It was a busy week for Village officials last week. Besides the day to day demands there was a sales presentation and two committee meetings.
On Monday morning a sales representative for Vance's Law Enforcement was in town demonstrating Taser guns. Vance's Law Enforcement specializes in police equipment. Taser guns are the ones that shoot a combative villain with a non-lethal electrical charge to incapacitate them. It's a neuro muscular incapacitation that locks up the muscles long enough to get restraints on them. It shoots two barbs that create a circuit through the body to deliver up to 50,000 volts to shock the perpetrator.
Mayor Susan Haugh said the Village is hoping to upgrade the equipment for the Police Department. The other taser like weapons they have, or had, are wearing out and parts and repairs are extremely expensive. The Mayor said that new ones are needed for the safety of the Wellsville officers.
The Mayor reported that the new tasers will run around $1,200 to $1,300 each. She said the next step is to come up with the funds to finance the new weapons. The Village is putting three of them on their wish list. Pictured here is Sales Specialist Scott Long, Mayor Haugh & WPD Chief Joe Scarabino going over the specifications on the new Tasers.
Monday afternoon there was a Finance Committee meeting with the Village's health insurance agency representatives. Called the “Cadillac” of health insurance the current policy expires April 1. The health insurance is given to Village employees at no cost to the employee. They get 100% coverage with no deductible or co-pay requirements. Village officials were advised if they keep the same policy the cost would increase 22.9% on April 1.
Members of the Finance Committee attending were advised that the 22.9% increase could be brought down a negative increase percentage if different options were applied when the policy is renewed. The Committee was given several different options to consider. Those options included such things as employee contributions, to individual and family deductibles, co-pays and Health Reimbursement Accounts to name just a few.
On Friday there was a Personnel Committee meeting to consider three items to be presented at the next Council meeting. The first is the addition of two Village residents to the paid call-out roster for the Fire Department. Fire Chief Bill Smith advised both men will need the required training to be certified. That training cost will be reimbursed to the Village through a standing State grant. That standing grant is a “no match” grant.
The other two items were for approval for grant applications for the Fire Department. The first is another State grant for $15,000 for new equipment. If approved it is another “no-match” grant. The second is a FEMA grant to add two full-time fire fighters to the department. FEMA will pay for the first two years with hopes the Village can pay for at least an additional two years. Unlike the COPS grant there is no requirement to pay for any additional time. The Committee decided to present all three items at the next Council meeting.
Council meets in regular session on Tuesday, February 21, at 6 PM at Village Hall.
ole nib
25 comments:
Free health insurance is almost unheard of today. The village needs to look at other options for its employees.
Looking at nearly 23% increase in cost & still not having any extra money in the General Fund we believe Village officials are taking a serious look at alternatives.
One Councilman stated his opposition to changing it since raises have been nearly non-existant but it's getting down to having to take a hard, realistic look at the cost of doing business. Running the Village is running a business. The only difference is that there are a lot of stock holders.
nib
I haven't had a raise in five years and the amount I pay out of my check for insurance has increased drastically every year...currently have more than $700 taken out of every check for insurance, etc.
It's unrealistic in today's world to expect free insurance. not fair to taxpayers.
be fair..apparently you make good money if $700 is taken out of your pay everytime, some of the village employees dont make $700 in their checks to begin with.
NEW TASERS""""" im sure we dont need tham .. thats extra money that could go toward paving the streets ..not patching paving """ officers carry guns they dont need tasers...
Stop by the PD and see for yourselves.
nib
Stop by and see? Open a newspaper and just read! How often are tasers used in Wellsville? Stop by and see? What you want us to see? If you havent forgot nib, we live in a small town, and havent HEARD of tasers being used. Could you possibly pull up some police reports and see how many times tasers have been used in the,let's say, last 2 years? Just wondering?
that $700 is about half my check and i've worked over 30 years to earn that much. i live paycheck to paycheck like everyone else.
as for not needing tasers, YOU go out there on those streets with the a**holes those cops deal with every day and see if YOU "need" one! cops have said many times criminals will stop when confronted with a taser when they won't for a gun!
what a stupid comment.
Yes, stop by & see. Ask your question to any WPD officer. You will see why.
nib
I personally think the new tasers are a necessity. These guys are out there and see way more than we could even imagine.. No system is perfect. But I would rather see an officer armed with the "decision" of using a taser on a person that otherwise might end in something more tragic. The officers carry weapons with the hopes of not having to ever use them. With the tasers, this gives them the ability to stop a situation from escalating to a point of deadly force. I know that there are mixed feelings on this, but I will always stand firm on controlling the situation. And those officers no matter what alot of people "think" they see or know what they do.. they do it for little pay and yes at times risk their lives not only for us and our loved ones but also for the would be criminals, to assure that they are able to be brought to justice.
