MONTICELLO – The Sullivan
County Charter Review Commission formally presented its report to the
county legislature on Thursday recommending a switch from an appointed
county manager to an elected county executive. (Read
full report)
The report cited “some of the most compelling testimony heard”
dealt with Ulster County and elected County Executive Michael Hein. County
Attorney Beatrice Havranek told the Sullivan County task force that when
Hurricane Irene hit in 2011, “the county was fortunate to have a
single individual with the authority to act quickly under emergency conditions.”
While the costs of operating county government may increase with the county
executive structure, the commission pointed to testimony from Dr. Gerald
Benjamin, director of the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz, who noted
that could be offset by increased efficiency.
In the greater Hudson Valley/Catskills region, county executives serve
in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester.
The charter commission also recommended creating the position of elected
county comptroller to serve as the chief accounting and auditing officer
of the county.
The commission also suggested that the nine member county legislature
be voted in staggered terms.
