Police chief contract subject of discussions

"You go to a dentist for a toothache, when you need surgery you go to a doctor, and when you have something as touchy as the police chief contract you need to go to a specialist," resident Linda Borrayo said to board members. "Leave the decision on the chief's contract up to a judge. No matter the outcome, I would wholeheartedly accept it."

Borrayo's comments were prompted by talk of settling the chief's contract which were brought up during the course of the board meeting on September 18.

Resident Sal Sciremammano disagreed, "If you two (the board and the chief) can come to an agreement, isn't that better than letting someone else decide it? The other way, we get someone else telling us what to do," he said of the idea of having a judge decide the case between the village and Police Chief Dan Varrenti.

Trustee Connie Castaneda said, "It was the intent when we revoked the contract to have the Mayor (Mort Wexler) and the chief get together and discuss this but then the chief brought the lawsuit."

Castaneda's comments prompted an outburst from Varrenti. Wexler stopped the conversation saying he needed to keep some semblance of control at the meetings. "The name of the game is majority rules but I'd like to keep the tone of the meeting clean so animosity doesn't develop," he said.

Varrenti said it was difficult to sit at the table and not give answers or comment when people are asking questions. "But, people have their minds made up and the facts would just confuse them," he said.

Wexler did say the village was contemplating a settlement with the chief, but did remind him that, "the fact of the matter is, you sued the village."

At a later point in the meeting, Castaneda brought up an issue on the dates and wording of Varrenti's 211 waiver - which the mayor signed in August. That discussion prompted Trustee Carrie Maziarz to ask why officials were discussing pending litigation in an open meeting. "Do you want me to call for an executive session?" she asked. "We wouldn't be discussing any other pending litigation in an open forum like this."

It was on August 15, 2005 when Village of Brockport officials voted three to two to revoke Varrenti's 10-year contract. Wexler, Castaneda and then-board member Mary Jo Nayman voted in favor of the revocation. Maziarz and Trustee David Wagenhauser said at that time they didn't want to "gamble with taxpayer money" and voted against revoking the contract.

Since that time, Varrenti was offered a different contract but the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on the issue. A lawsuit was filed by Varrenti against Wexler, Castaneda and Nayman.

September 24, 2006