For Information Contact:

Brian Adey
 798-5800

     Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today provided a look at the three-step process being used to combine the opportunity for county government restructuring with the need to provide leadership in departments affected by transitions at the department head level.

     “Before we start looking at people, we need to look at the structure of County Government,” Griffo said. “The changes in leadership at the Department of Social Services, Probation Department and Health Department provide us an opportunity to consider structural changes that can increase our operational efficiency and effectiveness.”

     Griffo noted that many people who are served by one county department are served by another. “For example, seniors we might contact through the Office for the Aging might also be involved in a Health Department program. Single parents in Health Department programs or people served through Probation may also be on the rolls of DSS. Given that, there’s a natural logic of looking at the organizational structure to see whether some kind of new department should be created that ties some programs together, whether we maintain the current structure, or whether we have some reorganization.”

     “Whenever we have a high-level management opening, it is an opportunity for Oneida County to review its structure. Before we look at hiring anyone, we need to determine what they will be doing, and what kinds of changes we might want to make so that our structure for the future will be as efficient and cost-effective as possible. That’s doubly important in departments such as Social Services and Health in which a number of separate programs operate under the departmental umbrella. In many departments, including all three affected by recent transitions, a number of administrative functions are similar to those performed in other departments,” Griffo said, adding that his first priority is to complete an internal review of possible restructuring.

     In his budget message, Griffo had called for input from the majority and minority in the Board of Legislators in the restructuring process. “I am pleased to announce that Legislators Brian Miller and Frank Puma will be working with my office to review restructuring options,” Griffo said. “This partnership will ensure that we have full communication with the board as we discuss ways to improve operations.” Griffo said the review will also include input from department-level staff.

     “Once we know what we need done, we can begin a search for the right people to do it,” Griffo said. “The second step in the process – and one we will be able to begin soon – would be to put together a search committee that would consist of Assistant to the County Executive Brian Adey, Board Chair Jerry Fiorini, Minority Leader Harry Hertline, Personnel Commissioner Paulette Nickerson, and a union employee representative.”

     Griffo said that with the establishment of a Search Committee, the official search process will begin, and will seek the widest possible range of applicants. “The news media will be advised when we are officially seeking resumes, so that all parts of our region will be aware of the search so that there will be qualified candidates from all of our diverse populations. We will advertise using America’s Job Bank so that the opening can be publicized at all One-Stop Career Centers, including our region’s four Working Solutions Centers. We may also post the positions with the New York State Association of Counties to attract candidates from around the state. The advantage of a broad search process is that we may find some very talented people with an interest in public service who we may want to bring on board our leadership team.” Griffo said he expects to have a complete process in place by the end of spring.

     Griffo said that although he would like to have a full slate of Department Heads on staff, he will not rush the selection process. “One of the great advantages we have is that in all three departments, we have very experienced staff who can provide leadership on an acting basis. That allows us the ability of taking a deliberate approach to these openings, and to thoroughly examine all the possible benefits of restructuring and reorganization before we act to fill the vacancies.”