DECEMBER 20, 2007, SHIRLEY, NEW YORK – Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley, Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld and Councilwoman Connie Kepert decried the Town Board’s 4-3 vote Thursday to table a resolution that would have been a key step in the process of installing GPS in town vehicles to bring greater accountability to town workers and save taxpayer dollars.

   A motion to form a “GPS Vehicle Tracking System Implementation Committee” was tabled. The motion to table was supported by Councilmen Tim Mazzei and Kevin McCarrick and Councilwomen Kathy Walsh and Carol Bissonette.

   “This outrageous vote flies in the face of everything we were elected to do,” said Supervisor Foley. “Is there something wrong with demanding accountability from our town employees? Is there something wrong with making sure our workers are making the best possible use of every working hour? Is there something wrong with doing everything we can to make sure our residents’ tax dollars are spent wisely?

   “I cannot imagine a valid argument on behalf of our taxpayers against installing GPS in our town vehicles to constantly monitor their location and proper security,” said Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld. “There is simply no reason not to proceed with forming this committee to thoughtfully bring all the stakeholders, including our unions, into the same room to address any issues.”

   “Forming this committee would provide the opportunity for everyone to come to the table, voice their concerns, and, one hopes, reach an agreement on how to proceed,” said Councilwoman Kepert. “Derailing that process is just wrong, and it is a flat-out refusal to look out for the public’s best interests.”

 The formation of the committee would have been just a preliminary step toward the eventual goal of GPS installation. The committee would have included a representative of the Supervisor, one Democratic and one Republican Town Board representative, three union representatives (one white collar, one blue collar and one highway) and designees from the departments of Public Safety, Waste Management, Parks, Highway, Vehicle Control, Management and Research and Information Technology.

   The committee was designed to bring all the stakeholders to the table to address any and all concerns.

   Failing to form the committee will at the very least slow the process and at worst could be an indication that the new Town Board will not have the political will to make this important reform.

Office of the Supervisor
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