Village trustees reject benefits proposal

After an at-times contentious public hearing, Village of Flower Hill's trustees on Tuesday night rejected a proposal to change town code to allow the unpaid mayor and board to buy health, life and long-term health insurance through the village.

More than 50 people attended the meeting, and seven residents spoke against the measure.

Some called the benefit an unnecessary expense the village could ill afford. Others said voters, not the board, should make the decision on their compensation.

"I don't think it's fair or appropriate at this juncture to put on taxpayers something that you all can afford," said resident Mark Kramer.

The board enacted the benefit five years ago by resolution and wanted to add it to the village code, village administrator Ronnie Shatzkamer said.

At the meeting, board members said the cost was about $120,000 annually. Village Treasurer Kathy Wade could not be reached for confirmation of that figure.

The board members would have paid the same rates as village employees for insurance and would have been eligible as long as they held their seats.

"This gives fuel to the fire that local government exists to take care of government officials and not the community," said resident Greg Bellon.

The failed measure needed a majority vote of the seven-member board.

Trustees Tab M. Hauser and Avery Ryan and Mayor Charles W. Weiss voted in favor; Trustee Elaine Phillips and Deputy Mayor William M. Clemency were opposed. Trustees Aviva Pinto and Norman A. Glavas abstained from voting.

Weiss, who has been on the board for 12 years (six as mayor) was visibly upset with the vote.

"I've really never been as disappointed in my board and in the residents of this village as I am tonight," he said.

Trustees also voted 6-1 to allow dogs off-leash from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Flower Hill Park.

They also voted to continue a hearing on a no-parking zone along the north side of Oaktree Lane for more study.