Stephen Barski was not overly interested in local politics or government until last year.
A developer was looking to put a group of new units near Rochester Street at the time, and many of the neighbors were concerned about how the homes would affect traffic, light, noise and general quality of life.
Barski and other neighbors went door to door to get signatures for petitions and to talk with other residents about the possible negative effects of the development. The developers eventually moved the plan elsewhere.
“I enjoyed it, talking with the people,” Barski said.
He's now looking to get even more involved in local politics, as he has received the endorsement from the local Democrat Committee for the Cayuga County Legislature's 11th district. He faces incumbent Linda Murphy, a Republican who is seeking her second term.
Barski is a lifelong Auburn resident who works in two small, family-owned businesses. One of the biggest issues he sees in the county is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the younger generation to stay here their entire lives.
Lack of professional opportunities locally makes it virtually impossible, he said.
“We need to find a way to try to keep the younger generation in this area,” said Barski, who said he is also worried about high taxes.
“I would like to have my children stay here,” he said.
If elected, Barski said he knows he will need time to address this and other issues. He also said he understands there is only so much he can do on the Legislature.
Even as he's been talking to residents for the campaign, Barski said residents have been asking him to address issues over which the Legislature has no control. But sometimes lending an ear is important, too.
“I think it makes you more approachable, if you've already made contact with the people,” Barski said.
Incumbent Linda Murphy says she also knows the importance of talking to people about issues. As a county legislator who represents residents in the city, she sometimes hears feedback from constituents who have issues with city business.
In those instances, she said she still feels it's her job to advocate for her constituents through letters or phone calls to other representatives, or by attending their meetings. Murphy said she has done so on multiple issues in the city, including tree maintenance, housing problems and the already mentioned development.
“It's my responsibility to represent their request,” Murphy said.
But she also says her four years on the Legislature has given her needed experience for a second term. There is a lot of learning in the first years of office, Murphy said.
“I don't think people understand how much time people put into a job like this,” she said.
Her biggest priorities for the coming years, if elected, include moving forward with the new mental health facility, a plan for economic development and continuing local support for Cayuga Community College.
Murphy also said she wants to see the county putting some effort into strategic planning when it comes to services like home health care before making decisions to privatize. The Legislature has discussed handing over the service to a private agency over the past year.
“Why (is the county) selling services without really sitting down and doing strategic planning?” she asked.
Murphy said she believes it is possible to move forward on those issues. In last four years, she said, there has been a lot of improvement at the Legislature of communication and cooperation.
“I think we're going in a positive direction. I would like to continue to be part of that,” Murphy said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Meet the candidates: Cayuga County Legislature District 11
Name: Linda Murphy
Age: 59
Occupation: Licensed mental health counselor, employed at Cayuga Counseling Services Inc. since December 1997. Title: Children's Crisis Coordinator and Director of SAVAR (Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resources)
Education: Master's degree, counseling psychology, Lesley College, Cambridge, Mass.,1982. Bachelor's degree, social work, SUNY Brockport, 1975
Family status: Single
Elected office experience: One term on county Legislature
Name: Stephen Barski
Age: 48
Occupation: Barski Brothers Farm Supply, Barski Welding and Fabricating
Education: Graduate of Ohio Diesel Tech., some college, graduate of Auburn High School
Family status: Married with four children between the ages of 2 and 23
Elected office experience: None
What should be the Legislature's role in economic development around the county? Also, if a new development agency is established, how should it be structured?
Murphy: The Legislature should be involved but not have the primary role - private businesses should have the primary role. There is a proposal to create a local development corporation with a 15-member board. The board will consist of six appointed seats which will include the chair of the Legislature, Auburn mayor, the Auburn and Cayuga County IDAs, the director of the Chamber of Commerce and the superintendent of BOCES. The remaining seats would be city and county business people and education. The LDC will have the structure of a “First Stop,” a private non-profit organization which will assist current and new businesses in expanding their business or creating new businesses. The county would support economic development through cooperation with the city, assist in infrastructure and help fund the agency.
Barski: (On an agency board), there should be members from the city, the county and the state. And Cayuga Community College - you have some wonderful business courses and business professors over there. Maybe some big-business people, and naturally some small-business, technology, financial people and land-development experts.
Cayuga County and the city of Auburn have a history of disagreements, but also have recently shown an interest in cooperation. What are two or three areas or issues where you believe the city and county can work together to reach common goals? As a legislator representing part of the city, what do you believe your role should be to facilitate that cooperation?
Murphy: 1. Economic Development. The city and county have been working collaboratively on developing economic development initiatives. We are currently working on developing a local development corporation to develop a non-profit agency to work with existing businesses on expansion and retaining jobs and to assist new businesses interested in locating to Cayuga County/city. The county will assist with funding and cooperative with the city on infrastructure development.
