By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Review of the proposed $23.2 million Olean city budget for 2026-27 became confrontational Thursday as aldermen voted 4-3 to restore funding for the water and sewer superintendent that Mayor Amy Sherburne had removed.
On Tuesday, four aldermen were critical of the mayor’s action removing the water and sewer superintendent’s post from the proposed budget and read statements urging funding be restored.
At the outset of Thursday’s budget meeting, Alderman John Crawford, D-Ward 5, offered a motion to restore funding for the sewer and water superintendent, which was seconded by Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7.
Joining them in voting to restore the funding were Alderman Robert Keary, R-Ward 2 and Alderwoman Jennifer Forney, R-Ward 3.
That sparked Sherburne to call the position redundant and ask whether she could veto the restoration of the funding for the sewer and water superintendent.
Crawford said the position was created by the council eight years ago as a solution to a problem stemming from a costly lawsuit and he feels it is an important position.
Brad Camp is the current sewer and water superintendent.
“You’ve never asked me my opinion,” the mayor shot back. “I have assessed the situation, and I think it’s an overreach on the council’s part, that they are going to question what positions are needed and at the cost of raising the water and sewer for our constituents and the needs that we have at this point, that position is redundant.”
She accused the four aldermen of collaborating against her in their statements at Tuesday’s budget meeting.
Crawford replied that he had sat on the council for 10 years. We believe this position is warranted. It has served its purpose.”
Forney said there was no collaboration between the aldermen who made statements on the necessity of the sewer and water superintendent’s position.
The mayor said, “We cannot have a redundant job in this budget. I do not take this decision lightly.” She said the position cost the city $190,000 with fringe benefits. It would add 2.5% to the tax levy.
Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, who along with Finance Committee Chairwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4 and Lawrence Bennion Jr., R-Ward 1, voted against the motion to restore the funding said Anastasia was voting to restore funding in a budget he was historically likely to vote against anyway.
Robinson said, “It has been stated over and over and over, we’re going to overburden the DPW director. The DPW director will not be overburdened because there are people in place.” He added: “But the more this goes on, I’ll just blow this shit up and just throw everything out there on the table to let everyone know. This is why we don’t want this here.”
“It will save money in the long run,” Anastasia said. I vote my conscience. I don’t give a shit what anybody says.”
McCall said the council was voting to restore funding for the position, not the person. If the position stays in the budget, it needs to be “more tightly managed.”
Sherburne said she understands the workload on the DPW director will increase with the reconstruction of West State Street in the coming years, but that the city could better use an engineer, which she has included in the DPW budget.
The mayor encouraged any council members to contact her with questions or suggestions about the budget.
Crawford offered to take the mayor up on her offer next Monday.
McCall asked aldermen to email her any suggested changes in the proposed budget next week so she can forward them to the mayor. The council is due to vote on the budget at its April 14 meeting.
When the mayor introduced the proposed budget last month, it carried a tax rate increase of 18.69%. That has been whittled down to about 9.18%.
There was also a proposed 11% increase proposed in the $5.2 million sewer fund and no increase in the water fund of $4.7 million.
