CSEA LOCAL 828 MEMBERS SAVE THE LIFE OF AN ELDERLY MAN; RECEIVE PROCLAMATION FROM TOWN OF GREECE

Town of Greece Supervisor John Auberger reads a proclamation honoring
CSEA members Dan O'Connell and Ron Bandemer on May 17, 2011.
photo:  Bess Watts

Greece, N.Y.--  On May 16, Town of Greece Supervisor John Auberger presented a proclamation to two Highway Department workers who happened to save an elderly man's life two months ago.

On a weekend day last March, Ron Bandemer heard cries for help near the highway storage facilities.  They were coming from a man who somehow found himself in the middle of a fenced-in construction site up to his neck in mud.  The man was just clinging to a post, hanging on to dear life.

Bandemer immediately called co-worker Dan O'Connell, who held on the man until emergency personnel arrived on the scene.  Then, the two CSEA members helped the first responders pull the man to safety.

"Far too frequently, public employees are painted with a negative brush and blamed for all that is wrong throughout the state, " commented Flo Tripi, CSEA WNY Region President.  She added, "Nothing could be further from the truth.  We never hesitate to go the extra mile.  In this case, a man is alive today because of our members efforts."

The man who got stuck, who is in his 80's, was searching for a shortcut to the library.  Authorities still do not know how the man got into the construction site, which was heavily secured.  The pit at the construction site has since been filled in and all the fencing has been repaired near the site.

Town of Greece Unit 7413 members Dan O'Connell and Ron Bandemer 
flank Local 828 President  Bess Watts after they received their proclamations of appreciation.  photo:  Cris Zaffuto