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RFH 2010, Cover Stories

Village Buys Time to Find New Chief

Fri, Jul 22, 2011

State allows police chief to stay on through the end of September, while the village continues efforts to hire a replacement.

The village has to hire a new police chief, but at least it has a little extra time to complete the process.

Chief Rick Gifford, who was hired just last October, is unable to remain on the job because of state regulations. He cannot continue to receive pension payments from his previous position and also earn his salary from the village. So, he must step down or lose his pension benefits.

The village had sought a waiver to allow him to work longer, but the state has tightened enforcement of pension rules for civil servants.

However, the state Thursday agreed to allow Gifford to work through the end of September instead of forcing him to step down at the end of this month.

Trustee Sam Cooper was in Albany to meet with Civil Service representatives Thursday. He said commissioners agreed that Gifford had started some initiatives that ought to be continued until a new chief can be hired. Cooper said the commissioners agreed that it was important for the village to have its police force fully functional when Colgate classes resume later this summer.

"It wasn't the outcome we wanted," said Cooper. "But, at least it bought us some time."

The village is interviewing candidates for the position.

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