Saeli's departure and Farberman's arrival are part of the latest round of changes in News' management.

Scott Brooks, vice president in charge of advertising, left the paper late last year amid concerns about advertising revenue. |Brooks is now working in Pittsburgh.

Publisher Stanford Lipsey said the company is looking for a new advertising director but, for now, has put Executive Vice President Warren Colville in charge of the department.

Colville headed the advertising department for several years before becoming the company's second in charge. As part of the change, Colville is moving his office back to the 4th floor.

The News also saw former Circulation Department head Dominick Bordanaro leave the paper late last year. Bordanaro had been working most recently in the advertising department.

Of all the changes, the most important to the Guild is the arrival of Farberman, a labor relations professional with a long history of dealing with private and public sector unions.

Farberman served as Masiello's director of labor relations for nearly a year in 1994 and quickly gained the respect of City Hall union leaders.

"He took charge and got things done," said David Christopher, president of the city's blue-collar union. "He wasn't afraid of telling his own commissioners when they were wrong."

While at City Hall, Farberman was probably best known for his role in the David May case. May, a deputy in the Office of Vital Statistics, admitted stealing $200,000 from the city and, after getting fired, demanded more than $7,000 in back vacation pay.

Farberman, knowing the contract worked in May's favor, reached a settlement with the union. Masiello and the Common Council refused to go along and Farberman warned them, right or wrong, May would eventually win.

Years later, Farberman was proven right. The issue went to arbitration and May got his vacation pay.

"My philosophy in dealing with unions is the same philosophy I use in dealing with people," Farberman said. "You treat them with respect, tell them the truth and work from there."

In late 1994, Farberman left City Hall and returned to Rochester to work as director of labor relations at Rochester Telephone. The company eventually expanded and became Frontier Communications and, last year, was part of a friendly takeover by Global Crossing.

Saeli's departure from The News caught union leaders by surprise. Since then, Saeli has told several people that the opportunity to return to private practice - the firm of LoTempio & Brown in downtown Buffalo - was too good to pass up.