Legislature rescinds shared highway superintendent

WATKINS GLEN--The Schuyler County Legislature voted to rescind three resolutions authorizing an intermunicipal agreement with Yates County to share a highway superintendent position. The action happened during the legislature's regular meeting Monday, March 9, where Schuyler County Legislative Chairman Dennis Fagan said Yates County was no longer interested in sharing the position. The legislature also repealed resolutions that would have appointed current Yates County Highway Superintendent David Hartman to the position.
"Their legislature expressed some concerns regarding insurance and liability issues," Fagan said. "We thought we addressed those adequately. I voiced my displeasure to their chairman since we had been working on this for quite a few months, with us basically giving them hold harmless in terms of highway superintendent operating in our county. [...] Unfortunately the opportunity has gone by the wayside, so we are looking at other opportunities and also advertising the position."
The county originally passed the resolutions in January to seek the shared position, but after hesitation from the Yates County Legislature, the decision was made to not go ahead with the shared position. Instead, County Administrator Tim O'Hearn said the county will advertise for the position and also hold a meeting with Chemung County within the next week to see if they are interested in sharing the position.
The legislature passed additional resolutions authorizing additional compensation for Deputy Highway Superintendent Philip Biever in the annual amount of $5,000 to compensate for the additional responsibilities he takes on as the superintendent position remains vacant.
The legislature also passed a resolution requesting the New York State Legislature allow counties to share a county highway superintendent position. While the resolution states Yates and Schuyler have since decided against the measure, they would like to continue to request this become a possibility in case there is an opportunity to do so in the future.
"I indicated to their chairman if [there is] even a small chance of implementing the position, we would be open to it, but if there is a chance it is very small unfortunately," Fagan said.
In other business:
• Fagan indicated the public forum to address the county's emergency plan will be Wednesday, March 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the human service complex in Montour Falls. There will also be a final report of the Center for Governmental Research (CGR) study Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the human services complex.