Auburn Mayor Michael Quill doesn't mind interruptions. In fact, they're part of his daily routine.

During an interview last week, Quill briefly excused himself twice- - once to take a resident's phone call for which he had been waiting all morning, and once to greet another who had dropped by his office at city hall.

“Many people come by or call to talk with the mayor,” Quill said. “Some people will have issues that really cannot be resolved, and they just want someone to talk with and someone to listen to them. We do our best to acknowledge every communication, and we do our best to follow up with every one.”

This week, Quill will pass his 100th day as Auburn's mayor after being elected in a tight, three-way race. The former Auburn fire chief has faced some challenges while getting a feel for the office.

He took blame for a proposed planning session at a religious retreat center in Onondaga County that would have violated open government policies, which he said was a learning experience. The first part of his term has also seen a contract dispute between his former colleagues and employees at the fire department and the city management team.

But Quill said he feels his first 100 days have gone “fairly smooth,” and the city staff has helped with the transition.

“The employees have been very good, working with us and helping us get up to speed. The public, too,” he said.

Quill took some time Wednesday morning to discuss the first part of his mayoral term.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge for you as mayor?

A: The issue with the fire department is going to be challenging for the foreseeable future. We have to balance public safety with the city budget, and with all the personalities involved, it is going to be very challenging for the entire administration.

Q: Have you received a lot of feedback from the public about the decision to close the Frederick Street station?

A: I have received some questions, but that is part of my job. I want their input. ... The people who have approached me are concerned about the safety of that neighborhood and the overall safety of the city.

Q: Are these fire department issues, between the contracts and the station, tougher for you than issues with other departments considering your past as fire chief?

A: Yes, they are. But keep in mind, I have said from day one that as the fire chief, I was an advocate for my people. But now I am an advocate for the entire city. What is best for public safety, what is best for the citizens and the taxpayers?

Q: How do you respond when people connect the city missing the fire contract negotiation notification deadline and your former role as chief?

A: Anything that happened from noon on Jan. 1 and forward, I am responsible for it and I will take that responsibility. I can only answer from when I was sworn in and forward.

Q: Going along with challenges, the proposed city planning retreat at Stella Maris did not work out, and the public was not notified. How was that a learning experience?

A: I really believe that the mayor and the council and the city manager should sit down for a strategic planning session, especially concerning budgets. But as a person I learned that we should have done it in a different manner. Hopefully, within the next year we will try and get something off and running again. I learned a great deal from that.

Q: Describe your working relationship with (City Manager) Mark Palesh.

A: We speak at least once every day, if not two or three times a day. Some issues demand more attention than others. But at the same time, we are both busy people. I enjoy working with the gentleman. We don't always agree on everything, but that is how life is.

Q: A councilor mentioned once that the city manager carries out the policies, while the council is there to be the voice of the people at city hall. Do you agree with that?

A: We're known in the community, and people all have their input. It is our position to bring that to the city manager and try to work something out that will work for everyone. There is great communication between myself and all the members of council. We all work together as a team.

Q: What is a typical day for you at city hall?

A: Every day varies a little bit. We have meetings to attend, sometimes at city hall and sometimes they are on the road somewhere. We have been to Albany a couple times. We have done 10 or 12 weddings here at city hall. Really, there is no typical day.

Q: The structure of the corporation counsel office was brought up a few weeks ago, but has not been discussed much lately. Is that something that still needs to be resolved?

A: The way the meeting ended was the city manager was going to recommend a part-time position for corporation counsel in the upcoming budget. But it will be the (city) council's decision whether to push to go with a full-time attorney or whether it is going to be a part-time attorney. It is a little bit in the background, but it is always something just under the surface. And I think the world of Mr. Fusco and Mr. Rossi, and I certainly hope they would consider being interviewed for the job if we went to a full-time position.

Q: Looking ahead, now that you have a feel for things, what is a major issue you see the city tackling?

A: The draft of the budget will be coming up shortly. That is always a challenge. The renewable energy the city is working on with the digester. Encouraging the business to stay in the area and bringing newer businesses in. If Auburn is going to survive, these are things that we really have to stay on top of.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being the mayor?

A: I enjoy talking with people and helping people, and being involved with the community.

Q: What is something about Mayor Michael Quill that might surprise someone?

A: Wow, I don't know. I did not go after this position for personal gain. I do enjoy being part of the community, and I have no aspirations to go to Albany or Washington. I have no real interest in this other than helping people. People might say I am just doing this to take the next step, but that is not the case.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.

Mills: Mental health office has been top priority

Christopher Caskey

The Citizen

When he was running in November for the Cayuga County Legislature, Roger Mills did not consider the possibility of being chairman. He was just worried about winning the District 6 seat.

“I've run for public office, and I was unsuccessful. That taught me that you don't get too far ahead of yourself,” said Mills, who had previously run for county treasurer. “It was never even a thought, primarily because I had not been elected yet.”

