Nader reshuffles council committees

By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer

May 07, 2008 04:00 am

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ONEONTA _ The mayor of Oneonta has reshuffled the committee structure of the Common Council and created what one alderman called an "uber committee."

Starting today, the Personnel Committee will cease to exist and its duties will be assumed by the Finance, Operations and Legal Affairs Committee. The Finance Committee was also be reduced from four to three aldermen, Mayor John Nader said during Tuesday night's Common Council meeting.

The move sidelines two aldermen from the Personnel Committee who have challenged the mayor on policy and procedural issues at City Hall since they assumed office in January.

But Nader, a Democrat, said his decision was practical, not political.

"It's an efficiency move," Nader said.

The committees would often do redundant work and discuss the same matters, he said.

Three-person committees work better than four-person committees, Nader added.

The Personnel Committee consisted of First Ward Alderman Maureen Hennessy, Sixth Ward Alderman Veronica Diver and Eighth Ward Alderman Kevin Hodne, who are all Democrats, and Third Ward Alderman Erik Miller, a Republican.

The Finance Committee consists of the chairman, Second Ward Alderman Paul Robinson, former Personnel Committee Chairwoman Hennessy and Seventh Ward Alderman Lizabeth Shannon. Fifth Ward Alderman Rodger Moran, the only other Republican on the Common Council, was removed from the committee. Moran was not at Tuesday's Common Council meeting. A call to his home after the meeting was unanswered.

Diver and Miller have locked horns with the mayor on various occasions over policy and procedural issues.

The aldermen were informed of the changes Monday through phone calls, Nader said.

After Tuesday's meeting, both Diver and Miller said they were surprised with the decision and concerned the move was done for political reasons.

"Eric and I have been asking tough questions of the former personnel director," Diver said. "It seems people don't like questions."

Former Personnel Director John Insetta retired earlier this year but is working for the city in a part-time capacity until a replacement is hired.

She also wondered about Nader's position on three-person committees versus four-person committees.

"We still have four-person committees," she said.

The Buildings and Technology and Streets, Parklands and Public Works committees are examples.

"I think it was a political move," Miller said. "I also see where it could be more efficient."

But he said the move does concentrate some decision-making into fewer hands.

"I can still attend any meeting," Miller said.

However, he would not be able to participate in any committee votes.

The Finance Committee is typically the springboard to the full Common Council for any motion involving expenditures or legal affairs. With the changes, the committee consists solely of Democrats and will now deal with all personnel matters.

Along with the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, which also features all Democrats, it is the venue for most policy and procedural activities at City Hall.

Fourth Ward Alderman Michael Lynch, a Working Families Party member whose committee assignments were unaffected by the changes, referred to the new Finance Committee as an "uber committee."

Although some Common Council committees, including Finance, are required under the city charter, the Personnel Committee is not among them.