The Cicero Town Board took care of some housekeeping for its final meeting of 2014, which took place Dec. 10.
Councilor Mike Becallo proposed a number of agenda items. Chief among them were a resolution to obtain a request for proposal for a new town attorney and a resolution to reduce Becallo’s town councilor salary of $10,885 to $9,635.
Becallo wanted to distribute the difference of $1,250 to the Brewerton Revitalization Project, specifically to improve wheelchair accessibility.
The town board took no action on either item.
According to town attorneys Germain & Germain, the town board cannot pass a resolution to change a councilor’s salary. That must be decided through a public referendum.
“[Becallo’s] contention is he wants to donate his money to the Brewerton Revitalization Project, which is fine,” Supervisor Jessica Zambrano said.
In an email to The Star-Review, Becallo explained his reasoning for the proposal.
“There are many residents who are struggling financially in Cicero and cannot afford a town tax increase. I wanted to lead by example by cutting my salary,” Becallo wrote. “I am donating the money from my pay cut for special needs person access to the Brewerton Revitalization Project because this project is important to Brewerton and Cicero. I know many residents will enjoy the benefits of visiting this park.”
Zambrano said Becallo’s call to reduce his salary was to “make a statement” and he could simply donate the money on his own.
Becallo’s fellow board members also declined to second his resolution for an RFP to replace the town attorney.
“I made the motion to seek a new town attorney because Cicero has had the same town attorney for the past several years, and I thought it only fair to give other attorneys the opportunity to apply,” Becallo said. “I believe that we can save taxpayer money and lower the costs of town attorney’s fees by having more services covered in the yearly retainer.”
“The rest of the board did not share his sentiment on the matter,” Councilor Mark Venesky said.
Venesky also said a discussion about a change to the town’s sign ordinance was tabled because Becallo “was not prepared.”
Zambrano said Becallo’s revision of the ordinance was not clear.
“We had asked that he clearly indicate the old language and the proposed new language,” she said.
The sign discussion will take place at a future meeting.
In other business:
-The town board voted to authorize Zambrano to sign the Federal Aid Local Project Agreement between the New York State Department of Transportation and the town for the Brewerton Revitalization Project.
“This agreement is to start the acquisition process for the two properties on Bennett Street,” Zambrano said.
The agreement allows the state DOT to use federal grant money to help with the Brewerton Revitalization Project. The town must provide a 20 percent match of the funds, beginning with a deposit of $2,070 to the state this year. The remainder of the match, $34,600, will be paid in 2015.
Zambrano said the project is in its second phase, which is installing lighting fixtures and improving wheelchair accessibility.
“I’ve been anxious to start this in 2014,” Zambrano said. “We’re making progress. In 2010 and 2011, nothing was done on this project. There’s a lot of red tape.”
-The board voted to enter into service agreements with O’Brien & Gere for the maintenance and improvement of drainage facilities in the town and to assist and advise the Highway Department. The agreements cover services through 2015.
The town appointed O’Brien and Gere as its new engineering firm in October. Previously, Cicero had engaged the services of C&S Companies, but the town terminated its contract with C&S after an ethics investigation into the relationship between Zambrano and C&S senior principal Douglas Wickman.
“We are in the process of setting new agreements [with O’Brien & Gere],” Zambrano said, adding that the agreements were routine, procedural items on the agenda.
