Essex County layoffs list released

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December 21, 2011

LOHR McKINSTRY Press-Republican The Press Republican Wed Dec 21, 2011, 02:28 AM EST

ELIZABETHTOWN — A worker with 21 years of service to Essex County is among 10 people in six departments who will lose their jobs on Jan. 15.

The County Layoffs Review Committee made the selections Monday based on lists submitted by department heads.

The committee worked on the basis of positions to be eliminated, and the actual employees who will be laid off will be determined by the County Personnel Office.

The least senior individuals who hold those jobs will be sent layoff notices by the Personnel Office.

Supervisor Roby Politi (R-North Elba) headed the Layoffs Committee.

"The intent of the committee was to identify those positions which had the least impact on services delivered to the public, with an emphasis on part-time positions first and/or those jobs which could be absorbed by others within a particular department," he said in his report to the County Board of Supervisors.

"The committee was never aware of any names or residency locations associated with any of the employment positions."

JOBS END JAN. 15

The Board of Supervisors had indicated it wanted layoff preference given to county workers who were living outside the county in defiance of a 2005 county local law, but lists were not ready in time because some workers didn't return mandatory residency forms.

Politi said the ultimate goal was to come up with a cost savings of at least $280,000, which they did.

Those selected will be laid off Jan. 15, 2012.

Here's a list of the departments and positions the committee chose:

▶ Office of Mental Health, one part-time staff psychiatrist.

▶ Department of Social Services, one part-time clerk.

▶ County Clerk's Office, one records retention aide.

▶ Mail and Supply Room, one records retention aide.

▶ Department of Public Works, two part-time on-call watch-persons and two building maintenance helpers.

▶ Horace Nye Nursing Home, one licensed practical nurse, one certified nursing assistant and one part-time activity aide.

The layoffs are part of deficit-reduction in the 2012 county budget, which was still has a 10 percent tax-levy increase over the current spending plan.

FEEL BADLY

Politi said he and the other committee members, Supervisors Sharon Boisen (I-Essex) and Randy Preston (I-Wilmington), felt bad about their task.

"Such decisions are never easy, and it is with great regret that we have to make these difficult choices," he said. "We especially understand the ramifications of our conclusion and how it will ultimately influence the lives of those who lose their jobs as well as their families. I know that the entire Board of Supervisors shares in these feelings, and we can only wish the individuals affected by this determination the very best for the future."

LAST CHANCE MEETING

County Manager Daniel Palmer said those who lose their jobs will go on a recall list, so they can be considered for openings that may occur next year.

Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) tried unsuccessfully to avert the layoffs at the county meeting where the new budget was passed Dec. 5.

He said he knows one of those being laid off is a woman with 21 years of county service who changed departments recently. Because of that, she didn't have enough seniority in her new department to avoid losing her job, he said.

"This is going to be horrible for these people. I don't know what can be done at this point. It may be too late to save those jobs."

The county has one session left this year, the annual year-end meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27.

Any avoidance of the layoffs would have to be done then, Scozzafava said.

The Layoffs Committee also eliminated 11 vacant positions in the Sheriff's Department, Social Services, Department of Public Works, Horace Nye, Office for the Aging, Department of Public Health and Department of Community Resources.

Email Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com