AUBURN -- Wayne Allen, Cayuga County's first county manager, is looking forward to working in local government again.

"Local government is the best type of government," Allen said.

Two years of debating, planning and interviewing for Cayuga County's first county manager ended Tuesday night when county legislators approved the appointment of Allen to serve as the county's chief administrative officer with a $92,500 annual salary.

"I will take the job one-term at a time but will do my best to improve the county everyday," Allen said.

Allen, a former Montgomery County administrator who has been involved with local government for 18 years, will begin working Oct. 30. He will leave his former job as district administrator for the Queens District Worker's Compensation Board.

"I've been through four chairmen and it's time for a manager," said Steve Netti, R-Auburn.

Legislators voted 14-1 on the resolution that has been in the making for 30 years. Michael Lepak, D-Auburn, opposed the appointment.

Before voting, Lepak demanded from the Legislature the reason Allen was not reappointed for a third term as Montgomery County administrator in 1999.

Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.