At Monday’s meeting, The Amsterdam Common Council voted 4-1 to approve a resolution modifying the 2014-2015 budget to allow for Corporation Counsel Gerard DeCusatis to keep his assistant. The resolution added a requirement that the assistant work out of an office at City Hall and provide increased assistance to Employee Relations Director Bob Reidy. Alderwoman Diane Hatzenbuhler cast the lone no vote.
Previously, the council had voted unanimously to cut the position from the budget as part of 43 adjustments to the budget proposed by Mayor Ann Thane. During budget talks in May, Alderman Ron Barone had argued that he thought the assistant’s duties could be handled by other staff at City Hall. Hatzenbuhler also faulted the corporation counsel’s office as the cause of Reidy’s lack of progress in completing a workplace violence prevention program. Mayor Thane submitted objections (line item vetoes) to nine of the adjustments. In June, eight of those objection were overridden, leaving the assistant’s position the final item to be decided.
