The Ways and Means Committee approved a request to fill a full-time deputy director of emergency management position and authorized the director to apply for a 2025 recruitment and retention grant for volunteer firefighters and EMS.
The approvals matter because the deputy director post will expand departmental capacity and the recruitment grant would provide up to $25,000 to support volunteer recruitment and retention activities at no additional county share if awarded.
Director of Emergency Management Scott Golden requested permission to fill the deputy director role and said the annual salary is estimated at $63,000 to $69,000 with benefits of $26,000 to $29,000; Golden said the position is funded 100% with county funds. Golden told the committee the department planned an in-house selection and that the position had been covered in the budget. Chairmen and committee members noted the step for filling a position is usually taken before creating it; Golden acknowledged the committee had missed that earlier procedural step and said he had given permission to fill pending formal approval.
Golden also requested authorization to apply for the State Fiscal Year 2025'6 recruitment and retention grant program for volunteer firefighters and EMS. He said the program provides up to $25,000 per eligible organization and, if awarded, funds would support attendance and leadership workshops, travel to the National Fire Academy and New York State Academy instructor fees, training materials and other costs.
Committee members voted to approve both actions by voice vote. Members asked for confirmation that the deputy position was budgeted; Golden said the salary was included in the county budget and that filling would proceed under the standard hiring process.
The committee recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript; both motions passed by voice vote with the committee carrying the motions.