Numerous changes proposed for Erie county

By MATTHEW SPINA
The commission cleaning up the blueprint and playbook for Erie County government - “the charter” - will air its suggestions in public hearings this week and next, then hone its final report for a County Legislature already skeptical about some items.

The Charter Revision Commission’s central idea, and its most controversial, involves appointing a county manager to perform the bulk of a county executive’s duties. In theory, it would strip many political concerns from the daily functioning of government, but critics also say it would add a layer of bureaucracy that can be avoided if officials simply do their jobs well.

In their months of work, the panel’s 23 members split on many suggestions. The package of suggestions must go before voters in November if they are to become effective in 2008. First, the County Legislature must sign off on those items that make it to the referendum.

Some suggestions have received less public attention than the idea to hire a county manager. For example:

Asking the county comptroller to sign off on revenue estimates in upcoming budgets. The county executive’s budgets in the recent past were flawed because they relied on income that would never materialize.

With this change, the comptroller would have to certify estimates as realistic before a budget could be proposed to the Legislature. In addition, the comptroller would be expected to alert the Legislature if a midyear deficit exists and begin a process to avoid or close a deficit.

Letting the county clerk, comptroller, sheriff and district attorney propose their departmental budgets directly to the Legislature. This item was championed as a way to let elected leaders seek the resources they need and avoid unjustified cuts by a county executive.

Combining agencies. The “Blueprint for Change” that County Executive Joel E. Giambra proposed years ago expanded the Department of Social Services by including other units, such as those for mental health, senior services and youth services.

The Charter Revision Commission agreed the expansion should be written into the charter and implemented. Social Services Commissioner Michael Weiner said that with that change, people in need can be directed to the right service no matter which agency they first approach

The Charter Revision Commission will hold three public hearings at 6 p.m.:

Wednesday at the Erie Community College North Campus.

Thursday at the ECC South Campus.

June 6 at the B.W. Smith Life Center, St. John Baptist Church, at Michigan Avenue and Goodell Street.

e-mail: mspina@buffnews.com

I am so against the combined county manager/county executive form of government. one or the other, not both. The dept of social services is a department that is overrun with patronage, I honestly do not know how a person can go to work everyday knowing they are not qualified for the job, or plain and simple do nothing.

Actually many of these patronage positions are used for campaign work on taxpayers time and money. Of course they are part of the base for the politicos and must do work for the campaigns and attend fundraisers, otherwise they lose their jobs. This practice runs rampant in county government, there is county appointees and state politicians have their people in place too.

Allowing the departments to submit their own budgets to the legislature only makes sense, but we all know just how political the legislature is too. They will play their budget games as does the county executive. One party rule is destroying the county and the state. How will a Dem controlled legislature treat a Republican Sheriff, or Republican District Attorney?

We have already seen the county ex and the legislature’s desire to eliminate the Sheriff’s dept. The Dem controlled legislature virtually locks out the only 3 Republicans, throws their ideas into committee never again to see the light of day. Perfect example is the recent move by the Republicans to cap the salestax on gasoline as the state is doing. The Dems cried and whined how we can’t cut taxes, we need the revenue (tax) for exploring alternative fuels and public transportation…. Please, all they want is the money don’t patronize me.

I will follow this and see how it is going to read after these public hearings. Hopefully it will be something we can support but it needs fine tuning.