The idea of whether or not the Town of Wawarsing should adopt a town manager style of government is causing a bit of a stir. It was reported in last week's issue of the Ellenville Journal that current Town Supervisor James Dolaway was interested in the idea, but preferred to wait on such a position until after he has completed his "8-to-10 year plan," of which he is now finishing up year four.

Ed Jennings, Dolaway's Republican challenger in next month's election, was also quoted in last week's issue as supporting the idea, but with the caveat that if such a position were created, he would like to see the Village of Ellenville dissolved, citing high village taxes and a desire for all of Wawarsing's operations to be contained in one building, allowing those operations to run more smoothly.

"Of course, some of your town taxes would probably go up a little bit too," said Jennings in regards to absorbing the village completely into the town, "but I think it would be for better operation if you had everything under one roof, so to speak."

Candidates for town council are weighing in on the subject as well. Gregg Wood, current treasurer of the local Democratic Committee, and Democratic candidate for town council, sums up his view on the creation of such a position succinctly: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

"There are few, if any, town managers in the county or state, and it is unusual for towns to have managers," says Wood. Such a position, he says, "gives an unelected official a lot of power."

Wood also cites the expense of funding such a position as another factor behind his lack of support for the idea, saying, "If we want to spend money, we should spend it where it's needed." When asked for an example of a worthy expenditure of the town's funds, Wood suggests that he would rather spend the money on an economic development officer, an idea that has been talked about recently just as much as the proposed town manager position.

Fellow Democratic candidate for town council, Theresa Hyatt, feels similarly to Wood, saying that the creation of such a position with the current town government set up would be "overkill," and that should such a position be added, the town supervisor position ought to be changed to more like that of a mayor.

"It would have to be one or the other � either we keep the full-time supervisor, like it's set up now, and no town manager," says Hyatt. "Or, add the town manager position, diminish the hours, the salary, perhaps the responsibility, all that goes now with the town supervisor's position becomes the responsibilities of this town manager position. I would never put the town manager on in addition to the town government as it's set up now." Should such a position be created, the town councilperson's responsibilities would remain the same, according to Hyatt, with no change in salary for the members of town board.

"My function or a town councilperson's function, whether their working with a town supervisor or with a town manager, my responsibilities are not diminished at all�. It's just a head of helm change, really."

Georgine Matichuck, Republican candidate for town council, has a somewhat different take than Wood and Hyatt, however.

"At present, I believe this concept is worthy of investigation," says Matichuck. "Work being done in the town of Wawarsing is very progressive, and we need to continue to be progressive. It's a business � let's treat it as such."

However, despite her positive attitude toward the idea, Matichuck didn't wish to take a complete stand in favor of the position's creation and implementation. As to whether or not she would be willing to take a pay cut as a councilperson to help fund the managerial position, she stressed that it depended on how much of the Town Council's responsibilities a person occupying the position would take on. Such a cut should be "in direct proportion to the ratio being equal. If the councilperson's job is assumed by the manager, then yes, of course there should be a cut. I'm not interested in being on the town council for the money, I'm in it for the betterment of the Town of Wawarsing."

When asked to comment on whether he would be in favor of a town manager, Terry Houck opted to express his comments by was of a letter to the editor. In the letter he restates a position he made earlier this year when he submitted an article to the Ellenville Journal in support of the town manager form of government. "We have created the position of Comptroller, appointed by and accountable to the full board as a first step towards professional management. Now we need to complete this reorganization by having a full time professional to manage the day-to-day business of the town as well as seek out economic development opportunities that benefit 'all the residents of the town'."

COMMENTS about this article (2)