The county Legislature is looking to have the final say in who will eventually be the new director of community services.
During a Cayuga County Community Services Board meeting Thursday, Legislature Chairman Roger Mills said the legislators desire to change a local law that currently gives the board partial authority over who would be hired. And while board members were told that they will have a role in the decision, the announcement raised concerns.
According to Mills, the Legislature can currently hire a new mental health director, and the Community Services Board has the authority to hire the director of community services for the mental health center. During his tenure, David Blair filled both of those roles.
For the change to happen, it would have to go through the committee process, a law would have to be drafted and reviewed, and the Legislature would have to hold a public hearing. The state Office of Mental Health would also have to approve any changes made to the role, duties and responsibilities to the community services director position.
Blair is still serving as community services director and plans to continue doing so until his official retirement in September. He announced his retirement Feb. 15, days before a Cayuga County judge quashed an attempt by the county ethics board to subpoena the president of the county chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The attempted subpoena was part of a probe into allegations that Blair accepted money from NAMI for personal use.
Stella Chronis, deputy mental health director, will lead the mental health service as director for the next several months. She will likely retire at the end of May, and the Legislature is currently searching for her eventual replacement.
Mills said after the board meeting, that changing the law would “clarify things” in regards to the position. However, the Community Services Board will still be involved in the process, as board members will likely serve on the selection committee, he said.
“You (currently) have one individual who has dual roles and who is to be hired and terminated by two different groups of people,” Mills said. “There would still be these two dual roles, but there won't be any misunderstanding as to the hiring and firing.”
Linda Albrecht, the newly-elected chair for the Community Services Board, said that many of the board members' concerns over the possible change come from their desire to be involved in the hiring process. If the director is appointed, there is a possibility that political shifts down the line could lead to changes in the position, she said.
“Those changes can bring about a lot of other changes,” said Albrecht, who was nominated and elected chair during Thursday's meeting. “There is a concern that when things become political, that could happen. ... When you have a small community like this, every time you have any big change, it is traumatic for the client.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
According to Mills, the Legislature can currently hire a new mental health director, and the Community Services Board has the authority to hire the director of community services for the mental health center. During his tenure, David Blair filled both of those roles.
For the change to happen, it would have to go through the committee process, a law would have to be drafted and reviewed, and the Legislature would have to hold a public hearing. The state Office of Mental Health would also have to approve any changes made to the role, duties and responsibilities to the community services director position.
Blair is still serving as community services director and plans to continue doing so until his official retirement in September. He announced his retirement Feb. 15, days before a Cayuga County judge quashed an attempt by the county ethics board to subpoena the president of the county chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The attempted subpoena was part of a probe into allegations that Blair accepted money from NAMI for personal use.
Stella Chronis, deputy mental health director, will lead the mental health service as director for the next several months. She will likely retire at the end of May, and the Legislature is currently searching for her eventual replacement.
Mills said after the board meeting, that changing the law would “clarify things” in regards to the position. However, the Community Services Board will still be involved in the process, as board members will likely serve on the selection committee, he said.
“You (currently) have one individual who has dual roles and who is to be hired and terminated by two different groups of people,” Mills said. “There would still be these two dual roles, but there won't be any misunderstanding as to the hiring and firing.”
Linda Albrecht, the newly-elected chair for the Community Services Board, said that many of the board members' concerns over the possible change come from their desire to be involved in the hiring process. If the director is appointed, there is a possibility that political shifts down the line could lead to changes in the position, she said.
“Those changes can bring about a lot of other changes,” said Albrecht, who was nominated and elected chair during Thursday's meeting. “There is a concern that when things become political, that could happen. ... When you have a small community like this, every time you have any big change, it is traumatic for the client.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
