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Legislators clash again on Drapkin contract



By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO -- Legislator Richard Levine (D-6), left, and chairman Rusty Pomeroy (D-3), center, renewed their differences during a discussion of County Manager Jonathan Drapkin's contract renewal on May 20. Legislative Clerk Steven Sharoff is also pictured.

Levine provided the only "no" vote as the Legislature approved the contract extension through December of 2000 with a two-percent salary increase. Drapkin will earn $98,285 this year and $100,250 next year.

Levine questioned the contract's inclusion of severance pay and the diminishment of the Legislature's hiring and firing authority represented by the contract.

Pomeroy eventually cut off Levine's questions, calling them a "fishing expedition."

Levine earlier questioned Pomeroy's appointment of three legislators, Gordon MacKinnon (D-4), Leni Binder (D-7) and Rodney Gaebel (RC-5), to serve with himself and community development and planning committee chairman Robert Kunis (D-8) on the board of directors for the newly formed Development Corporation of the County of Sullivan.

The appointments omitted Levine, Chris Cunningham (DC-1) and Steven Kurlander (RC-9), who often vote in opposition to positions taken by their six colleagues. "Considering the voting patterns and the representation on this board, I don't think the Legislature is represented for diversity," Levine said.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Pomeroy replied.

Kurlander suggested that a banker, someone from the Industrial Development Agency or Chamber of Commerce be appointed. "All we have here is politicians," he said.

Pomeroy did not change the appointments and the resolution passed 6-3, with Cunningham also opposed.