Voters will decide: treasurer or comptroller?

    SCHUYLER COUNTY—At their regular meeting held on Monday, Sept. 10, the Schuyler County Legislature unanimously passed a resolution that will place a proposition on the general election ballot in November whether to abolish the elected treasurer position in favor of an appointed comptroller position. The vote followed a public hearing that heard strong opinions from local residents speaking out about the proposed change.
    Several residents voiced their opinions against the move, including William Elkins, who said that the election process has shown that it does work as the current treasurer is an accountant, is qualified and was elected by the voters. Mark Rondinaro agreed that the “current system has resolved the problem satisfactorily,” and said that maintaining a treasurer who is accountable to the people, rather than a comptroller who answers to the county administrator, is “paramount maintaining checks and balances in government.” Concerns that the new position would inevitably be followed by a salary increase were voiced by Paul Marcellus, and Alan Hurley expressed that he thought this was a “haste decision” and should be delayed for further consideration. 
    Legislator Tom Gifford responded by explaining that he has seen the reports that come back from New York State and the notices that the county’s annual report has been as much as four years overdue. He went on to say that the legislature tried to work with past treasurers to correct these defects, to no avail. In light of this, Gifford concluded, “the county’s finances are the responsibility of this legislature, and this is what we see has to happen now.” Chairman Dennis Fagan reiterated Gifford’s sentiments, adding that the county’s books were in such bad shape that private accountants had to be hired to correct entries.
    The proposed law sets educational and experience requirements for the county comptroller, lists typical work activities and provides the powers and duties of the comptroller. The final determination as to whether the elected treasurer position is abolished and replaced by an appointed comptroller position will be made by Schuyler County voters in November.
    In other business:
    • The legislature introduced proposed amendments to the Watershed Protection Law. The proposed amendments include a requirement that a water and septic system test be performed prior to the transfer of real property. The public hearing on the law will be held on Monday Oct. 9 at 6:45 p.m. in the legislative chambers.
    • A resolution in opposition to the Clean Water Act Draft Guidance proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency was passed by the legislature. The resolution states that the Clean Water Act “was not intended to protect ditches and other channels through which water flows intermittently nor was it intended to capture seeps, wet areas, isolated man-made ponds and other areas not currently subject to the CWA.” It further provides that, “the financial impact of the draft guidance to Schuyler County will be significant...” The resolution urges Congressional and State representatives to intercede.
    • The legislature approved repairs to the parking lot at the county’s Mill Street complex. There will also be three parking spaces added to the existing lot and 18 new spaces in a newly constructed lot. The work will be performed by the highway department which will be reimbursed an estimated $11,402.30 for materials.
    • The legislature also passed a resolution in favor of expanding to full casino gaming in New York State at locations currently licensed for video gaming. The resolution provides that Schuyler County is part of the Western Regional Off-track Betting Corporation, owner of Batavia Downs, which has “proven to be a successful Public Benefit Corporation to Schuyler County returning over $900,000.” The resolution presumes that expanding to full casino gaming will increase revenue and create jobs.
    The next meeting of the legislature is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m.