Laberge consultant urges community unity
At two different meetings on Monday evening, Ben Syden, the vice president of Laberge Group, which is doing consulting work for the Village of Highland Falls on the dissolution process, urged residents of both Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery to “not let this destroy you as a community”.
He said that specifically in relation to the “harsh reality” that if the matter is approved by voters, on the day the village is dissolved there will be 25 full-time, current village employees who don’t know what will happen to their job.
The audience at the Village Board meeting was about one-third village employees, mostly police officers.
Syden spoke about both the “potential transfer” of jobs to the Town of Highlands but also the fact that their current positions may not transfer.
“It will have to be determined what positions the town needs, and would they be available to your current employees,” Syden said. “That doesn’t mean they won’t be hired by the town, they could very easily be hired by the town, but nothing is guaranteed.”
He said there are both civil service and transfer of duty issues.
“It’s easy and nice to say everybody is going to have a job,” Syden said. “The reality is, some will some won’t.”
He continued: “The reason I bring this up is because this is a very difficult time for you as a community, it’s also very difficult for the employees of the village of Highland Falls. They don’t know how or when or where they are going to be able to provide for their families over the next two years. Their job is about to be voted on by the people of the community. Be careful of that. I urge you all — as you talk to each other, as you post on social media, as you put out information in op eds, or fliers, or whatever you all do — be cognizant of the 25 full time employees and the part time employees here. They are working day in and day out, regardless of what’s happening.”
Syden said he warns all communities he works with of that issue. He reiterated it at the Town Board meeting, which he and co-worker Kathleen Rooney also stopped by on Monday.
“People’s livelihoods are at stake,” he said. “Be cognizant of what you say or write,” he said.
There were several comments at both meetings from the audience, pertaining to jobs. For instance, at the Village Board meeting, resident Jeff Gathers asked if longtime village residents who are hired by the town would be hired at entry level salaries. Syden said he did not have that information, but Rooney will be researching Orange County rules on inter-government transfers. Highland Falls’ Ned Kopald asked if inter-municipal agreements could be drawn up between the town and village ensuring the hiring of current village employees by the town. Syden indicated he didn’t think that would happen.
And, at the Town Board meeting, Frank Lilos, a part-time police officer with the HFPD, asked if the Town Board has put thought into what will happen with the THPD if the HFPD ceases to exist. Supervisor Bob Livsey said “we’ve thought about it, we’ve talked about it, but we have no plan. Until the vote goes through there is no need for a plan”. Lilos argued that a plan is needed so that village residents don’t have to “vote blindly”.
Village Trustee Melanie Guerrero, who was in the audience at the town meeting, told Lilos his question to the Town Board was unfair.
Syden noted, to Lilos, that if the town doesn’t put forward a plan prior to the vote, then they will “put some options” into the Interim Dissolution Study.
Again, reminding residents to remain calm during the process, Syden also said he will be watching the comments on local social media sites, but won’t be responding on those. He also noted that, on his company’s website pertaining to the dissolution, he will not be answering politically-motivated questions.
At both meetings, he encouraged residents to visit www.labergegroup.com/highlandfalls for the ‘frequently asked questions’ and other information pages. There is a place on that site to sign up for updates via email.
