County Jobs: Park Attendant – Apply by March 23

Dutchess County’s Department of Public Works, Parks Division is looking to hire a Park Attendant with a salary of $31,712:

This position is responsible for assisting and participating in park maintenance and recreation activities. An employee in this class will be required to perform a variety of record keeping, custodial, maintenance, security and recreational tasks. The work is performed under general supervision. Supervision will be exercised over the work of subordinate seasonal employees.

If you’re interested in the position or know somebody who might be, please click here to read more about it and other jobs available with the county.

County Jobs: Case Manager I (Spanish Speaking) – Apply by March 16

Dutchess County’s Department of Community and Family Services is looking to hire a Case Manager I (Spanish Speaking) with a salary of $43,546:

This is a very responsible position involving the delivery of human services to members of the community upon request or by judicial determination of the necessity for such services. Case Management may be rendered in the form of undercare and care planning or through administration of a designated program. This position is identical to Case Manager I with the exception of the required ability of the incumbent to be bilingual to specifically work with Spanish speaking individuals. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a higher level employee. Supervision may be exercised over subordinate employees. Travel in the course of a workday and out-of-hours may be required. This is a provisional appointment pending a future civil service examination.

If you’re interested in the position or know somebody who might be, please click here to read more about it and other jobs available with the county.

County Job: Legal Secretary (temporary) – Apply by March 16

Dutchess County’s District Attorney’s office is looking to hire a Legal Secretary with a salary of $40,451:

This is a temporary position in the District Attorney’s office. This position supports attorneys by performing various secretarial duties of a technical, legal nature. Depending on assignment, the incumbent is expected to produce a variety of regular correspondence and legal documents, such as motions, briefs, petitions, affidavits, indictments, contracts and other documents. The work is often produced from transcript, dictaphone or rough draft, and the incumbent is expected to produce a legally acceptable document. The work regularly involves coordinating the scheduling of meetings, hearings and court dates for one or more professional staff members. The incumbent also provides other services, such as maintaining files and logs, transmitting legal orders and documents, and reviewing certain documents for legal requirements. The position differs from secretary-type positions in that the incumbent needs a detailed knowledge of legal terms and of the preparation and processing of legal documents that could be obtained only through prior experience in the field. The work is performed under the general direction of an attorney and within established guidelines and procedures of the specific law office. This position may direct the work of aides, interns, temporary employees and other lower level employees.

If you’re interested in the position or know somebody who might be, please click here to read more about it and other jobs available with the county.

County Job: Medical Examiner Technician – Apply by March 16

Dutchess County’s Department of Behavioral and Community Health is looking to hire a Medical Examiner Technician with a salary of $47,991:

This position is responsible for conducting on scene and hospital investigations that result from accidental, suicidal, criminal, suspicious or undetermined causes. Conducting investigations will include interviewing witnesses, recording detailed observations of the scene, obtaining physical and trace evidence and conducting follow-up investigations. This position will also assist with autopsies by performing body dissections utilizing appropriate techniques, equipment and universal precautions. The work is performed under the general direction of a higher level supervisor with considerable leeway for the exercise of independent judgement. Supervision is not a function of this position; however, some guidance may be exercised over clerical staff. Lastly, the Medical Examiner Technician must be able to work weekends, holiday, evenings and other than normal work schedules. This is a provisional position pending a future civil service examination.

If you’re interested in the position or know somebody who might be, please click here to read more about it and other jobs available with the county.

Senior Friendship Center relocates to Red Hook Community Center

Great news for seniors in northwestern Dutchess County and Red Hook and Tivoli in particular! The Office for the Aging (OFA) will relocate its Senior Friendship Center from its current location at Memorial Lutheran Church, 1232 Route 308 in Rhinebeck, to a new location in the Red Hook Community Center, 59 Fisk Street in the Village of Red Hook.

The OFA operates eight Senior Friendship Centers throughout Dutchess County, which are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offer nutritious congregate meals and social activities.

The new Red Hook location, which will be open Monday through Thursday, is 36 percent larger than the current site in Rhinebeck. Positioned closer to population centers in northwestern Dutchess County, the Red Hook site will provide more space for socialization and exercise, and it will offer the opportunity for intergenerational activities with seniors and teens, as well as activities with local organizations.

“Bringing the Senior Friendship Center to the Red Hook Community Center is a win-win situation for everybody,” said Kris Munn, County Legislator for Red Hook and Tivoli. “The facility is larger and can offer more opportunities for seniors while also supporting the overall mission of the Community Center to serve the entire community.”

