Sullivan County Finally Gets It Right

by: Bill Liblick

Could it be that those who are running Sullivan County government are finally beginning to get it? Could it be that there is great encouraging change in store for us in 2007? Well – if the new Sheriff’s Patrol contract is any indication, the answer is a resounding YES!

I will be the first to criticize and attack, but I will also be the first person to stand up and applaud when something is done right.

County Manger David Fanslau, our entire Sullivan County Legislature, Sheriff Michael Schiff and Under Sheriff Eric Chaboty deserve a standing ovation from all of us.

Sullivan County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Paul Slavic and Vice President Phil Etkin must also be congratulated for staying firm with the county and delivering for those who risk their lives for us each and everyday.

Contract negotiations broke down when the county refused to budge in granting the Sheriff’s Patrol a deserving pay raise. Instead of taking a leadership role in attempting to settle the dispute, legislature chairman Christopher Cunningham took the route of binding arbitration. 

Schiff and Chaboty did not want James Roemer, a high priced labor attorney, hired by the county to do the arbitrating. They claimed that he did not represent the interests of the Sheriff’s Office or the residents of Sullivan County.

The two law enforcement officials stood their ground with County Attorney Sam Yasgur claiming that they had the right to decide who was going to arbitrate with their employees. Along with Slavic and Etkin, they pressured County Manager Dan Fanslau, and members of the legislature to get into the act and do what was right. Thankfully, those running Sullivan County began to listen.

Schiff and Chaboty argued that in order for them to properly do their job in protecting us from crime and drugs, they needed dedicated, well trained, experienced police officers who were adequately compensated. 

It costs Sullivan County taxpayers $30,000 to recruit, hire, equip and train just one deputy. Once other police positions opened up elsewhere, these officers usually left to accept better paying positions with other police departments. This new contract will stop that and will basically save us money in the long run.

Sullivan County Deputy Sheriffs were in the past paid twenty thousand dollars less than surrounding Police Departments and fifty thousand less than the New York State Police.

The new contract will raise the starting pay for patrol deputies to $43,976 in 2007. Since the new contract is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2004, each deputy will get a raise of 3 percent per year plus $3,000 per year for 2004, 2005 and 2006. They will also get the same for 2007.

Optical and dental insurance will now be offered at the counties group rates.

Sheriff’s Deputies will still have a twenty-five year retirement plan that they will pay three percent of their salary into. Surrounding police departments pay nothing into their retirement and get a twenty year option. Deputies still have no medical insurance upon retirement. Even though more work must be accomplished, no one is complaining.

Our new County Charter must also include language protecting and mandating the Sheriff’s Patrol for our future.

As it stands now, the Sheriff’s Patrol can be dismantled at any time. Our legislature can agree there are no monies for its continuation, and take it away.

This alarming prospect would be catastrophic and should outrage every resident in Sullivan County.

Partisan politics does not belong anywhere when it comes to our safety. There must be one united voice. And, I am glad that the legislature finally agrees on that point.

In the past, only the Republican members of our legislature, Leni Binder, Jodi Goodman, and Rodney Gaebel were the only vocal voices for the Sheriff’s Patrol on our county governing body. Finally that has changed.

Democratic legislative member Ron Hiatt was a driving force in the recent contract negotiations. He took a leadership role in convincing fellow Democrats that they had to do what was right for Sullivan County, and the Sheriff’s Deputies. Good work Mr. Hiatt.

Leni Binder, who heads the Public Safety Committee, has been a longtime advocate and supporter as well. She did everything in her power assist the Sheriff’s Patrolmen.

Unfortunately, the problems plaguing the Sheriff’s Office do not end with the patrol. Constructing a new jail must be a top priority for the County. Correction Officers work under unbearable conditions at the outdated facility.

Jay Leno recently joked about the Sullivan County jail during his opening monologue, because we spend so much money in shipping out inmates due to overcrowding.

But, we are finally on the right path. The steam engine of revolution and transformation at the Sheriff’s Office must continue rolling on.

The list of accomplishments our Dynamic Duo, Schiff and Chaboty have achieved in such a short period of time is literally remarkable. The Sullivan County electorate along with our governmental officials must be grateful to what we have witnessed so far.

Everything the Legislature does in assisting them with their duties in protecting us is clearly an investment in our future.

Once again, to the entire Sullivan County Legislature, Christopher Cunningham, Leni Binder, Ron Hiatt, Kathy LaBuda, Jodi Goodman, Elwin Wood, Sam Wohl,  Rodney Gaebel, and Jonathan Rouis thank you for finally doing the right thing for the Sheriff Deputies. A job well done!

Email Bill