Cavanagh offers office, staff to incoming commissioners
Seeking to aid in a smooth transition to the next administration, Fayette County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh is offering Commissioners-elect Joe Hardy and Angela M. Zimmerlink the use of his office resources. Cavanagh said that Hardy and Zimmerlink could have use of his courthouse office, computer and administrative assistant during the upcoming budget hearings, which he’s inviting them to attend as future commissioners.
“I think it’s important to have a smooth transition. I think that they need to be involved in the budget process,” said Cavanagh.
“I think it’s important to have a smooth transition of power. I open my office, my equipment and my assistant … any information I can provide. I want to accommodate them 100 percent.
“I’m offering my hand to help them in any way possible. They have an open offer.”
Although the current commissioners will craft the 2004 budget, the incoming ones will be able to reopen and amend it after taking office. Cavanagh said he thinks it vitally important that Zimmerlink and Hardy obtain as much knowledge as possible.
“I don’t think they should have to wait until January and have to reopen the budget.
“I am committed to not raising taxes. I think that Angela and Mr. Hardy, (after) watching them in the debates, feel the same way,” said Cavanagh.
Zimmerlink said she plans to attend the budget hearings, and that county Controller Mark Roberts has already contacted her regarding those dates. Zimmerlink also said that she and Hardy have already talked to incumbent Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites about attending upcoming commissioner training conferences.
“It’s good that Sean offered Joe and I the use of his office. That’s in addition to other people in the courthouse who have extended their assistance in making this transition as smooth as possible,” said Zimmerlink. “It’s nice to see that everyone is making an offer to make this transition as smooth as possible.”
Hardy said he’s keenly interested in getting up to speed on the county budget and would take Cavanagh up on his offer.
“That’s certainly nice of him, really. That’s wonderful. I appreciate it, I really do. That’s very admirable that he would extend that type of invitation,” said Hardy. “It certainly from my point of view makes sense that the commissioner-elect at least gets to see what’s going on.”
Hardy also acknowledged that Vicites “has done a very similar thing” in offering support to the new commissioners.
Cavanagh said that when he took office eight years ago, all three commissioners were new and no one extended such an offer to him, a situation he wants to rectify before leaving office. He said his administrative assistant also is contacting Hardy and Zimmerlink regarding an upcoming seminar hosted by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.
“It’s very important for an elected official to learn the idiosyncrasies of being a county commissioner,” said Cavanagh. He said that his administrative assistant will attend all the upcoming budget hearings and that he’ll be involved in the process, but will not be there every day because with seven years of experience he understands the process well.
Zimmerlink said that Vicites has also talked with her and Hardy about attending the CCAP conference in late November.
Vicites said he already has offered his assistance to the newcomers regarding their orientation into the office and that he’s willing to be a resource in any way possible.
“I sent a letter today (Friday) inviting both of them to the budget hearings, and talked to them verbally (on Thursday) concerning the registration forms for the CCAP conference,” said Vicites.
“I told them both that I would be glad to help them in any way and get them oriented before they take office.
“I pledged to work with them both for the betterment of the county. The budget is a very important function of a county commissioner, and I think it would be good for them to orient themselves with it very early on.”
Vicites said the budget hearings, scheduled to start Nov. 19, involve meeting with county department heads and row officers.
Roberts did not return phone calls seeking comment.