DeWitt board approves 2025 organizational slate, key appointments, salaries and service contracts

The Town of DeWitt board approved its 2025 organizational slate Monday, appointing Shane Spencer as chief of police and public safety, Jerry Fusco as town comptroller, and Rocco Conte as superintendent of water; the board also set salaries for town officers and authorized multiple service contracts and committee appointments.

The appointments and administrative actions matter because they set the town's leadership and fiscal framework for 2025, authorize routine service contracts (including animal-control and engineering), and fix pay and fees that affect town employees and residents.

Among the principal actions the board approved were the appointment of Shane Spencer as chief of police and public safety for the town of DeWitt and his designation as the town’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) officer; Jerry Fusco as town comptroller for the 2025 calendar year; and Rocco Conte as superintendent of water. The board also authorized Shane Spencer to appoint an officer to serve as FOIL officer in his stead.

The board adopted a detailed salary schedule for 2025. Notable entries in the schedule approved by motion included: town supervisor $58,000; highway superintendent Rocco Conte $95,000; police chief Shane Spencer $135,827; deputy police chief (vacant) $129,359 (listed); captain $123,199; lieutenants $114,073; and town justices $44,500. The motion to accept the 2025 salaries carried on a voice vote.

The board authorized several contracts and cost limits: a court security contract effective Jan. 1 at $31 per hour; an SPCA animal‑cruelty services contract at an annual cost not to exceed $7,182; an SPCA dog-control contract at an annual cost not to exceed $32,400; and an employee‑assistance program with the Center for Family Life and Recovery at a cost not to exceed $2,500. The board also set the dog redemption fee at $185 per dog, plus any veterinary or medical costs charged by the SPCA.

Other administrative approvals included: the town meeting schedule (second and fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m.), designation of the official newspapers (The Eagle Bulletin and The Syracuse Post‑Standard), and a list of official depositories for town funds (New York Cooperative Liquid Assets Security System, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., Bank of America, M&T Bank, KeyBank, and Solvay Bank).

The board confirmed a long list of appointments and special assignments: reappointment of Councillor Manion as deputy supervisor; Kate Warner as deputy town clerk (with duties of the town clerk); appointment of Jerry Fusco as comptroller; special district budget officer Gary Flushko; ADA coordinator Doug Nelley; and multiple special patrol and school traffic officer appointments listed in the meeting packet. The board also established membership and liaisons for planning, zoning and advisory boards, and filled several seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board (including Daniel Kornfield to the ZBA and Nate Brown as planning board chair).

The board authorized execution of an engineering-services contract with Miller Engineers & Associates, approved a room‑use agreement with Trinity Fellowship not to exceed $400 per year, and approved an agreement with DigSafe at no cost to the town. The board also named Matt Natoli counsel to the police commission and attorney to the ZBA and appointed Sharon Halpin as ZBA secretary and Angela Eppolito as ZBA clerk.

Financial and statutory items included a highway resolution (referring to funds available for general repairs and an amount stated in the resolution), authorization for the supervisor to file the annual financial report with the state comptroller (with the town clerk authorized to publish the summary on or before May 1), designation of the town comptroller as accounting officer, and adoption of a blanket fidelity bond covering town officers and employees as required by section 25 of Town Law. The board also authorized the supervisor to sign the New York State Department of Transportation highway work permit for maintenance within state rights of way.

Votes at a glance

- Appointed Shane Spencer as chief of police and public safety; designated FOIL officer (motion from Sarah; second from Jack). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Appointed Jerry Fusco as town comptroller for 2025 (motion from Jack; second from Max). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Appointed Rocco Conte as superintendent of water (motion from Jack). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Adopted 2025 salary schedule for town officers (motion from Bernard; second from Gary). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorized court security contract effective Jan. 1 at $31/hour (motion from Joe; second from Jack). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorized SPCA animal‑cruelty services contract not to exceed $7,182/year (motion from Max; second from Carrie). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorized SPCA dog‑control contract not to exceed $32,400/year (motion from Carrie). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Set dog redemption fee at $185 per dog plus veterinary/medical costs (motion from Max; second from Bernard). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorized engineering services contract with Miller Engineers & Associates (motion from Jack; second from Bernard). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approved room‑use agreement with Trinity Fellowship not to exceed $400/year (motion from Sarah; second from Bernard). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approved DigSafe agreement at no cost to the town (motion from Carrie; second from Jack). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorized EAP contract with the Center for Family Life and Recovery not to exceed $2,500 (motion from Sarah; second from Bernard). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Authorized signature of official depositories and designation of official newspapers (motions carried; movers and seconders recorded in meeting minutes). Outcome: approved (voice votes). - Appointments to ZBA, planning board, police commission counsel and other advisory bodies (motions and seconds recorded; outcomes approved by voice vote).

The meeting included repeated procedural voice votes for each motion; most motions were called, seconded and carried without recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript. The board noted several vacancies on advisory committees (tree committee, conservation committee alternates and other seats) and encouraged earlier fills in 2025 to ensure quorum for board work.

The organizational meeting concluded after adoption of the holiday schedule and an adjournment motion. The board indicated it will publish the statutory summary of the annual financial report as required.

Ending

The board completed the organizational business and adjourned after approving the appointments, contracts and administrative resolutions needed to begin 2025 operations.