Jefferson County's elections office staff won't grow or shrink, but everyone soon may own a different title.
The Legislature's Finance and Rules Committee recommended Tuesday that the office be reorganized to best prepare for the new rules and regulations related to the Help America Vote Act, which created minimum standards for running elections.
Lawmakers proposed the following:
■ Changing the two commissioner positions from part time to full time.
■ Reducing the salaries of the two full-time deputy commissioner positions.
■ Eliminating two of four full-time registration clerk positions.
The move would cost an additional $10,837 in the first year. If approved by the entire Legislature, the change could take effect as early as May 12.
The office is now staffed by one deputy commissioner and two registration clerks each from the Republican and Democratic parties. Commissioners, who are now paid $2,490 each, do not work in the office.
The proposal is to start commissioners at $45,000 and deputies at $30,000. Deputies are now earning between $33,894 and $37,666.
The proposal is less than what was requested by Democratic and Republican leaders earlier this month. They proposed upgrading the commissioner positions to full time, but requested no change to the two deputies or four registration clerks.
Sandra L. Corey, county Republican committee chairwoman, was content with the amended proposal.
"It's wonderful for the office," she said. "As a deputy for 18 years, I found I was often making decisions that the commissioner should have been making."
Sean M. Hennessey, who is both county Democratic chairman and deputy elections commissioner, could not be reached for additional comment Tuesday.
Mrs. Corey would not divulge who her party is considering for the vacant commissioner post, but said interim deputy commissioner Kristy A. Pickett would likely become a permanent deputy. The party did not replace Mrs. Pickett, a former registration clerk, when she was promoted Jan. 7.
Mrs. Corey said Republican registration clerk Helen Fikes would likely be asked to stay.
On the Democratic side, Mr. Hennessey could ascend to commissioner, which would open a deputy position for registration clerk Babette Hall. Keith F. Crimmins, who is the Democratic Party's part-time commissioner, could not be reached for comment.
In other county news, Community A.L. Corp. president Donald C. Alexander outlined his group's proposal for 40 assisted-living beds and 31 enriched-housing beds to Health and Human Services Committee members.
Legislators are considering attaching their adult home's 50 beds to the proposal as a long-term solution for the 76-year-old facility, which is also known as Whispering Pines.
Mr. Alexander, who is also Ives Hill Retirement Community president, said his group's proposal awaits action by the state Department of Health.
"We are praying that our application will be looked on with favor and we think it will," he said.
The Community A.L. Corp. president said he sees two positives to the proposal: It comes from a "unified body" of local health care leaders and it fulfills a need for assisted-living beds in Jefferson County. In assisted -living housing, a resident receives medication services that would not be available in a retirement home but requires less intensive services than are provided in a nursing home. Jefferson County now has zero assisted living-beds.
The Community A.L. Corp. board of directors includes Walter S. Becker, Carthage Area Hospital administrator; Richard A. Brooks, Samaritan Keep Home administrator, and Ben Moore III, chief executive officer at River Hospital, Alexandria Bay.
Much of Community A.L.'s proposal remains undefined.
Mr. Alexander said the group is considering a "hub and spoke" concept, in which a central facility in the city of Watertown would support smaller satellite units in Adams, Alexandria Bay and Carthage.
He said the facility, or facilities, would employ 30 to 35 people. Whispering Pines has 25 employees.
