givebacks
STRAIGHTTALK—PEF
ExecutiveBoardmember
inpositionsthatwillbepermanently
GailNobletestifiesin
abolished.Thoseemployeeswhoaccept
AlbanyinJuneagainst
thebuyoutwillbebarredfromreturning
budgetcutsatthestate
tostateemployment,inanycapacity,for
Departmentof
fiveyears.
C
Aspartofitsstrategytosave$240
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millionovertwofiscalyears,thestatealso
willabolishanother2,500funded
directedtomakeliberaluseoftheVRWS theirworkschedules(andsalaries)a
positionsthatarecurrentlyvacant.
programthatletsemployeesreducetheir minimumof5percent,in5percent
Althoughagenciescannotuselayoffsto
payinexchangeformoretimeoff. increments,uptoamaximumof30
achievethesavingsDOBrequires,the
Inpastnegotiations,PEFproposed percent.
buyoutsaremeanttoencourage
varioussolutionsinresponsetoconcerns PEFmembersshouldreferanydenied
employeestovoluntarilyleavestate
thatmanystateagencieswereroutinely VRWSapplicationtotheirPEFfield
service.
denyingVRWSapplications. representative.
Employeeswhoreceiveandacceptthe
InaJune3memo,DennisWhalen,
buyouts,willnotbeabletoaddthat
directorofstateoperations,toldstate Tier5
moneytotheirfinalaveragesalarieson
agencyheadsto“promotetheVRWS Retirementbenefitsforcurrent
whichtheirpensionswillbebased.The
programandencourageemployeesto employeesareunchanged.
buyoutalsowillnotalterthevalueof
participateinit.” TheproposedTier5wouldrequirea
paymentsforaccruedbutunusedleave
Whalentoldtheagenciesto“quickly changeoflaw,passedbytheLegislature
credits.The$20,000,however,willbe
reviewandapproveemployeerequestsfor andsignedbythegovernor.Itwouldapply
subjecttotheusualincometaxesand
reducedworkscheduleswhichcanresult onlytoemployeeshiredaftertheeffective
withholdings,includingFICA.
inrealpayrollsavingsthroughoutthe dateofthatlegislation.
Wherethenumberofemployeesina
2009-10statefiscalyear.” Tier5benefitswoulddifferfromthe
targetedtitleexceedsthenumberof
Whalenseta7percentemployee currentTier4.Notably:
positionstheagencywantstoeliminate,
participationgoalforeachagency. •62wouldbetheminimumagefor
theincentivewillbeofferedinseniority
“AdditionaluseofVRWScanoccur retirementwithoutpenalty;
order.Thebuyoutswillcontinuetobe
beyondthe7percentthresholdatagency •penaltyofupto38percentfor
availablethroughoutthisfiscalyearuntil
discretion,”Whalensaid.Hesaidthe7 retirementpriortoage62;
theagencyhasmetitssavingstargetas
percentisatemporarythreshold. •3percent(ofsalary)employeepension
establishedbytheDOB.
AsdefinedinAppendix4ofthePS&T contributionforentirecareer;
contract,individualVRWSagreementsmay •10yearsservicerequiredfor
beforupto26biweeklypayperiodsand retirement;and
VRWS
mustexpirenolaterthantheendofthe •Maximumof$10,000annuallyin
Tohelpmeettheirspendingtargetsfor
lastpayrollperiodinthefiscalyear. voluntaryovertimeinclusionforfinal
thecomingyears,agencyheadsarebeing
Participatingemployeesmayreduce averagesalary.
revampjuvenilejusticesystem
thefingeratOCFSCommissionerGladys hasstatedherfocusatyouthfacilitiesisto theenvironmentwithinOCFSistoo
Carrion. promoterecovery,healingandgrowth. unsafeanddysfunctionalforthemto
StateSen.CatharineYoungrecently Instead,accordingtoPEFmembersfrom effectivelydotheirjobs.”
announcedthecreationofaSpecial theTryonResidentialSchoolforGirlsin The Tonawanda NewsreportedJune
LegislativeTaskForcetofixthebroken Johnstown,thenewmethodhasresulted 16stateSen.GeorgeMaziarzand
juvenilejusticesystem. inatotalbreakdowninenforcementof AssemblyMemberJaneCorwinmetwith
Youngalsoiscallingforan disciplineandledtoincreasedviolence OCFSadministratorsinAlbanyand
investigationintotheplacementofthetwo amongtheyouthsandagainstthestaff. quotedthemassayingthemeetingwas
youthschargedwiththeLockportmurder “Throughherspokesperson, “verydisappointing.”
questioningwhetheranunsecurefacility CommissionerCarrionhasimpliedthat BryniensaidGov.DavidPaterson
wastheproperplaceforyouthswith facilityunrestisdueinlargepartto needstoholdCarrionaccountableforher
violentcriminalbackgrounds. employees’intransigencetochangefroma actionsandthedirectionshehastaken
AndYoungispushingforawider correctionaltoatherapeuticenvironment. OCFS.
investigationofthecutbacksandpolicy Thisisnotonlyincorrect,itisinsulting,” “Ourgoalsfortroubledyouthsmustbe
changesunderCarrion’scommand. Bryniensaid.“Ourmembers,including balancedbypublicsafety,safetyofstaff
Inthelastyearandahalf,OCFShas teachers,counselorsandpsychologists, andsafetyoftheyouths.Thesetragic
closed13juvenilefacilitiesanddownsized havededicatedtheircareerstochanging deathsbringustotheconclusionthe
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cost-savingsmeasure.Carrion thelivesoftroubledyouths.Theynowfind
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—
.”
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