CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
Temporary tourism head returning to official post
Hunt for new director nears end after 2 months
LITTLE VALLEY — The management of the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism will be taken over Monday by the County Administrator’s Office as the search for a new department head draws to a close.
Members of the Legislature’s Leadership Committee met Wednesday and decided to ask the County Administrator’s Office to take over for a brief period, sending Interim Director Joseph Williams Jr. back to his full-time post as the county’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center manager within the department.
A department head candidate has been selected by County Administrator Jack Searles for another round of interviews by key legislators Tuesday morning.
Assistant Majority Leader Jerry E. Burrell, who also heads the Development and Agriculture Committee overseeing the department, said the search began about two months ago.
He said the leadership was told Wednesday that some interviews were conducted last week, but one promising candidate dropped out, prompting Friday’s interview of the applicant who will return Tuesday.
He said that candidate will be interviewed by Legislature Chairwoman Crystal
J. Abers, R-South Dayton; Burrell; Development and Agriculture Committee Vice Chairman James L. Boser, D-Allegany; Searles; and Human Resources Director Dave Moshier.
“On an interim basis it was decided that the Administrator’s Office is going to be involved in operations in Economic Development, Planning and Tourism,” said Searles, noting “In all probability in the near future we will be able to come forward with a director for that department.”
Searles said he or his assistant, Jeff VanDeCar, will take care of the department five days a week during a “short transition time.”
Members of the county Planning Board were informed during their meeting Thursday night that Williams will be returning to his former post.
“Joe has done an absolutely phenomenal job with that department in terms of keeping it together and he has done an absolutely spectacular job relative to the [Procurement Technical Assistance Center] program, and we really had to make sure we had the best people operating those grants,” Searles said.
The center advises local businesses on government bids and assists them in procuring government contracts.
Williams stepped in to lead the department 10 months ago after former Director Tom Livak resigned. He applied for the position when it was advertised.
While serving as interim director, Williams continued to oversee the center and also managed several tourism promotions and key changes in the department, including an expansion of staff and funding for the department’s Business Development Corporation, which in April was moved out of the County Center to a new location in Little Valley.
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