The following is a commentary by David Bain, Town of Alexandria Highway Superintendent
ENOUGH!
ENOUGH! ENOUGH!
I’M WRITING THIS LETTER
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRIA. ENOUGH
OF THIS INFORMATION CONSISTING OF LIES AND HALF TRUTHS. I'VE LIVED
IN THIS TOWN MY WHOLE LIFE AND EVEN BEING INVOLVED IN THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OR SEEN SUCH
DECEIT AND NEGATIVE CONTROVERSY CONCERNING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING. I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE FAIR TO BOTH THE
TAXPAYERS I SERVE AS WELL AS MY EMPLOYEES. I HAVE ALWAYS STOOD BEHIND
MY CREWS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE LIES
AND NEGATIVE COMMENTS BOTH ON THE INTERNET AND STREETS CONCERNING MY
ELECTED POSITION, DUTIES, BENEFITS AND CHARACTER HAVE BEEN UNDER
FIRE. NORMALLY I WOULD JUST LET THESE ACCUSATIONS RUN THEIR COURSE,
BUT RECENTLY THEY HAVE GOTTEN COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND!
HERE’S
THE FACTS! ALL THIS NEGATIVE PUBLIC
GARBAGE HAS EFFECTED MY ELECTED POSITION BOTH WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE
HIGHWAY CREW. THERE ARE TWO HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES RUNNING FOR MY OFFICE,
ANDY DAVIS AND JERRY
DURAND. ANDY INFORMS ME THAT HIS REASON IS TO
“BLOCK JERRY DURAND FROM BEING ELECTED”
AS JERRY’S REASON I’M TOLD IS “BECAUSE
HE WAS APPROACHED SOMETIME AGO TO RUN”.
ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND ANY ONE MAY CHOOSE TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND I
CERTAINLY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, I REALLY FEEL THAT ANY EMPLOYEE
THAT CHOOSES TO RUN AGAINST ME IS, AT THE VERY LEAST, DISRESPECTFUL
WHEN I HIRED THEM AND HAVE TREATED THEM FAIR AND WITH RESPECT! BOTH
OF THESE EMPLOYEES IN MY OPINION ARE GOOD EMPLOYEES AND PERFORM THEIR
DAILY DUTIES VERY WELL. BECAUSE OF ALL THE DECEPTION CONCERNING THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY (SOME CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED!), SOME OF MY EMPLOYEES
HAVE CHOSE TO TURN AGAINST ME! I AM TOLD THEIR MAIN REASON IS BECAUSE
THEY FEEL I HAVE SOME HOW LET THEM DOWN BY HAVING RETIREMENT HEALTH
CARE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY RECEIVE.
WELL HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN;
UNDER “LOCAL LAW # 2” WHEN I RETIRE DEPENDING ON MY YEARS OF
SERVICE AND AGE, I WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HEALTH CARE UNDER A
DIFFERENT POLICY (NOT THE EXISTING POLICY) BY THE TOWN AND MY
COVERAGE WOULD CONSIST OF A SINGLE PLAN OF WHICH I WOULD CONTRIBUTE
15% AT TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE DOWN TO 5% WITH THIRTY OR MORE YEARS
OF SERVICE, AT AGE 65 IF I AM NOT STILL EMPLOYED BY THE TOWN I WILL
BE UNDER MEDICARE AS MY PRIMARY COVERAGE AND UNDER A SUPPLEMENT
INSURANCE THAT I MUST PURCHASE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE TOWN’S
PERCENTAGE REIMBURSEMENT BASED AGAIN ON MY YEARS OF SERVICE. RIGHT
NOW MY HEALTHCARE TOTAL COST IS $8,091.00; I CONTRIBUTE 10% AND COPAY
WHATEVER THE POLICY DOESN'T COVER. THE HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES UNDER THE
TEAMSTER CONTRACT RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING: FAMILY PLAN-$26,625.52 PR.
YR., 2 PERSON PLAN-$19,321.64 AND SINGLE PLAN-$9,999.08. ALL THE
EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTE 10% COPAY AND PAY ANY AMOUNT NOT COVERED UNDER
THE INSURANCE. AT THEIR TIME OF RETIREMENT, EACH EMPLOYEE WILL
RECEIVE $450.00 TO $750.00 PER MONTH FROM THE TOWN TOWARDS THEIR
PURCHASED HEALTHCARE PLAN BASED ON THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE, MIN OF 20
YEARS. EACH EMPLOYEE WILL ALSO HAVE A CHOICE OF
BANKING ACCRUED HOURS OF SICK TIME TO OFFSET THEIR HEALTHCARE TO AGE
65 OR RECEIVE PAYMENT OF THEIR TOTAL ACCRUED SICK TIME AT THE TIME OF
THEIR RETIREMENT.
IN MY OPINION I FEEL ALL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES SHOULD
RECEIVE HEALTHCARE AND I KNOW THE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES HAVE NO PROBLEM
CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR PLANS, BUT I CERTAINLY FEEL, AS THEY DO, THAT
THE PART TIME EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THE SAME BENEFITS.
UNDERSTAND THAT THE PART TIME EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THE SAME HEALTHCARE AS
THE FULL TIME. I FEEL THAT ALL PART TIME EMPLOYEES SHOULD AT THE VERY
LEAST, ONLY RECEIVE THE SINGLE PLAN AND OR CONTRIBUTE A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE TOWARDS THEIR BENEFIT. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOCAL
POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS INVOLVING MY OFFICE AS WELL AS MY EMPLOYEES. WE
HAVE ALL WORKED HARD TO PERFORM OUR DUTIES AND WITH ALL THIS
POLITICAL CHAOS GOING ON, IT HAS CAUSED DISRESPECT AND DECEIT AGAINST
MY ELECTED OFFICE AND OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES. THIS TOWNSHIP DESERVES
BETTER! I AM RESPECTIVELY REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS LAST TERM
IN OFFICE AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS OUR EMPLOYEES.
SINCERELY,
DAVID H. BAIN
1 comment:
I think Mr. Bain is confused about why two citizens are running against him this election. it is interesting that both gentlemen work for the highway department, who would know better, if the highway department was running smoothly and effectively? the majority of the employees have signs in their yard supporting Andy Davis. furthermore Andy is not blocking anyone from running, he feels strongly that changes need to be made at highway department, and cares deeply for his town and community. I am proud to know Andy and call him my friend. His honesty and integrity are without question! I have been to several town meetings and talked to a few hundred townspeople campaigning and getting petitions signed for Andy Davis, John Stine, and Shannon Peterson, I have not heard anyone talking about Dave Bain's health insurance, or any other full time employee of the town, the focus seems to be on board members health care costs, and others whom are considered part time. some issues I have heard talked about are, the shredding of document's by Dave Bain prior to comptroller audit, the lack of accountability for gas pumps located at highway department, we pay Mr. Bain to oversee this department and expect him to make reasonable efforts to secure these assets and guard against misuse or loss, as well as keep accurate records so that it could be determined if there was a problem, and respond appropriately. Mr. Bain's spouse works for Suit-cote INC. a company we spend an enormous amount of money with each year, considerably more than other townships of similar size. Many consider this a conflict of interest. Mr. Bain's business dealings with route 11 truck repair is also being discussed. and then their is the ice arena Mr. Bain receives a stipend to oversee. there has been a large turnover of employees the last few years I think 7? As well as charges of sexual harassment. besides these personnel problems their seems to be a wide range of other issues concerning management of ice arena, I urge all townspeople to diligently seek the truth and vote accordingly
sincerely Dan Peterson
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