http://dailygazette.com/news/2008/dec/16/1216_buffardi/

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=751077

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Buffardi will teach criminal justice starting Jan. 12. He will be paid $39,000 to teach the two-year associate’s degree program. As sheriff, he earned $84,200 this year.

WTH? That's nearly a $50k/yr drop in pay.

Hmmm, it's too bad, I like Harry and happen to think he has done a good job.  I hope this change brings him happiness.

Doesn't make sense.  Might the Sheriff have foreseen or been forewarned of law enforcement consolidation plans by the Democratic majority in county government?  First dispatch, then command and patrol?

something doesn't sound right with this, I agree.

where are his doggies going to go?   Who will be appointed the new Sheriff til the election?

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where are his doggies going to go?   Who will be appointed the new Sheriff til the election?

I would assume Gordy Pollard (under sheriff) would be appointed by the Governor

Tim Bradt.  Life-long Buffardi friend.  When Buffardi created a new road patrol he created a new job of Chief of the patrol for Bradt as well as a leutenant position and a position of
inspector for his pal Paul Brown.   I would think he would look to take care of Bradt by appointing him the Sheriff.  All this talk about consolidation in the county sounds great but
they are headed in a couple different directions...  Creating a road patrol that costs millions a year with the sole purpose of writing traffic tickets is a costly proposition and really
not in line with reducing the size of government and becoming more efficient.... is it?

I thought this was a bit strange myself. Giving up $30 grand a year! Especially the way the economy is today. I also thoughtabout consolidation and unless it is NOW a sure thing, it has been talked about for at least the past three years. So why now?

And then again, he just may be plain old changing jobs. And to a job he likes 'better'.

Take out your retirement and run......before it's all eaten up.......

I can't imagine consolidation is a consideration.  Who would they consolidate with?  In general, who would consolidate?  Rotterdam and Schenectady.  I would think someone would have gotten wind of it by now.  Of course I don't have any insider skinny but I think after all those years with the dept. he is probably just ready to retire and the teaching job presented itself. Not a bad supplement to his retirement huh?  Nothing else makes sense.

Hey, Im always the first one to criticize crazy Salvatore..... but didn't he mention a while ago that Buffardi would step down.  I searched the sight and can't find the post but I do remember him mentioning that some Schenectady or Rotterdam Cop was next up.....could Sal have a crystal ball?

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SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Buffardi to step down as sheriff
‘Next chapter’ to include teaching
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Longtime Schenectady County Sheriff Harry Buffardi said he will resign soon and become a full-time assistant professor at Schenectady County Community College.
    Buffardi has not set a date for the resignation, but will begin teaching classes for the two-year associate’s degree program Jan. 12.
    “This seems like a more gentle, less complicated way of leading the next phase of my life,” said Buffardi, who is 58.
    He has been with the sheriff’s department for 36 years, starting as a corrections officer and serving in the ranks until his election as sheriff in 1998. A Democrat, he was elected to a third four-year term in 2006.
    Gov. David Paterson will likely schedule a special election after Buffardi announces his resignation. If Buffardi resigns prior to Sept. 20, the election will be held in 2009; if later, then November of 2010. The winner will serve a full four-year term, said County Attorney Chris Gardner.
    Democrats control the major elected positions in the county with the exception of the county judgeship held by Republican Karen Drago.
    The top Democrats are Robert Carney, district attorney, John Woodward, county clerk, and Buffardi. The Democrats also have an 11-4 majority in the county Legislature where they are led by Susan Savage, majority leader. Carney faces election next year and the terms of seven seats in the Legislature are up, five of which are held by Democrats.
    SCCC spokeswoman Heather Meaney said the college’s Board of Trustees approved Buffardi’s appointment Monday. The appointment runs through May 31. There was a nationwide search for the position, she said.
    Buffardi said his decision caught party leaders by surprise, as he did not tell them until after he took the SCCC job. Party leaders are trying to line up a candidate to succeed Buffardi. “They tried to talk me out of it, but I have made my decision,” he said.
    Buffardi will be paid $39,000 as an assistant professor, a step above instructor. He has taught criminal justice at SCCC part time for 14 years.
    As sheriff, he earned more than $84,000 this year. He plans to draw his pension, which is worth 72 percent of his salary, to supplement his college pay.
    “I’m not doing this to get rich. I’m doing it because it is a good, next chapter in my life,” Buffardi said. “I was getting toward the twilight of my enforcement years and I did not know what I was going to do with the rest of my life.”
    Buffardi said the teaching position presented a unique opportunity for him. “I very much enjoyed being sheriff and I sure will miss it. It is something I have done for a major portion of my life, but this is a great opportunity.”
    Buffardi applied to the college in October, half thinking he would not get the job. “I went through a lot of screenings and interviews,” he said.
    As a teacher, Buffardi said he thinks he can make a difference with students. “I bring a lot to the field. I like this work very much,” he said.
    Meaney said Buffardi brings “a wealth of experience, and we have been extremely pleased with what he has done in the classroom.”
    Buffardi replaces professor Robert Hoff, who retired this year after a 25-year teaching career. The SCCC criminal justice program has 254 students. “It is a growing program here,” Meaney said.
    Carney called Buffardi’s pending resignation a loss for the county. “His successor will have big shoes to fill,” he said. “Most of the work of sheriff is running the jail, and that is not an easy job, especially for a facility cobbled together over the years,” Carney said. “It is a diffi cult place to administer.”
    Carney counted among Buffardi’s achievements the aggressiveness of the road patrol. “I think they deserve a lot of credit for their activities for vehicle and traffic enforcements,” he said.
    Carney said the news surprised him. “I didn’t see it coming, but I know he loves teaching,” he said.
    Buffardi said he told his senior staff last week and his administrative staff Monday.
    Buffardi, known for his openness with the media, faced several challenges during his tenure. The state Commission of Correction issued a blistering report following the 2006 escape of a multiple-felony prisoner from the recreation yard at the jail. The man was captured 19 hours later in Schenectady.
    The commission said “serious managerial and executive-level operational and policy and procedure breakdowns of proportions which rise to the level of ..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00104

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where are his doggies going to go?   Who will be appointed the new Sheriff til the election?

his doggies!!! come on papa stop the sarcasism

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Buffardi said his decision caught party leaders by surprise, as he did not tell them until after he took the SCCC job.

That the party leaders were caught by surprise is nonsense.  Be reminded that a Democratic County Legislator sits on the SCCC Board of Directors.  Although Buffardi's appointment was reportedly approved by the SCC Board only on Monday, are we to believe that no one involved in the interviewing process relayed the information that Buffardi was a candidate for the position? That is, of course, assuming that interviews were conducted for the position.

Regardless, I wish Harry the best of luck in his new career!

This is not as crazy as it appears. Harry will take a full pension and receive his SCCC pay on top of that. With the Krats calling all the shots at SCCC this was easy to arrange. The consolidation talk is really funny. Let's start by eliminating the Village of Scotia which is already part of the Town of Glenville. Will not happen because a couple of village lobs will not give up their huge salaries.

     Agree with Papa 100% on elimination of Sheriff road patrols. With the deployment of State Troopers we are well covered and need the personnel in the jail and courts. Problem is aside from Joe and Angelo nobody gives a hoot about cutting County costs. They can always raise County taxes again and blame evil "State Mandates". The GOP has a golden opportunity to find an electable candidate from Rotterdam or the Hilltowns. Start naming names they need all the help they can get.