NORWICH – A referral to refill a Democrat senior clerk position in the Chenango County Board of Elections office was omitted from an original agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Personnel Committee.
Committee Chairman Wayne Outwater, R-Licklaen, said he “chose to” take the item off, saying he didn’t think there would be ample time to discuss it. Democratic Commissioner Carol A. Franklin said she had planned on attending the meeting at 9:20 a.m. to request that the position be filled, but found out Tuesday evening that she wouldn’t be on the agenda.
Yesterday’s meeting was held earlier than usual in order to accommodate a budget meeting of the full Board of Supervisors at 10:30 a.m.
During the meeting, Jerry L. Kreiner, R-Plymouth, asked Outwater more than once why the item wasn’t listed on the agenda any longer. He said he didn’t know until that morning that it had been omitted from the agenda. When Outwater responded that there wouldn’t be time, Kreiner pointed out: “Wait a minute. The Sheriff’s here and he’s not on the agenda.” (Chenango County Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren appeared briefly before the committee to receive permission to refill a corrections officer position.)
The senior elections clerk position has been open since Nov. 8. The refill was approved by the Safety & Rules Committee on Nov. 21. Safety & Rules Chairman Alton B. Doyle, R-Guilford, said he found out Tuesday evening that the item would be omitted, but he did not comment as to why.
The elections office could be minus one Democrat until at least February of 2008 when the county’s Personnel Committee meets again. Doyle said he would be forced to dip into the department’s overtime budget in order to pay for an interim clerk.
The position is a political one, not part of an employee union. New York State Board of Elections stipulates that there must be an even number of Republican and Democrat clerks on staff. There are normally two Democrat clerks and two Republican clerks.
The local office is currently gearing up for the presidential primaries in February. Franklin said the upcoming workload would be difficult without sufficient staff.
When reached Wednesday afternoon, Chenango Democratic Committee Chair Catherine Ulfik said she was unaware that the position was not discussed in Personnel. However, she said the extra time would enable the Committee to find “the most qualified person for the position.”
“We have quite a few applicants for that position. This gives us more time to get a qualified person. I’m not concerned,” she said. “It’s a slow season. They could bring in an extra hire if they had to.”
Upon learning the news, Chenango Democratic Committee Vice Chair Patrick McNeil said he thought the position would be filled immediately in order to help carry the office’s workload, as well as to have fair representation of both parties. He said he would “most likely have to make some phone calls,” and commented, “I hope politics doesn’t fall into play here.”
In related news, McNeil and other members of his party have formed a Democratic Club that is unaffiliated with the Democratic Committee and Ulfik. Ulfik, who has been the Committee’s chair since 1997, said the club was not recognized by the committee.
McNeil said the Democratic Club is designed to help more Democrats get elected to government positions. He said Ulfik “doesn’t care to participate in the club.”