Charter Review Commission Did Little for Us

by: Bill Liblick

The Charter Review Commission charged by the legislature has done very little in making recommendations to change the way our government is run. I have been saying for months this would happen. It was nothing more than a waste of time.

This could have been a landmark year for us. Real issues could have been brought before the voters, but the Democratic leaders of the legislature knew exactly what they were doing. Their message was clear that they wanted status quo. 

For the very least we could have had open honest debate on issues such an elected county executive. Orange and Ulster Counties did it.

But the leadership of the legislature knew if we did it here, perhaps it would jeopardize their control over us. They are concerned with power, not having our county run efficiently and openly.

Now, several weeks before an election, the legislature will be discussing some changes that do not even require a vote from us. This includes mandating a sheriff patrol, an issue which legislators Leni Binder and Jodi Goodman have been pushing for years only to land on deaf ears.

There is no reason on earth why the sheriff’s patrol could not have been mandated all along. There was never a need for a charter review commission to do this.

This legislature has always had little regard for the sheriff’s patrol. When PBA President Paul Slavic pleaded that his members be adequately compensated the Democratic leadership looked the other way.  Sheriff Michael Schiff and Undersheriff Eric Chaboty stepped in and demanded labor negotiations without the use of a highly paid Albany firm.

Other charter changes the legislature will be looking at consist of policy and organizational shifts. None require our vote.

A strong argument is there as to why we need a county executive.

Sullivan County elects a full-time District Attorney, Sheriff, Treasurer, and County Clerk. When it comes for voters to elect an official who is in charge of our government we get zilch.

Our County Manager is hired by the legislature. When someone bucks the system they get the boot, just like what they did to Dan Briggs.

We need to take bold steps to change the system here. Perhaps a form of government such as what we have in Albany would work. The county executive could be similar to the governor, the legislature could be comparable to the senate, and we could elevate the role of the supervisors to be like the Assembly. But, those in power know if we made changes it would rock their boat, so we get silence.

All nine legislators have other jobs. In fact, there is often an overlapping or possible conflict of interest in legislators that have other means employment.

It is a sham and shame that all we have gotten from the charter review panel are some minor suggestions. The Democratic controlled Legislature once again gets what they want, closed door government without open and honest discussion on the need to change the bureaucracy in Sullivan County. And, don’t forget, they can do anything they want with or without recommendations from the Charter Review Commission.

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