LOCKPORT—Niagara County Legislature Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove will ask his colleagues to vote Tuesday on a freeze in hiring department heads until a new county manager is chosen.

Updegrove, R-Lockport, said his resolution would prevent the filling of any vacancies at the department head or deputy department head level until after County Manager Gregory D. Lewis’ successor is installed.

When Lewis arrived in 2003, “he was afforded the opportunity to have input into his team,” Updegrove said. “We should afford [the new manager] the same opportunity.”

Although a Legislature committee voted earlier this month to fill the homeland security director job created two years ago but left vacant, Updegrove said that wasn’t on his radar in submitting his resolution.

“Time is of the essence because we’re moving forward with screening for the two open department head positions, which are [the Office for the] Aging and Youth [Bureau],” he said.

Christopher A. Richbart, director of the Office for the Aging, died Feb. 14. Joan McDermott, director of the Youth Bureau, said Friday she will retire June 1.

Although Updegrove’s resolution speaks of asking the new manager to restructure county government, that probably won’t affect the two units, both funded almost exclusively by state and federal grants.

“These are mandated departments,” Updegrove said.

A lot of people are likely to be disappointed if the department head freeze passes. Human Resources Director Peter P. Lopes said 42 people applied for the

Aging position, and the resumes are being screened before a field of candidates is selected for interviews.

The county was going to advertise for a Youth Bureau director, but Updegrove’s submission of his resolution pulled the the plug on that, according to McDermott.

She said she wants Meghan T. Gajkowski, her No. 2 outreach worker, to succeed her.

Updegrove said the Legislature need not rush to fill those spots. “I’m confident we have employees in those departments who can deal with the operations of those departments,” he said.

Lewis took command of the Office for the Aging during Richbart’s illness and is still officially its chief. McDermott said Lewis told her he would do the same for the Youth Bureau after her departure.

Lewis, who did not return a call Friday seeking comment, has announced he will leave when his contract runs out Nov. 30 — if not sooner.

According to a person with knowledge of Lewis’ plans, the manager, who has sought many higher-paying jobs around the country during his Niagara County tenure, is being considered for county administrator in James City County, whose county seat is Williamsburg, Va.

Although that county has less than a third the population of Niagara County, its job listing said it will pay its new administrator $140,000 to $165,000 a year. Lewis, 63, earns $105,000 a year here.

Legislator Gerald K. Farnham, R-Lockport, chairman of the manager search committee, said he has yet to choose a date for its first meeting.

Lewis’ contract says he must give 60 days’ notice to leave his post. If he does, he has designated Social Services Commissioner Anthony J. Restaino to serve as acting manager.