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Salary Adjustment Draws Sharp Criticism at Legislature's Organizational Meeting
Legislature designates appointees for 2007
by Margaret Sternberg
With the exception of what became a contentious discussion over a salary adjustment for a county employee, the January 2, 2007 Organizational Meeting of the Putnam County Legislature went smoothly.
Prefacing the discussion of a budgetary amendment to fund the salary adjustments, Legislator Terry Intrary again noted that the proposal had been made, at the behest of the County Executive and the Director of Personnel, to compensate certain individuals whose positions had been upgraded due to added responsibilities.
Legislator Regina Morini, who is the legislative chairman of the Personnel Committee, objected to a $12,669 raise and an additional $969 to cover FICA, noting the increase as being more than double the next highest increase and observing that the individual was a member of management; therefore, a salary adjustment should be governed differently. Legislator Tony Hay said that he would vote against any raises on the basis that in 2006 the County had said no raises would be given.
Legislator Sam Oliverio and several others came to the defense of the person involved, noting the individual had assumed a number of new responsibilities and had done so for an extended period of time, without additional compensation. Oliverio also said he felt the amount was inadequate and that he would be comfortable with a higher increase in that particular case. He said he was "disturbed" that Legislator Morini had requested that, procedurally, the items be considered as a separate matter and that he would have approved that raise before all others.
Legislator Vinny Tamagna, clearly irate, said that the person in question was now managing people who had "substantially" higher salaries than the manager was currently earning, calling the situation "wrong on the face value of things," and ending with a motion to amend the originally proposed $12,669 by doubling the amount, which was seconded by Legislator Oliverio.
Using a bit of humor, Legislators Hay and Intrary diffused the situation, and the original motion, which had been separated into two parts, passed.
In other business, Legislator Dan Birmingham was unanimously re-elected to Chairmanship of the Legislature. Legislator Intrary was elected Vice Chairman, Clement Van Ross was appointed Legislative Counsel from January 1, 2007 until December 31, 2008, and Michelle Sharkey was appointed County Auditor for a three-year term ending December 31, 2009.
The following Legislators were appointed as the Legislative Representative to the respective Boards: Legislator Mary Ellen Odell to the Cooperative Extension Board; Legislator Mary Conklin to the Region 3 Forest Practice Board and the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board; Legislator Tamagna to the Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District, with Legislator Robert McGuigan as the alternate; Legislator Morini to the Putnam County Jury Board; Legislator Birmingham to Records Management; Legislator Oliverio to the Putnam County Board of Health, with Morini as the alternate. Legislator Conklin was also appointed as Legislative Representative to the Fish and Wildlife Management Board, with Legislator Tamagna as the alternate. All terms expire December 31, 2007.
The PCN&R, the Putnam County Courier and the Putnam County Press were each designated as official newspapers of the County.
Charles Ferrante, the incumbent, was appointed as the Putnam County representative to the Catskill Regional OTB Corporation Board, Legislator Tamagna was appointed the Putnam County Representative to the Hudson Valley Regional Council, and Dr. Michael Nesheiwat was appointed Jail Physician. All terms expire December 31, 2007.
The meetings of the full Legislature in 2007 will take place the first Tuesday of each month, with the exceptions of the July 10 and November 7 meetings.
Among Committee Chairmanships Legislator Tamagna will chair the Physical Services and Land Acquisition Committees; Legislator Hay, the Audit and Rules Committees; Legislator Morini, the Personnel Committee; Legislator Odell, Economic Development and Legislator Oliverio, the Health Committee.
The next meeting of the full Legislature will take place Tuesday, February 6 at 7pm in the County Courthouse.
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