April 13, 2011
I was just laid off from the Erie County Home. My position was eliminated, along with nine others, as of April 1 (a cruel joke).We will probably get little sympathy, since it’s currently the rage to blame public employees for all of the county’s economic woes.
How ironic that this happened at the same time County Executive Chris Collins says his pick for county attorney deserves more than the allotted wage. Why? To file more frivolous lawsuits that cost the taxpayers money? And how many Six Sigma people does he employ?
Budget decisions for the County Home come from Erie County Medical Center. Every program and job title in the ECMC Network was (allegedly) reviewed and decisions were made based on what is most important to the people who are served. So the ECMC Board decided that 10 people who provided hands-on, quality- of-life care to the frail elderly and disabled were less important than more vice presidents, community liaisons, an expensive ad campaign and free beer at the Corporate Challenge. Ask the residents of the Erie County Home which is more vital to them.
Lauren Kennuth
Depew