Fishkill Officials Should Lead by Example

Published in the January 23, 2013 issue of the Southern Dutchess News

In its January 16 issue, the Southern Dutchess News reported on Fishkill's reorganization meeting. In that article, it described Councilman's Buck's suggestion that the town board meetings occur once a month. What's ironic is that during the same meeting, which was televised, Buck appears to suggest that our town employees should be working more for less benefits  The supervisor advised Buck that these were contractually agreed-to items and that they were subject to negotiations.

What I don't understand is how Republican members of the town board can advocate less work for themselves, while asking town employees to work  more with less benefits.

For those that are new, during the beginning of the Great Recession, non-union Town of Fishkill employees were subjected to lag pay and less hours of work. This resulted in employees losing their homes, among many other hardships. (Unlike the police, which are unionized and held their own). The end result is that these employees just joined a union to avoid those hardships from happening again. Yes, unfair Republican policies have forced Fishkill to become a unionized municipality.

I suggest that if members of the Fishkill Town Board wish to take salary and benefits away from our town employees, I ask that they reduce their own salaries and lead by example. Otherwise, they are acting like hypocrites.