While it's certainly been a difficult process, Cayuga County finally seems to be moving forward on addressing the problems with its mental health services.

Long-time mental health director David Blair is retiring after a tenure filled with state sanctions and plenty of fighting with members of the Cayuga County Legislature, and the Legislature has agreed to an ambitious plan to renovate its North Street mental health clinic.

Another step forward started last week, when Legislature Chairman Roger Mills announced plans to change local law regarding the hiring and firing of the county's community services director.

In Cayuga County, this position has long been held by the county's director of mental health, with good reason since the two roles are so intertwined. But under the current structure, two different groups are responsible for filling the two positions. The county Community Services Board has been charged with hiring and/or firing the community services director. The Legislature controls the mental health director slot. As a result, there can and has been tension.

Ultimately, the Legislature is in charge of all the spending in the county, and it effectively oversees the Community Services Board. It makes sense, then, that the Legislature make the decision about who serves as community services director.

The Community Services Board has expressed concern that it not be left out completely from the process, and it shouldn't be. A formal search process that involves the expertise of the board is a good idea, but it's also important to establish one entity that is ultimately responsible for making these decisions.

Regarding mental health care, much work remains. Pushing through changes in the law, hiring competent leadership and staying on top of a renovation project require tremendous energy and dedication from the Legislature.

But the events of the past few weeks have certainly been a good omen.