Coeymans supervisor unveils budget with cuts and pay raises

Posted at: 10/02/2012 11:15 PM | Updated at: 10/03/2012 12:09 AM
By: Dan Bazile

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COEYMANS -- Mary Mullen was frustrated as she took Newschannel 13 through the tentative budget for the town of Coeymans that was released to the public Tuesday morning. Inside the 27 page document, the supervisor calls for cuts and raises in places Mullen said didn't make any sense at all.

"We did not expect any of this controversy at all with him. He's well known. His name is big within the community," Mullen said.

One of the proposed cuts getting a lot of attention is about $70,000 from the police department. Supervisor Stephen Flach has also been considering a separate plan to get rid of the police squad completely and have Coeymans streets patrolled by the Albany County Sheriff's department. The police chief said it seems Flach is going after his officers anyway possible.

"The proposed cuts that he made will in fact create a cut in services to the town of Coeymans," chief Gregory Darlington said.

But Flach argued most of the money is coming from unfilled positions and by cutting the police overtime budget. As for the raises, Flach said he's only giving more money to town workers who haven't had an increase in years. What's raising eyebrows is the increase Flach proposed for himself.

"When you're talking about cutting services and saving money but yet you turn around and give yourself a $10,000 raise, it raises some questions," Darlington said.

But the change in salary can also be explained. Flach said he works full time for what was a part time job before he took office nine months ago. He said the 33 percent increase compensates for that.