ONEONTA _ Faced with an impending personnel crunch in the Oneonta Police Department, Mayor Dick Miller asked Common Council members Tuesday to take a closer look at police staffing.
The department is down three officers _ Micheal Breen, who was fired; Derrick Kruser, who transferred to another agency; and Anthony D'Agostino, who retired.
A fourth officer is expected to be out later this year on maternity leave, while a fifth, Sgt. George Flavell, will deploy to Afghanistan for about nine months, according to a memo from the mayor.
In addition, Chief Gary O'Neill -- who was hired on an interim basis -- will be leaving at the end of April. This would mean the department, which has an authorized strength of 28, would be down six officers for a portion of this year.
The city is expecting to make job offers from a civil service list later this month in anticipation if the Otsego County Law Enforcement Academy is starting in March, Miller said.
It takes about a year for officers to become fully trained.
The city is projecting increased budget deficits to the point where reserves will be exhausted in 2017. The major increase in the budget comes from personnel-related costs, which are increasing at a rate in excess of 7.5 percent annually, according to the mayor.
"It would seem that at some point we will have to start reducing head count," Miller said.
Miller said the council could consider reducing numbers in OPD through attrition; it could hire four officers to directly replace those leaving; or it could hire five officers in anticipation of the creation of a second lieutenant's position under a proposed re-organization of the department.
Noting there would be no impact on the budget until 2013 under the reorganization plan, the mayor said he is recommending five new officers. The mayor requested the Finance/Administration and Human Resources committees as well as the Board of Public Safety to review the matter ahead of possible action at the next council meeting Feb. 21.
In other business Tuesday, the Common Council discussed the disposal of 35 bicycles possessed by the OPD.
Surplus property is typically liquidated by online auctions.
A recent batch of bicycles was auctioned to a man who gave them to needy New York City children, according to Miller.
When questioned by First Ward Council Member Maureen Hennessy about why the bicycles couldn't be given to local children, Miller and City Attorney David Merzig said the city had to follow state rules on disposal of surplus property.
However, Miller said he would be reaching out to charitable organizations in the Oneonta area to inform them the bicycles will be auctioned off and, that it may be a good opportunity for local youths.
The bicycles are also still able to be claimed by owners, although Miller said they have been in OPD's possession for at least six months, and some are in rough shape.
A new city website made its debut Tuesday. An official announcement on the new website is expected next week to allow time for any issues to be resolved, according to the mayor
But the site is viewable at www.oneonta.ny.us.
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Miller: Police staffing needs immediate help
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