Warren County adds driver position, removes mechanic as compost pilot waits on state approvals

Warren County’s Public Works Committee approved creating a new transfer‑station driver position and deleting an auto‑mechanic role to ease rising summer workloads at county transfer stations.

The measure, moved by Mister Strainer and seconded by Mister Merlino, passed on a voice vote. Committee members were told the auto‑mechanic position became vacant after the incumbent retired; that position’s salary was stated as about $72,000, while the starting base salary for the proposed driver position was cited as $51,890. The change was described by staff as producing a net savings while increasing collection capacity.

The staffing decision came as county solid‑waste staff updated the committee on a separate compost pilot funded by a New York State Climate Smart Communities grant. Scott, a Solid Waste staff member, said the county received notice of the grant award in January but has not executed the state contract. “We think once…