NEW LEADERSHIP
Morley chairman in Potter County

New boards of county commissioners began their four-year terms last week. Potter County Commissioners being sworn in by Judge John B. Leete (top photo) from left are Susan Kefover, Paul Heimel and Doug Morely. In the photo at right, (from left) Phil Jones, JoAnn Smith and Glen Fiebig settle in for their first meeting of the year. Fiebig is the only commissioner of the six who was re-elected. In Potter, commissioners earn $41,634; in Cameron, $34,795.

Potter County's new board of commissioners took office on Monday and began to chart the course for their four-year term.

The board elected Doug Morley, a Republican and the leading vote-getter in November, as chairman. Paul Heimel (R) was elected vicechairman and Susan Kefover (D) was chosen as secretary.

Decisions on positions such as chief clerk, county solicitor and others were postponed by the board and not included on the agenda.

By unanimous

By unanimous vote, the commissioners agreed to hold their business meetings according to the same schedule as the previous board, every other Thursday at 11 am. However, citing campaign pledges, all three board members endorsed a plan to hold a series of "town meetings" around the county during evening hours to apprise citizens of issues and gather input.

Chairman Morley said the board will evaluate possible uses for the Gunzburger Annex, a former school building on North Main Street donated to the county by Time Warner Cable. He added that the new commissioners have conferred with the previous board, Ken Wingo, John Torok and Cathy Bowers, for information on county office relocations to the annex and plans.

Commissioner Kefover added that the board would like to have an engineering firm conduct a professional space and planning analysis before additional relocations take place.

Heimel said he would like to have the gymnasium made available for public use as soon as possible, adding that he has heard from several youth organizations and others seeking use of the gym.

Earlier on Monday, the three commissioners were among county officials taking the oath of office from Judge John B. Leete.

"The public doesn't always get a crystal clear view of the services our elected officials provide the citizens of Potter County," Leete commented. "But, I can tell you that, historically, our elected officials perform their duties with a very high level of dedication."

Judge Leete warned that "a different challenge" faces the Potter County's elected officials in 2008 and beyond, but said he is "confident we have a group of people who are prepared to meet those challenges."

The longtime Judge's remarks took on a more authoritative tone in his closing remark.

"Some people have said Potter County's best days are behind them," the judge said. "I think those naysayers are dead wrong."

Smith to chair Cameron County board

In the first order of business performed by the Cameron County Board of Commissioners, newly-elected commissioner JoAnn Smith., who was the top vote-getter, was appointed as the board chairperson during the reorganizational meeting on Monday. Traditionally, the person who receives the highest number of votes is selected for that position.

Former commissioner Tony Moscato, who was the board's previous chairman, was in attendance to see "what it looked like from the other side of the table." He was appointed as the county's Industrial Development Authority (IDA) representative. His unexpired term will conclude at the end of September.

In other business, commissioners attended a meeting on Jan. 3 regarding the future of the Skate Park Association's proposed South Park project. Commissioner Smith commented that the future of the project looks dismal if there is not an increase in community involvement.

Cliff Clark, Executive Director of the IDA, told commissioners that the insurance covering the Memorial Hall Recreation Center will have to be transferred from the county to the IDA, which now owns the property.

The county sold the building and property to IDA recently and now leases it from them. Commissioners plan to get renters insurance to cover the building's contents.

A salary board meeting followed Friday's commissioner meeting. The three commissioners and Treasurer Staci Brown sit on that board.

The group gave the county's full-time, hourly employees a 35 cent per hour increase in pay. That raise excludes parttime personnel, elected officials and employees who are currently in their employment probationary period.

In other business, commissioners noted that an office is being arranged in the courthouse for Heather Uber, the county's victim/witness coordinator. She had been working out of former District Attorney Tom Tompkins' office since she also worked for his private practice. Tompkins closed his office at the end of December.

Uber's salary for that position is $20,800.

Minimum wage for county employees in 2008 has gone up to $7.75 per hour. Also, those newly hired in 2008 will no longer have a change in pay after the probation period has ended. Employees will still be evaluated at the 90-day mark but will maintain the same rate of pay. Commissioner Fiebig stressed to those interested in county jobs that employees of Cameron County only work about 65 hours per paycheck, as opposed to 80 for a typical full-time job.

In another personnel issue, the proposal to reclassify Brenda Munz from Chief Clerk of Commissioners to Secretary to the Commissioners has been postponed until the Feb. 19 meeting.

Frank Galford with the Cameron County Conservation District (CCCD) commented on Monday that the CCCD "needs more room."

Commissioner Fiebig addressed the issue.

"We (the Cameron County Board of Commissioners) promised tax payers, promised the citizens, that every countyoperated office would remain in this building (the court house) for their convenience. Since this building's space is limited, we're going to have a tight squeeze."

Last Friday, commissioners were given the oath of office by President Judge Richard Masson.

During the ceremony, Judge Masson said that the people filling the local elected positions are among the most important to citizens.

"Elected county municipal officials represent the purest form of grass-roots democracy," Masson commented. "They are known well among the people who they serve and have a presence in their communities."