Ciulla Out at Emergency Services; White House on County Campus to be Sold

A sole Putnam County employee is soon out of a job after the county Legislature voted narrowly to reshuffle positions in the Bureau of Emergency Services.

Jim Ciulla, an emergency system-planning administrator, lost his $50,000-a-year job after legislators voted by a 5-4 count to cut his position and instead make room for another deputy commissioner and a CAD administrative position. Later on, the legislature voted unanimously to offer Ciulla the county buyout program, which would give him additional incentives.

Legislator Roger Gross, who voted to keep Ciulla, pointed out a position is being cut, even though in the budget address at the start of the month stated there would be no layoffs to the county workforce. He said Ciulla is qualified and could cross-train to operate the CAD system.

Legislator Kevin Wright said he didn’t think the budget process was the time to meddle in department restructuring and adding new positions. He said any comprehensive personnel decisions should have been brought before the legislature months ago– a directive lawmakers gave to the county executive last year.

Legislator Dini LoBue stated she thought legislators–all Republicans–were trying to shrink government, but by adding two new positions, including another deputy commissioner that would be a first in the bureau’s history, it does the opposite. The deputy position would be roughly $80,000 (this year it’ll be 60,0000 because a person would be hired after April) and the CAD administrator positions would be $50,000.

She also voiced support for Ciulla, a Mahopac volunteer fire fighter, and called him an asset to the county.

Other legislators said they were putting their trust in Emergency Service Commissioner Tony Sutton, who requested the personnel changes.

Legislator Ginny Nacerino said Sutton made a “compelling argument” in executive session why the two new positions are necessary. Legislator Barbara Scuccimarra added, “we put our faith” in Sutton to get the emergency services on the right track, as former emergency services commissioner Adam Stiebeling, who was at the meeting, watched.

Legislator Joe Castellano stressed the county is in the vicinity of Indian Point and the county needs to rely on Sutton to improve emergency services in the county. LoBue shot back legislators supporting the new positions were “fear mongering.”

Ciulla, who has advocated for himself throughout the budge process, spoke at the public hearing on Oct. 26. Ciulla thanked the four legislators that have supported him and tried to save his position over the past few weeks.

For the five that voted to eliminate his job, he posed a “unique challenge.”

“Put politics aside, reach down deep into your heart and support Bureau of Emergency Services public safety,” he said. “Put that first for the residents of Putnam County and save my job position. That job positions provides essential services.”

White House to be Sold – The little white house on the road that leads up to the county office building is soon to be on sale, despite attempts by some legislators to hold onto the property going forward.

In a 4-4 vote with one abstention from Legislator Bill Gouldman, a motion failed to hold onto the building that used to house Legal Aid before it outgrew the space. The property is currently vacant and selling it would be considered revenue–somewhere near $200,000–for the budget this year.

Legislator Toni Addonizio fought to keep the property, part of the county campus, arguing the county could rent the space out rather than sell it. After touring the house a couple weeks ago, Addonizio said while the outside steps are in disrepair, the first floor inside was suitable and the upstairs could possibly be used as storage.

Addonizio, a real estate broker, said there is a property on Glenieda Avenue that is a 14,020 square foot shared office space that’s being rented for $2,600-per-month. While the county might not get that amount, it could potentially rent it out for a figure around that number, she said.

Legislature Chairman Carl Albano said if the county rented the space instead of selling, it would require the county to perform maintenance on the building and opened the county up to liability. He added if sold, the property would go back on the tax rolls, adding some $8,000 in revenue for the Town of Carmel.

“I don’t have a strong opinion either way,” he said. “I don’t think it’s one of our more valuable properties.”

Legislator Ginny Nacerino said the county could also consider leasing to sell with a perspective buyer going forward this year. The building isn’t crucial to the county campus, Nacerino said.

Legislator Dini Lobue said she thought the building was in “very good” condition and she was under the previous impression that it had to be knocked down. She said with the county always tight for work space, it would be best to hold onto it.

“This could be a location for the (Economic Development Corporation) or (Industrial Development Agency),” LoBue said. “It’s an asset. We never know when we need additional space.”

Legislator Kevin Wright, who as former district attorney said the DA’s office used to use the building, stressed once a part of the county campus is sold off, it would be more costly to ever get it back.

“Anything that narrows the choke point of the exit of the county office building is a very, very foolish move,” Wright said.