Legislative Chair Cornell Announces 2013 Committee Chairs; Schoenberger Leaves Chairmanship of Budget & Finance Committee

Press Release

Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell has announced her appointment of Legislative Committee Chairs for 2013 and assigned them the task of reviewing county department operations with emphasis on further consolidation of functions across department lines and/or with other levels of government, if appropriate. Cornell will expect written recommendations early in June that can be utilized when analyzing the County Executive’s Financial Improvement Plan required by Rockland County Law.

Legislators Ilan Schoenberger and Michael Grant will exchange committee leadership roles. Legislator Schoenberger, who served as chairman of Budget and Finance since 2005, as well as years 1998 through 2000, requested  to turn the reins of leadership of the committee over to another. Legislator Grant, a long-time member of the Budget and Finance Committee will now serve as the chair of the committee, which oversees matters relating to all transfers and appropriations of funds, the annual county budget and matters relating to purchasing, taxes, and the funding of Rockland Community College.

Legislator Schoenberger will chair the Planning and Public Works Committee which oversees matters relating to county highways, streams and property, acquisitions, maintenance of county facilities and buildings, sewers and solid waste disposal and matters relating to public transportation. Schoenberger has served on the committee for several years and chaired the committee in 2003 and 2004.

Cornell thanked Schoenberger for his dedicated work as Budget chair, saying that “the county has benefited from his vast knowledge and in these difficult financial times, we are grateful for his tireless efforts to structure a workable deficit reduction plan. We will pursue and achieve state approval this year.”

Concerning the change in chairmanship roles, Cornell said, “This could not be a better scenario.  Michael’s strong leadership and long familiarity with Budget issues will make for an easy transition. I appreciate his willingness and cooperation to step into this role.”

Cornell reappointed the following legislators to chair the same committees as last year:

Legislator Alden H. Wolfe, Environmental Committee
Legislator Nancy Low-Hogan, Government Operations Committee
Legislator Philip Soskin, Multi Services Committee
Legislator Jay Hood, Jr., Public Safety Committee
Legislator Michael Grant, Economic Development Committee

The Rockland County Legislature meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., with exception for holidays. The committees meet, as needed, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (times vary by committee). Agendas for meetings of the full Legislature and its committees are posted several days in advance and may be found online at: https://rocklandgov.com/departments/county-legislature/. Meetings of the Legislature and its committees are open to the public.

  2013 Committee Chairs, islative Chair Cornell, Legislator Schoenberger