Brockport officials argue police staffing

A heated discussion regarding police department staffing and a letter to the editor written by one of the village trustees dominated a portion of the Brockport Village Board meeting on February 2.

A letter written by Trustee Peter DeToy in response to police overtime costs rising was the subject of discussion raised by Trustee/Vice Mayor Mort Wexler. DeToy, in his letter, wrote that the police chief "has not been given the tools to reduce the police overtime costs and lower the overall police budget."

DeToy noted that a majority of the board last year voted on a budget to adequately fund and staff the department but has yet followed through and that refusal has cost the taxpayers of the village tens of thousands of dollars. "Adequate staffing would eliminate most of the overtime and, even with the additional salary and benefits, would still reduce the overall police budget," he said.

Wexler responded that the police chief, Dan Varrenti, inherited the contract items of proper staffing requirements. "That is an item he can't control and we as a village can't control the cost of overtime," Wexler said. "When someone is out sick or injured (sometimes for as long as six to eight months) the village is paying time and a half to fill the slots."

In the framework of the contract, two full time officers are called for on every shift. That is the minimum staffing requirement, Wexler said. "We can no longer endure $200,000 in overtime costs," he said. "This may not be Mayberry but we are also not the wild, wild west. I just oppose the inordinate amount of money being spent on overtime."

DeToy argued against the village using contract negotiations as an excuse not to properly staff the department. "They're doing a disservice to not only the police but also the village residents," he wrote.

Wexler said that village officials would not jeopardize the safety and well being of the police officers. "This is not a safety issue," he said. "It's a money issue."

Wexler said that the village "cannot and should not" be hiring people during contract negotiation time. "There are seven people involved in these negotiations and five of them said 'no' to the hiring," he said.

In addition to the raised voices over the police overtime and staffing, Wexler said that DeToy should not be involved in the negotiations of the department. "I question the propriety of Trustee DeToy being involved in police negotiations because of his son being in the police department," Wexler said.

Mayor Josephine Matela, at one point trying to calm the discussion down, said that according to NICOM, DeToy can vote on police contracts because the outcomes don't affect him directly.

Wexler handed out copies of opinions issued from the Attorney General as they relate to General Municipal Law Section 806 (1) stating that in at least one instance, a town supervisor had to recuse herself from taking actions regarding a town police department which affect the terms and conditions of employment of her son, a sergeant in the department. The opinion stated that "the employment of the supervisor's son in the police department and the status of her husband as a retired officer do not alone disqualify the supervisor from acting ..." It was concluded in that opinion that members of local legislative bodies "should avoid circumstances which compromise their ability to make impartial judgments and must avoid the appearance of impropriety in order to maintain public confidence in government."

DeToy pointed out that his son predated him in his employment with the police department. "He was a police officer before I was ever elected," he said.

Village attorney Judge Edward Riley said there is no conflict of interest in the municipal law. "However, there are opinions that there may be the appearance of impropriety and that's why the attorney general said that public officials should recuse themselves," he said.

Toward the end of the meeting when trustees are offered the chance to give their reports and comments, DeToy simply said that he stood by the words he had written in his letter.

At one point during the discussion, Chief Varrenti was asked if he had anything to offer to the conversation and he opted to refrain from making any statements.