Niles mayor rescinds 2 recalls after poor forecast

By Jordan Cohen

news@vindy.com

NILES

Only two days after announcing the recall of eight employees furloughed since February, Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia had to backtrack on two of them after hearing a grim forecast for next year’s general fund.

“As it stands right now, we’re looking at only $15,000 in the general fund to start 2017,” reported city Auditor Giovanne Merlo to a visibly shocked city council Wednesday.

Merlo attributed two reasons for the minuscule fund outlook next year: nearly $200,000 to replace its nonfunctioning heating and cooling systems in city hall, and an expected “audit adjustment” when the state’s 2015 audit is completed.

An adjustment earlier this year from the 2014 audit forced council to allocate more than $200,000 from the general fund to pay back other accounts, from which the previous administration of Mayor Ralph Infante improperly paid wages and benefits.

“We could be looking at a $100,000 audit adjustment in 2015,” Merlo said, adding that an exact figure is yet to be determined.

The mayor’s recalls included five members of the safety forces, a part-time building and zoning inspector, a full-time custodian and a secretary.

Council, which must approve funding the recalls, supported bringing back the safety forces and building inspector, but told Scarnecchia it would not fund the custodian and the secretary.

Those two positions pay a total of $32,211, which would move the 2017 general fund estimate from $15,000 to a little more than $47,000, still extremely low for a city trying to get out from under fiscal emergency.

James DePasquale, safety-service director, however, warned of a battle with the city’s unions whose contracts require all full-time employees, in this case the custodian, to be recalled before any part-timers return.

Council was in no mood to compromise, however.

“We need to move forward, otherwise we might as well let the unions run the city,” said a Councilman Steve Papalas, D-at large.

“At this [point] in my life, what’s another grievance,” said Scarnecchia to enthusiastic applause from the packed council chambers.

The return of the building and zoning inspector is especially critical. The inspector processes permits, which bring in badly needed revenue.

Department head Anthony Vigorito, currently on sick leave, told council that without the part-time inspector, there are “thousands of dollars in permits we’re losing,” perhaps as high as “$150,000 for two jobs.” Vigorito later identified them as a senior-living facility and a Toyota dealership.

Despite the possible fight with the unions, council unanimously amended its budget ordinance to bring back everyone but the custodian and secretary.

Council President Robert Marino said he hoped for “rational folks to sit in a room and do what’s right for the city,” when DePasquale meets with the unions. The safety-service director voiced pessimism over the outcome, but council was not swayed by his concern.

“I’m very proud of what this body did tonight,” said Ryan McNaughton, D-at large. “It’s time for us to stop [falling] back on our heels.”