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Current Human Resources Administrator Michael Russell has been serving on a part-time basis since retiring in March, while the Emergency Management Office has been without full-time staff following several sudden resignations at the start of the year.

Initially, Legislator Andrew Dennison, R-Ira, introduced a successful motion to table the decision until next month, saying there needed to be more discussion on the proposed salary.

According to the paperwork to create and fill the position, the new appointee, which the resolution describes as having 20 years of human resources experience, would be hired at an annual salary of $75,000.

Russell's salary as full-time administrator was $63,131, which was pro-rated on an hourly basis while working part-time.

Dennison said he was displeased that proposed salary came in at the higher range, and that he wanted to see additional market comparison data for the position.

The documents for the position note that a survey of comparable governments in the region shows a minimum of $70,163, a midpoint of $79,311 and a maximum of $88,459 for similar positions.

Responding to a question from Legislator Ryan Foley, D-Auburn, County Administrator J. Justin Woods said that the survey information came from initial results of an ongoing study of the county's compensation practices.

Dennison said he would prefer to see the entirety of the comparable data rather than just the summary included in the hiring documentation.

Prior to the initial vote to table, Foley questioned the intent of of the decision, saying it sent a bad message to department heads and county staff that the "rug would be pulled out from under" them by legislators.

"Now we're going to get here and attempt to table it? I think it's a reckless move," Foley said, also noting that the candidate had been recommended by the county's civil service commission.

The vote to table passed at first, but Legislator Timothy Lattimore, R-Auburn, who voted in favor of tabling, reintroduced the resolution shortly after, saying he'd now decided against risking losing the "excellent" candidate while also hindering the office's ability to function.

"I think the timing of this particular hire is important," Lattimore said, although he noted he agreed with Dennison's point in general.

With Lattimore's vote reversed, the resolution to hire a new administrator narrowly passed.

The Legislature also voted to referee the appointment of a new director of Emergency Services back to the Judicial and Public Safety Committee after the same committee earlier this month had tabled the resolution until the full meeting.

The Emergency Management Office has been without full-time staff since the then newly-hired director and a deputy director resigned abruptly in January, and a second deputy director was placed on administrative leave in February.

With no full-time staff and the need for coordination between emergency services in light of rising water levels on Lake Ontario, Woods urged the Legislature to accept the hiring recommendation.

"The current situation isn't sustainable," Woods said.

Judicial and Public Safety Committee Chair Chris Petrus, R-Brutus, said he'd wanted the motion referred to committee as there were still too many unanswered questions, and he wanted legislators to have more time to consider the position.

Legislature Chair Tucker Whitman, R-Sterling, said the committee should have tabled the resolution until its June meeting in the first place, rather than tabling it until the full Legislature, so the referral back to committee was the right decision. 

Russell said he would remain on as interim administrator until early or mid-June, depending on the amount of time needed to help the new hire acclimate to the position.