With rumors of turmoil and friction between some staffers and the town clerk leaking from the building, it was only a matter of time before some moves were made to try and reduce the friction. Sources say there will be personnel shifts shortly with February 19th a date mentioned as a day of transition.
In addition to tomorrow evening's incredible vote to re-hire Judy Wos, reports are that one of the secretaries hired by Mark Evers without a town board vote of appointment will move to his office and function as a secretary to the town board. This is at best an odd arrangement since the town board members are elected and anyone working for them would and should be in the exempt class of employees just as the Supervisor has a “confidential assistant” who is exempt from Civil Service approval in the appointment process.
In addition to tomorrow evening's incredible vote to re-hire Judy Wos, reports are that one of the secretaries hired by Mark Evers without a town board vote of appointment will move to his office and function as a secretary to the town board. This is at best an odd arrangement since the town board members are elected and anyone working for them would and should be in the exempt class of employees just as the Supervisor has a “confidential assistant” who is exempt from Civil Service approval in the appointment process.
It is more bizarre because Town Clerk Connolly argued vociferously in front of the Civil Service Commission last year that she was the only legitimate secretary or clerk to the Town Board and that allowing someone else to perform such a job would be an infringement on her official elected duties. Now there's some egg here for for everone, Civil Service, the Town Clerk and the Town Board, if they pursue the position.
An elected town board can be comprised of members of different political faiths just as with members of the county legislature. Neither legislative office in Rensselaer County has Civil Service appointees on their staff and for good reason. You cannot serve two masters in politics. One day you might be writing or typing a press release for one side and the next writing the response. The fact that Civil Service in Rensselaer County has at times, denied exempt classifications when requested in North Greenbush for the Town Board or Town Attorney can only be explained by politics at the Civil Service Commission. Imagine, for example, if the Town Clerk had to use a Civil Service List to appoint a secretary or deputy rather than appointing someone loyal to her who would understand that disloyalty could result in termination? What a different tune would be heard at town hall.
Clearly elected officials are entitled to “confidential” appointees to handle what are often sensitive political issues which if in the hands of political opponents could embarrass them. Ironically, one of the current Civil Service Commissioners found out the hard way when she lost her position in the Troy City Clerk’s office when the new city council was seated and a new majority gained control. She was one of those do as I say, not as I do votes which disallowed a confidential secretary to the town board. If the Town Board’s majority agrees to this position, a new majority would likely end the position altogether.
We also heard that employees now keep a running list of “offenses” by the town clerk which document what they believe are unwarranted intrusions or perceived rudeness while performing their job responsibilities. We would certainly welcome an email of the list and will of course protect the identity of those keeping it. That’s one way of creating an incentive to mind one’s own business in the work place!
An elected town board can be comprised of members of different political faiths just as with members of the county legislature. Neither legislative office in Rensselaer County has Civil Service appointees on their staff and for good reason. You cannot serve two masters in politics. One day you might be writing or typing a press release for one side and the next writing the response. The fact that Civil Service in Rensselaer County has at times, denied exempt classifications when requested in North Greenbush for the Town Board or Town Attorney can only be explained by politics at the Civil Service Commission. Imagine, for example, if the Town Clerk had to use a Civil Service List to appoint a secretary or deputy rather than appointing someone loyal to her who would understand that disloyalty could result in termination? What a different tune would be heard at town hall.
Clearly elected officials are entitled to “confidential” appointees to handle what are often sensitive political issues which if in the hands of political opponents could embarrass them. Ironically, one of the current Civil Service Commissioners found out the hard way when she lost her position in the Troy City Clerk’s office when the new city council was seated and a new majority gained control. She was one of those do as I say, not as I do votes which disallowed a confidential secretary to the town board. If the Town Board’s majority agrees to this position, a new majority would likely end the position altogether.
We also heard that employees now keep a running list of “offenses” by the town clerk which document what they believe are unwarranted intrusions or perceived rudeness while performing their job responsibilities. We would certainly welcome an email of the list and will of course protect the identity of those keeping it. That’s one way of creating an incentive to mind one’s own business in the work place!
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