Governor Kathy Hochul announced the agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association, which includes 2% raises for the first two years and 3% for the remaining three years.

The contract also includes other increases in compensation such as a one-time lump sum bonus of $3,000 and changes in longevity as a result of changes in the health insurance program that will encourage in-network employee participation and help control health insurance costs. The contract also includes funding of labor-management committees.

The union represents about 52,000 state workers.

Jamestown City Council

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said CSEA represents clerical staff in city hall, which is the lowest of the salaried units, “In addition, it does raise the healthcare wages for this unit up to 21% by the end of the contract. It also increases insurance deductibles for each member, both for individual and family as well as prescription co-pays, which brings this unit in line with our many others.”

This is the first of six contracts that are up for renewal to be passed this year. Sundquist indicated his staff is trying to get contracts approved with the other five unions before the end of 2021.

Council also voted to contract with Stark Tech Group for $918,173 to illuminate the Washington and South Main Street bridges and the BPU Coal Silo. Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said the project originally had $325,000 allocated to it, but when it went out to bid, the funds weren’t enough.

She said the state allowed the city to reallocate Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds for a train project that wasn’t ready to go toward the illumination project, “The solution was, because of the time frame we needed to spend the DRI funds within, to reallocate the $670,000 that was set aside for that project into the Riverwalk Experience Project which includes the illumination, some kayak launches, and a safety boom at the Warner Dam.”

Surdyk said work will begin as soon as materials are available and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Other items passed by City Council last night included a resolution to allow Medicare-eligible city retirees to voluntarily move to a Medicare Advantage plan. Council Member at Large Jeff Russell said the potential savings to the city could be up to five-figures a year.

And a $36,680 grant from FEMA for fire prevention and safety training was passed. The Jamestown Fire Department and Chautauqua Children’s Safety Village will use the funds to provide more public education regarding fire safety including an ad campaign to promote fire safety in homes and businesses.

Jamestown City Council

After a presentation at last Monday’s work session, the proposed resolution was amended to only allow 8 hunters to receive licenses with the two sites for hunting limited to Jones Memorial Park and the wooded area behind the Allen Park Ice Rink.

Council Member at Large Jeff Russell had suggested to Council member Tom Nelson that maybe the program could be limited to Ward 6, since most of the deer complaints had come from that Ward. Ward 5 Council member Grant Olson said he’d welcome deer hunting in his ward as well.

Under the resolution, hunters would be allowed to take down 4 antler-less deer between the hours of sunrise and sunset, seven days a week, between November 1st and December 31st.

Also under new business, Council will vote on a contract with the Civil Service Employees Association, or CSEA. The agreement runs from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.

Council vote on a resolution to contract with Stark Tech Group for $918-thousand-173 dollars to illuminate the Washington and South Main Street bridges and the BPU Coal Silo. Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds will be used for the project.

Other resolutions on the docket include an agreement to allow Medicare-eligible city retirees to voluntarily move to a Medicare Advantage plan. Council Member at Large Jeff Russell said the potential savings to the city could be up to five-figures a year.

And a $36,680 grant from FEMA for fire prevention and safety training will be voted on. The grant will allow children from around the county to be educated on fire safety and that free smoke alarms will be provided to children as well. The grant allows for an ad campaign in conjunction with the Chautauqua Children’s Safety Village to promote the classes, fire prevention and safety more broadly.

County Executive Vince Horrigan and his staff have finalized a draft agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA Unit 6323), which would be retroactive and run from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017.

The draft agreement includes modifications to health insurance benefits and no increase in wages for 2012 or 2013. However, there is a 2 percent increase for each year from 2014 through 2017.  The contract is being reviewed today by the legislature’s audit and control committee and will be acted on by the full legislature during the regular voting session on March 26.

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo released his 2012-13 Budget on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his 2012-2013 Budget yesterday afternoon, calling for no increases in spending from the current year.  The $132.5 billion spending plan, which needs to be approved by the Legislature, is likely to set off a tough fight with unions representing state employees and teachers.

The plan includes the creation of a new and less-generous pension tier for new public employees that’s anticipated to save state and local governments $83 billion over the next 30 years. The retirement age would be raised from 62 to 65; employees would be required to make increased contributions, going from the current 3 percent to 4, 5 or 6 percent depending on an individual’s salary level; the pension multiplier that determines an employee’s final payout would drop; and overtime would be excluded from the formula that determines final salary.

Cuomo likened the current pension system to a person with high cholesterol, saying the state is allowing cholesterol to build up and warned that it would become a terminal problem if lawmakers failed to rein in costs immediately.

The state’s largest public employee unions reacted negatively. Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue called it “an assault on the middle class and a cheap shot at public employees,” while Public Employees Federation President Ken Brynien said it was “similar to the misguided proposals for reforming Social Security proposed by former President George W. Bush.”

Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly, seen as labor’s most powerful ally in the Legislature, were noncommittal.

Governor Cuomo also continued his push on education reform, which would have much more immediate consequences for school districts: He announced that districts that fail to implement a new teacher evaluation system won’t receive any of the 4 percent increase in funding that will be distributed in the coming fiscal year. Districts that take that action by Sept. 1 will earn “bonus points” for competitive grants; the final deadline is Jan. 17, 2013.

The Governor also elaborated on economic development plans to use $1.3 billion in state funds to fertilize as much as $25 billion in private-sector investment, federal outlay and spending by authorities.

(source: Times Union)

SENATOR YOUNG ENCOURAGED BY CUOMO’S PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN

ALBANY – Legislative leaders generally praised Cuomo’s presentation, while hoping for more details on many of the particulars. Locally, Senator Cathy Young said Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget is a good starting point, and she looks forward to building on his priorities.

The Olean Republican added that, as always, the devil is in the details, and now the state Legislature will begin the full review and negotiation process. She said until lawmakers can look at the numbers and read the budget language, it is difficult to assess the full impact, but added it was heartening to hear the Governor’s focus on fiscal responsibility, Medicaid reform and student achievement.

WINTER FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE WITH OR WITHOUT CASTLE

MAYVILLE – Although questions linger about whether ice on Chautauqua Lake will be thick enough for an ice castle to be built this year, plans are under way for Presidents Day weekend’s Winter Festival. That’s according to a report today in the Jamestown Post-Journal, which says the lake froze this weekend but ice on it is only 1 to 2 inches thick. That means crews can’t get on it to take ice out of the lake with which they build the castle. Typically, 10 to 12 inches are needed before blocks of ice can be cut out of the lake, which are used to construct the castle.

While there is still a question about whether the castle will be part of the festivities, the event will go on either way. The castle’s lighting is planned for Friday, Feb. 17, along with opening ceremonies.

Those wanting more information or wanting to become sponsors are asked to call 753-3113.

WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION PUBLIC MEETING SET FOR JAN. 25 IN CELORON

CELORON – The Village of Celoron is sponsoring a public meeting for its Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The meeting has been scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at the Community Center – 47 Dunham Avenue, Celoron.

According to village officials, the Waterfront Revitalization Plan is an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to help shape the future of the community. The plan provides a revitalization strategy for the future of the Village commercial district, Lucille Ball Memorial Park and the former Celoron Amusement Park site.

On January 25th the Village wants residents and stakeholders to provide their input on the draft Waterfront Revitalization Plan.

The meeting is free and open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information call Shirley Sanfilippo at (716) 487-4175.