The Journal-Register.com, October 3, 2007, Wednesday

The Journal-Register.com, October 3, 2007, Wednesday

http://www.journal-register.com/local/local_story_276182134.html

Published: October 03, 2007 06:21 pm

Q&A: Nesbitt staying on top of the issues

By Nicole Coleman/colemann@gnnewspaper.com

Orleans County’s Chief Administrative Officer Charles “Chuck” Nesbitt was among the first graduates of the Dennis A. Pelletier County Government Institute this fall.

Appointed by the county legislature in May 2005, Nesbitt took the classes to develop his knowledge of the leadership and decision-making skills required of county officials. Pelletier was a legislator in Monroe County and board member for the New York State Association of Counties, Nesbitt said.

NYSAC, organized in 1925, serves all 62 counties in New York state.

Here is an edited transcript of several questions The Journal-Register asked Nesbitt about his graduation.

QUESTION: For those who are unaware, please tell us what your job entails.

ANSWER: The Chief Administrative Officer is appointed by the Legislature to oversee the day to day operations of county government. Duties include the preparation of the county budget, negotiating and administering labor agreements and oversight of the county's procurement process. Responsibilities also include acting as Records Management Officer, administering the county's solid waste program and conducting research for the Legislature.

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Q: How did you hear about the Pelletier program?

A: The Pelletier program was developed by the NYSAC in partnership with Cornell University. Orleans County is a member of NYSAC.

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Q: You have a family and a full-time job, how were you able to find the time to attend the classes?

A: I really love what I do and I think that it is important that I stay on top of the issues that affect the county, our employees and the taxpayers. When you like what you do, time really isn’t an issue. Plus, NYSAC offers a wide array of seminars and educational opportunities at their conferences — that the Chairman of the Legislature George Bower and I typically attend. In addition, registered Pelletier Institute students are given the opportunity to earn credit for training offered by NYSAC or Cornell either on the Web or at other events throughout the year.

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Q: When and where were the classes held? How long did the program last?

A: The core curriculum is given at the NYSAC conferences in addition to a variety of electives. Electives are diverse and there are additional training opportunities. For example, the Cornell Industrial Labor Relations School put on a symposium about health insurance for employers. NYSAC sponsors seminars for county administrators and managers to cover new state laws or upcoming administrative changes that may affect the counties. It took me about two and a half years to complete the requirements.

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Q: What did the classes focus on? How have they helped you in the every day requirements of your job?

A: NYSAC is a great organization. There are opportunities to learn about every aspect of county government in depth and “hands on.” You learn from people that have been tackling these issues for years. If you have a particular issue that you are facing as a county official, they will take you to “the” statewide expert and help you to build your own relationship with that person so you can learn from their experience. It is a “best practices” approach that recognizes the uniqueness of each county.

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Q: What specifically did you learn about county government that you didn’t already know? What new tools or skills did the program provide you with?

A: It’s not necessarily exclusively about learning completely new material. It’s about learning the best approach to the common problems faced by counties and drawing on the experience of others. The subject list is long: the Medicaid cap, government consolidation, ethics law, labor relations, Wicks Law reform, funding issues faced by municipally owned health facilities and county jails. People don’t generally know about all of the services that counties provide as the administrative arm for the state. The hard part is that small counties have to know about all of the same rules, regulations and laws as large counties do.

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Q: Was there a course that proved most helpful?

A: One of the more interesting sessions that I attended was at County Finance School earlier this year. The session focused on the history of state and federal nursing home funding. That knowledge was useful to me and our legislature when working on the County Nursing Home project.

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Q: What did the program cost?

A: The registration fee was $35.

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Q: When did the Pelletier Institute begin operating?

A: The program and coursework of the Institute has been available to county officials for about three years. This year, 2007, produced the first graduates of the program. There are only 13 of us so far. To earn the credential takes a certain level of focus and commitment. When I began attending the NYSAC conferences I wanted to make the most out them and any learning opportunities presented to me. Mr. Pelletier was a well respected public official in Western New York and when I learned about the program, I was very excited for the opportunity to be part of it. I had the privilege to serve with him on the Genesee Transportation Council while employed with Empire State Development.

Contact reporter Nicole Colemanat 798-1400, ext. 2227.