More staffing needed to support county services
NORWICH – Chenango County Public Health Department officials requested to add a part-time clerical worker at $11,000 plus benefits to the county’s 2008 budget. Benefits would be necessary in order to hire a qualified candidate, they said.
The individual would become what’s called “a single point of entry” for those in need of long term public health, mental health, social services or elderly care. The account clerk/typist position is the result of the county opting to take on a state recommended program late last year that came with a $57,000 grant.
DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne said the position was identified by a newly created council whose members represent the four departments and local government, area clergy and representatives from the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. It was also suggested by Chenango Health Network who was contracted with to make assessments of all the long term care options available in the county.
The community “would see more efficiencies” as a result of the new position, Osborne said, and placing it within the Public Health Department was “the logical way to do it.”
“There are counties where public health, social services and aging agencies don’t talk to each other; don’t like each other. They’ve taken the grant money and created another 5 to 6 person unit in order to do this program,” she said. “We work very well together and we have a reputation for good long term health care in this county already. I’d like to see it continued.”
The same grant would be available to afford the position in 2008, but would fall under Medicaid after that. Osborne said indications are that last year’s state-imposed cap on Medicaid spending would continue, meaning no local share for the position.
“It looks like Governor Spitzer and the state will continue the Medicaid cap, although I don’t have that in writing,” she said.
Committee member James B. Bays, D-Smyrna, who is also a council member, said there have been service gaps between the four departments. One unit in DSS handles 21 different programs for New York State, Osborne said, from Adult Protective Services to referrals from New York State Electric and Gas.
However, Bays joined other town supervisors in questioning how creating efficiencies could result in more staff. “It is (the position’s cost) going to land here,” he said.
“Someone will have to pay the cost if not funded after next year. If creating efficiencies, then maybe we will see some positions on the back end reduced? If filling a deficiency, then it should result in back end cut back,” he said.
Supervisor Allan I. Johnson, R-Smithville, said the committee “ought to have their eyes wide open” if it decides to create the position.
“This is the kind of thing that those cynics out there are going to say: ‘Government at its best.’ With one hand we are trying to create efficiencies and on the left hand are going out and hiring another person. They are not going to stand for the real rationalization that it might be good,” he said.
Committee Chairman Jeffrey B. Blanchard asked, “Isn’t there a person in the public health department who could be doing the job now?”
Public Health Director Marcus Flindt said the department’s efficiencies “are at a functional level now.”
“It would become more efficient for public and existing staff. The efficiencies would come in a different way than reducing staffing,” he said.
e-mail: mdecordova@evesun.com
The individual would become what’s called “a single point of entry” for those in need of long term public health, mental health, social services or elderly care. The account clerk/typist position is the result of the county opting to take on a state recommended program late last year that came with a $57,000 grant.
DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne said the position was identified by a newly created council whose members represent the four departments and local government, area clergy and representatives from the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. It was also suggested by Chenango Health Network who was contracted with to make assessments of all the long term care options available in the county.
The community “would see more efficiencies” as a result of the new position, Osborne said, and placing it within the Public Health Department was “the logical way to do it.”
“There are counties where public health, social services and aging agencies don’t talk to each other; don’t like each other. They’ve taken the grant money and created another 5 to 6 person unit in order to do this program,” she said. “We work very well together and we have a reputation for good long term health care in this county already. I’d like to see it continued.”
The same grant would be available to afford the position in 2008, but would fall under Medicaid after that. Osborne said indications are that last year’s state-imposed cap on Medicaid spending would continue, meaning no local share for the position.
“It looks like Governor Spitzer and the state will continue the Medicaid cap, although I don’t have that in writing,” she said.
Committee member James B. Bays, D-Smyrna, who is also a council member, said there have been service gaps between the four departments. One unit in DSS handles 21 different programs for New York State, Osborne said, from Adult Protective Services to referrals from New York State Electric and Gas.
However, Bays joined other town supervisors in questioning how creating efficiencies could result in more staff. “It is (the position’s cost) going to land here,” he said.
“Someone will have to pay the cost if not funded after next year. If creating efficiencies, then maybe we will see some positions on the back end reduced? If filling a deficiency, then it should result in back end cut back,” he said.
Supervisor Allan I. Johnson, R-Smithville, said the committee “ought to have their eyes wide open” if it decides to create the position.
“This is the kind of thing that those cynics out there are going to say: ‘Government at its best.’ With one hand we are trying to create efficiencies and on the left hand are going out and hiring another person. They are not going to stand for the real rationalization that it might be good,” he said.
Committee Chairman Jeffrey B. Blanchard asked, “Isn’t there a person in the public health department who could be doing the job now?”
Public Health Director Marcus Flindt said the department’s efficiencies “are at a functional level now.”
“It would become more efficient for public and existing staff. The efficiencies would come in a different way than reducing staffing,” he said.
e-mail: mdecordova@evesun.com
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