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Brian Adey
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     Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today announced that Oneida County Social Services Commissioner Ted Mohr is retiring from his post effective December 31^st.

County Executive Joseph A. Griffo and Social Services Commissioner Ted Mohr

County Executive Joseph A. Griffo, Social Services Commissioner Ted Mohr, Deputy Commissioner Lucille Soldato

     ^{Griffo said Deputy Commissioner of Social Services Lucille Soldato will operate the Department on an interim basis until Mohr’s successor is appointed. Griffo said that in the next few weeks he will announce the process for selecting a new permanent commissioner.}

     ^{“Ted Mohr was an outstanding community servant and a consummate professional,” Griffo said. “He devoted his career to public service in county government, spending 34 years here at the county. His knowledge of the county, its programs and its people will be sorely missed by all of us who have relied upon his advice and expertise.”}

     ^{Griffo praised Mohr’s tenure as Social Services Commissioner. “Ted was a man who was very compassionate towards those in need,” he said. “He understood that Social Services was the one place where men, women and families who were facing hard times could come for a helping hand during their times of difficulty. His staff made it a priority to treat each person with dignity, which was a reflection of Ted’s own philosophy.”}

     ^{Griffo said Mohr coupled a programmatic activism with solid fiscal conservatism. “Ted’s efforts on behalf of taxpayers have been a critical factor in the success of the MARC team I implemented to crack down on fraud. Because Ted embraced my goal to fight fraud and ran with it, Oneida County is a leader in the state in fighting fraud. Everyone talks about doing more with less, but year after year as Ted’s caseloads have risen, he has been able to get the job done with fewer employees through innovative, creative management.”}

     <sup>Under Mohr’s leadership, Oneida County has been a leader in New York State in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families caseload reductions. “The significance of that is not only that these people are no longer receiving government assistance, but that they are also moving up on their own by having entered or re-entered the workforce,” Griffo said. “Through forming solid community partnerships, a clear vision to guide him, and plain old hard work, Ted Mohr changed thousands of lives for the better.”

     Mohr praised the workers of his Department for their efforts. “The success I have had as Commissioner is due to the people of my Department who have worked so hard to give people in need the best service, while also protecting the taxpayers. My department is filled with employees who make a difference every day because of their hard work and ingenuity. Because of them, Oneida County has come through a time of tremendous transformation in Social Services with an outstanding record of serving people and minimizing costs.”</sup>

       ^{Mohr joined County Government sorting license plates as a part time clerk in the Office of the Oneida County Clerk in 1971. He became a license examiner for the Department of Motor Vehicles Division of the County Clerk’s Office in 1973, and was promoted to Assistant Motor Vehicle Bureau Supervisor in 1974. In 1982, Mohr joined the Department of Social Services as an accounting supervisor. In 1985, he became the Director of Administrative Services for the Department. In 1995, he assumed the position of Commissioner of Social Services.}

     ^{Griffo noted that Mohr’s departure comes at a time when many employees are considering their options. Griffo proposed, and the Board of Legislators approved, an Early Retirement Plan for Oneida County employees. Griffo said that about 300 county employees were eligible for the early retirement program, and that about 100 could take advantage of it and also retire with full benefits through the New York State Retirement System. Griffo said that potential savings from the plan will come from the elimination of some positions held by employees who will retire, by hiring employees at the beginning range of the salary scale to fill those vacancies considered essential, or through reclassification of duties. He said no precise estimate of savings could be developed until the number of employees taking advantage of the incentive is known.}