WGXC's Sam Sebren was present when the Greene County Legislature held public hearings, Mon., Nov. 19, on the proposed pay hikes for five Greene County officials. The hearings were held at Catskill High School, with 55 people in attendance. There was some initial confusion about the number of hearings to be held -- all positions grouped together, or to hold a separate hearing for each position. The decision made was to hold four separate hearings. The proposal to raise the salaries of the county administrator and the Department of Social Services commissioner were addressed in one local law, rather than two. Under the plan being considered, the county administrator will see an increase in salary of 1.5 percent, for an annual salary of $133,980. The Department of Social Services commissioner would receive a three percent raise, for an total salary of $84,389. The county treasurer's salary will increase 6.75 percent to $79,083, and the county clerk would see a 17 percent increase for a total salary of $69,000 per year. The Sheriff is slated for an increase to $76,125. Among the people in the audience were several union members from CSEA Unit 7000 (the Civil Services Employees Association), including the group's president, Judy Soderblom. Soderblom spoke during the time allotted for comments on Local Law #5, voicing opposition to the proposed $10,000 pay increase for the County Clerk. Two other members of the public spoke, both in opposition to the pay hikes, as well.

Listen to the hearing for Local Law #4, the proposal for the Greene County Treasurer's raise, with comments by Doris Vedder, R.N., and Jessica Dillon from Greene County Mental Health here. (6:49)

Listen to the hearing for Local Law #5, the proposal for the Greene County Clerk's raise, with comments by Judy Soderblom, President of CSEA Unit 7000, here. (5:35)

Listen to the hearing for Local Law #6, the proposal for the DSS commissioner's raise, with comments from Jessica Dillon here. (3:50)

Note: The meeting was conducted by Wayne Speenburgh, Chairman of the Greene County Legislature. The notices were read by Tammy Sciavillo, Acting Clerk of the Greene County Legislature.