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Second Legislative Defeat Leaves Law Department Position Unfilled
Legislature seeks to strengthen role determining county job descriptions
by Margaret Sternberg
The September 4, 2007 meeting of the Putnam County full Legislature was distinguished by its shortness and by the second defeat of a resolution designed to upgrade a position in the legal department from a confidential secretary to legal assistant.
Failing by a five to three vote, with Legislator Robert McGuigan absent, Legislators Vinny Tamagna, Sam Oliverio, Dan Birmingham, Tony Hay and Mary Conklin voted against passage, with Legislators Terry Intrary, Regina Morini and Mary Ellen Odell voting for it.
The position, which was originally a secretarial position, has been difficult to fill because paralegal duties had been taken on by the person who had held it and are now required; however, there has been no corresponding increase in salary. Several qualified county employees have declined to apply for the job, citing the salary.
Although there appeared to be no fiscal impact, Legislator Tamagna pointed out that was a function of the fiscal year being almost over and no money needed to be transferred in for the upgrade. He noted that there is fiscal impact to the approval and stated that, in general, there had to be a means to discern fiscal impact in order to avoid a "shell game" in the future.
Legislature Chairman Dan Birmingham said he agreed with Tamagna, adding that "as a policy this Legislature and the Administration, through the County Executive, should be the ones charged solely for determining the job description of every employee, of every job…" Birmingham noted that this was not the first time a job description had grown due to an employee taking on additional responsibilities, but he suggested the Legislature have more input, particularly a time of "fiscal austerity." His comments, Birmingham emphasized, were not directed at the position then being discussed, but were aimed at a broader "policy issue" on job descriptions.
Legislator Intrary, however, felt that the need for the position upgrade had adequate justification from within the relevant departments and that current qualifications for the position supported the upgrade.
On the heels of this defeat, the Legislature then tabled, upon the request of Legislator Oliverio, a transfer and title change for a caseworker who would have been moved from the Department of Social Services to Putnam Family Community Services ("PFCS"). Although the resolution had been pre-filed (approved) in the Personnel Committee, Oliverio, acting upon a request from PFCS, requested the tabling with the expectation of further review in the Health & Social Services Committee, which he chairs.
In non-personnel-related business, the Legislature approved a resolution amending part of the Code of Putnam County regarding leases of county property. The resolution requires that the County Executive report to the Legislature, at least annually, any surplus county real property. The County Executive is thereafter required to advise the Legislature of any changes that occur.
In addition, no lease for county-owned property may be entered into without prior approval by the Legislature. A transfer to fund the cost of gasoline was approved and carried a fiscal impact of $40,000. The October meeting of the Legislature will be posted on the PCN&R's website as soon as it becomes available.
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