Following appeals by two union representatives, the Herkimer County Legislature approved the adoption of the 2008-09 Herkimer County Community College budget by a vote of 13 to 3.
The $21,295,536 budget includes a HCCC Board of Trustees’ approved cost-saving action eliminating 15 positions, reducing salaries of four employees, and cutting benefits and hours to five secretarial jobs.
The public hearing that preceded the regular meeting received two appeals to speak.
Having previously addressed the Legislature, JoAnne LeClair, president of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA union unit representing HCCC employees), reiterated her appeals to the county representatives.
Either appropriate additional funds to reinstate the positions, or vote no on the budget. She introduced a third option of tabling the vote until certain aspects be addressed.
LeClair called for additional “line-by-line, department-by-department” budgetary disclosure by the college, and input by the incoming president (Ann Marie Murray, who begins on Aug. 11).
Also, the county needs to consider potential arbitration costs resulting from union grievances. Three have already being filed, according to LeClair, “and I’m sure there will be more to follow.”
Mary Lou Cavanaugh, a 30-year HCCC employee and CSEA grievance rep, made similar appeals and provided a first-hand account of the budget’s impact.
A recently retired co-worker of 40 years, returned to the college on a part-time basis. Cavanaugh said as one of the jobs eliminated, the long-time employee had been “thrown out the door with a half hour notice.”
Legislator Joseph Chilelli said he has been given assurances by Nicholas F. Laino, acting officer in charge and vice president for administration and finance. If the financial status improves in the coming year the positions will be reevaluated and possibly reinstated.     
 Based on the public comments portion, Legislator Helen Rose said there “seems to be questions still.”
Rose then inquired as to the Legislature’s influence on particular lines of the budget.
This referring to the issue of whether or not the Legislature has the ability to dictate to the college where additionally appropriated funds would be used.
County Attorney Robert Malone cited section 6306 of the Education Law, “The operation of the college is strictly given to (HCCC) trustees by statute.”
He further expounded the answer by giving an example of certain construction projects being one of the cases subject to approval by the Legislature.
In response to a request for an explanation of the impact of delay, Laino said a delay would affect state aid, which is tied to the college’s cash flow and financial solvency.
Legislator Daniel R. Carter said the elimination of the positions could have been done “a lot more diplomatically.”
Addressing the issue of the new president’s awareness of the situation, Laino said Murray has been “briefed” on potential loss or cutbacks of jobs.   
Legislators Robert Hyde, John L. Brezinski, and Carter cast the no votes.