SCHENECTADY McCarthy finds spending cuts to fund secretary job BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Acting Mayor Gary McCarthy is cutting back on professional memberships, conferences and training — but he’s adding a secretary to his office, restoring a position cut last year. He said he needs a second secretary, at a salary of $27,600 plus benefits, because the offi ce gets 100 to 110 phone calls a day. McCarthy is proposing a $79.2 million budget — up from $77.4 million this year — with a 1.89 percent tax increase. For a homeowner with the average house, assessed at $100,000, taxes would go up $24, to $1,333. City fees would go up, too: $24 more for garbage collection, $22.92 for sewer and $20.64 for water. That means the homeowner would see a total increase of $91.56 next year. At the City Council’s fi rst budget meeting Monday, council members asked him why he was canceling their membership in the New York Conference of Mayors while adding a position to his offi ce. He said the city couldn’t afford NYCOM’s $12,000 annual cost. Cutting it “reflects the level of austerity we’re going through,” he said. McCarthy also cut all conferences and training by 10 percent, as well as canceling membership in the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Council members weren’t happy to lose the memberships — Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard noted that she calls the agencies regularly to get policy information and that NYCOM lobbies the state on Schenectady’s behalf. But Councilman Thomas Della Sala praised McCarthy for cutting back on the most criticized part of the mayor’s office budget — the mayor’s discretionary line. Under Mayor Brian U. Stratton, the office had a $90,000 discretionary line. McCarthy cut that to $11,500. The budget also does not include the cost of a cellphone for the mayor — saving $800 — and a city car, saving $4,100. McCarthy is also giving back to the city all of the money he makes performing marriages, at an estimated $1,500 a year. With that, he argued that the total savings in his office was $24,800 — nearly the same as the new secretary. He also cut the part-time position that had been in the 2011 budget, saving $7,800. With the second secretary, he wants to better organize the city’s response to complaints. “We were still using the old method of handwriting notes [from phone calls]. I had that computerized,” he said. .......................>>>>....................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01201&AppName=1
Increasing the bloated budget, increasing every fee and double tax, hiring more neighbors and calling it "progress". Thank you working together idiots! Only in Schenectady.
he wanted to hire u slimey, but he realized the health insurance costs of psycho meds would really banktrupt the city.. plus they would probably need some extra security to deal with your drooling fits of hysteria.. remember folks, B. Slimey, or Benjamin, is a republican operative who will do anything to accomplish his mission, which is to be a total suck up for the so-call republican party in this county. trust him if u wish, but hide your silverware
What they NEED to do is update their phone system! When you call city hall, you are prompted only to enter an extension. Well, people DON"T KNOW anyone's extension. Therefore, many people probably call the acting mayors office ( I do) and then the sectetary sits there transferring calls all day!
I realize that some may not know exactly who they need to speak to but I would think having the most popular extensions for a prompt would significantly reduce call volume.
Doesn't take a brain surgeon. No second secretary is needed to answer phone calls needed in this day and age! Sure it'll cost to set up but it is a one time investment. DUH!
Town Hall has 2 secretaries working for the never there town supervisor and his puppet-master deputy supervisor ..............so 2 secretaries for a much busier Mayor's office is more than justified.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
They wouldn't need a second secretary if they had a Mayor that was not still working fulltime for the County. The County employee/ City Council President /Acting Mayor. The lights are on but no one is home. Had enough-YET?
Town Hall has 2 secretaries working for the never there town supervisor and his puppet-master deputy supervisor ..............so 2 secretaries for a much busier Mayor's office is more than justified.
Defending political cronyism by pointing to politcal cronyism. Brilliant!!
Increasing the bloated budget, increasing every fee and double tax, hiring more neighbors and calling it "progress". Thank you working together idiots! Only in Schenectady.
It's one thing to raise taxes............it's a disgrace when they lie and say they are NOT!! Not a good strategy for Gary McCarthy's campaign!! Idiots? Nah....just power hungry!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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Increasing the bloated budget, increasing every fee and double tax, hiring more neighbors and calling it "progress". Thank you working together idiots! Only in Schenectady.
