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Legislators move on law to establish office of county comptroller
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WENDY POST
TIMES-SHAMROCK WRITER
OWEGO, N.Y. — During a public hearing and special legislative meeting held Thursday in the Tioga County Legislative Auditorium in Owego, N.Y., a resolution was passed to adopt a local law that will establish the office of county comptroller for the County of Tioga under County Law Section 575 and Municipal Home Rule Law 10.
What this means is that the resolution to establish this position within Tioga County will be placed on the ballots in November for voters.
According to the Legislative Chair, Dale Weston (R-District 5), the resolution had to be passed prior to Sept. 1 to get it on the ballot for November.
During the public hearing, which was a 15 minute comment session only with no answers or feedback given from the legislators, area residents Lola Walker, Bob Bell, Nathan Kennedy, and Barbara Heywood approached the podium to voice their concerns and to pose questions.
Walker, of Barton, N.Y., was concerned that the position was being created to be filled by Legislator Ronald McEwen (R-District 7), and that doing so would be another violation of the Hatch Act. But prior to the start of the hearing, McEwen cleared the air by squelching rumors that he might be interested in the position.
“I’ve hear rumors and they have been published that I would be interested in the comptroller position,” McEwen said. “I will note that I’m retired after 25 years and have no intention of taking the position. With that clear, let’s get on with business.”
Kennedy, from Owego, expressed different concerns during the hearing. Kennedy was concerned about the urgency, and wondered why the public hearing was held at 10 a.m. on a Thursday. “It feels dishonest in the way it is being done,” Kennedy said. He also referenced Cortland County and its recent attempt to establish the same type of position. “They tried to do this in Cortland and it was defeated,” Kennedy added.
Bell, of Barton, also took the podium to voice his concerns during the hearing. Bell could not understand why the county can’t find someone qualified enough to do the job who is already working within the structure.
Following the brief public hearing, which was attended by fewer than 12 members of the community, the legislators proceeded to offer comments regarding the proposed resolution, and then voted to pass it unanimously excluding a vote against passing the resolution made by Legislator George Penney (R-District 4).
“I have heard none in favor,” Penney said following the brief public hearing. “I am opposed to it and there is going to be some expense involved with getting this on the ballot.”
Legislator Will Overbeck (R-District 7) voted to pass the resolution, and felt that a vote by the entire community would be more effective. “I think it should be up to all the voters,” Overbeck said. “Not just the nine sitting here today.”
Currently, Jim McFadden is filling the county treasurer’s position. McEwen, who was elected as a legislator last year, was the former budget officer, but did not continue in that capacity following the election and subsequently retired.
Following his retirement, McFadden picked up the additional duties of budget officer, which is required by law.
According to McEwen, the current treasurer position is set at $57,000 per year for this term, which will expire in 2010. The budget officer’s salary was set at $18,000 for 2008.
The legislators do not know what the comptroller salary will be set at and are continuing to work the figures. If voted to pass during the November election, the comptroller position will eliminate the need for a budget officer, and the treasurer position will be reduced to part-time.
TIMES-SHAMROCK WRITER
OWEGO, N.Y. — During a public hearing and special legislative meeting held Thursday in the Tioga County Legislative Auditorium in Owego, N.Y., a resolution was passed to adopt a local law that will establish the office of county comptroller for the County of Tioga under County Law Section 575 and Municipal Home Rule Law 10.
What this means is that the resolution to establish this position within Tioga County will be placed on the ballots in November for voters.
According to the Legislative Chair, Dale Weston (R-District 5), the resolution had to be passed prior to Sept. 1 to get it on the ballot for November.
During the public hearing, which was a 15 minute comment session only with no answers or feedback given from the legislators, area residents Lola Walker, Bob Bell, Nathan Kennedy, and Barbara Heywood approached the podium to voice their concerns and to pose questions.
Walker, of Barton, N.Y., was concerned that the position was being created to be filled by Legislator Ronald McEwen (R-District 7), and that doing so would be another violation of the Hatch Act. But prior to the start of the hearing, McEwen cleared the air by squelching rumors that he might be interested in the position.
“I’ve hear rumors and they have been published that I would be interested in the comptroller position,” McEwen said. “I will note that I’m retired after 25 years and have no intention of taking the position. With that clear, let’s get on with business.”
Kennedy, from Owego, expressed different concerns during the hearing. Kennedy was concerned about the urgency, and wondered why the public hearing was held at 10 a.m. on a Thursday. “It feels dishonest in the way it is being done,” Kennedy said. He also referenced Cortland County and its recent attempt to establish the same type of position. “They tried to do this in Cortland and it was defeated,” Kennedy added.
Bell, of Barton, also took the podium to voice his concerns during the hearing. Bell could not understand why the county can’t find someone qualified enough to do the job who is already working within the structure.
Following the brief public hearing, which was attended by fewer than 12 members of the community, the legislators proceeded to offer comments regarding the proposed resolution, and then voted to pass it unanimously excluding a vote against passing the resolution made by Legislator George Penney (R-District 4).
“I have heard none in favor,” Penney said following the brief public hearing. “I am opposed to it and there is going to be some expense involved with getting this on the ballot.”
Legislator Will Overbeck (R-District 7) voted to pass the resolution, and felt that a vote by the entire community would be more effective. “I think it should be up to all the voters,” Overbeck said. “Not just the nine sitting here today.”
Currently, Jim McFadden is filling the county treasurer’s position. McEwen, who was elected as a legislator last year, was the former budget officer, but did not continue in that capacity following the election and subsequently retired.
Following his retirement, McFadden picked up the additional duties of budget officer, which is required by law.
According to McEwen, the current treasurer position is set at $57,000 per year for this term, which will expire in 2010. The budget officer’s salary was set at $18,000 for 2008.
The legislators do not know what the comptroller salary will be set at and are continuing to work the figures. If voted to pass during the November election, the comptroller position will eliminate the need for a budget officer, and the treasurer position will be reduced to part-time.
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