Village promises study, vote on cops

4/28/2010

By Patsy Nicosia

Village promises study, vote on cops

Agreeing that it’s too big a decision to make on its own, the Village of Cobleskill has agreed to turn to an outside study to look at turning its cops over to the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Department.
The village is in the process of naming its own task force to look at the controversial—to say the least—issue; it will be up to the task force to find and choose the independent third party for the outside study.
Mayor Mark Nadeau and Trustee Mark Galasso have proposed the cop-switch as a way to save money.
Even Mr. Galasso, however, admitted at last Tuesday’s village meeting that as of right now, there are more questions than answers.
“That’s the first thing the task force will be doing,” he said. “Drawing up a list of all the questions we need answers to.”
There was little support for the idea from the audience, however.
Paulette Danforth said she’s not convinced it would save money; if anything, she said, the village needs more police.
Cathy Weideman said she sees the expense of having a police force as a cost of living in the village.
“I don’t want to see it fold no matter how much it costs me,” she said.
Mina Stella, who owns a business on MacArthur Avenue, said it’s the one thing she doesn’t mind paying taxes for; Jamie Bautochka said she, too, is willing to pay whatever it costs.
Cobleskill Partnership Inc. President Brian Kaiser, however, cautioned patience.
“I’ve come to realize that change is always hard,” Mr. Kaiser said. “Just because someone proposes an idea [don’t assume] it’s a done deal.
“To assume this will mean a loss of service, a loss of safety, is a leap. Let’s take a deep breath and let it unfold.”
Deb Stolar agreed changes need to be made and said anything that increases taxes has to be look at.
Jeff Brown, representing the PBA, ran through the criteria Mr. Galasso set for disbanding the force when he met with cops:
• The change must save money and maintain the same coverage.
• It can’t cost the county money.
• It can’t negatively affect police.
When Officer Brown asked if there would be a reduction in services, Mr. Galassso said it’s too early to tell.
The 12-man Cobleskill Police Department costs $1.2 million annually, Mr. Galasso said.
Preliminary figures from the Sheriff’s Department indicate it would cost the village $850,000 plus the cost of an investigator to contract for the service.
Savings would come in part from having no chief and from having one officer instead of two working the day shift and would cut the average tax bill by 15 percent.
Acting Chief Larry Travis, however, pointed out many calls take more than one officer; PBA President John Sullivan also said Mr. Galasso’s tally of calls doesn’t include things like unlocks and noise complaints, which number in the thousands.
Mr. Galasso said his goal is to decide by September whether the cop change should be on the November ballot.
The village’s task force on the issue will include Mr. Galasso and Trustee Howard Burt, two PBA representatives, one or two representatives from the County Road Patrol Association, and a member of the town board.
Mr. Galasso said he sees the group meeting twice a month.
“This will not be voted on by this board,” he said.
“The whole community will have a say.”