From left, County Human Resources Commissioner
Steven Gross, Miller and Porr
GOSHEN – The Human Services Committee of the Orange County Legislature
has voted to approve county Mental Health Commissioner Darcie Miller in
a dual role as county social services commissioner.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus nominated her to the dual for the second
post, but the legislature sent her confirmation back to committee last
month. Several weeks ago, he named her acting social services commissioner.
Now, that committee gave its nod saying Miller is up for the challenge.
She was asked by lawmakers how she would affect savings by running both
departments, which at this point, would not be merged.
“We are serving some of the most needy people, the most vulnerable
people in our community throughout those two departments so where savings
would come in is where we have natural attrition where people leave and
we do not have to replace, where the change in how Medicaid is being managed,
which will go into effect supposedly in April 2018 and we are already
are already beginning to prepare what that will mean for our workforce,”
she said.
Miller will receive her full salary as mental health commissioner and
a stipend for serving as social services commissioner, but what that will
be is up to Neuhaus. He was not present at the meeting, but county Director
of Cost Containment Harry Porr said it would be “prudent and fair”
Miller.
The full legislature is expected to vote on her confirmation at a special
session on Friday.
