Essex hears report on attracting employees

ELIZABETHTOWN | Essex County supervisors accepted a five-part plan to help recruit and retain employees at their Monday, Oct. 18 meeting, as vacancies across many county departments continue to climb. The report, written by a task force of supervisors and public employees, strives to build on current advantages to working for Essex County, such as benefit packages and access to outdoor recreation, while looking at added incentives, such as daycare and continuing education. Part of the challenge is getting the word out about Essex County employment opportunities, said North Elba Supervisor Jay Rand, who chaired the task force. "A lot of people just don't know about these jobs," he said. "We have so much to offer here in Essex County — a good environment, clean water, outdoor lifestyles — that's a good package to offer." Still, more than 50 positions in Essex County are unfilled, giving supervisors the thought that more needs to be done. Resurfacing time and again as a drag on employment is child care, which is either unobtainable or so expensive it acts as a disincentive to work. The committee has considered two approaches, one a centralized center near the county courthouse complex, the other being county-sponsored centers in the towns where they're needed most. According to the report, "The need and importance of daycare at our first meeting on June 7 was described as massive, and would be a great benefit and incentive for many county employees." The report also indicates that public and private employers have been hurt by housing prices, which have skyrocketed during the pandemic and have increased the financial incentive for pushing houses into the short-term rental market. The bottom line has been to put housing beyond the means of most local employees. To counter this, the county is considering a land bank that would rehab homes and sell them to people with limited incomes. But the process is slow and at best might add only a few affordable homes a year to the county housing stock. For those who are employed, the committee recognized the value of offering opportunities for advancement, through continuing education and job promotion. "We want to make sure there are actual career paths so people can feel like they can continue to move up," said Ticonderoga Supervisor Joe Giordano. The county is hoping as well that its annual contributions to North Country Community College can be parlayed into free tuition for employees. School officials are still investigating whether this is permissible under state law. Some ideas have already been put into place. With the help of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, the county is casting a broader net, hoping to attract people who might find the Adirondack Park lifestyle appealing. Board Chair Shaun Gillilland said the county will put the report in the hands of county staff to develop a plan and timeline for execution. "We don't want this to sit on a shelf," he said.

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Essex hears report on attracting employees

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