2. The city and county have a history of working together on developing alternative energy which will help us to be independent from more expensive energy providers and be more green. These efforts continue.
3. There is ongoing discussion on collaboration between the county and city on developing a new radio system which will replace an outdated system. The collaboration will ensure better communication in times of emergency and prevent unnecessary tragedy. Costs would be shared and grants are possible due to collaboration.
As a city legislator, I maintain open communication with city officials and department heads. I am a liaison between the county and city. My role is similar to what my role was as a trustee on the CCC board, where I maintained communication between the college board and the Legislature and was an advocate for the college with the Legislature. I have worked with the city as a representative on the city and county homeless task force for six years and have been a representative on the city's comprehensive planning committee for the past year.
Barski: Look at the county highway department and the city highway department. There have got to be ways of sharing equipment. Maybe with the planning departments, too. Do we need both (a city and county planning office)? I don't know. We need to look at that.
I guess we just have to look at everything before I commit to what areas (would be good for cooperation). They both have to be on the same page and willing to give up turf.
Wayne Allen recently was fired from the county manager position after reports of communication issues between him, department heads and the Legislature. What lessons do you believe the Legislature should have learned from its relationship with the first manager? And what roles and responsibilities do you envision for the future person in the position?
Murphy: There were legislators and department heads who had conflicts with the former county manager and others who had good working relationships with him. I believe that the past relationships were not successful due to communication and personality difficulties. It is my opinion that the Legislature experienced these difficulties due to transitioning to a new form of government.
As we move forward we need to clarify the roles of county manager and the Legislature; be clear on policies and procedures and stick to them. The hierarchy of the Legislature, county manager and Legislature support staff need to be defined and followed.
The manager's primary responsibilities are supervisor of department heads and budget officer. Further responsibilities will be discussed as the Legislature reviews what went wrong and what can be done better. The interim manager, Dominic Mazza, will guide us in reviewing the position of the manager and the Legislature's role in working with the manager.
Barski: Maybe they rushed into something. But this was the first county manager. There's always a first, and there are always things that need to be changed. Don't make the same mistake twice.
I don't know whether there is a lesson there or not. But it's got to be clearly defined in writing - what his duties are, who reports to him and who he reports to. Nobody wants to relinquish any power. But you do need a county manager because not everything can go through committee.
Barski and other neighbors went door to door to get signatures for petitions and to talk with other residents about the possible negative effects of the development. The developers eventually moved the plan elsewhere.
“I enjoyed it, talking with the people,” Barski said.
He's now looking to get even more involved in local politics, as he has received the endorsement from the local Democrat Committee for the Cayuga County Legislature's 11th district. He faces incumbent Linda Murphy, a Republican who is seeking her second term.
Barski is a lifelong Auburn resident who works in two small, family-owned businesses. One of the biggest issues he sees in the county is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the younger generation to stay here their entire lives.
Lack of professional opportunities locally makes it virtually impossible, he said.
“We need to find a way to try to keep the younger generation in this area,” said Barski, who said he is also worried about high taxes.
“I would like to have my children stay here,” he said.
If elected, Barski said he knows he will need time to address this and other issues. He also said he understands there is only so much he can do on the Legislature.
Even as he's been talking to residents for the campaign, Barski said residents have been asking him to address issues over which the Legislature has no control. But sometimes lending an ear is important, too.
“I think it makes you more approachable, if you've already made contact with the people,” Barski said.
Incumbent Linda Murphy says she also knows the importance of talking to people about issues. As a county legislator who represents residents in the city, she sometimes hears feedback from constituents who have issues with city business.
In those instances, she said she still feels it's her job to advocate for her constituents through letters or phone calls to other representatives, or by attending their meetings. Murphy said she has done so on multiple issues in the city, including tree maintenance, housing problems and the already mentioned development.
“It's my responsibility to represent their request,” Murphy said.
But she also says her four years on the Legislature has given her needed experience for a second term. There is a lot of learning in the first years of office, Murphy said.
“I don't think people understand how much time people put into a job like this,” she said.
Her biggest priorities for the coming years, if elected, include moving forward with the new mental health facility, a plan for economic development and continuing local support for Cayuga Community College.
Murphy also said she wants to see the county putting some effort into strategic planning when it comes to services like home health care before making decisions to privatize. The Legislature has discussed handing over the service to a private agency over the past year.
“Why (is the county) selling services without really sitting down and doing strategic planning?” she asked.
Murphy said she believes it is possible to move forward on those issues. In last four years, she said, there has been a lot of improvement at the Legislature of communication and cooperation.
