Warwick Village Board encourages employees to use, rather than carry over, vacation time

Warwick - At its regular meeting July 5, the Warwick Village Board denied an employee’s request to carryover five vacation days. The application by Arthur Wendel comes after he drew down carry overs of more than 100 hours to less than 70 hours. The board rejected his application, agreeing that he did not answer why the time went unused. The decision is in keeping with the board’s deliberations about the importance of vacation time and carry overs earlier this year. In February, the board voted unanimously to promote a culture that encourages employees to take vacation. The board also directed employees with large carry overs to draw down by a certain date. Although Wendel may reapply to carryover the vacation days, the board reaffirmed its goal of no carry overs. That goal is important not only because the village must pay employees for unused vacation time upon their resignation or termination, but also because the board believes vacation to be an important opportunity for employees to get away from work. Trustee Bill Iurato and village attorney Michael Meth were absent from the meeting. In other news The board paid approved and audited bills totaling $242,889.24. The board granted permission to the Warwick Valley Merchants Guild to close Railroad Avenue on Sunday, July 10, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. for its annual Sidewalk Sale. Trustee George McManus cautioned the group against putting promotional stencils on the sidewalks without board approval. The board scheduled a public hearing to amend the village’s trespassing law for Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall. The proposed amendments include acts like throwing refuse onto village property or into waterways. The board appointed Christopher Bennett to the position of Water Maintenance Supervisor using the guidelines of civil service with potential changes to the job description, which the board is reviewing. The board is concerned that the job description does not cover the basics of work to be done in the village. The next regular meeting of the board is Monday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Warwick Village Hall, 77 Main St.