by Kristina Gabalski
The Parma Town Board will hold a public hearing Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. on a proposed local law regarding the creation of the Deputy Highway Superintendent position.
During their regular meeting Tuesday, April 2, the Board passed a resolution creating the Deputy Highway Superintendent position contingent on the enactment of the local law which would expand the residency requirement of the Deputy Highway Superintendent to all of Monroe County, not just the town.
A crowd of more than 100 people was again present at the meeting and most were not happy with what might appear to be a resolution to a year-long battle over the job title of Al Leone, a highway department worker.
Several people addressed the town board during the public forum session at the end of the meeting including Dean Snyder, who read a list of nine specific questions to the board for each member to answer. Questions focused on the board members’ fiduciary responsibilities, overtaxing of residents in the Town Outside the Village and the dispute over Al Leone’s job title.
He produced several pieces of evidence including town board meeting minutes describing the position as “Highway Department Foreman.”
“In the big picture it appears that the town board accepted that Mr. Leone was hired as Highway Foreman on Oct. 15, 2002,” Snyder said. “An apparent subsequent clerical error inaccurately classified his position … it appears the town board recently tried to unsuccessfully fire Mr. Leone due to this bookkeeping error from 10 years ago.”
Snyder also questioned the board about why the job title needs to be changed from Highway Foreman to Deputy Highway Superintendent.
“Is this an example of a forward thinking Board or is it better categorized as the actions of a vindictive Board whose judgment has been clouded?” he asked. “If the Town Board wasted tens of thousands of taxpayer’s money on this lawsuit (filed by the town board against Highway Superintendent Brian Speer) because they thought it was important to have a Deputy Highway Superintendent instead of a Highway Foreman they appear to be careless fools.”
Resident Joe Reinschmidt asked the board why there was no discussion before their vote on the creation of the Deputy Highway Superintendent position.
“Don’t you ever talk about anything?” he asked. “There should be discussion. Why not talk about it in public?” he questioned.
When pressed by the audience to respond to questions posed by Dean Snyder, Supervisor Carm Carmestro replied, “There are far too many questions for us to answer.”
During his report, Highway Superintendent Brian Speer elaborated on his concerns and objections regarding the town board’s and town attorney’s handling of the situation.
“It’s obvious to me that the board and the attorneys have exploited what was a mistake made in the initial classification of Al Leone with Civil Service back in 2002, into an opportunity to dismiss from employment with the town,” he said.
“What’s more, I believe the board and attorneys have demonstrated their malice toward him and used this situation as a means to satisfy a personal vendetta you have had with Al.”
Superintendent Speer said he has asked repeatedly during the last two board meetings why town board members did not approach him regarding the situation in order to work out a solution – but he has not received an answer.
He also noted Judge Ark has advised the town board to create and fund either the position of Deputy Superintendent or Road Foreman.
“Naturally, you chose the position of Deputy Superintendent, the position that I didn’t hire him for, don’t need, and that would create the greatest inconvenience for him or, to satisfy your ultimate goal, keep from employment altogether. However, thanks to the support of family, friends and residents of the town, you have expanded the residency requirement to include Monroe County.”
It has been a year since the issue over Leone’s job title began, Highway Superintendent Speer said, and questioned what the town board has accomplished in that time.
“Nothing, except to create a lot of misery for both of us and make the attorneys richer,” he said.
Parma Supervisor Carmestro told the audience during the meeting that town board members would not be able to respond to questions relating to the lawsuit.
During the public forum, Debi Leone, Al Leone’s wife, asked town board members why they decided on the title of Deputy Highway Superintendent.
Town Board member Jim Roose responded, “If something happens to Brian, Al can take over in his absence.”
