County manager moving on; charter change moves forward

Posted 9/30/09

The effort by five of the nine county legislators to remove the county manager was finalized February 21 with the announcement that the legislature had voted to approve a separation agreement.

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County manager moving on; charter change moves forward

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The effort by five of the nine county legislators to remove the county manager was finalized February 21 with the announcement that the legislature had voted to approve a separation agreement.

A statement issued jointly by county manager David Fanslau and Scott Samuelson, chair of the Sullivan County Legislature, read, “Mr. Fanslau and the Sullivan County Legislature have amicably agreed to enter into a Separation Agreement, ending Mr. Fanslau’s position as Sullivan County Manager, effective at 12:01 AM on March 2, 2013. The Sullivan County Legislature thanks Mr. Fanslau for his years of dedicated service to Sullivan County, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.”

Deputy county manager Joshua Potosek will serve as interim

county manager while the legislature searches for a new manager.

The announcement came a few hours after lawmakers voted to move forward with a local law that will change the county charter to allow a simple majority of the legislator to remove a county manager from office. The charter was amended in 2007 requiring a super majority to remove the county manager, and the issue has been a source of tension since June of 2012 when five of the legislators indicated to their peers that they would not vote to renew Fanslau’s contract, which expired at the end of the year.

Before the vote, most of the legislators weighed in with their thoughts on the matter. Legislator Kathy LaBuda called the resolution “totally inappropriate” and “disrespectful,” noting that the supermajority rule was recommended by a unanimous charter commission back in 2007.

Legislator Jonathan Rouis agreed, saying that the charter is in essence the county’s constitution and changing it should not be done by five legislators, but either by public referendum or through a charter commission.

The change is subject to permissive referendum, meaning that if opponents gather enough signatures, roughly 1000, the public will have an opportunity to vote on the matter. Legislator Ira Steingart said, “I do think we’ll get the signatures, and that it’s going to go to the public.” He added, “I think it’s wrong that five politicians” can make the change.

On the other side of the issue, legislator Alan Sorensen said the revision of the charter would restore its original intent. He also said that the 2007 change was done incorrectly because the public at the time received no notice that the revision was subject to permissive referendum.

Legislator Cora Edwards was one of several legislators who said that as the charter now stands a minority of the legislature can thwart the will of the majority. She said, “Since June, as minority of four has been holding a majority of five in a holding pattern.”

Lawmaker Cindy Geiger said the charter change in 2007 “changed the power structure of the legislature,” and she supported the change to a simple majority.

Public comment on the question was split with resident Ken Walter opposing the change and resident Star Hesse supporting it.

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