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County Executive Unveils Four-Part Plan
To Grow New Jobs in Oneida County

Declaring that Oneida County needs tax stability and more job growth to achieve its potential, Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today presented his 2004 State of the County Address to students and community leaders at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Utica campus.

Griffo, who called MVCC "a living lesson in overcoming adversity," praised MVCC’s national championship women’s soccer team as a dramatic example of success. "Champions come back. They never quit. They focus on a goal that’s always out of sight. That’s the spirit we need in Oneida County today. As we fight for economic security, community preservation, tax stability and tax relief, and work to create a long-term economy that will provide opportunity for generations to come, we need to set aside the differences that divide us in favor of the goals that unite us. We must dare to be bold, to have a vision and to stick with that vision even in the face of disappointment and discouragement."

Griffo called for actions to increase trust in government, increase efficiency and achieve tax stability, and grow high paying jobs in the emerging sectors of the economy while supporting long-time manufacturers and agribusinesses.

Highlights of Griffo’s address included:

" I will be proposing a one-year barrier between elected county officials leaving office and any appointment to a paid county position," Griffo said, with the proposal to take effect with the 2005 elections. Although Griffo praised the work of current officials who have made the transition, he also said that buttressing declining public trust in government requires strong actions.

Griffo said he will also propose a county law to reduce conflicts of interest, barring elected municipal officials from assuming high-level policy-making county positions. "This law will not penalize current officeholders and appointees, but it will impose a standard of conduct that makes it clear to the voters and taxpayers that the bonds of loyalty between elected officials and the people who voted for them will not be subject to conflicting influences," Griffo said.

"Oneida County government has evolved to meet the needs of its times. The world is changing, and our structure must change with it," Griffo said. "There is a phrase I hear at too many meetings – the phrase that goes ‘We’ve always done it this way.’ What the county, this region, and this nation need are more people to join me in asking back this question: ‘Well isn’t it time we did it better?’ Simply put, we cannot grow jobs and also grow layers of government."

"My goal is to identify the core missions of our departments – the areas only government can fill– and focus our energy and attention on them," Griffo said. He said both an external private sector review panel and internal task forces will identify opportunities for increased efficiency through restructuring, consolidation and other efficiencies.

After noting that the 2.9 percent 2004 county tax levy increase was one of the lowest increases in New York State, Griffo said he will work with state leaders during this upcoming legislative session to ensure New York enacts serious Medicaid reform that will reduce the costs of this program. Griffo did not endorse any of the plans now under debate, but said: "Reducing the cost of Medicaid is a vital step for the people of Oneida County and New York State. The bottom line of Medicaid is simple: We can’t afford everything everyone wants."

Griffo said his economic development plan is shaped by four elements:

• The Right Approach
• Defending and Building Upon Existing Assets
• Aggressively Seeking New Employers
• Growing Local Small Businesses

"Despite progress, too many people in Oneida County still need better-paying jobs," Griffo said. "We must evaluate every phase of our economic development approach and make changes based on what works and what does not. The people of Oneida County don’t care about structure or staffing. They just want results. So do I. Successful communities adapt and overcome. Those that refuse to change with the times lose the competition for survival."

Griffo said he will be convening economic development stakeholders to discuss possible changes. Oneida County currently contracts with Mohawk Valley EDGE for its economic development efforts. Griffo noted that the county will be developing measures to gauge the effectiveness of the county dollars spent with EDGE.

Griffo said that the region’s economic success stories deserve celebration, listing employers such as Dolphin Technologies, Black River Systems, Fiber Instrument Sales, Utica National and ConMed.

"We need to look at the future. Griffiss Institute has connections with more than 40 employers and colleges. That’s a great vehicle for attracting technology. Nanotechnology – technology at the molecular level – is projected to add $1 trillion to our nation’s economy. Congressman Boehlert is one of its leading proponents. With our tremendous educational institutions here, we need to grab our share of the billions in research now under way and get on board, before it is too late," Griffo said, calling for local colleges to take an increased, and unified, role in economic development.

Striking a somber note, Griffo said action has already begun to protect the Air Force Research Lab at Rome. "We’ve already been warned – BRACC 2005 is going to be tough. Last summer, I created a task force to keep this area ahead of the curve to protect the Lab. We know we can make the case that the lab is mission-effective and cost-effective. We know we can make the case that the Northeast Air Defense Sector is vital to homeland security. But we have learned that having right on your side means nothing unless we work constantly to get the facts to the right people. It will not be easy. But we are ready to give anyone who wants to touch that lab the fight of their lives."

Griffo called for new marketing efforts to attract employers. "We need to put our region on the map. If we sit back and wait for jobs to land here, they won’t. If all our efforts are focused on defending existing jobs, we’re not in the hunt for new ones. A business without a sales force is a business doomed to die," he said, noting that Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito and Senator Ray Meier have voiced support for the proposal.

Griffo, who created the highly successful Job Attraction and Retention (JAR) Program in Rome, also pledged increased support to small businesses. "Small business owners are busy. They need us to reach out and provide one-stop convenience with no red tape, whether they are looking at new facilities, training or any other issue. Small businesses are the core customers of our economic development agencies, and we must treat them as such, or lose them. I will be working with our small businesses to hear directly from them about their needs, and then adapt our structure to suit them – not the other way around."

Griffo also said he will seek to have Oneida County included as one of the Agribusiness Empire Zones proposed by Gov. Pataki.

To encourage broad participation in government and a new enthusiasm for government among Oneida County youth, Griffo said he will:

Seek to eliminate a number of "advisory" committees and limit the tenure of board members on those that remain

Increase e-government to solicit direct feedback from county residents.

Extend a program begun as mayor to increase beautification efforts through increased tree-planting. Griffo proposed creation of an Oneida County Youth Corps to do the work under the direction of Oneida County forestry staff.

Increase outreach efforts to county residents via "Government on the Road" meetings in local communities, and in schools through outreach to help young people understand how government works, and how they can use it to make a difference in their communities.

"Public safety is the most essential element in the quality of life for any community," Griffo said. He proposed adapting and expanding the Public Nuisance Law he developed while Mayor of Rome to help communities fight blight and properties used for suspicious activities.

Griffo called for a system of video arraignments to reduce the costs of taking inmates from the Oneida County Correctional Facility to and from local courts for their arraignments. He also proposed a requirement for deputies trained by the county to remain on the job for a set period of time before leaving for other law enforcement positions that may have higher wages.

Griffo also called for action to bring the Oneida Indian Land Claim and its taxation issues to a fair and final conclusion. "The longer this drags on, the longer we live with an economic, social and political Berlin Wall between our region and its largest employer," Griffo said. "The framework for a settlement is clear: to protect our landowners, develop the right policy of collecting taxes on sales to non-Indians, achieve price parity for our retailers, establish guidelines for the ultimate size of the Oneidas’ land holdings to avoid a patchwork pattern of ownership, and ensure that the federal government lives up to its obligation to both be a major player in bringing about a settlement and paying for the settlement."

Griffo also proposed:

• Creation of a high-speed rail link between Utica and Rome as a pilot project to increase the region’s multi-modal transit options, capitalize on renovations to the train stations in each city, and increase links between the two cities.
• A joint meeting of governments and transit providers to establish long-term solutions to the woes of the Utica Transit Authority.
• A county-wide wellness effort to increase residents’ quality of life, including increased recreational opportunities and a health expo.
• Quarterly meetings with mayors and supervisors to improve communications and increase cooperation.