Howard, John, Charlie, I am shocked. With the economy the way it is, and all of us trying to get by, I can't believe this. I am confused.. The city is making cuts all over, and all they have to resolve, at a council meeting is a raise for the city manager. I'm curious who's idea this was?? We never hear from anyone but Charlie. Why don't we hear from the rest of the council members? In my opinion it is slap in the face to all Batavians. Maybe I'm wrong but didnt the city manager receive a raise over the last year, or was that a Bonus? Retro back to April? I'm trying to add that up in my head. Where is all that money coming from?

After my visit to the ER with my brother yesterday, it is my understanding that the EMT's took a huge pay cut. The nurse I spoke with just shook her head, conveyed to me, her frustration and disapointment. I thought the whole reason for the Ambulance cut was to save money. I thought the city was in trouble financially. Then there is the attempt by Mr. Cox to get the citizens involved in this Pork Project, the athletic field. Mr. Cox, Thank You for trying to represent your neighbors. In my opinion we dont need that grant. All this money, millions, seems like it is slipping through our hands. There are so many things Batavia needs first. I dont know. What do you think?? Someone Enlighten me, as I'm sure you will.

come on, he's the city manager, he is entitled to it.

Karen, our City Manager is paid very little for what he does and the skills he brings to the table. He is not the highest paid employee by far in the city. I still do not believe he makes what the last guy did who ran the city into the ground. Jason has pulled the city from a huge deficit and we are now financially sound. On top of that Jason managed to get this city millions in grants to fund reconstruction projects that are going on all over the city. Jason has NEVER taken the easy route to getting our city out of the disaster it was in when he started. That has not made him a lot of friends. He is head strong and a good administrator. Jason has always done exactly what Council told him to do. Jason’s merit increase was budgeted and this subject was debated to death already on this site.

We are lucky to have someone like Jason, real lucky. We have had a lot worse in the recent past. We should be building a statue of the man on Main Street not assassinating his character and listening to the outright lies about him. I have found that people who bad mouth Jason are the same ones who benefited for years from lose purse strings at City Hall. Sorry the rules changed when Jason came to town.

I thought he just got a raise last year...

THAT'S GREAT...REWARD THIS GUY FOR "ALL HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE?????" DON'T YOU MEAN...FOR LETTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE THERE WAY WITH HIM? ... GIVE HIM A RAISE??? I SAY GIVE HIM A BUS TICKET THE %$@#@*&% OUT OF TOWN

If the school district needs another park they should look to put it in the town.

Mark, we are talking about the same raise we were a couple of months back. First you budget, and then you appropriate it.

I'll just say, if an employer is pleased with the performance of an employee, and the employee is eligible for a raise, he or she should get a raise. That's certainly true in the private sector, so why shouldn't it be true in the government sector? If it wasn't, then government agencies would have no hope of retaining their best employees.

There are any number of issues that the city has tackled during Mr. Molino's tenure that individuals might find fault with, but if those actions please his bosses, then his bosses should give him a raise. They might very well feel that Mr. Molino has done exactly what they hired him to do, and if he has, then he deserves a raise.

The issues of what policies the council directed Mr. Molino to pursue are a separate matter.

I'm neither defending nor criticizing a potential raise for Mr. Molino, just pointing out that individual disagreements with Mr. Molino's actions are rather immaterial. If the City Council is happy with what he's done, they should do what they think is right.

Give him a raise? ok , That makes as much sense as getting rid of the ambulance.

If Batavia were actually a City, in any other way besides name only, it might be justified. That does seem a bit steep for a village of 20,000 residents with a declining population and rising taxes, however.

I totally understand giving someone a raise, especially in the private sector. However, how many millions of people will not be getting raises because of pay and hiring freezes? Simply because the money is "budgeted" for, doesn't mean a raise is justified.

I'm lucky to have a job, granted I can barely pay all of my bills, but I have a job. I will not be getting a raise or a bonus this year, because my company cannot afford it. Can the city really afford to be giving raises, when it claims it cut the ambulence service because it cost too much? Cut 20 people's jobs, give one a raise, makes sense to me

Since its our hard workin money that goes in to paying this guy,why cant we have the vote?
Its about time we have a part in where our money goes. Since some cant enjoy it for themselves. Oh and one other word, MAYOR!

