AUBURN - The Cayuga County Legislature began a new year by appointing several freshmen legislators to prominent spots Wednesday.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Cayuga County Legislators Daniel Schuster, left, and Roger Mills, right, shake hands as David Axton looks on after Mills was voted chairman of the Legislature at Wednesday night's meeting. Mills defeated Schuster, 11-3.
Cayuga County Legislators Daniel Schuster, left, and Roger Mills, right, shake hands as David Axton looks on after Mills was voted chairman of the Legislature at Wednesday night's meeting. Mills defeated Schuster, 11-3.
Newly elected District 6 Legislator Roger Mills was appointed the Legislature's next chairman. City Democrat Daniel Schuster challenged Mills, R-Owasco, for the seat, receiving all three of the minority party votes.
“This obviously is quite an honor on my part,” Mills said just a few minutes into his first term as a legislator. “We do need to come together and work together.”
The vice chairman appointment went to Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn, who had considered making a run for the chief legislative seat heading into the reorganizational meeting. Tortorici said Mills' committee assignments will help the Legislature achieve the change he was looking for.
“I want to work with what's best for the taxpayers of Cayuga County,” Tortorici said afterward. “I always look for unity and change and I think with what we accomplished here tonight, we are doing that.”
A vice chairman from the city will be a complement to a town representative as Legislature leader, he said. Tortorici also plans to exceed expectations for his traditionally quiet seat.
“I think the vice chairman should play a more important role,” he said, suggesting he planned to stay vocally involved with the Ways and Means Committee.
Mills said many issues lie ahead for the Legislature over the next year. He echoed the request of Legislator Ann Petrus, R-Brutus, who asked the board to practice cooperation in the coming months.
“The one thing I want to work on immediately are the issues related to the mental health center,” Mills said, referring to a proposed move of Community Mental Health Services to Auburn Memorial Hospital.
The state has been withholding some aid from mental health since November in large part due to facilities. Other key issues include improving relations with the city and adopting a five-year capital plan for county buildings, Mills said.
Legislators indicated they are looking forward by designating freshmen for other key appointments. Michael Chapman, R-Cato, was selected majority leader while Patrick Mahunik, D-Auburn, received the minority party nod.
Newcomer David Axton, R-Mentz, will replace veteran Legislator Steven Cuddeback, R-Moravia, as head of the Public Works Committee. Mills named Francis Mitchell, R-Genoa, chairman of Ways and Means.
Christopher Palermo, R-Sterling, will chair the Government Operations Committee. The remaining committee leadership will remain unchanged with Schuster heading Planning and Economic Development, Petrus chairing Health and Human Services and Raymond Lockwood, R-Aurelius, in charge of Judicial and Public Safety.
Legislators also unanimously appointed former district attorney administrative assistant Mary Jones clerk of the Legislature Wednesday. Jones replaces Lee Brew, who retired after 15 years in the seat and more than 30 years with the county.
In other news:
* The Legislature agreed to contract with Brew for consulting services during the transition. Brew will receive $15 hourly wage not to exceed $5,000 for the year.
* Though no meeting is set, legislators agreed to have a special session this month regarding Community Mental Health Services.
Holt Architects has completed a tentative plan to move services to vacant space at Auburn Memorial Hospital. However, some legislators would like to see some lease costs before calling a special meeting to approve the move.
Those figures are expected soon, County Attorney Fred Westphal said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
“This obviously is quite an honor on my part,” Mills said just a few minutes into his first term as a legislator. “We do need to come together and work together.”
The vice chairman appointment went to Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn, who had considered making a run for the chief legislative seat heading into the reorganizational meeting. Tortorici said Mills' committee assignments will help the Legislature achieve the change he was looking for.
“I want to work with what's best for the taxpayers of Cayuga County,” Tortorici said afterward. “I always look for unity and change and I think with what we accomplished here tonight, we are doing that.”
A vice chairman from the city will be a complement to a town representative as Legislature leader, he said. Tortorici also plans to exceed expectations for his traditionally quiet seat.
“I think the vice chairman should play a more important role,” he said, suggesting he planned to stay vocally involved with the Ways and Means Committee.
Mills said many issues lie ahead for the Legislature over the next year. He echoed the request of Legislator Ann Petrus, R-Brutus, who asked the board to practice cooperation in the coming months.
“The one thing I want to work on immediately are the issues related to the mental health center,” Mills said, referring to a proposed move of Community Mental Health Services to Auburn Memorial Hospital.
The state has been withholding some aid from mental health since November in large part due to facilities. Other key issues include improving relations with the city and adopting a five-year capital plan for county buildings, Mills said.
Legislators indicated they are looking forward by designating freshmen for other key appointments. Michael Chapman, R-Cato, was selected majority leader while Patrick Mahunik, D-Auburn, received the minority party nod.
Newcomer David Axton, R-Mentz, will replace veteran Legislator Steven Cuddeback, R-Moravia, as head of the Public Works Committee. Mills named Francis Mitchell, R-Genoa, chairman of Ways and Means.
Christopher Palermo, R-Sterling, will chair the Government Operations Committee. The remaining committee leadership will remain unchanged with Schuster heading Planning and Economic Development, Petrus chairing Health and Human Services and Raymond Lockwood, R-Aurelius, in charge of Judicial and Public Safety.
Legislators also unanimously appointed former district attorney administrative assistant Mary Jones clerk of the Legislature Wednesday. Jones replaces Lee Brew, who retired after 15 years in the seat and more than 30 years with the county.
In other news:
* The Legislature agreed to contract with Brew for consulting services during the transition. Brew will receive $15 hourly wage not to exceed $5,000 for the year.
* Though no meeting is set, legislators agreed to have a special session this month regarding Community Mental Health Services.
Holt Architects has completed a tentative plan to move services to vacant space at Auburn Memorial Hospital. However, some legislators would like to see some lease costs before calling a special meeting to approve the move.
Those figures are expected soon, County Attorney Fred Westphal said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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