Joseph L. Rich won't be leaving the Disabled Persons Action Organization for now.

Mr. Rich will hand over his executive director duties to Assistant Director Cynthia L. FitzPatrick on Dec. 1, but he won't exit the building as planned.

Instead, he will be a special assistant to the agency's board of directors through 2009 because he wants to offer his assistance while DPAO experiences some of the anticipated state cuts to its budget.

"What we're hearing now is a flat budget with no cost of living adjustment, and on top of that, other cuts, whether they be programmatic, operational or other cuts," he said. "I feel difficult leaving the foxhole when things are becoming difficult to survive in this economy."

Mr. Rich said that with Gov. David A. Paterson talking about additional state cuts, the agency may have a tough road ahead.

"We're looking at some pretty significant challenges in terms of agency operation in 2009," he said. "We don't want it to affect the quality of services we provide to people in Jefferson County. They expect us to do more with less."

Mr. Rich's old office on the top floor of the agency's 617 Davidson St. location is now split in two: one side for him and the other for Mrs. FitzPatrick.