Hey! They can afford to give him a raise now since the "grass police" are now busting everyone! Those $250 fines add up don't they?
Everyone else in this country has either been laid off, business closed or had to take a PAY CUT.

Batavia should get with the program and start cutting employees pay instead of giving raises!! How much $ does this guy make? How much $$ does the average Batavian make?

Unbelievable!

No ambulance, but give the manager guy a raise, and harass people about their property that they pay TAXES on!
If the City is a broke as they claim, HOW can we afford this? HOW could we afford "Summer in the City"?
Unbelievable!

I mean nothing by this comment and truly would just like to know what is Mr. Molino's experience in public administration - could someone fill me in on his background - education, past positions in public administration?

Another example of the rich getting richer...$83,487 a year I would be living on easy street, blow money like crazy and still be able to send my kids to collage :(

oh and btw, its us tax payers who are the "boss" of everyone of you that live off of us. You seem to forget that when you are put in "power". The whole system sickens me. People strugglin but yet they still have to shell out to others so others can live comfortably.
MAYOR

Howard, do you think he would allow you to post highlights from his resume? Perhaps people would feel better if they knew his qualifications for the position. I mean Batavian's are his employer and if the City Council thinks different, well, they face the ballot box every so often. Sorry Charlie (actually that's a joke, Charlie seems cool.)

Resume or not I think this is really bad timing to be thinking of doing something like this.

I'll see what I can do.

I shouldn’t even be commenting on this but, I can’t let you rip the guy down anymore without responding.

I was on the committee that hired Jason. I helped evaluate the 15 applicants that we had for the job, most had no qualifications at all. Most had glaring weaknesses like having been caned from their last job. I seen the salary requirements and know firsthand how underpaid Jason is. Probably $30K to $40K. Jason is not here for the money because; he could get far more somewhere else. In fact, there are a lot of other government positions in this county that pay FAR more than Jason is being paid. Jason was not only the best choice; he was the most experienced person who would even take the job. Jason is here because, he likes living here.

You all have opinions that don’t include the smooth operation of the city.

Howard, In all my years as a working stiff, I have never seen a retroactive raise in the private sector. To me that's a double cold slap in tax payers faces. He knew what the city was paying when he applied for the job. I am not saying that cost of living increases can not be justified but...retro-active????? What's with this council and thier love of controversy? Perhaps they just like to see thier names in the news.

Personally, I don't care if he never made it through high school. I know people with Phd's that can't crack an egg and I know people that have built multi-million dollar empires that never graduated anything. I go by how good someone is at their job, where they were educated and by how much doesn't matter. I don't always agree with Jason and I've never been shy about it. When it was budget time I went to City Hall and got a copy of the budget and read it. I went to one of the Saturday sessions, (I was the only one there that wasn't a Council member or from City Hall). Did I agree with every line of the budget? No. There were some whole pages I didn't like. However, the overall budget was good. Just over two years ago we were un-insured and nearly $3 million in debt. We now have insurance and a contingency fund. Jason has done a good job for the City. If you take into consideration of how bad is predecessor was and the mess Jason was left, he's done a spectacular job. What I am saying is, you can question a raise all you want. The timing may be wrong. But I don't think Jason's ability or what he's done should be under attack. Yes he works for us and is in a position that allows for critcism. I just don't remember anyone around during the budget process complaining, but now several months later, after all was approved, it's now no good? I don't beleive for a second that a Mayor could have done nearly the good job Jason has done. As an elected official a Mayor would always be campaigning and kissing asses, always! EVERY move a Mayor would make would be politically motivated. You don't have to like someone to recognize or appreciate how good they are at their job. Whether I want to have a beer with someone has no bearing at all on if I like the job they're doing. You can't buy dedication. I think I need to repeat that, You Can't Buy Dedication!! Our last manager proved that when his house was auctioned for taxes. He was given a good salary, a good buy-out settlement and he still told us all to piss-off. I beleive Jason is as dedicated to Batavia as you can get. Through all the constant public criticisms, threats from some Council members about getting rid of him and never getting good press. He continues everyday doing a good job for the City.

