Lawmakers Balk But OK Deputy County Executive Pay Hike

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne has reorganized the executive branch, creating two positions, a Director of Communications and a Director of Compliance and Intergovernmental Relations, and eliminating two others, the Director of Constituent Services in the County Executive’s Office, and an unfilled Purchaser position in the Purchasing Department.

The reorganization will save the county about $64,000, he said.

He requested and received legislative approval of a budget reallocation, but not without controversy, as the proposal also included giving the new Deputy County Executive, James Burpoe, a $24,000 pay hike.

That part of the proposal met with opposition during the Putnam County Legislature’s Personnel Committee meeting at the end of January, the Putnam County News & Recorder reported. Lawmakers Toni Addonizio, Ginny Nacerino and Amy Sayegh objected to giving a new staffer what Nacerino dubbed "a frivolous salary adjustment."

However, the entire budget transfer was approved at the Legislature's meeting Feb. 7.

The two positions that were eliminated were empty, the Constituent Services director having left with the previous administration and the purchasing position never filled. The work is being reassigned to different individuals in the County Executive’s Office, including the Deputy County Executive.

“When I was elected, I was given a mandate from the residents of Putnam County to govern in an open and responsible manner. Being able to make some key personnel changes in my first weeks in office will be enormously helpful in finding creative solutions to problems, and save taxpayer dollars," Byrne said in a statement. "I thank Chairman Paul Jonke and all other legislators, from both sides of the aisle and from both sides of the county, who helped pass this important budget transfer package. The public display of bipartisanship is refreshing and will help enable us to restructure positions, compensation and save the residents of Putnam County thousands of dollars in the process."

Byrne deserved to be able to restructure his office however he saw fit, said Legislator Bill Gouldman, who served on Bryne’s transition team. "This move falls within the allocated budget, and in fact it will cut operating costs. In addition, I believe that given a few more months, this administration will realize even greater savings for the people of Putnam County."

Legislator Nancy Montgomery praised Byrne's bipartisan approach in including her in the discussions. "Establishing these areas as administrative priorities and values is a great start and I am eager to be part of setting the same tone on the Legislature.”