Not once was a question asked in any of the televised forums or those held at the Holiday Inn on one item on Tuesday's ballot. Yet, it may be the most important vote that Auburnians cast. Above all the candidates, is a referendum to allow the city to eliminate Auburn's Civil Service Commission. For a variety of reasons voters should cast a “yes” vote for Proposition 2.
There will likely be some misinformation generated in the closing days of this year's election cycle on this proposition (one recent ad in this newspaper already distorted the issue with false innuendo). The fact is that eliminating the Auburn Civil Service Commission will not eliminate civil service protections for the city's workforce. Secondly, it does not mean that civil service exams will be eliminated. Tests will still be given.
On the flipside, there is no need to have two politically appointed and paid civil service commissions in Cayuga County - one at city hall and one at the County Office Building. A “yes” vote on the proposition will save Auburn taxpayers, both those who live in the city and larger Auburn School District, the cost of the commissioners. Under the law, the county will have to do for free the work the city now does for the Auburn School District for a fee.
In much of its recent history, the Auburn Civil Service Commission has been a tool for the political machinations of others - defenders of the system will criticize city managers, current and past, for wanting to streamline operations - or more bluntly - not bend to the whims of those who want to keep the status quo - on occasion moving the city backward.
Want one small example? In an era where we talk about making sure that we get the best employees possible, commissioners “dumbed down” the requirements of one entry-level job, removing a basic two-year degree requirement for a job that had been in place for years and again rejecting a request in 2004, by a different city manager and police chief, who also pleaded to have it put back in.
More recently, the commission again blocked the hiring of lateral transfers, veterans from this community, that would have cut down on costly overtime to the tune of $70,000.
One final reason to vote “yes.” This is one of those rare times when voters can do what political leaders have failed to do - act on consolidation. For years we have heard about the idea of consolidating services - this is the first time in recent memory where it might actually happen. A failure to approve this proposition, that has great merit, will likely doom other local efforts for years.
Cosentino, a former mayor of Auburn, can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
On the flipside, there is no need to have two politically appointed and paid civil service commissions in Cayuga County - one at city hall and one at the County Office Building. A “yes” vote on the proposition will save Auburn taxpayers, both those who live in the city and larger Auburn School District, the cost of the commissioners. Under the law, the county will have to do for free the work the city now does for the Auburn School District for a fee.
In much of its recent history, the Auburn Civil Service Commission has been a tool for the political machinations of others - defenders of the system will criticize city managers, current and past, for wanting to streamline operations - or more bluntly - not bend to the whims of those who want to keep the status quo - on occasion moving the city backward.
Want one small example? In an era where we talk about making sure that we get the best employees possible, commissioners “dumbed down” the requirements of one entry-level job, removing a basic two-year degree requirement for a job that had been in place for years and again rejecting a request in 2004, by a different city manager and police chief, who also pleaded to have it put back in.
More recently, the commission again blocked the hiring of lateral transfers, veterans from this community, that would have cut down on costly overtime to the tune of $70,000.
One final reason to vote “yes.” This is one of those rare times when voters can do what political leaders have failed to do - act on consolidation. For years we have heard about the idea of consolidating services - this is the first time in recent memory where it might actually happen. A failure to approve this proposition, that has great merit, will likely doom other local efforts for years.
Cosentino, a former mayor of Auburn, can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
silentriver wrote on Nov 3, 2007 2:54 AM:
City/County taxpayer wrote on Nov 2, 2007 5:42 PM: