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Bingo appointments irk ousted chairman
By John J. Hopkins Times
Cheektowaga has a new chairman for its five-member group of Bingo inspectors, but the departing chairman questioned the town board as to why he wasn't reappointed. He left with "answers," but they weren't supplied by board members.
Kenneth J. Jeffords, who has served as Bingo Inspector Chairman for more than a decade, was removed from the post during Monday's town board meeting, and he was not retained as one of the four remaining inspectors.
Instead, Thaddeus I. Marciniak was promoted to chairman, and Anthony Prep was appointed as a Bingo inspector in a resolution sponsored by Councilmember Jim Rogowski and seconded by Councilmember Richard Zydel.
The other Bingo inspectors- Katherine Ferdinand, Ruth A. Cassacci, John Abraham and Dennis Smith- were retained.
The resolution passed by a 5-2 count, with Supervisor Mary F. Holtz and Councilmember Charlie Markel casting the dissenting votes.
During the public comment period at the start of the meeting, Jeffords asked why he was being let go, directing his question primarily at the resolution's sponsors, Rogowski and Zydel.
Defending himself, Jeffords said he has been a Bingo inspector for 33 years, and has chaired the group for 15 of those years.
"I have done nothing wrong," Jeffords stated. "All of a sudden, I'm being terminated. I would like a reason."
Neither Rogowski nor Zydel offered substantive reasons why the change was made.
"Every year, Bingo inspectors are appointed," Zydel said. "No one wants to be the one who's changed."
Jeffords said that there are Bingo organizers in town who will vouch that he has always performed his job.
"I never said you haven't done the job," Zydel replied.
"But you're terminating me," Jeffords said. "Why? What's the justification? Give me something."
Rogowski said he reviewed the Bingo inspector applications before he made his decision.
"I felt that Tony Prep was the better candidate for the position," Rogowski said.
The dissatisfied Jeffords said he still is unhappy that he is being replaced.
"I won't ask any more questions because I already have so many answers," Jeffords said.
Bingo inspectors are appointed by the town board and they all receive financial stipends.
Two residents in attendance also spoke up on the appointments, including Joan Adams, president of the Cedargrove Action Committee and a vice chairperson of the Town Democratic Committee.
"This is a cruel call," said Adams, suggesting the board should have removed more than one person if it felt a change was needed.
Justine Przemielewski suggested term limits for the positions, and noted that all of the appointed members serve on the Town Democratic Committee. She stated that her husband's applications to town board- appointed deliberative body positions in the past have been passed over.
"He didn't get (a post) because we're not committee persons," Przemielewski said. "It's all committee people and they're all paid positions."
Along with Bingo inspectors, Planning Board members and Zoning Board of Appeals members all earn stipends for their jobs. Members of these groups are also appointed by the town board.
The Bingo chairman earns $6,402, while the other four Bingo inspectors earn $6,114.
The Planning Board chairman earns $5,158, while the group's secretary receives $4,419. The remaining five members each are paid $3,491.
The five-person Zoning Board includes four members who each receive $4,115 and a chairman who earns $5,574.
Bingo inspectors last came under scrutiny in January 2002 when there was a rift on the all-Democratic town board.
At that time, councilmembers William P. Rogowski (Jim's father) and Patricia A. Jaworowicz hoped to appoint a new member, but their resolution was shot down, 5-2 by one sponsored by Supervisor Dennis H. Gabryszak and Councilmember Thomas M. Johnson.
Rogowski, Jaworowicz and Tom Mazur had just won re-election to the town board following a heated primary in September 2001. The split group eventually reunited.
Members of other town boardappointed groups, such as the Traffic Safety Commission, Veterans Affairs Committee, Conservation Advisory Council and Environmental Advisory Committee do not receive financial compensation for their work.
Appointments to these groups have not been challenged in at least seven years.
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