Tbrown
Having to change the subject for a minute, cause the taser subject is a loseing argument! What about the new cross walk that was painted across Main Street for the church? Have we not been taught for years to walk to corners and cross the street? As a business owner, when will the rest of the cross walks be done? Does not every church in Wellsville get one now? What about pharmacy's, pizza shop's, etc, etc?
Who supplied the paint and did the painting? Are you assuming it was the Village? Maybe the church officials got permission and took it upon themselves. Personally we do not know ourselves but we did notice it.
Good point about crossing at the corner, especially since there's one of the two traffic lights in town for added safety at that particular corner. Is there ordinances on the books about jaywalking? Again we don't know but it is food for thought.
nib
I had seen this crosswalk being painted by village employees, with the supervision of the administrator. Should there not also be caution flashing lights installed to warn drivers of this new traffic law as well? There are a handful of businesses and churches on main street where there are no crosswalks? Are they gonna just install all these right over all the "Potholes"? Looks like the cart is being put in front of the horse again!!!
The crosswalk was requested after a child was hit,crossing the street, after a church function. Other crosswalks will be painted in the future and possibly parking spots, as well. It is a state law, that you have to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Hats off to the administration who is listening to the needs of the community!
We had forgotten about the child being hit and we didn't know about the State law. We have to agree with the last commentor. It was a good move to have one painted. The church in question is very active with many events for the youth of our area and they have proven to be good neighbors in the community. The paint used for the cross walk was probably left over. Even if it had to be purchased it was a good buy. There ain't no amount of money worth risking the safety of any child, young or old. Wouldn't you agree Sour Grapes?
nib
How can you stop by and see. You cant even walk into our Police Dept.
What is up with that. Locked door
on your PD. What about emeergencys.
Never saw anything like it. Only in the Ville.
There is always a dispatcher available at the Fire Dept. If you want to see an officer they will get one for you.
Why do I get the feeling you would also complain if they took an officer off patrol to man the PD 24/7?
nib
As someone who visits MANY police stations on a regular basis, yours is certainly no different than many others by having a locked door when there is no one on station.
With a small department, it is difficult to keep a person in the station at all times. If it were MY town,I'd much rather have the officers out patrolling than sitting in a station, waiting to see if someone wants to come in and pick up a report or file a report.
I believe there is a sign directing people to the fire station if they need an officer. Considering the fire station is in the SAME BUILDING, and has a person on duty 24/7, how petty can you be?
You are just trying to find something to complain about where there is nothing.
Actually awhile ago another child was hit in that area when he was crossing the street on his bike. I believe he was life flighted to a pitts hospital. Fortunately he recovered well.
Just because a crosswalk is painted on the street does not make it safe. If you have ever tried to cross the street at the crosswalk at East Liverpool hospital you know what I mean. Drivers donot always pay attention and follow the law. Safer, IMO,to cross at the light.
To Only in the ville: are you kidding me..we as citizens expect the police doors to be locked--police departments are suppose to keep their doors locked, they all are..only differnce is most have dispatchers, but their doors are also locked..check it out for yourself
Grow Up:
I appreciate the explanation as to why the PD door is locked. I have never understood why. Thank you.
Nib: Why are you always such a smartass when someone questions something you don't agree with. Just because I questioned it, doesnt mean I am a complainer. I truly understand now and see the reason. Maybe you could be more open to others opinions and understand sometimes people don't know why something is or is not happening. Don't appreciate your
put downs. I actually do more to
help promote the Ville. Probably more than you do. Tone down your
bully pulpit will ya.
We apologize if you got offended.
We get a little annoyed when all some commenters do is whine with little or no common sense apparent in their remarks. We get the feeling that if they can't complain in a negative way they won't bother to say anything, especially when they hide behind the anonymous tag.
There is so much good in this town. Some people refuse to speak up to stress the positive. Think how nice it would be if everyone concentrated on promoting the positive.
Glad to hear you promote the ville. Maybe if you get some intestinal fortitude and identify yourself we can thank you properly.
Stand up and have the guts to say you're from the Wellsville community.
nib
I am from Wellsville and I am thrilled to see the things going on in the Ville and to be a part of them. But, when you are trying to bring about positive change, people dont always like it. I have an open mind about things I dont know about and am glad to have the facts.
thank you nib.
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