Salary too high
TO THE EDITOR: Residents who live in the Black Brook area need to be made aware that the Town Board in and for the Town of Black Brook has voted.

Ricky, Rita and Howard were for and Jon and Ron were against passing Resolution No. 25, which entitles Craig Walton to become a full-time maintenance manager of Water Districts I and II, making approximately $62,000 a year with full benefits doing exactly the same position with no added responsibilities (except maybe mowing more lawns). It is estimated that his health insurance for 2010 will be approximately $14,000 with no costs to him as well as no responsibility to pay any premiums, and finally he doesn't have to pay for his retirement, either.

At the budget meeting that was held, it was suggested to the Town Board to bid out this position or go to the Department of Public Works and was turned down rather quickly by the board members saying that no one would work for anything less then the $62,000 a year. It was further brought to their attention that the Town of Jay only pays their water maintenance manager half that salary and he only works 20 hours a week to be responsible for three water districts, versus Craig only being responsible for one water/sewer district. Furthermore, the superintendent of highways of Black Brook and the Town of Jay, who have more responsibilities, make less than what Craig will.

When anyone of the public approaches Howard inquiring as to how the town residents will be responsible to pay such a salary, Howard will try to sugarcoat the situation and indicates that the Town of Black Brook residents will only be responsible for approximately $40,000 and the Town of Jay residents will be responsible for the rest. However, the firm question was what is the annual salary, regardless of which residents pay which amount, and Howard will say $62,000, which brings us back to the our original complaint of why are the town residents responsible for this? The people in our local area, especially during these economic rough times, should not be responsible to pay such an outrageous salary to someone that does not have any added responsibilities.

Lastly, I want to give Jon and Ron a special thank you for sticking to their campaign promises when they were elected: to fight for what is right for our local residents. Remember when it comes election time to vote for the candidate who wants to do what is right for the people and not their own personal agenda.

Stephen Bombard

Town of Black Brook Water District

Mowing used up money
TO THE EDITOR: We've all seen the horrible condition of the Crown Point Bridge and the impact of its closure. If only money had been available to keep it in good repair over the years. Well, it was and is.

Imagine the cost for state-wide roadside mowing which includes equipment, fuel, labor, maintenance and transportation. It's a big state and the mowing is not measured in acres but in square miles. NYSDOT does not follow their own guidelines but mows everything they can get at. Locals can see this on Route 374 (they mow over 200 feet back to the fence) and the Northway (a field at Cumberland Head corners is over 12 acres).

Albany has been made aware of this so "the ball is in their court." Tax dollars to maintain the bridge or all that useless, senseless, wasteful mowing?

Cliff Mossey

Plattsburgh