AUBURN - The Cayuga County Legislature approved a resolution on Tuesday to pay a new assistant district attorney an additional $6,259.86 as a sign-on bonus.
The funds will be coming from a state grant, said District Attorney Jon Budelmann and if the Legislature did not vote in favor of the resolution, the money would have to be returned to the state by the end of the year. The state granted Budelmann an extension until Feb. 28, 2009 to utilize the funds.
“Because it costs the county nothing and we would lose the state grant money if we didn't do it, I felt hopeful that we could get it through ... It allows us to get an attorney with eight years experience, four years of prosecution experience, here at an entry-level salary, ” he said.
The position, which has been vacant since February, pays approximately $50,000 per year, Budelmann said. With the bonus, the 2009 salary would be slightly more than $56,000.
The new ADA, Romolo Canzano, signed an addendum to his agreement with the county indicating if he left the DA's office within his first year of employment, he would return the bonus.
The resolution passed 12-2, with Daniel Schuster, D-Auburn, and Patrick Mahunik, D-Auburn, dissenting.
Schuster said he was uncomfortable passing a resolution he had not looked at. The resolution was originally tabled during the Judicial and Public Safety Committee meeting, but because time was an issue, Budelmann brought it back on the floor Tuesday.
“There's no guarantee that there's going to be money available in 2010 for this individual so, is this person going to continue to work if in fact his salary is going to be lower? My fear is that people are just going to deal with it then rather than realize that there's an issue now,” Schuster said.
The Legislature passed a resolution decreasing the salary of the vacant position in October, expecting to fill it with an entry-level attorney rather than hiring an experienced attorney like Canzano.
“Given that this year the police agencies had a record number of arrests ... Having that sixth ADA on board ... Is going to be a tremendous assistance to us,” Budelmann said. “It's going to make our ability to prosecute crime that much better and the citizens of the county that much safer.”
In other news:
* Roger Mills, R-Sennett, addressed the Legislature as chairman for the last time. At the end of Tuesday's meeting, he thanked his colleagues who supported him initially and who continue to support him.
“The chairmanship has allowed me a unique opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of county government in a short and concentrated manner,” he said. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve and I will be forever grateful.”
Mills said the job was difficult at times, especially when he had to suppress his personal views “out of respect for the majority view of this legislative body.”
“Today I feel beaten up, but not beaten down,” Mills said. “In fact, I feel liberated and able at last to aggressively pursue, without constraint, the many changes I feel we need to accomplish.”
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
“Because it costs the county nothing and we would lose the state grant money if we didn't do it, I felt hopeful that we could get it through ... It allows us to get an attorney with eight years experience, four years of prosecution experience, here at an entry-level salary, ” he said.
The position, which has been vacant since February, pays approximately $50,000 per year, Budelmann said. With the bonus, the 2009 salary would be slightly more than $56,000.
The new ADA, Romolo Canzano, signed an addendum to his agreement with the county indicating if he left the DA's office within his first year of employment, he would return the bonus.
The resolution passed 12-2, with Daniel Schuster, D-Auburn, and Patrick Mahunik, D-Auburn, dissenting.
Schuster said he was uncomfortable passing a resolution he had not looked at. The resolution was originally tabled during the Judicial and Public Safety Committee meeting, but because time was an issue, Budelmann brought it back on the floor Tuesday.
“There's no guarantee that there's going to be money available in 2010 for this individual so, is this person going to continue to work if in fact his salary is going to be lower? My fear is that people are just going to deal with it then rather than realize that there's an issue now,” Schuster said.
The Legislature passed a resolution decreasing the salary of the vacant position in October, expecting to fill it with an entry-level attorney rather than hiring an experienced attorney like Canzano.
“Given that this year the police agencies had a record number of arrests ... Having that sixth ADA on board ... Is going to be a tremendous assistance to us,” Budelmann said. “It's going to make our ability to prosecute crime that much better and the citizens of the county that much safer.”
In other news:
* Roger Mills, R-Sennett, addressed the Legislature as chairman for the last time. At the end of Tuesday's meeting, he thanked his colleagues who supported him initially and who continue to support him.
“The chairmanship has allowed me a unique opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of county government in a short and concentrated manner,” he said. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve and I will be forever grateful.”
Mills said the job was difficult at times, especially when he had to suppress his personal views “out of respect for the majority view of this legislative body.”
“Today I feel beaten up, but not beaten down,” Mills said. “In fact, I feel liberated and able at last to aggressively pursue, without constraint, the many changes I feel we need to accomplish.”
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
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