AUBURN - A round of routine appointments led to some tense moments between Cayuga County Legislator Ann Petrus and a Community Services Board member whose bid for renewal was snubbed Tuesday.
Terri Wasilenko was nominated by a CSB committee to serve another three years on the board that oversees the county's troubled Community Mental Health Center. However, her name was not included on a list of appointments to the CSB Mental Health Subcommittee.
Mental health services client Pam McIntyre asked why Wasilenko was omitted from the list and urged legislators to reconsider her appointment during a public comment period.
“I want to know why because she is an advocate for us and for mental health,” McIntyre said.
Petrus, R-Brutus, said that many names were submitted by the CSB nominating committee, which prompted Wasilenko to ask to speak. Petrus indicated she would not allow it.
“Because we need to do business, Terri,” the legislator said. “I think we've done the best we can.”
Petrus was interrupted by Legislature Chairman Roger Mills, R-Owasco, who repeatedly called for order.
She declined comment after the meeting, but did say there were other CSB members who weren't re-appointed.
Wasilenko said she believes the snub is directly tied to county accusations she wrote a check to mental health director David Blair for his personal use in her capacity as National Alliance on Mental Illness chapter leader.
“I think Ann Petrus has wrongly accused me,” Wasilenko said after her exchange with the legislator. “(The county) has no jurisdiction over me and I never did anything wrong.”
A forthcoming written decision from acting Supreme Court Justice Mark Fandrich will clear her, Wasilenko said. Fandrich recently combed the NAMI checkbook registry for the check allegedly issued in early summer 2007.
“There's no reason why I shouldn't” be on the CSB, Wasilenko said, citing her experience working with NAMI and other advocacy efforts. “All I ever wanted to do was help treat people with mental health issues.”
In other news:
* Legislators agreed to contract with Holt Architects to estimate costs for consolidating mental health services in vacant space at Auburn Memorial Hospital. Services are currently provided in three county buildings, including a clinic in the basement of the Historic Post Office.
State Office of Mental Health sanctions have been levied since November largely because of the clinic's poor condition and insufficient space. Holt associates will be paid between $50 and $185 for their consulting work at AMH.
* The Legislature unanimously agreed to pay $5,000 in fines to the state Department of Labor. The department levied the fines for violations stemming from illegal asbestos removal at the county Board of Elections building in 2006.
* Legislators unanimously approved a five-year contract with the 32-member Deputy Sheriff's Police Association.
The contract retroactive to 2007 provides raises based on rank that are comparable to neighboring deputy pay scales, said association president Fred Cornelius. In past agreements, flat raises inhibited incentive to advance training and rank.
“We went into negotiations with the notion that county police officers were grossly underpaid and the county recognized that,” Cornelius said, adding he was happy with the contract ratified by membership in December.
Legislator David Axton, R-Mentz, abstained from the 12-0 Legislature vote.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
Mental health services client Pam McIntyre asked why Wasilenko was omitted from the list and urged legislators to reconsider her appointment during a public comment period.
“I want to know why because she is an advocate for us and for mental health,” McIntyre said.
Petrus, R-Brutus, said that many names were submitted by the CSB nominating committee, which prompted Wasilenko to ask to speak. Petrus indicated she would not allow it.
“Because we need to do business, Terri,” the legislator said. “I think we've done the best we can.”
Petrus was interrupted by Legislature Chairman Roger Mills, R-Owasco, who repeatedly called for order.
She declined comment after the meeting, but did say there were other CSB members who weren't re-appointed.
Wasilenko said she believes the snub is directly tied to county accusations she wrote a check to mental health director David Blair for his personal use in her capacity as National Alliance on Mental Illness chapter leader.
“I think Ann Petrus has wrongly accused me,” Wasilenko said after her exchange with the legislator. “(The county) has no jurisdiction over me and I never did anything wrong.”
A forthcoming written decision from acting Supreme Court Justice Mark Fandrich will clear her, Wasilenko said. Fandrich recently combed the NAMI checkbook registry for the check allegedly issued in early summer 2007.
“There's no reason why I shouldn't” be on the CSB, Wasilenko said, citing her experience working with NAMI and other advocacy efforts. “All I ever wanted to do was help treat people with mental health issues.”
In other news:
* Legislators agreed to contract with Holt Architects to estimate costs for consolidating mental health services in vacant space at Auburn Memorial Hospital. Services are currently provided in three county buildings, including a clinic in the basement of the Historic Post Office.
State Office of Mental Health sanctions have been levied since November largely because of the clinic's poor condition and insufficient space. Holt associates will be paid between $50 and $185 for their consulting work at AMH.
* The Legislature unanimously agreed to pay $5,000 in fines to the state Department of Labor. The department levied the fines for violations stemming from illegal asbestos removal at the county Board of Elections building in 2006.
* Legislators unanimously approved a five-year contract with the 32-member Deputy Sheriff's Police Association.
The contract retroactive to 2007 provides raises based on rank that are comparable to neighboring deputy pay scales, said association president Fred Cornelius. In past agreements, flat raises inhibited incentive to advance training and rank.
“We went into negotiations with the notion that county police officers were grossly underpaid and the county recognized that,” Cornelius said, adding he was happy with the contract ratified by membership in December.
Legislator David Axton, R-Mentz, abstained from the 12-0 Legislature vote.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.