HUBBARD Officials work out clash over dump truck

The police chief gets a pay raise after threatening to quit.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Mayor Arthur U. Magee and city council have had their first spat -- over a dump truck -- but have made up.
"This is a necessity. This is not a luxury item," Magee, who took office the first of the year, told lawmakers during a caucus session before Tuesday's council meeting.
Magee and Service Director Al Patrick informed council that a 1978 street department truck broke down while removing snow and needs to be replaced.
They explained that city Auditor Michael Villano told them there was $70,000 in the street department budget for equipment. A new truck would cost $65,000 if purchased through the state's purchasing program.
The problem was that the state had to be notified by today to get the truck delivered in three months.
Not ready for a vote
Councilman John Marshall, D-2nd, chairman of the finance committee, said he wasn't prepared to vote Tuesday to purchase the truck because it's the first time he had heard about it.
Marshall argued that he had become irritated in recent years about last-minute legislation being presented by the previous administration to make purchases.
Councilman William Williams, D-at-large, agreed that Marshall made a valid point.
Councilwoman Lisha Pompili-Baumiller, D-3rd, said making spontaneous decisions is "hard to swallow."
Magee asserted the city has the money to buy the truck and it would cost a third more if purchased on the retail market.
Besides, the mayor said, it cost the city $100 to "tow this hunk of junk."
In the end, lawmakers voted unanimously to purchase the equipment. The street department has seven other trucks.
Police chief's salary
In another matter, council voted 5-2 to increase the salary of police Chief Marty Kanetsky from $39,158 to $49,500 after he threatened to resign.
Marshall and Councilwoman Bonnie Viele, D-1st, dissented.
Marshall said he wanted the mayor and finance committee to consider Kanetsky's pay raise with those of other department heads and make a recommendation to council. Viele has taken a similar position.
"I can't live on $39,000 a year," Kanetsky told lawmakers during caucus. "I believe I deserve the raise," noting there have been no complaints about him or his department.
Kanetsky, who was a veteran sergeant on the force, was appointed chief on March 15, 2003, and has a year to take the job permanently or return to the ranks.
The chief asserted that he can earn $55,000 as a sergeant with overtime and holiday pay. He added that some patrolmen are paid more than him at the $39,500 annual rate.
In other business, Pompili-Baumiller didn't get a favorable response when asked for lawmakers' feelings about bidding out trash pickup to one hauler. Multiple haulers contract with residents to take garbage on various days.
Pompili-Baumiller said one hauler would most likely be cheaper and garbage would be picked up all in one day in a neighborhood, as opposed to cans being at the curb all the time.
"If it's not a substantial savings, people won't want the hassle," Marshall said.
"It will be very controversial," Viele added, noting people want their own trash hauler.
Pompili-Baumiller said she will research her proposal further and bring it back to council later.
yovich@vindy.com