That's true about the other higher paid positions and I can't help but wonder those saleries would be as high for a city/village such as ours if it wern't for push-over council members and administrators.

Rich, I couldn't agree more. I have never seen a raise retro-active in the private sector. Then I thought about it and I can't ever remeber a municipal raise ever NOT being retro-active. Everytime there is contract negotiations or arbitration, it's retro-active isn't it? I'm not defending it, you're right. The private sector would never stand for it and never has. But why should police and fire get retro-active raises and all the other City employees not? My feeling is, "retro-active" should be stricken from all municipal agreements, period.

I am sorry, but over 83 GRAND is an awful lot of cash to be paying someone to run a "City" of this size!!! WHO else in the world is even getting a raise in this economy? People are taking pay CUTS so that they can still HAVE a job in the first place! It's time for CUTS not RAISES! But then again we now have the "Grass Police" to help pay the tab!


Why doesn't some responsible person in the City call Chris Collins (Erie County Executive) and find out what HE did to give Erie County a 15 MILLION dollar SURPLUS in the first 6 months of this year? He obviously knows what he is doing (cause he is a businessman)!

I am currently an Erie County resident (though i own WAY too much property in 14020). I called the man's office to say "thank you"!! That is 15 MILLION dollars that won't be coming out of MY pocket!

Once again folks, ALL of my property in 14020 is FOR SALE! Talk to me if interested!

I've had retroactive raises at least three times in my career. I find nothing unusual about it.

I should also add, I once had three raises in one year, each of them significantly larger than is proposed for Jason, and no I didn't change jobs or job titles.

I had a retro hippy girl that gave me quite a raise.

Can I get her phone number?

Tim, Sadly the reason for retro's is usually politicians/city official/councilmen/fill in the blank... dragging thier feet instead of taking care of business. I geuss that's called negotiations

Julie, pardon my ignorance...but what's with the "grass police"?

Julie, how much did that surplus decrease your taxes? Just curious.

Tim,
you’re wrong on the last manager. I don’t know what personal problems Coppler might have had that ran him into debt and neither do you. You have had a number of financial problems also, but that didn’t mean you were bad at your job. Things just happen.

He got a better job. There was no “buy out” or anything.

AND, he worked for Council. He did what they told him to do and one of those council members, Frank Ferrando, wants to be reelected. Remember that in November.

Council sang Coppler’s praises while he was here, then when he left, they blamed everything on him rather than admit they called the shots. So, be fair.

Jason has done a very good job and I think he deserves the raise. Some people think that just because they don’t get something, nobody else should either

Hey Charlie , He's paid too much , for what little he does!
Come off it 83,500 after his raise! Nobody is worth that much in a little city like Batavia. Whats the average
home income here?
Has anyone paid a bill in person at city hall of late? Four woman in the clerks office! You're not telling
me, that's not over staff?
It's a crying shame 83,500! He's mismanaging this city as it is. Everyone wants to sue Batavia, for his
mistakes! Just resign Jason! He's a yes boy to all of the city dept. heads ! And if he can't live off what he makes now, go else where and and rip-off some other city!
I had to take a 15% pay cut at my job.And we had to take an 18 month pension deferral. Also got laid off,I'm on call,only worked 7 days this summer and I got to pay this Mr.Molino all this money, for what pushing and sharping his pencils !
Here's a guy who whined because the Men's Hockey League in Batavia had their rules, and he couldn't sign
up, cause veterans get lst chance.He threaten to take
away the leagues ice time."They won't let me play"cry baby!

Who's fault is it that the city has to pay $236,000 arbitration award for city police.Who's fault is it that the city had to pay the firemen money to drop a lawsuit...If it was the city manager then he should get no raise...We are a city of 15,000 people...Seems like alot to me..What does the town of Batavia pay their supervisor..

