County's minimal consolidation efforts fail
NORWICH – Chenango County Traffic Safety Executive Secretary Jan Miles fought hard for her department last week, and won.
Members of the Finance Committee voted Thursday to stay in the business of offering defensive driving courses despite an earlier Safety & Rules Committee decision to zero the traffic department out.
Though the pricetag isn’t large – only $12,400 that would have been pared from next year’s levy – Miles’ reinstatement is indicative of the types of infighting and budgeting woes confronting the Chenango County Board of Supervisors during these trying fiscal times.
Financial leaders also voted to combine the Fire and Emergency Management Services department and move EMS Director Matt Beckwith from the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center. The switch, also denied by Safety & Rules, is intended to save $8,800 next year.
But, that’s just for 2011. It’s nearly certain the move will result in a new dispatcher position being created in the Sheriff’s Office that could possibly pay a $33,000 to $42,000 annual salary without benefits.
“We saved about nine grand, but down the road the Sheriff will press for his position back,” said Supervisor Rich Schlag, D-German.
Miles was directed to report back to her standing committee next year with advertising and marketing ideas for generating enrollment in the courses offered, thereby creating more revenue to cover her salary. Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, said it would be “foolish” to throw the budget away.
Safety & Rules Chairman Jack Cook, R-Greene, who has been unable to rally his committee in support for Miles, told her she’d been “put through the ringer more than is necessary of any part-time employee who’s come down the pike.”
The local share projected for taxpayers to afford the department next year is $5,400, with the remainder – mostly Miles’ salary – covered by tuitions. Those opposed had hoped to fold the budget into Stop DWI, insisting that defensive driving courses are already offered within the private sector. Miles is also paid $19,044 as part-time Stop DWI coordinator.
Town of Norwich Supervisor, David C. Law, said the consolidation efforts were never a question of personalities, as characterized by Chenango County Chairman Richard B. Decker and Cook last week. Both said the moves were “personal” attacks on Miles and Beckwith.
“It’s not a personality problem,” said Law. “Somewhere we’ve got to start cutting. That’s a small piece of the pie, but it’s a start. We are asking the unions to take a cut and yet we don’t do any cutting ourselves.”
County lawmakers directed the Personnel Committee to attempt to open discussions with the unions on reopening their contracts. The committee went into executive session on Wednesday to discuss the referral.
Members of the Finance Committee voted Thursday to stay in the business of offering defensive driving courses despite an earlier Safety & Rules Committee decision to zero the traffic department out.
Though the pricetag isn’t large – only $12,400 that would have been pared from next year’s levy – Miles’ reinstatement is indicative of the types of infighting and budgeting woes confronting the Chenango County Board of Supervisors during these trying fiscal times.
Financial leaders also voted to combine the Fire and Emergency Management Services department and move EMS Director Matt Beckwith from the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center. The switch, also denied by Safety & Rules, is intended to save $8,800 next year.
But, that’s just for 2011. It’s nearly certain the move will result in a new dispatcher position being created in the Sheriff’s Office that could possibly pay a $33,000 to $42,000 annual salary without benefits.
“We saved about nine grand, but down the road the Sheriff will press for his position back,” said Supervisor Rich Schlag, D-German.
Miles was directed to report back to her standing committee next year with advertising and marketing ideas for generating enrollment in the courses offered, thereby creating more revenue to cover her salary. Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, said it would be “foolish” to throw the budget away.
Safety & Rules Chairman Jack Cook, R-Greene, who has been unable to rally his committee in support for Miles, told her she’d been “put through the ringer more than is necessary of any part-time employee who’s come down the pike.”
The local share projected for taxpayers to afford the department next year is $5,400, with the remainder – mostly Miles’ salary – covered by tuitions. Those opposed had hoped to fold the budget into Stop DWI, insisting that defensive driving courses are already offered within the private sector. Miles is also paid $19,044 as part-time Stop DWI coordinator.
Town of Norwich Supervisor, David C. Law, said the consolidation efforts were never a question of personalities, as characterized by Chenango County Chairman Richard B. Decker and Cook last week. Both said the moves were “personal” attacks on Miles and Beckwith.
“It’s not a personality problem,” said Law. “Somewhere we’ve got to start cutting. That’s a small piece of the pie, but it’s a start. We are asking the unions to take a cut and yet we don’t do any cutting ourselves.”
County lawmakers directed the Personnel Committee to attempt to open discussions with the unions on reopening their contracts. The committee went into executive session on Wednesday to discuss the referral.
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