to do the repairs and even directed me to a department through the county that would help with the cost. For me if I am informed about a violation I do want to correct the problem for the safety of my tenants. It's alot cheaper then getting sued if someone does get hurt because of my neglect to keep up my property. Plus the fact, my house is now on the market for sale and I want to be able to sell it without the bank's inspector requesting repairs before I can do that. I am also 100% with the codes department due to the fact they make all the absentee landlords in my neighborhood care for their properties the way they are suppose to which in turn makes my property look as good as it should. Seriously, why wouldn't I? I keep my property looking good and I expect the same of all around me. Too many absentee landlords out there who buy up properties, put nothing into those properties, but yet take the $$$ from their tenants and run. That is not fair to those who take pride in where they live and keep up their property.
|
|
|
|
Post by JGRobinson on Apr 22, 2012 18:36:32 GMT -5
The house I rebuilt on Howard was perfect when it was done, I would have lived there in a heartbeat and would still, if not for the neighborhood. Thats why I couldn't get good tenants, nobody wanted to live in that area even if the place was a gem. I got stuck with the garbage figuratively and literally and the bills for unpaid utilities. Never again, not gonna do that!
|
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 22, 2012 20:51:19 GMT -5
I have been very fortunate in getting good tenants who most have been with me for quite a few years when they rent my apartments. Right now my tenant on the second floor has been with me for over four years now. I wasn't going to rent the downstairs because I do have the house up for sale and just didn't want to bother with another tenant since the upstairs rent takes care of all the bills on my property but my niece moved back from Virginia seven months ago and needed a place until she can buy her own home so I rented the downstairs to her. If I can keep one tenant in my house until I sell it then all will be good. My secret on getting good tenants is that I go through Apartment Connections for tenants. They do all the back ground checks on tenants and it only cost me the first month's rent. If for some reason I have to evict that tenant I get my money back as they find me a new tenant. So far I have had four tenants through them. The first was with me for four years, the second for just over three years, the third before my present tenant now was with me for seven years before he got very sick and had to move in with his son. I will not rent to just anyone. My house is my long time investment and before I rent to any one I can't trust to keep it nice then I will leave both apartments empty until I sell my house.
|
|
boomer
Mild Pushover
Posts: 128
|
Post by boomer on Apr 26, 2012 5:06:12 GMT -5
I'd still be a homeowner here if the city police hadn't walked into my house without any notice and started walking all around the house like they owned it and arrested me for a "codes violation" on a house I hadn't even closed on yet, didn't yet own, and subsequently as a deliberate result never did. And I'm glad. I would be stuck here. This was all over an inoperable sink in a brand new kitchen in an unrented appt on the 2nd floor mind you. Lucky the Judge had a brain. It's vacant now. The policeman that was "arresting" me told me he didn't care he'd been with the city for 30 years. I told him I could see that. As Paul Harvey would say, "now for the rest of the story." In all my years of working in this community and with the Codes department through my neighborhood watch group have I ever heard of anything like this. It's very laughable. Unless one ignores NUMEROUS violation tickets and fails to appear on their court days does the police EVER get involved in a code's issue. They don't show up suddenly on your doorstep on their own EVER unless they have a court order to do so but I will guarantee the owner of the property in violation knows it's coming sooner or later because of their defiance to comply with a court order to fix up their property. Because the courts are backed up with codes violations I know it takes months and sometimes years for the court to finally get those in violation to comply, fine them or arrest them. Once the police gets an order from the court it is not up to them to decide ANYTHING. Their job is to just bring in the person whose name is on that court order. You gave kudos to a "judge for having a brain" but most likely that same judge was the one who signed the court order to have you arrested, so what's your point and............"whats the rest of the story?" Gee Bobby I sure didn't mean to get you all upset there but I stand by what I said. The point I thought was rather clear was the guy's attitude about his work. It was clear I wasn't the owner and he still walked in the house and started poking around. You've never heard of such a thing? I imagine. Regarding the codes violation, an upstairs tenant had moved out leaving a complaint with Utica codes that the kitchen sink was not working. Does that help? I don't see how that's hard to believe at all. Nor is the attitude of the police that walked in the house. Last, nobody wants to see people going without but the overaching "point" is that these are the shrinking-pains of a city that can't afford it. The upshot is the downsizing gives the area a shot at keeping the taxes down. I doubt the taxes here will go down but at least you can hope. And the ones like I mention above will have to have a little more appreciation of who's footing the bills. Respect should be earned not handed over automatically. |
