The Cayuga County Government Operations and Planning Committees met late-last week to review department updates, approve resolutions, and discuss salary increases for county election commissioners.
Government Operations: Salary Debate on Board of Elections Commissioners
A major focus of the Government Operations Committee meeting was the continued debate over a proposed salary increase for the county’s part-time election commissioners. Commissioners Keith Batman and Chantell Hotaling advocated for restoring a $35,000 raise that had been removed from a previously proposed local law. They presented data comparing Cayuga County to other counties with similar numbers of registered voters and emphasized that their part-time designation did not reflect the full-time demands of administering elections.
Board members discussed voter-to-staff ratios, salary comparisons, and differing data sets from the county’s HR department. Legislators expressed interest in holding an open discussion before finalizing the proposal. The committee ultimately voted to refer the local law to the Ways and Means Committee for further review.
County Attorney, Clerk, and IT Department Updates
County Attorney Fred Westphal reported ongoing collaboration between the Department of Social Services and the County Attorney’s office, noting active interviews for several legal positions, including a paid legal intern.
Legislative Clerk Sheila Smith announced the receipt of more than $35,000 in insurance rebates due to safety performance and membership loyalty.
Information Technology Director Tom Bunn reported near completion of the relocation projects at 63 Genesee Street and Cayuga Community College, with final network and electrical upgrades scheduled. He also noted the launch of Microsoft Teams and OneDrive as part of a countywide Office 365 migration and shared updates on the new .gov domain rollout.
Veterans Agency Plans for Personnel Changes and 50th Vietnam War Anniversary
Veterans Services Director Kevin Swab reported assisting with more than 20 veterans’ benefits cases in March and outlined plans for commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, noting that over 600 local veterans served in the conflict. The committee approved two resolutions authorizing the agency to fill a part-time Veterans Services Officer role and a potential upcoming driver vacancy.
Additional Resolutions Advanced
The committee advanced two resolutions regarding salary increases for appointed officials. One resolution, involving the Board of Elections commissioners, was referred to Ways and Means for further consideration. A second resolution to set the county attorney’s salary at $140,000 was adopted and sent forward.
Planning Committee Highlights Regional Projects and Appointments
Following the Government Operations meeting, the Planning Committee reviewed updates from the Planning and Economic Development Department and approved four appointments to the Cayuga Cortland Workforce Development Board.
Director Kari Terwilliger presented a detailed report highlighting major initiatives, including the Route 90 Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), multiple land use and zoning projects with local towns, and grant-supported redevelopment work in the Village of Moravia.
The department also reported the collection of 57,471 pounds of e-waste during a recent recycling event, with a tire collection event scheduled for June 7. Other ongoing projects include implementation of the Owasco Lake 9E Plan, brownfield pre-planning, and the launch of a new countywide strategic plan.
Planning staff are also supporting infrastructure and recreational improvements at Emerson Park, including solar energy installation and wastewater system evaluations.
Next Steps
Both committees are scheduled to meet again in May. The salary issue for Board of Elections commissioners will return for discussion at the Ways and Means Committee meeting.
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