AUBURN - More than 100 CSEA members - most from the Auburn unit, but others from Cayuga County, Oswego County, the Auburn school district, the city's police union and retired city workers - appealed to the public Thursday armed with signs, fliers and orange CSEA T-shirts to protest a proposal to lay off 14 union members.

“We want the taxpayers to know we work very hard for the money we earn, and we work very hard to provide those services,” said Tom Gabak, president of Auburn's unit. Under the budget proposal, the union would also lose five positions through attrition. The cuts, Gabak said, would drastically impact city services.

CSEA Central Region President Jim Moore, who oversees 20 counties, also attended and had a heated exchange with city manager John Salomone who was outside for part of the protest.

Later, Moore said Salomone approached him, questioning how Moore's public bashing of Salomone would impact their relationship. Moore said with the “threat” of layoffs, the two have no relationship, and he called Salomone a derogatory name.

“There is no good relationship with the city manager and the CSEA,” Moore said.

Moore said he has worked with the city for more than 30 years and would continue to maintain a good relationship with the city.

Salomone said he understands emotions are high this budget season. He said he and the city council would deal with its local unions in negotiations and not an out-of-town union leader.

“I guess they have to blame

someone,” he said. “It's unfortunate that we can't have a formal discussion.”

Moore also spoke during the city council meeting and got into another exchange with Salomone, after Moore suggested the city could save money by eliminating the manager's position and forming a strong mayoral form of government.

Moore became angry when Salomone corrected Gabak after Gabak said Salomone assured the mayor that the city could afford negotiated salary increases when the CSEA contract was approved last March. Salomone said he assured that based on his proposed budget, which contained a 9 percent tax levy increase that was later reduced to 5 percent.

“I can only make my best assumption,” Salomone said. “If my budget proposal was left in tact, we wouldn't have as tight a budget as we have this year.”

Moore told Salomone he should accept the criticism and not “make an excuse for something.” Moore then suggested the city do away with the manager position, and Salomone said the city didn't need to hear management suggestions “from an out-of-towner.”

“You're an out-of-town agitator,” Salomone said to Moore, who then suggested someone put in a freedom of information request for all of the manager's expenses and left the council chambers.

Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net