Greece Town Supervisor Jeff McCann wants to end what he calls an “unfair benefits policy” costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
McCann says he began examining town records when he took office at the start of the year. He says that since 2022, six town managers have been able to cash out 100% of unused sick time upon their retirement, totaling nearly $350,000.
McCann says another town board-approved personnel policy change allowed retired managers to receive health insurance at no cost.
McCann says that cost taxpayers more than $150,000.
“It’s a matter of treating people the same, and it’s also protecting our taxpayers,” McCann said. “We are going to be facing struggles moving forward. This is sort of the first thing we looked at.”
“A 100% payout of unused sick leave created long-term financial exposure that was not consistent with common municipal standards,” Town Council Member and Deputy Supervisor Amorette Miller said in part. “Public sector compensation policies must be sustainable, transparent, and aligned with how comparable communities operate.
Bringing the managerial structure more in line with the standards applied to our administrative staff — including our CWA unit — reinforces parity across the organization. Fairness in public employment policy strengthens morale internally and builds trust externally.”
McCann is proposing that the town board vote to amend these manager benefits at next Thursday’s town board meeting.