The Cayuga County Community Mental Health Center received a $1.5 million federal grant this month, but can't collect on it yet.

Work done with the grant will seek to prevent and treat alcohol and drug abuse and mental health disorders in Union Springs School District, Cayuga County BOCES, Port Byron Central School District and Auburn Enlarged City School District.

The money is coming from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant is disbursed over three years, said David Blair, director of Community Mental Health Services.

The county Legislature's Ways and Means committee tabled accepting the grant to give legislators more time to review the terms of the grant and brief themselves on the county's policy on "Job Twos."

When county employees take on duties in addition to what is specified in their job description, they are paid using "Job Twos."

Blair would receive an additional $7,500 for administering the grant. Another administrative assistant would receive $5,000 for keeping financial records and other clerical duties in seeing the grant through.

The discussion on "job twos" came up because not all grants provide money to pay for the grant's administrators.

"Unless we're going to lose this money before Nov. 8, I think it's best to wait," said David Pappert, Ways and Means chair.

Delaying the Legislature's approval will not likely affect the department's ability to collect the grant, Blair said. The only problem he sees is that it would take longer to hire people and get the project moving along.

"It's going to delay us somewhat, but I don't think it's going to jeopardize the grant," he said. "If we can't implement by Jan. 1, the first checkup, and if we haven't met their criteria, the government will pull the funding."

Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net