An applicant the Town Board appointed last week to the position of Youth Employment Services coordinator has withdrawn her resume from the town.
The Spotlight learned after last week’s paper went to press that Kristen Hanifin had withdrawn her name from consideration. The hiring was noteworthy because the town planned for Hanifin to spend additional time working with staff to increase visibility for the town’s recreational opportunities and seek out new grant opportunities in addition to the coordinator job.
Supervisor Sam Messina said Hanifin did not provide a specific reason for withdrawal.
She just thanked us and that’s it, he said.
The YES coordinator is tasked with helping town youth find part-time work with residents and businesses. That job has been handled by an interim coordinator who will continue to do so, said Messina. He said he was unsure how the town would approach the vacancy now.
`I haven’t talked that over with [Parks and Recreation Department Administrator] Nan [Lanahan] yet,` he said.
Hennessey says new duties undefined, process closed
Town leaders are hoping a new employee will be able to help in ways her position didn’t previously cover.
The Bethlehem Town Board on Wednesday, Oct. 27, voted 4-1 to hire Kristen Hanifin to fill the position of youth employment services coordinator. But rather than work the roughly eight hours per week her predecessor did, Hanifin will be working an additional 12 hours with town staff to help publicize the town’s recreational opportunities and search for grants.
The YES coordinator is dedicated to helping the town’s youth aged 14 to 21 get matched up with area residents or businesses in need of part-time help. But Supervisor Sam Messina said Hanifin’s experience as director of marketing for the New York State Canal Corporation could provide the town with a valuable skillset.
`I just think by the approach we’ve taken…it’s going to work out great,` Messina said. `Governments have to put their best foot forward, and its a competitive environment.`
Department of Parks and Recreation Administrator Nan Lanahan said the town is competing with a lot more recreational alternatives than were available 10 years ago. She said she’d welcome any effort to increase the program’s exposure.
`We have our own niche, and we just need some help in getting people to find our niche,` she said.
Hanifin said she’s excited to be working for the town.
`I am absolutely thrilled to be working for the town,` Hanifin said. `Given my experience in marketing and PR over the last few years, I think I have a lot to offer.`
The Delmar resident declined to get into specifics of the job, as she had not yet started work.
Councilman Mark Hennessey cast the dissenting vote for the hiring, and said it had to do with the process, not the applicant. He said there was no public posting of the job position and he had not seen a job description for the position’s new duties.
`I do have a problem with the position, I don’t have a problem with the person we hired,` he said. `I don’t know what this person is supposed to doit is a very undefined job, where the funding is coming from several different places.`
At the meeting, few details about the position were discussed. Hanifin’s name was not mentioned, nor was information about the hire disclosed to the public as part of the town’s new law on agenda attachment release. It was withheld for the purpose of protecting personal information, according to town documents.
The appointment was also included under the agenda heading of `approval of seasonal personnel,` a fairly common vote the board often takes for the hiring of the Parks and Recreation Department’s many part-time workers. The youth employment service coordinator position is part time.
Messina said the expanded position has been discussed with board members in the past, including in a memo announcing his intention to make the change. He did allow that the meeting agenda could have been more specific.
`I could have added another line there that could have been a bit more descriptive, and next time I will do that,` Messina said.
He added it is appropriate to keep resumes and applications from the public release of attachments in the interest of privacy.
The position will carry a salary of just under $20 per hour, meaning the extra hours per week will cost the town about $1,900 this year and roughly $12,500 in 2011. Part of the additional salary for the extra hours will be supplied from the supervisor’s `contractual services` budget.
The tentative 2011 budget sees not only cuts to many town programs, but increases in fees, including in the Parks and Recreation Department. Talks are underway at the Town Board level that could result in more reductions.
Messina said the fact Hanifin’s work could contribute to attracting new development to the area or finding grants, her salary would be a good investment.
`We’re investing a very small amount of money, and I think it’s going to have good return,` he said.“
The following story appeared in the Nov. 3 edition of The Spotlight:
Town expands YES job