subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 05 2009 

Published: April 25, 2008 09:38 pm    print this story  

ERIE COUNTY: New law overlaps old law

By Daniel Pye
E-mail Dan

The Tonawanda News

Al Hammonds, Erie County’s director of Six Sigma implementation, is taking a hard look at how the county can get employees involved in the program, and existing legislation might have already set up a framework for that plan.

Erie County Legislator Michele Iannello, D-Kenmore, said she encountered a surprise when she took office in 2006 and wanted to propose legislation that would bring employee suggestions for cost savings before some sort of review committee. A similar law had been passed in 2004 that should have created a review committee to look over suggestions.

“The outgoing administration was supposed to propose a way to get this done and they never did,” Iannello said.

Now that County Executive Chris Collins has taken the reigns and started his Six Sigma program, that law has come back into the light.

The Erie County Legislature and Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority approved $120,000 for the implementation of the program last month. Department heads and nine county employees who are highly thought of in their departments have already started their Six Sigma training, Hammonds said. The employees were chosen because of their ability to assist on assigned projects determined earlier this year, and they’re working on those as they’re being trained.

In the process these ‘green belts,’ as the newly-trained are called in Six Sigma terminology, are becoming better team leaders and practicing the skills to get the projects started in the future, Hammonds said.

“They were carefully selected for these projects,” Hammonds said. “It’s not a random thing.”

How employees will be rewarded for their suggested improvements is unclear. Under the existing law, awards would be based on the benefit. A minimum $50 award would be given for any improvement with “either tangible or intangible savings.” But the award would be as much as 10 percent of the first year’s savings with no limit, subject to verification by the county budget director.

Hammonds said he hasn’t reviewed the law, but that the idea of rewarding employees for finding ways to save taxpayer funds will eventually be part of the program in one form or another.

“We’re in the introductory stage of figuring out the rewards and recognition,” Hammonds said. “That’s an integral part of Six Sigma, but we haven’t put that together yet.”

As things come together, the Legislature isn’t looking to wait another four years to see results. A resolution passed Thursday will put Hammonds in front of legislators in the near future to discuss the issue in more detail.

“We’re going to have him before the finance and management committee to tell us exactly what steps he’s going to take to implement this law that’s been in place since 2004,” Iannello said.

Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.

print this story  



Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

Truck Driver
TRUCK DRIVER: Local /OTR 200 mile radius. Must have dump trailer experience. 867-4663...>MORE

Cook
COOKS, Servers, part time. Apply within Joe’s Hideaway, 2230 Cayuga Dr. Ext., Whtfld 990-1261...>MORE

Bartender/Cook
BARTENDER/COOK
Part Time. No experience necessary. Call 438-1460 from 1-8pm
...>MORE

Direct Support Professional
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL (DSP) – RESIDENTIAL
Are you interested in exploring a career that will help individuals
...>MORE

Nurse
NURSE. Niagara County Community College is seeking a part-time college nurse for the college’s health services. Please s...>MORE

School District Treasurer
IMMEDIATE Opening - School District Treasurer. Degree in accounting and experience required. Supervisor skills a must. S...>MORE

Accounts Payable
Accounts Payable
Must be experienced. Must have excel/keypunch knowledge. Must be a team player. High volume enviro
...>MORE

PATIENT SERVICE MANAGER



PATIENT SERVICE MANAGER
Full-Time management position responsible for promoting & maintaining the
...>MORE

RNs
SCHOELLKOPF HEALTH CENTER

C.O.T.A.- Short Term
Rehab Clinic

Opportunity to work in dynamic
...>MORE

service greeter
Service greeter wanted, part time temp assignment for 4-8 wks. Mon. Tues. Thurs. 5-9, Sat. 9-5. Apply with in David Ch...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1994 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon
BUICK 1994 Roadmaster Estate Wagon, V8, 130k, fair condition, 1 owner. $2800 or BO. 297-1061....>MORE

1990 Chevy 2500
1990 CHEVY 2500 pick up, fresh paint, 160k mi, good runner, 4WD, ext cab, $2500, 716-572-9153...>MORE

Olds 2001 Intrigue
Olds 2001 Intrigue, 130k runs great, leather, sun roof clean inside/out. $3000or BO. 628-6295...>MORE

Dodge 2001 SLT
‘O1 DODGE SLT, 8’ bed, cap, spray line, low miles. Never seen winters, $7,300. 998-0230...>MORE

c1994 Pontiac Custom
PONTIAC 1994 Sunbird conv. V6, EC in & out, red w/blk top, wht int., CD, real sharp. $2850. 523-7102...>MORE

2000 Chevy S-10
CHEVY 2000 S-10 pick up, 2.2L, 5 spd, ext cab, EC in & out, CD, cold AC, great gas mi. $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

Audi 1988 A6 Sedan
Audi 1998 A6  Sedan  with 160k miles.  Charcoal ext.,  Tan int.,  4DR,  Automatic,  AWD,  6 Cylinder,  Gas  engine. Pow...>MORE

Dodge 1996 Grand Caravan
Niagara Falls
2753 NIAGARA ST.
FRI. SAT.
9AM-4PM
oriental rug, old tools, antique car parts, toys,
...>MORE

FORD 1993 TAURUS
Ford 1993 Taurus, just inspected, runs good $900 or best offer,
284-0244
...>MORE

1950 Plymouth Custom
PLYMOUTH 1950 Custom, 4 dr, good shape, $1,500/BO. 795-0074...>MORE

See all ads




 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index