Dear Ms. Buechele,

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the Potter's Field at the Dutchess County Infirmary site in the Town of Washington

Your first letter was referred to the Commissioner of Public Works for review and recommendations.  The Commissioner of Publlic Works is directly responsible for all county owned grounds and facilities.

The county recently offered an early retirement incentive program to our employees.  The Commissioner of Public Works reently retired from the County under the early retirement progaarm.  Additionally, in adopting the 2003 budget the County Legislature deleted the position of Deputy Commissioner of Public Works leaving the department without either senior management position.  Unfortunately, there are a number of projects at some level of development that in the absence of senior management are on hold.  At this time I am not able to indicate the status of your request, nor am I able to give you a commitment when we will be able to act on your request.

As our operations normalize in 2003, we will make every effort to review your request.  Thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,

Earl T. Bruno, Jr.
Assistant to the County Executive

[Ginny Note:  I have been informed by various legislators that the reason that the Deputy Commissioner Position was deleted from the 2003 Budget was because over the past two years the County Executive had not filled the position.]

Earl T. Bruno, Jr.
Assistant to the County Executive
Dutchess County
County Office Building
22 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Re:   Dutchess County
        Infirmary Site
        Potter's Field

Dear Mr. Bruno,

Thank you for your reply on behalf of County Executive Steinhaus to my correspondence of  November 8, 2002 and January 13, 2003. 

Although I understand the circumstances the Department of Public Works is operating under without a Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner Public Works, I find it a sad state of affairs that there has not been, at the very least, an Acting Commissioner appointed to temporarily fill the Commissioner position until such time as the position is filled on a permanent basis. I trust that there is a plan in place to fill this position in the near future and would appreciate being informed when same has been accomplished.

We should consider ourselves fortunate that County Roads have been cleared in such an excellent manner this winter with the current lack of senior management in the Public Works Department.  It is good to know that matters have not totally ground to a halt in the Public Works Department with the early retirement of Commissioner Cassillo and the deletion of the Deputy Commissioner position from the 2003 County Budget.

As the daughter of a former long time County Employee in the Public Works Department and Charter Member of  the LaGrange Rotary Club, I have a deep appreciation for the work of the Public Works Department and the meaning of "Service Above Self".  I will be following this matter regarding the Potter's Field closely.  Thank You again for the reply.  Please let me know when the Commissioner of Public Works position has been filled.

Sincerely,

Virginia A. Buechele
Currently residing in the Town of Poughkeepsie