|
|
|
Post by bobbbiez on Apr 26, 2012 18:26:27 GMT -5
As Paul Harvey would say, "now for the rest of the story." In all my years of working in this community and with the Codes department through my neighborhood watch group have I ever heard of anything like this. It's very laughable. Unless one ignores NUMEROUS violation tickets and fails to appear on their court days does the police EVER get involved in a code's issue. They don't show up suddenly on your doorstep on their own EVER unless they have a court order to do so but I will guarantee the owner of the property in violation knows it's coming sooner or later because of their defiance to comply with a court order to fix up their property. Because the courts are backed up with codes violations I know it takes months and sometimes years for the court to finally get those in violation to comply, fine them or arrest them. Once the police gets an order from the court it is not up to them to decide ANYTHING. Their job is to just bring in the person whose name is on that court order. You gave kudos to a "judge for having a brain" but most likely that same judge was the one who signed the court order to have you arrested, so what's your point and............"whats the rest of the story?" Gee Bobby I sure didn't mean to get you all upset there but I stand by what I said. The point I thought was rather clear was the guy's attitude about his work. It was clear I wasn't the owner and he still walked in the house and started poking around. You've never heard of such a thing? I imagine. Regarding the codes violation, an upstairs tenant had moved out leaving a complaint with Utica codes that the kitchen sink was not working. Does that help? I don't see how that's hard to believe at all. Nor is the attitude of the police that walked in the house. Last, nobody wants to see people going without but the overaching "point" is that these are the shrinking-pains of a city that can't afford it. The upshot is the downsizing gives the area a shot at keeping the taxes down. I doubt the taxes here will go down but at least you can hope. And the ones like I mention above will have to have a little more appreciation of who's footing the bills. Respect should be earned not handed over automatically. Boomer, guess you don't know me well enough to know what you had to say didn't "upset" me. I thought it was laughable because of what you stated took place and I still do. Again, I repeat, the police do not show up on a code's call without a court order and you still haven't explained that. Never heard of an officer being able to just walk into a house without a warrant, especially for just a code's violation. Seems to me "the rest of the story" still hasn't been revealed. I wasn't there to see what the interaction was between you and this officer so I can't comment on if he was right or wrong, but this much I do know, if I didn't appreciate how I was treated by any officer I would take my complain where it belongs...to the Chief of Police, which I have done on several occasions. All turned out to my satisfaction, so I suggest you or anyone who has a complaint do the same. |
|
boomer
Mild Pushover
Posts: 128
|
Post by boomer on Apr 27, 2012 7:07:05 GMT -5
" Boomer, guess you don't know me well enough to know what you had to say didn't upset me. I thought it was laughable because of what you stated took place and I still do." Actually Bobby I know you and your family quite well, my father lived on your old street across from you for many years so yes something is worth a chuckle here. "Again, I repeat, the police do not show up on a code's call without a court order and you still haven't explained that. Never heard of an officer being able to just walk into a house without a warrant, especially for just a code's violation. Seems to me the rest of the story still hasn't been revealed. " I agree it's just as unbelievable to me as the police walking into my living room. Are you telling me I imagined that? Sorry regardless of what you believe that's what happened I guess I don't know what to tell you or what makes you sound so incredulous that that happened. Utica just settled out of court with some black kid because they got a call to some crime and saw him up the street in his house looking out his 3rd story living room window so they arrested him and discharged him when they realized the mistake. Welcome to today's world. Regarding the complaining part it's clear from the cop's attitude he wasn't too concerned with anyone's complaints but he heard them all the way to the court where they had to let me go. What else do you think there is to hide? They took it up with the owner who was finishing the work in preparation for the closing I eventually gave up on. I'm glad I did. |
|
Knowing quite a few of the officers and firemen who got demoted I can honestly say the cut in pay hurts as it would any family who has an established budget according to the pay they receive but to be demoted was demoralizing to say the least and very hard to accept. After working for many years and some even went back to school for courses to be eligible for a promotion that was a huge slap in the faces of those who work so hard to receive them. Demoting was totally uncalled for bringing the moral down very low and left no incentive or desire to be the best of the best. 