John, you're correct. I was thinking of the manager before Coppler that got the buy-out. I also wanted to thank you for being so classy and going personal as usual. Again I'll tell everybody that, I got sick, we lost everything and had to start from scratch. (Is this where I tell everyone that even with all that happened I never declared bankruptcy?). Thank goodness my wife was able to take me out to that dinner you like to bring up all the time. Can some one show me where I ever got personal with you on the Batavian? I remember those Tim Horton coffee breaks as well. I recall what you and your girlfriend said about Jason. It echoes in my head like the day you both kept saying it, "Jason has to go!". Has that now changed John? Or are you still more interested in my finances or where my wife and I eat?

Tim,
I didn’t mean it to be personal as such; I was just pointing out that your slam on somebody like Coppler getting into financial trouble was not fair. A lot of people get into money trouble due to things out of their control, like you. The point was that you don’t know what happened with him, but you took a shot at him.

Your financial and tax problems are not what this is about.

You are right on one point (finally). I did not support Jason being hired at the time. However, as I said, he has done a great job and I have no problem with his raise
,

ok if I was up there in the ranks with the rest of those yahoos I wouldnt take a raise. Id get tired of stealin tax payers money.
I would like to know what Mayor Duffy makes

Mary,
I think it on the web, under the City of Rochester web site. I thought I read once in the D&C that he made 6 figures.

you such a lib Democrat Charlie, love to spend money, when you going to fix the damm streets?

Why dump on Charlie? Because he is the only one on the site? The majority of City Council had to ok this, but only Charlie is on defending the decision. Cut him some slack.

Charlie, you say our city manager has done SO MUCH for our city. Could you maybe list those things? I also am wondering how the raise idea was brought up, and by whom. I think it is sending the wrong message to Batavians. I would also like to hear more from the other members of council. My husband's theory is that they are afraid of being ousted, that is why they dont speak their mind to the public. I'm starting to think this is being done on purpose, as to tick-off the public. I hope that is not the case. I dont see this as being entertaining and funny in any way, shape, or form. This raise will affect all of us in some way financially. I would hate to think you find this amusing. I'll take a look around the streets with my camera then, and video camera. Hows that?? The proof will be recorded, and there wil be NO denying. What a bunch of BULL!!

William, I think we are fixing the streets, take a look around. Thanks to my man Jason. Your right, I’m also a Democrat and proud of it. I LOVE BHO! He is did a fantastic job last night!

I’m not so sure you have been paying attention to city affairs if you think there has been a lot of spending. I know that most Republicans understand that it’s good business to pay people what their worth and respect them for the job they do.

Happy you asked Karen. Here are just some of the efforts he lead just this year.


