November 17, 2023
STATEMENT ISSUED FRIDAY EVENING IN THE 5:00 HOUR, FROM THE STEUBEN COUNTY DEPUTIES UNION:
Dear Community Members of Steuben County,
The Deputies Association of the County of Steuben writes this letter to you as members of the community under what we believe are unfortunate circumstances. The Deputies Association currently consists of thirty-six members, which is four less than our authorized number due to recruitment and retention barriers facing modern law enforcement. These members are sworn law enforcement officers that provide patrol and investigative duties.
The Deputies Association has been out of contract since December 31, 2020 and has engaged in multiple attempts at negotiations with the Steuben County Administration in an effort to provide our members with fair and equitable pay. The Deputies Association and County Management were unable to come to an agreement during negotiations and proceeded into the process of mediation and arbitration through the New York State Public Employee Relations Board also known as PERB. By law, the Association does not have the right to strike, and therefor all disputes are resolved by PERB. During this process PERB assigned an independent third-party Arbitrator who listened to testimony from both the Deputies Association and Steuben County Management. This testimony addressed the County’s fiscal ability to pay, comparison of pay and benefits in comparable Counties, and the duties performed by Deputies. The arbitrator issued an award that would encompass the years of 2021 and 2022. The arbitrator’s award was issued on September 25th (a copy can be found on PERB’s website), but the County has failed to provide the pay increase mandated by the award. The Deputies Association would like to state that this award still had members’ pay below the average of comparable County Sheriff’s Offices. Currently members are being paid between 23% and 26% below the average wages for comparable County Sheriff’s Offices. The Arbitrator’s ruling is binding pursuant to New York State Law.
In the past several years, while being out of Contract we have lost several Deputies to outside agencies which provide higher pay and better retirement options. We as members of the Deputies Association are also taxpayers in the County of Steuben and believe that the actions of County Management are unjust, unfair and not fiscally responsible while considering the public safety crisis facing our local community and communities across the nation. As active members of our various communities throughout Steuben County the members of the Deputies Association would like to assure you that we will continue to serve the citizens of our County with the utmost professionalism and we will not be deterred by the County’s tactics. We will continue to educate, protect and serve our communities. Your Deputies will also continue to provide support through our training and certifications as EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians), which is one of the only programs of this nature in the State.
We ask you to please contact your local legislator with any questions, concerns or comments, and to encourage them to abide by the arbitration award and provide Deputies with a fair and equitable pay increase. Their contacts are attached, and the members of the Deputies Association greatly appreciate your time in reading this release.
Respectfully,
The Deputies Association of the County of Steuben
County Manager
Jack Wheeler, jwheeler@steubencountyny.gov
District 1 – City of Hornell
Gary D. Swackhamer, gswackhamer@steubencountyny.gov
Paul E. Van Caeseele, pvancaeseele@steubencountyny.gov
District 2 – City of Corning
Steven Maio, smaio@steubencountyny.gov
Hilda T. Lando, hlando@steubencountyny.gov
District 3 – Town of Bath
Nick Pelham, npelham@steubencountyny.gov
Kelly H. Fitzpatrick, kfitzpatrick@steubencountyny.gov
District 4 – Cohocton and Wayland
John V. Malter, jmalter@steubencountyny.gov
District 5 – Prattsburgh, Pulteney, Urbana
K. Michael Hanna, mhanna@steubencountyny.gov
District 6 – Dansville, Hartsville, Hornellsville
Brian C. Schu, bschu@steubencountyny.gov
District 7 – Avoca, Fremont, Howard, Wheeler
Aaron I. Mullen, amullen@steubencountyny.gov
District 8 – Bradford, Campbell, Wayne
Jeffrey P. Horton, jhorton@steubencountyny.gov
District 9 – Cameron, Canisteo, Thurston
Wendy Lozo, wlozo@steubencountyny.gov
District 10 – Greenwood, Jasper, Rathbone, Troupsburg, West Union, Woodhull
Frederick G. Potter, fpotter@steubencountyny.gov
District 11 – Addison, Lindley, Tuscarora
Robert V. Nichols, rnichols@steubencountyny.gov
District 12 – Town Erwin
James Kuhl, jkuhl@steubencountyny.gov
District 13 – Caton, Corning, Hornby
Scott J. Van Etten, svanetten@steubencountyny.gov
Carol A. Ferratella, cferratella@steubencountyny.gov
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Wlea News has contacted the Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler and County Chair Van Etten for their responses.
As soon as we hear from them, we will post their replies.
