Following a non-election year, the Cayuga County Legislature's reorganization meeting tonight will be a little more routine than usual, with only a few leadership changes anticipated.
The chairman and deputy of the Legislature are expected to remain the same, but the Republican and Democratic Party leaders could change.
Legislature Chairman Herb Marshall, R-Throop, and Deputy Chairman Sam DeRosa, R-Auburn, have been nominated again this year by the Legislature's Republicans at a caucus in December. Ann Petrus, R-Brutus, has been nominated to replace Steve Netti, R-Auburn, as majority leader.
Legislature chairman receives $65,000 a year, and the deputy chair is paid $11,000 instead of the traditional $9,500 stipend of a legislator. Party leaders receive $10,250 a year.
Netti wanted to give up the majority chair title - and the extra $750 - in hopes of continuing to chair the Legislature's Judicial and Public Safety Committee. He was appointed chair of that committee after Loren Geer, R-Fair Haven, retired in November.
"I wanted to give someone else a chance," Netti said.
Petrus was unavailable for comment Sunday. As a party chair, Petrus will be responsible for "keeping everybody on the same page within the party," Netti said.
As for the Democrats, current minority leader Michael Lepak, D-Auburn, has said he would be willing to step down if William Catto, D-Auburn, wanted the position. Catto and Lepak were unavailable for comment Sunday.
If Catto is voted minority leader, it calls into question his current appointment as Government Operations Committee co-chair with Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn.
Marshall, who assigns committee chairs, said Sunday he was waiting until after Monday's meeting to come up with his recommendations for committee chairs. It has been a long-standing policy, but not Legislature rule, that legislators should hold only one "extra assignment," like committee chair or minority leader, but not usually two.
"Each year, all of the committees are looked at," Marshall said. "This year probably won't be the same as before."
Committee chairs receive an extra $2,000, unless there are two chairpersons, then they receive $1,000 each.
Also on the agenda is renewing the county's current hiring restrictions. The current policy requires whenever a job opening comes up for discussion or there is a request to fill or create a position, approval from 2/3 of the Legislature is necessary.
The restrictions were set in place after years of disastrous budget processes. Instead of laying off county employees after the budget, this process allows for legislators to look at spending more critically as issues arise, said Legislator David Pappert, R-Auburn.
"Without restrictions, hiring would happen automatically, and those deliberations over whether there is an alternative like hiring part-time persons wouldn't take place," he said.
"Out biggest expense is people. This requires that before we make a decision we really think it through."
Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net
Legislature Chairman Herb Marshall, R-Throop, and Deputy Chairman Sam DeRosa, R-Auburn, have been nominated again this year by the Legislature's Republicans at a caucus in December. Ann Petrus, R-Brutus, has been nominated to replace Steve Netti, R-Auburn, as majority leader.
Legislature chairman receives $65,000 a year, and the deputy chair is paid $11,000 instead of the traditional $9,500 stipend of a legislator. Party leaders receive $10,250 a year.
Netti wanted to give up the majority chair title - and the extra $750 - in hopes of continuing to chair the Legislature's Judicial and Public Safety Committee. He was appointed chair of that committee after Loren Geer, R-Fair Haven, retired in November.
"I wanted to give someone else a chance," Netti said.
Petrus was unavailable for comment Sunday. As a party chair, Petrus will be responsible for "keeping everybody on the same page within the party," Netti said.
As for the Democrats, current minority leader Michael Lepak, D-Auburn, has said he would be willing to step down if William Catto, D-Auburn, wanted the position. Catto and Lepak were unavailable for comment Sunday.
If Catto is voted minority leader, it calls into question his current appointment as Government Operations Committee co-chair with Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn.
Marshall, who assigns committee chairs, said Sunday he was waiting until after Monday's meeting to come up with his recommendations for committee chairs. It has been a long-standing policy, but not Legislature rule, that legislators should hold only one "extra assignment," like committee chair or minority leader, but not usually two.
"Each year, all of the committees are looked at," Marshall said. "This year probably won't be the same as before."
Committee chairs receive an extra $2,000, unless there are two chairpersons, then they receive $1,000 each.
Also on the agenda is renewing the county's current hiring restrictions. The current policy requires whenever a job opening comes up for discussion or there is a request to fill or create a position, approval from 2/3 of the Legislature is necessary.
The restrictions were set in place after years of disastrous budget processes. Instead of laying off county employees after the budget, this process allows for legislators to look at spending more critically as issues arise, said Legislator David Pappert, R-Auburn.
"Without restrictions, hiring would happen automatically, and those deliberations over whether there is an alternative like hiring part-time persons wouldn't take place," he said.
"Out biggest expense is people. This requires that before we make a decision we really think it through."
Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net
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