But when he was sworn in to the Legislature in January, he was also elected by the legislators to be the body's chair. Since then, Mills said, he has relied on the experience of former chairmen George Fearon and Raymond Lockwood for guidance.

This week, Mills will pass his 100th day as the county's legislative chairman.

Though Mills said he did not have any expectations coming into the job, he has been surprised by the hours and dedication it demands.

“We have 40 departments, and they are all involved in a wide array of activities,” he said. “(County government) is big business. This is a significant job.”

Mills sat down Tuesday and answered some questions about the first part of his term.

Q: Is it difficult to balance your position as chairman with the duties of representing your district in the Legislature?

A: That is my biggest concern. I am envious of some of the other legislatures, because they talk about attending their town board meetings and speaking to their supervisors. I have not been able to do that. ... I go to all the committee meetings, and many days out of a month, I am committed. I do recall George (Fearon) saying something about attending a Springport board meeting, and it was the first time in two years he was able to attend it. I am conscious of that, and it does concern me to a certain extent. Hopefully, (residents) understand that. I haven't forgotten them, by any means.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge the Legislature has faced since you became chair?

A: The thing we work on almost every day is the mental health center. There are some significant problems there that we are trying to resolve. We are trying to get a new building constructed, meeting with the architects and trying to look at that in terms of the budget and (financing). That has been the most time-consuming aspect of my term so far. We still have some more to do. The director of community services (David Blair) retired, and the deputy director is about to retire. There were also issues initially regarding employees, and I think we have worked our way through those. There was some changing of positions, and we need to go out and obtain some new psychiatrists to fill some of those positions that have been vacated. Psychiatrists are difficult people to attract. There is just a scarcity of them.

Q: Is there concern in the Legislature over the stability of that department?

A: It was my understanding that some of these people (who have left) had planned to leave anyway. Certainly, it is a concern if these positions go unfilled for a long period of time. But we are committed to finding people to perform those services.

Q: The Legislature is looking to change a local law to have full control over hiring and firing the future director of community services. When positions like these are handled by a legislative body, there can be concerns that the person chosen might not be the most qualified. How can the legislature make that choice?

A: For this position, there are definitive requirements that this person has to be qualified for the selection. Not only do we have a role to play in the selection process, and I say we referring to the Community Services Board and the Legislature, but the (state) Office of Mental Health has to confirm the person as well.

Q: (City Manager) Wayne Allen recently gave the state of the county address. Some have perceived the speech as quite gloomy, focusing on the disconnect between county and state government as well as citizens and all government. Does the Legislature share a similar outlook?

A: I think that was kind of a reaction to what we have seen with the state budget. Initially, the state had some severe financial difficulties and it seemed like the way to balance their books was on the backs of the local governments. That was the message he was trying to deliver. It is easy for (the state) to cut the finding and say let them worry about it. Like we don't have our own problems. We certainly do, and that was the other part of his message. There are some significant things we have to address in the short term. ... One we have been talking about is the 911 center. Our infrastructure is obsolete, and it has to be updated. The expectation is that will be $10 to 15 million.

Q: When you ran for legislator, you talked about your background in banking. How have you drawn on that during your time in the legislature?

A: One thing we have changed since the first of the year is we moved (the legislative meeting) up to 6 p.m. The whole concept there was to talk about budget issues for that extra half hour. We need to have time when we are all together and can talk about something significant, with a strategic type of thinking. If there is any one thing I can be proud of for my first 100 days, it is that we're devoting at least a portion of every meeting to something strategic.

Q: Some major decisions over the past few months have been made behind closed doors during a Republican caucus. Patrick McIntosh was appointed to fill the vacant seat for District 15. You were appointed chairman the same way. Do you think there is a need for more public discussion in the Legislature when it comes to decisions like these?

A: I have mixed emotions on it. I know it is tradition the way these positions have been selected. I just think it would be difficult if names were presented but weren't selected. Out of fairness for the person who was not accepted, it seems to me that people would wonder what was wrong with the person. And there may not have been anything wrong with the person. You just selected a different person. ... I think we get more people coming forward if they realize they can with some degree of confidentiality.

Q: There has been some discussion about regionalization and consolidating services. Is there one area you see this taking place in the near future?

A: I think water and sewer is one. At this point, it is not a city and county issue. The water and sewer agreements are with the towns and villages and the city. We may have a role to play, but I am not exactly sure what that role is. Agreements and contracts have been made, and they have to be renegotiated by the towns. At the same time, that is critical for economic development. I can appreciate that, and I can appreciate the city's need for assistance. I think they have made their case that the rates are not equitable.

Q: Your position is appointed every year. If that year was up today, would you be interested in another year as the chair?

A: I am willing to continue on if the legislators themselves picked me. ... This is the most fascinating job I have every had. It is challenging, but there is something new every day. I have really enjoyed it. I would definitely serve again.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net