• Consolidation of Police dispatch- Successfully transferred dispatching to Genesee County emergency communication center, changed police software record keeping system to New World, made police station security improvements and transferred City dispatchers to the County. Also developed central booking operations with the GC jail for BPD prisoners.
• We ininsiated a Consolidation study with the Town of Batavia- to find ways to cooperate and share services in the future.
• A Charter Review commission was created to eliminate unnecessary positions and reform our city government.
• A new management structure was created with seamless leadership transitions occurring with the Police, Fire and Finance departments.
• A change was made in workers compensation insurance in order to ensure that the City is providing the most efficient and cost effective program. The outcome has resulted in a recommendation to transfer from a self-insurance program to full-insurance program for less cost.
• We retained a grant writer and are actively involved in seeking outside funding opportunities when they arise, such as obtaining our fair share of federal stimulus money.
• We started work on an infrastructure master plan, to help guide the city.
• Developed an employee performance evaluation program for all employees. A training program for supervisory staff has been implemented and performance appraisal and management system for all City employees has begun.
• The City Police department is working cooperatively with the Genesee County joint drug task force, while Genesee County Sheriff’s have joined the City’s Emergency Response Team (ERT). Developed new firearms training, continue to improve on specialized details, such commercial vehicle enforcement and alcohol compliance checks.
• Elimination of the City Ambulance service that was a detriment to our cities long term financial outlook.
• Improved accuracy and accounting measures in KVS (account system) as recommended by City auditors. Also, revised several internal policies to improve checks and balances.
• Code enforcement was revamped improvements such as, more accountability, targeted compliance and a software management package. Court action taken if needed for compliance and office hours set for permit issuing on the spot. Entered into inter-municipal agreements with Town of Batavia for code enforcement and traffic maintenance services.
• Engineering legislation was proposed to City Council and passed.
• Landfill leachate is now being accepted by the City’s WWTP which will reduce transportation cost shared by the Town of Batavia.
• Ellicott Street Street-scape project was designed bid out and constructed.
• Walnut Street reconstruction was bid and phase I of the construction was completed which included the waterline, moving of utilities and limited railroad improvements.The project is currently in full swing and expected to finish this year.
• Replacement of old storm water pump at Lehigh lift station, receive bids for waste water pump for Main pumping station and acquire and install algae control system at WWTP by March 2009.
• For the second year in a row for the month of December the sewer plant used the least amount of electricity when compared to any prior December the plant has been in operation.
• Milled and overlaid Evans St., prepped and mico-surfaced Farwell Dr., Farwell St., Fairmont Ave., Mix Pl., Washington Ave., South Spruce St., Prune St., Jerome St,. McKinnley Ave., Haller Pl., Clifton Ave., and Elmwood Ave.
• Installed curb ramps and replaced sidewalks at Middle School, Robert Morris, Notre Dame, Union St., Richmond Ave., Evans St., and Court St. Plaza.
• Repaired or reconstructed 40 catch basins and manholes.
• Obtained funding for Swan Masse
• Obtained funding to reconstruct Bank Street.

PS. I'm not going to let you spread lies about a good man anymore!!

One more point of interest Howard. Who is cj scruger?? HMMMMMMMMMMM Are you sure he's legit?? Charlie, I was talking about things the city manager can be given credit for, not every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Nice try though..

Karen, I’m not sure who Tom, Dick and Harry are? What I am sure of is that they didn’t do a damn thing to help our city this year.

You asked, I answered. That’s more than a try.

Howard made this site available to everyone. It is a perfect vehicle for those, in office, to come in and discuss what is happening in our city, the towns, and the county.
It is also a vehicle for the residents to come and ask questions and make comments for them to answer.
Charlie is one of the few who is a regular contributor.
He just posted a long list of items that had Mr. Molino's stamp on them...it doesn't mean Molino went out and did the actual work. Maybe the trio of Tom, Dick and Harry did.
It is only human nature to look at the person at the top and make him/her the reason for everything that goes wrong in our community. I know I've done it, too.
But fair is fair.
I give Charlie a great deal of credit for coming here. Too bad the others don't follow his lead.

That's an impressive list of accomplishments for Jason, Charlie.

perhaps this "manager" could teach our community something about greed, dont be a greedhead just this once and see what happens.

Karen,
The City Manager has a contract that was made public when he was hired.

That contract calls for a performance review every year and should have been done in April. For some reason it seems it was not done then, but recently done.

It is common when you have a review, under a contract like his, that if you receive a good review, a pay raise might be in order.

Council could have just said no raise, or could have renegotiated a few changes in the contract before giving a raise, but didn’t. That was a GROUP decision, that's why I said cut Charlie some slack. And since it involved a personnel matter, we will not know for sure how many agreed to the raise, but since none of the Council members have come out against it, I bet it was unanimous.

It appears that Jason has done a good job and the numbers support that. Since it hasn't been mentioned yet and everyone seems to think that Jason makes so much simply because it's more than they make I did a quick search on the pay of city managers. I found the pay scale of city managers with ten years experience, I have no idea how much Jason has, to be $69,300 to $141,000 with the median being nearly $89,000. Even at about $83,500 Jason is quite a bit below that.

And as far as retro-active raises they are actually not as uncommon as you might think, especially in jobs involving unions or budgets. The fiscal year ends in April and often people are given raises at the new budget but the funds are not yet available so they continue to work under their old pay scale and when funding is available they receive the retro pay.