Village stalls on Brockport Police Chief waiver

Village stalls on Brockport Police Chief waiver

Will the Village of Brockport authorize the mayor to sign the police chief's 211 Waiver - which would allow the chief to continue to receive benefits from the Irondequoit police department? There was a vote of three for, one against and the mayor abstaining from signing it.

Questions on the 211 waiver were raised - and answered - in 2005 when Major Mort Wexler questioned whether he would be perjuring himself by signing it. In 2005, he said he wouldn't sign it without being authorized by the board and by legal counsel. Wexler raised the same issue with the 211 waiver at the October 1 board meeting, reading the paragraph in the waiver regarding perjury - the portion has wording about whether there is another, qualified, non-retired individual who could fill the position.

Trustee David Wagenhauser pointed out that the matter had been decided by counsel in 2005 and that there is no other police chief out there who has applied for the position of chief in the village. "Are we going to fire our chief?" he asked.

"I am in favor of signing the waiver. I told the chief (Dan Varrenti) that, I just want to make sure it is all right legally for me to sign it," Wexler said.

"Once again, signing this waiver will save the village $16,000 a year in benefits," Wagenhauser said, adding that this had been talked about two years ago and that nothing had changed.

Trustee Carrie Maziarz said, "This is more of a political dilemma than a legal one. We have been told over and over again that this is legal."

Wexler contended that it wasn't a political ploy. "I signed this form two or three years ago and I just want to make sure it's legal. If Albany says it is, then I will sign it."

"We had three attorneys say it's okay," Wagenhauser said. "I don't know why we are going through this again. You are not personally in peril."

A motion was made for Wexler to sign the form. Wagenhauser, Maziarz and Trustee Hanny Heyen voted in favor, Trustee Connie Castaneda against and Wexler abstained.