With the possible creation of an appointed county manager, the next Legislature chairman will likely be charged with a different set of duties.

Peter Tortorici, chairman of the Government Operations Committee, is still trying to figure out what those duties would be. He said that a proposed local law to create the county manager position is currently in the hands of county attorney Fred Westphal.

Tortorici, R-Auburn, plans to present the law to the government operations committee at its Tuesday meeting so the committee can give its input. He has also distributed a copy of the law to all of the legislators and hopes to discuss it with them.

Should the law be passed by a two-thirds vote of the full Legislature, Tortorici said the chairman's position will see some major changes.

"The chairman will be more of a political role than an administrative role," Tortorici said.

While the chairman will continue to run the Legislature meetings, the county manager would be the budget officer, Tortorici said.

The manager may also conduct department head meetings and deal with labor relations, jobs current Chairman Herb Marshall, R-Throop, now handles.

Bill Catto, D-Auburn, said a manager would be responsible for hiring people in county departments and agencies, though the Legislature would have ultimate approval.

Such duties would give the chairman more time to work on planning and economic development and oversee the Legislature, Tortorici said.

"(The chairman's) main job is seeking opportunity to better develop the county and not to run day-to-day business," said Catto, a proponent of a county manager position for some time. "It will also give him more time to get out and listen to the people."

One thing that will not change about the chairman is the position's need to monitor expenditures, said George Fearon, R-Springport.

He also said the county manager will not reduce the Legislature's authority.

"This isn't taking away from the legislators because every line is subject to their approval," Fearon said, noting that the lawmakers will have final approval of the proposed budget and other prepared documents.

Fearon is rumored to be campaigning to be the next chairman, but he maintained that he is not actively seeking the position.

"I would take it if it was offered, but I'm not going out there looking for the job," he said.

Tortorici, whose name has also surfaced as a possible chairman candidate, declined to comment.

Marshall said that it would be difficult to determine who was suitable to be the next chairman before the Legislature decides on the county manager position - and before the November elections.

In addition to a possible reduction in workload, the next chairman may also see a decrease in salary. Marshall currently earns $65,000; Fearon estimated that the next chairman would receive less than half of that figure.

A county manager would earn $80,000 to $100,000, Tortorici said, noting that a professional manager will be able to better identify areas in which the county can save money.

At the Legislature meeting this week, legislators voted to table a local law for the creation of an administrative assistant to the Legislature chairman.

Tortorici said that it recently came to his attention that a county manager position could be achieved through a local law - not a public referendum, as had previously been thought.

Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net