Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Human resources reports HELP program extension, provisional rate drops to 4.2% and hiring metrics
Summary
Human Resources Commissioner Ruby Pulliam said New York's HELP program was extended to June 2026, allowing noncompetitive employees earlier routes to permanent status; Heather and Larry reported a provisional rate of 4.2 percent, 105 exams administered in 2024 and current vacancy counts.
Tompkins County Human Resources Commissioner Ruby Pulliam told the committee on March 13 that New York's HELP program has been extended to June 2026 and that the state has included a mechanism allowing employees who have been in the program six months or more to obtain permanent civil service status before the program's end.
Ruby said the county is taking steps to adopt that mechanism in local rules. She also reported that the county is hiring a training and development coordinator to coordinate countywide training across departments and help stretch reduced training dollars.
Heather, in civil service, said the county's provisional rate — employees working in a provisional status pending a civil service exam — is 4.2 percent this year, down from 6–9 percent in prior years. Heather reported that the office administered 105 exams in 2024 covering about 750 candidates and paid $5,793 to the state for exam booklets.
Larry, workforce/Human Resources staff, gave additional figures: 811 county staff, 1,255 municipal employees served by the office, 67 positions listed on the county vacancy page, and 390 applications received in February. He also reported onboarding numbers and leave-case counts for February.
Pulliam said the county will continue lunch-and-learn outreach to municipal partners and that the civil service annual report was submitted on time. She also told the committee the county is reviewing costs for the 25-year club dinner and employee picnic after previous events exceeded the annual $20,000 reward-and-recognition budget; last year the picnic cost roughly $39,618 and the dinner about $9,780, Pulliam said.
Legislators asked for written copies of the civil service report and for details on retention and vacancies; staff agreed to provide those materials and noted recruiting challenges remain for attorneys and nurses.
The committee accepted the update; no formal action was required.
