Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents oppose proposed pay cuts; supervisorship and highway pay draw debate
Summary
At the Oct. 29, 2025 preliminary budget hearing residents and officials debated proposed decreases to the Town Supervisor’s and Highway Superintendent’s pay; multiple residents registered opposition and a motion to adjust pay failed.
Residents and board members debated pay levels for Town of Seward officials during the 2026 Preliminary Budget public hearing on Oct. 29, 2025.
Mr. Mark Fletcher provided a written statement and read aloud opposition to how the budget process was handled and specifically objected to proposed decreases in the Town Supervisor’s and Highway Superintendent’s pay. Several residents — Judy Moore, Ralph Bellinger, Matthew Wilms, Duane Tillapaugh, Barbara Schaffer, Deb Fletcher and A.J. Fletcher — were recorded as opposing the proposed pay reductions. During public comment, resident Joanne Wilms asked whether sewer district rent charges would increase; the board advised there was no increase in the sewer district rent charge in the proposed budget.
The hearing recorded specific pay figures discussed: a motion proposed by Councilman William Harlow (seconded by Councilman James Seresky) sought to keep the Supervisor’s pay at $9,000 and raise the Highway Superintendent’s pay to $55,000. That motion was put to a vote and failed; the meeting minutes list the motion as failed with the board recording the NAYS as William Harlow, Wendy Adams Rosa, James Seresky, MaryAnn Nelson and Supervisor Earlin Rosa. The board closed the public comment portion of the budget hearing unanimously and later adjourned the budget hearing until the next regular meeting.