“I think we're going in a positive direction. I would like to continue to be part of that,” Murphy said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Meet the candidates: Cayuga County Legislature District 11
Name: Linda Murphy
Age: 59
Occupation: Licensed mental health counselor, employed at Cayuga Counseling Services Inc. since December 1997. Title: Children's Crisis Coordinator and Director of SAVAR (Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resources)
Education: Master's degree, counseling psychology, Lesley College, Cambridge, Mass.,1982. Bachelor's degree, social work, SUNY Brockport, 1975
Family status: Single
Elected office experience: One term on county Legislature
Name: Stephen Barski
Age: 48
Occupation: Barski Brothers Farm Supply, Barski Welding and Fabricating
Education: Graduate of Ohio Diesel Tech., some college, graduate of Auburn High School
Family status: Married with four children between the ages of 2 and 23
Elected office experience: None
What should be the Legislature's role in economic development around the county? Also, if a new development agency is established, how should it be structured?
Murphy: The Legislature should be involved but not have the primary role - private businesses should have the primary role. There is a proposal to create a local development corporation with a 15-member board. The board will consist of six appointed seats which will include the chair of the Legislature, Auburn mayor, the Auburn and Cayuga County IDAs, the director of the Chamber of Commerce and the superintendent of BOCES. The remaining seats would be city and county business people and education. The LDC will have the structure of a “First Stop,” a private non-profit organization which will assist current and new businesses in expanding their business or creating new businesses. The county would support economic development through cooperation with the city, assist in infrastructure and help fund the agency.
Barski: (On an agency board), there should be members from the city, the county and the state. And Cayuga Community College - you have some wonderful business courses and business professors over there. Maybe some big-business people, and naturally some small-business, technology, financial people and land-development experts.
Cayuga County and the city of Auburn have a history of disagreements, but also have recently shown an interest in cooperation. What are two or three areas or issues where you believe the city and county can work together to reach common goals? As a legislator representing part of the city, what do you believe your role should be to facilitate that cooperation?
Murphy: 1. Economic Development. The city and county have been working collaboratively on developing economic development initiatives. We are currently working on developing a local development corporation to develop a non-profit agency to work with existing businesses on expansion and retaining jobs and to assist new businesses interested in locating to Cayuga County/city. The county will assist with funding and cooperative with the city on infrastructure development.
2. The city and county have a history of working together on developing alternative energy which will help us to be independent from more expensive energy providers and be more green. These efforts continue.
3. There is ongoing discussion on collaboration between the county and city on developing a new radio system which will replace an outdated system. The collaboration will ensure better communication in times of emergency and prevent unnecessary tragedy. Costs would be shared and grants are possible due to collaboration.
As a city legislator, I maintain open communication with city officials and department heads. I am a liaison between the county and city. My role is similar to what my role was as a trustee on the CCC board, where I maintained communication between the college board and the Legislature and was an advocate for the college with the Legislature. I have worked with the city as a representative on the city and county homeless task force for six years and have been a representative on the city's comprehensive planning committee for the past year.
Barski: Look at the county highway department and the city highway department. There have got to be ways of sharing equipment. Maybe with the planning departments, too. Do we need both (a city and county planning office)? I don't know. We need to look at that.
I guess we just have to look at everything before I commit to what areas (would be good for cooperation). They both have to be on the same page and willing to give up turf.
Wayne Allen recently was fired from the county manager position after reports of communication issues between him, department heads and the Legislature. What lessons do you believe the Legislature should have learned from its relationship with the first manager? And what roles and responsibilities do you envision for the future person in the position?
Murphy: There were legislators and department heads who had conflicts with the former county manager and others who had good working relationships with him. I believe that the past relationships were not successful due to communication and personality difficulties. It is my opinion that the Legislature experienced these difficulties due to transitioning to a new form of government.
As we move forward we need to clarify the roles of county manager and the Legislature; be clear on policies and procedures and stick to them. The hierarchy of the Legislature, county manager and Legislature support staff need to be defined and followed.
The manager's primary responsibilities are supervisor of department heads and budget officer. Further responsibilities will be discussed as the Legislature reviews what went wrong and what can be done better. The interim manager, Dominic Mazza, will guide us in reviewing the position of the manager and the Legislature's role in working with the manager.
Barski: Maybe they rushed into something. But this was the first county manager. There's always a first, and there are always things that need to be changed. Don't make the same mistake twice.
I don't know whether there is a lesson there or not. But it's got to be clearly defined in writing - what his duties are, who reports to him and who he reports to. Nobody wants to relinquish any power. But you do need a county manager because not everything can go through committee.
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