For about 45 minutes on Thursday, Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, City Manager Mark Palesh and Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Peter Tortorici updated the business community on the “states of” the city and county. Remarkably, other than news stories the following day, there has been little written about these presentations. It may be that there were no surprises in what was said, nor in the delivery, that have been newsworthy in the past.

Yet, the analysis and context all three provided is worth noting. The presentations were sharp and to the point in outlining what has occurred in the past year and what looks to be on the horizon. In the case of the city, Palesh did an excellent job outlining where Auburn stands in relation to what other municipalities are facing across the Empire State. Using data from the New York Conference of Mayors, he clearly detailed one of the strengths that he has brought to City Hall, which has been implemented by mayors and city councils, through their votes #- fiscal discipline.

Tortorici, who has been in charge of the Legislature for less than three months, had the more difficult task, giving the public a first in-person glimpse of what his goals are and what he sees as the priorities of the county. Unlike Quill, who did an excellent job with his introduction of Palesh, making it clear that he and the city council were behind Palesh and staff's efforts, Tortorici was on his own.

Last year's “states of” presentation, for the first time, included county administrator Wayne Allen and Palesh doing the major parts of the presentations. That was the first major change to the order of things, since 1995, when county Legislature Chairman Ralph W. Standbrook was also given time at the podium. This time around, it was interesting that while Allen was present and stood for questions, he did not speak. Allen, who clearly predicted the financial turmoil of the last eight months was roundly criticized by some on this page for his Cassandra-like warnings.

So, on his own, Tortorici had to not only give his own views of where the county is, but not get too far out in front of the other 14 members of the Legislature, some of whom were in attendance, to tell where the county has been and where he wants it to go.

Clearly his focus on the need for “transparency” in county decision-making is not only a sign of what he would like to see occur, but also is a signal that he understands that the lack of such, is what may have put him in the position last week to make the address.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com