What’s all the DPW fuss about – and why should the people of Yorktown care?
One side says its careful research shows that a DPW will save taxpayers $250,000 a year. The other side says, “Not true.”
The issue isn’t how much money a DPW will or will not save. The issue is whether the Town Board will give the people of Yorktown a chance to vote on a DPW referendum.
The time to debate the pros and cons of a DPW is AFTER the referendum has been set. If the Town Board won’t vote to allow the referendum to take place, there’s nothing to debate.
And that’s the current stalemate.
The Town Board has made up its mind that it doesn’t want a DPW – and it doesn’t want to give the residents of Yorktown an opportunity to vote on the issue.
The Town Board has:
- Stated that it’s not going to eliminate any management level positions, even if the jobs are not needed
- Misrepresented facts, such as the cost savings associated with bringing some electrical work in-house.
- Misrepresented the future salaries of a DPW Commissioner and optional Deputy Commissioner.
- Misrepresented the “special district” issue.
- Ignored the support of five of the past six supervisors with 34 years of combined experience overseeing the day to day operations of the Town. Their support speaks volumes.
- Ignored that in the past 20+ years, the Town has often “’changed 200 years of history” when it meant saving money and improving the delivery of services.
The Town Board has denied Yorktown Citizens for a DPW the opportunity to explain how we arrived at its conclusions.
Time is running out. Election Law mandates that the Board approve a local law by Sept. 1 in order to put the referendum on the November ballot.
Which is why we’ve suggested an informational meeting during the second or third week in July.
If you want the opportunity to vote in a DPW referendum on Nov. 6, call or write the members of the Town Board today. Tell them you want a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 7.
supervisor@yorktownny.org; tboneish@aol.com; vishnuv@optonline.net; nicgin245@aol.com; daveypags@aol.com The supervisor’s office is 962-5722, ext 201
For more information about a DPW, including the initial potential savings of $250,000, visit www.yorktowndpw.org.