OFA staff expects attendance at the new Red Hook location will double in the coming year, compared to the number of seniors who have attended the Senior Friendship Center location in Rhinebeck.

The new location will also serve as the base of operations for the OFA’s Home Delivered Meals program serving Milan, Red Hook, Rhinebeck and part of Clinton; home delivered meals are available to eligible seniors five days a week. Additionally, the new location will provide seniors opportunities for unique activities, such as tai chi and line-dancing classes.

More information about the services and programs offered by the OFA is available by visiting Dutchess County Government’s website or by calling 845-486-2555.

Tivoli Bridge sidewalks to be closed to finish construction

The installation of the lighting was completed this week – although Central Hudson still has to come wire up the bulbs – and according to the County Department of Public Works, the stone veneer on the parapet walls will be installed starting next week.

As a result, the sidewalks will need to be closed to create a heated enclosure so the mortar won’t freeze in the cold weather. It will take about two weeks to complete, weather permitting.

There will be signs and barricades to guide vehicles and pedestrians through the construction area.

Aside from any issues that arise during final inspection, that should complete the project.

County Job: Community Health Nurse (part-time) – Apply By February 23

Dutchess County’s Department of Behavioral and Community Health is looking to hire a part-time Community Health Nurse with a wage of between $25.11 – $27.72 and hour:

It is a professional nursing position in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health. Employees in this title are responsible for providing nursing care in the various clinics conducted within the division of Communicable Disease Control. Work is performed under the general direction of a higher level employee. Supervision of others is not a function of this position. This position is part time during a Monday through Friday schedule.

If you’re interested in the position or know somebody who might be, please click here to read more about it and other jobs available with the county.

County Job: Bridge Maintainer – Apply by Feb 16, 2018

Dutchess County’s Department of Public Works, Highway Division is looking to recruit a Bridge Maintainer with a salary of $38,180:

This class performs varied duties in connection with the construction and maintenance of bridges. The work calls for previous experience in the carpentry and masonry fields but does not require the skills of a qualified journeyman. Verbal or written instructions regarding the work are received from the Bridge Maintenance Supervisor who checks jobs in process and on completion.

If you’re interested in the position or know somebody who might be, please click here to read more about it and other jobs available with the county.

February 2018: Why can legislators vote without being present?

Much of the February agenda is uncontroversial and deals with paperwork such as acquiring the right to build on tiny pieces of property around road projects in Wappinger and Pleasant Valley and the rail trail in the Town of North East and reappointing people to the Traffic Safety Board.

But one item some colleagues and I would like to tweak are the Rules of the Legislature.

If a legislator were to leave the legislative chambers and a vote is called while they’re gone, most people would figure they’d be marked as absent or non-voting or as having abstained. And if someone misses a vote because they’re not there, well, that’s life. I’d hope that their fellow legislators would wait a couple of minutes for them to return but if not, so be it. And the missing legislator can explain their absence to their voters if need be.

But – believe it or not – there is a section of the Rules of the Legislature that says that the missing legislator’s vote will automatically tallied with the winning side. Legislators can vote even when they’re not there and don’t get a choice of which side to support!

Look, I know this situation isn’t going to happen often. Most of our meetings don’t last long enough that people need to use the restrooms and emergency phone calls from our families are rare. But it happened last year to one of my colleagues during a five hour budget meeting. She stepped out for the restroom and during the few minutes she was gone, a vote was called – perhaps intentionally – and her vote was stolen away and tallied against her wishes.

Again, it is rare but the idea that the legislature would put in its rules the ability to have someone forced to cast a vote they disagree with under any circumstances – well – it is undemocratic. In fact, the whole idea of a legislator voting without even being in the room is absurd.

We’re trying to change that rule so the only person casting votes on behalf of the people of Red Hook and Tivoli (and all the other towns and cities) are the people they elected.

What do you think? I welcome your input. Email me at kris@munnforredhook.com or comment below.

Coffee with your Legislator

Friday, January 19 from 8am until around 9am Kris will be at Murray’s in Tivoli and available to meet to chat about anything you like. If you have a local or state issue you’d like to share, he’s all ears – and if there is any way he can help he’ll do his best to reach out and assist.

This month Kris has already visited the Red Hook and Tivoli village boards and a meeting of the Red Hook Town Board to take any questions and report on county business that relates to those municipalities.

If you’re unable to meet in person or would rather just reach out electronically, all of Kris’ contact information is right here.