Recently several candidates for Rockland County Executive proposed as solutions for financial reform County Charter amendments regarding having an elected County Controller and an independent Auditor. Although they both have merits there is a more effective alternative that would also require charter revision.
Having a professional, nonpartisan, experienced Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and not have an elected County Executive could achieve many desired positive results. The legislature would appoint this person, however having the present number of 17 legislator 'bosses' may be too many for this to be successful and that should be addressed.
County government is complicated and it is perhaps too much to expect to find highly qualified executive candidates with hands on county government administrative experiences from such a small population like Rockland. We need to focus more on the administrative side of the executive job description, not the leadership political side to prevent future financial problems.
The present financial issues could have been avoided with a nonpartisan executive administrator with professional budget experience who leads non-elected department heads, while being held accountable at any time by the legislature. The legislature creates policy and the CAO carries it out administratively.
The CAO would hire department heads based on merit and hold them accountable and could discharge them if necessary, without the approval of the legislature. The CAO could be hired from a national pool of experienced candidates. This form of government exists elsewhere. No system is perfect, however this would be an improvement over the present system without the need for an independent controller or auditor.
There should be a County Charter Revision Commission to focus on any and all alternatives to strengthen the present system. Westchester County is doing so, why not Rockland County?
Would candidates for County Executive agree to that? Why not ask them?
