Two positions cut from police department budget

The Owego Village Board voted on Monday to eliminate two positions within the Owego Police Department’s budget. The vote to eliminate the positions passed, 5-2.

Rendering “yes” votes were Trustees Mike Phelps, Earl Hartman, Ed Morton and Rob Manville, and Mayor Steve May. Phoebe Morris and Jenny Ceccherelli voted no.

The Owego Police Department (OPD) was budgeted for eight positions to include the chief, sergeant, and six officers. The two positions being eliminated were unfilled, and the board, according to their June 6 resolution, felt it would be in the best interest of the Village to abolish them.

Because of the cuts to OPD and a redistribution of funds to other departments, village officials will be able to avoid an increase in the tax levy for 2017.

The Village of Owego has approximately 3,500 residents and an annual budget of approximately $3.1 million. The Owego Police Department budget is about one-third of that.

And while the vote was intended to keep taxes at bay, dozens from the community arrived at Monday’s board meeting to support keeping a fully staffed OPD, and to offer comments on the open floor.

Theresa Gosart, a village resident who ran for a trustee position in the recent village election, stated that she hoped they [the board] would change their minds as she entered the meeting on Monday night.

“They are taking out two positions,” said Gosart, adding, “With the summer months coming up, we need it.”

Krista Carter Shaffer, a village resident, stated, “We’ll pay for it in a loss of our property values if crime goes up.”

Shaffer has children and grandchildren in the village, and said that she is concerned for their safety if the positions are abolished.

Dennis Curatolo, village resident and business owner, stated that the village board should be allowed to do their job.

“We need to support the board and allow them to do their job,” said Curatolo. He added, “They were tasked to be fiscally responsible, and if eliminating positions will do that – then we need to do it.”

During comments from the floor, several village residents voiced their concerns. One of them was a homeowner from the Hallstead Development who was the victim of a recent robbery.

Another resident, Steve Jackson who lives on Liberty Street, stated he has lived in that neighborhood for eight years, and sees a police presence in his neighborhood all the time. Without this presence, Jackson noted, things will get worse.

When it came time to vote, Trustee Morris was the most outspoken, stating that she is willing to pay the additional money for continued police protection. At one point, Morris looked at the Mayor, Steve May, and stated, “I will pay yours.”

But the board moved forward to cut the positions, with a 5-2 vote rendered.

Owego Police Chief Karen Vinti departed the board meeting following the vote, and said that she is taking the cuts personally.

“We’ve been under attack by this board, so I do take it personally,” said Vinti. “I’ve never been in a position like this, I’ve never had positions eliminated,” she added.

Also cut from the budget at Monday’s meeting were two positions within the department of public works that have been unfilled for some time. Superintendent Jeff Soules noted that he offered these positions up to help keep the expenses of the village down.

Budget hearings will be held on June 15 and June 20, at 7 p.m. at the Elm Street location.