By Bill Sherman

ALTAMONT – Completing a three month search, the village board on Tuesday appointed a 19-year Albany Police Department investigator as the commissioner of public safety. However, most village residents may know Anthony Salerno better as the village barber.

Trustee Harvey Vlahos, who coordinated the search, said the village received 14 applications for the position. Vlahos and trustee Kerry Dineen interviewed 12 of the candidates and forwarded three to the full board. The finalists where interviewed in executive session on Monday.

Salerno, who has been cutting hair for more than 20 years, comes to the Altamont Police Department with impressive credentials and strong recommendations from the FBI, the State Police, the Albany chief of police, and several village residents, said Mayor James Gaughan as he nominated Salerno for the $40,500 full-time post.

The new commissioner, his wife, and two children have been village residents for more than 10 years. Village residency was a key criteria set by the board when it established the position description. The trustees also required the candidates to be certified police officers. Acting Commissioner Robert Coleman, who applied late and did not meet the criteria, was not among the three finalists for the position.
When asked how he expects Salerno to split his time between Albany and Altamont, Gaughan said, "I have asked him to be full-time-plus in Altamont. Tony will work for Altamont in the day during the work week and also on weekends." Salerno works the late-night shift in Albany.
Salerno said he has been working as a barber and police investigator for the past seven years and does not expect to have a problem doing police work for both Altamont and Albany. He said he "budgets his time very conservatively" so both jobs should not be a problem.

Salerno’s Guilderland Center Barbershop, located in the Phillips Hardware building at the corner of routes 158 and 146, may continue to operate even without its owner. Salerno said he hopes another barber will take over within the next week or so.
The new commissioner said his interest in the position came from several village residents who asked that he apply. About the residents, Salerno said, "When you’re fair it sets a good example in today’s society and they know that about me."
He continued, "It’s a position I feel I had to take for the community. My top focus is the people in the village." Gaughan said a priority of the new commissioner will be to lead the department through a reorganization process.

This past winter, Gaughan, before he was elected mayor, chaired a citizen police review committee that found several problems with the village’s police department. The committee issued a resident survey which resulted in requests for fewer part-time officers, more community policing, and a police commissioner who is able to make arrests and is present in the village.

Several of the more than 40 residents in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting told The Enterprise they were satisfied with the outcome of the public-safety-commissioner search.
Police review committee member Michael LaMountain said, "I think it’s wonderful the village has finally come to terms with the police survey." LaMountain added, "We were lucky. He’s got impressive credentials."
Beth Shaw, president of Altamont Community Tradition, a citizens’ group, said she was "pleased that the concerns of the community were taken into account." Secor said she is hoping Salerno fosters a sense of community within the police force and takes a serious look at the needs of the small community in Altamont.
Both LaMountain and resident Lois Ginsburg said there were opportunities for change in the department with the new leadership. Ginsburg said, "I’m happy that he lives here in the village, and I’m sure he is aware of the many problems in the village." LaMountain is particularly looking for more control of speeders on the village’s roads.
Gaughan said Salerno would start immediately. He said Salerno has already put together a budget that is "well within the amount budgeted by the village." According to village treasurer Katherine Hasbrouck, the current department budget is $129,000. Hasbrouck said $97,000 of the budget covers staff salaries.

Gaughan said, while Salerno would start his new job on Wednesday, former commissioner Coleman has agreed to a transition period to assist Salerno’s start. There were no details available on how long Coleman would stay active with the department.
Salerno said he plans to complete an "intensive review" of the department before meeting with the mayor and trustees. He said he intends to focus on making the department a completely professional operation.
"I want to keep the family values in Altamont," Salerno said. Of the decision to hire him, Salerno said, "I was very surprised that I was chosen. It completely caught me off-guard."