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| May 18, 2024 |
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December 08, 2010
To the Cornwall-on-Hudson Residents:
We are writing on behalf of ourselves and the majority of part-time officers of the Cornwall-on-Hudson P.B.A. We would like to thank all the residents. It has been really nice to see all the positive feedback from residents in the village. Every day residents are coming up to us and expressing their concerns and desire to keep two full-time officers. We did not realize how many people?s lives the full-time officers have touched in the ten years of serving this community.
On November 15, 2010, the two full-time police officers were sent text messages by Chief Weber and advised to come to his office between 5 and 7 pm because he had to discuss a matter with them. Upon arrival they were advised by Chief Weber that he was eliminating their positions. Chief Weber stated that this was being done because of budget cuts. When asked how long they had left, they were told maybe tonight or maybe six months. This all happened two hours before the 7 pm village board meeting. At the meeting, the members of the village board did state that they were eliminating the two full-time police positions but no date or time was given on how long the officers had left. The officers did read the next day that they had six months to find new jobs.
The police officers of the village of Cornwall are understanding and sympathetic to the high taxes that all the village residents have to pay. We as homeowners suffer the same concern. After an in-depth study on what a part-time officer is paid and what a full-time officer is paid, it was realized that it is costing every taxpaying residence thirty-two dollars and eighty-six cents ($32.86) extra yearly for each full-time officer. Medical coverage, retirement contributions and the pay difference between part-time and full-time officers were figured in the equation.
At recent contract negotiations, Chief Weber submitted a new contract proposal for the part-time officers in which he greatly increases the cost, pay and benefits for part-time officers, including overtime pay.
The village of Cornwall-on-Hudson P.B.A. supports full-time and part-time police positions and each serves its purpose. The continuity of full-time police officers is a benefit to the village residents. The system of employing full- and part-time officers has worked very well for the past half-century or so. Additionally, the last three to four years the full-time positions have been cut from five to the current two positions. There have been substantial reductions within the police department but we feel any further reduction would have a tremendous negative impact on the quality of service.
Whatever happens in the next six months, it has been a pleasure to serve each and every resident in the Cornwall-on-Hudson community.
The P.B.A. requests that residents show up at the village board meeting on December 20th at 7:30 pm to express their concerns, whatever they may be.
Police Officers John Pena and Arthur Terwilliger
Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department
Comments:
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Lets be cautious about trimming,cutting,"consolidating" our police department.There is a reason as residents the level of comfort and security exists in our little village.It is the police department!Only moments away are towns and cities that are have slipped so far into the depths of criminal activity that as we have seen are almost impossible to reclaim.Our department is the line between us and them.
posted by Fred Appel on 12/08/10 at 5:49 AM
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Why do you insist on calling part-time Officer Weber the Chief? I don't understand how a full-time civil service police officer takes orders from a part-time "officer in charge." Chief is a civil service title reserved for full-time Police Chiefs. He may be a Sergeant in another jurisdiction and passed the Chief's test...then become a full-time Chief in Newburgh. But please stop referring to him as Chief Weber.
Isn't this the same Chief Weber who left the Village as a Sergeant to go back to becomming a police officer in Newburgh? Seems like a little personal vendetta to me.
How about elimating the "interim Police Chief" position and using that money to cover costs? Or putting a cap on the legal fees incurred by members of the village board?
All I have to say is if you do eliminate the two full-time officers, I hope the Town starts taxing village residents for police services that the Town is not even providing. Maybe "Chief" Weber should have thought outside the box on that one.
posted by Steve Larson on 12/08/10 at 10:22 PM
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Be there on 12/20. Seems there is some problems with the village lately.
people who live here have to get out and see what's happening. the police in cornwall on hudson and in every small town and village in ny are our safety net and our neighbors. get our and show support for our police. maybe cuts could be made elsewhere. let's see.
posted by alice hall on 12/09/10 at 6:31 AM
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