CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango County Board of Supervisors engaged in a crucial discussion about adjusting the salaries of multiple county personnel Monday morning during their monthly meeting.

The first resolution concerned a salary increase for the Office of the Aging Director. Heather Felter is currently occupying this position. The resolution was proposed by the personnel committee, led by North Norwich Supervisor Robert Wansor. The position’s current salary is $62,500 a year, and the proposed increase would raise it to $70,000 a year.

While the resolution was scheduled to be implemented yesterday, it was not without its share of concerns. Several board members expressed reservations about the timing and magnitude of the proposed increase, sparking a healthy debate.

The justification for the increase was to raise the salary to “current rates comparable to other counties’ department heads,” as Norwich City Supervisor James McNeil noted.

However, McNeil contested that a salary increase of this amount did not seem needed right now.

“Is an increase valid? Yes. A $7,500 increase – at this point in time – no,” he said. “This is not personal. This is principle.”

McNeil suggested that because some positions receive a 4% salary increase on January 1, the same precedent could be applied to this salary increase. Therefore, he proposed an amendment to raise the position’s salary to $67,500 for now and then raise this salary amount to $70,000 on January 1, 2025, as per the 4% salary increase.