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