By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County lawmakers skirted action on two controversial personnel items Thursday.
Two politically-charged resolutions quickly landed in committee. Lawmakers wasted little time and no comment on a measure that would have created a $60,000 legislative post for Democratic party operative Larry Adamczyk. The one time elections commissioner and former aide to Paul Tokasz was looking for a job. And Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli crafted a resolution for one she says is needed.
But Marinelli's colleagues and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority see it differently. Marinelli was the sole sponsor of the measure. And Control Board Executive Director Ken Vetter says it wouldn't have gotten far anyway.
Lawmakers also avoided immediate debate on another politically sensitive item. Republicans put forward a law that would force any lawmaker convicted of either a felony or a misdemeanor to resign. The move was sparked by the recent guilty plea to tax fraud by former Democratic chair George Holt.
Meanwhile, the debate over efficiency grants also continues. Lawmakers are once again calling on the control board to hand over $9 million of incentives. The control board says they haven't done anything to get the money. But snow plows at least will be run more efficiently. Lawmakers approved a recently negotiated labor agreement that allows for single-operated snow plows.