COUNTY BOARD TO VOTE ON CHAIR
Carson Offers Plan
Of 2017 Priorities
COOPERSTOWN – In asking his colleagues to elect him chairman of the county Board of Representatives, county Rep. Len Carson, R-Oneonta, laid out a detail plan of goals to strive for in 2017.
The county board is scheduled to vote on the chairmanship at its reorganizational meeting at 10 a.m. today.
Here is a copy of the the Carson plan.
Strategic Plan
PLANNING
- Implement the Otsego County Strategic Plan guided by the Implementation/Government Efficiency Committee, bringing Board Committees and Department Heads together
- Outline Target Dates for key plan priorities
- Provide an annual overview and update on Strategic Plan progress and impact
- Programmatic analysis and define the value of the County and services provided
Department Heads
LEADERSHIP
- Institute quarterly department head meetings with the Board Chair (and other Reps who wish to attend)
- Improve communication and info sharing with and amongst Department Heads
- Carry out management and compensation analysis
o Will need to address salary levels
o Succession issues and pay
- Carry out County Manager study, including role and feasibility
o Define role with Reps and Department Heads
o Will model include assistant or not
o Need to address succession
o Salary range
- Develop onboarding system for new employees
County Board
TRANSPARENCY
- Improve information sharing amongst committees
- Implement audio/video recordings of all board meetings and make available to general public
- Eliminate weighted voting from committee votes
- Revise Administrative Committee to include Committee Chairs in order to better direct Admin’s role and discussions
- Refocus Administrative Committee on addressing issues from committees (can’t get agreement) and policy making
- Develop an orientation process for new County Reps
- Annual convening with state representatives and other elected officials from villages and towns (and Oneonta City)
- Explore Board Docs for storing scanned documents and information for the Board and committees
- Term limit for County Chair (3 consecutive years and required 1 year step off)
- County Rep staggered terms
- County Rep terms changed to 3 years
Budget
EFFECIENCY
- Continue to streamline County operations to provide cost savings and improve services
- Better support the Onondaga Purchasing partnership and provide more training and support to County staff
- Work to improve County employee healthcare benefits and implement telemedicine and other offerings
- Explore making Treasurer a County employee
- Address tax cap issue and need for at least 2%
Services
PARTNERSHIP
- Implement evaluation mechanisms for County services through online and social media channels
- Strengthen County partnerships with more communication and outline of expectations and info sharing
- Leverage County appointments to better represent Otsego County and provide information to the County and Department Heads
- Partner with other counties on priority issues (like pipeline upgrades for natural gas)
Tourism and Economy
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- Strengthen the County’s partnership with OtsegoNow, including the IDA appointment process
- Strengthen the County’s partnership with Destination Marketing and work to better leverage County cultural and recreational assets
Infrastructure
SAFETY NET
- Improve County roads and upkeep
- Improve public safety and EMS services
- Finalize the 911 communication system