69´«Ã½

Cayuga 69´«Ã½ Legislature Chairwoman Aileen McNabb-Coleman told 69´«Ã½ Tuesday that Lynch announced his retirement Thursday, Nov. 21. It is effective Dec. 27. 

Citing a personnel matter, McNabb-Coleman could not provide further comment on Lynch's decision to retire. Lynch did not respond to 69´«Ã½'s request for comment. 

Lynch was the longtime director of the county's Department of Planning and Economic Development prior to being elevated to county manager in March. His salary was $140,000. 

McNabb-Coleman announced in February that Lynch would be appointed county manager. The county did not have an administrator for five years — J. Justin Woods was the last to hold that position — but McNabb-Coleman believed it was necessary to have someone else focus on day-to-day operations. 

Until Lynch's appointment, the county Legislature chair oversaw operations. McNabb-Coleman handled those responsibilities during her first stint as chair in 2020-21. Former Chairman David Gould served as acting administrator from 2022 through 2023. 

When McNabb-Coleman returned as chair, she wanted to focus on policy. She believes it's important to have a full-time administrator who oversees county operations. 

Although Lynch will remain on the payroll for the next month, he won't be working. McNabb-Coleman said she and the county operations officer, Shereen Androsko, will take on the manager's duties. 

"We'll do the best we can until the Legislature can come together and make a decision about next steps," McNabb-Coleman added. 

Lynch's retirement was announced during the annual county budget process. McNabb-Coleman proposed a $192 million budget for 2025 that includes nearly two dozen job cuts and a 4% property tax levy increase. 

The tentative budget contains $555,832 for the county manager's office, up from $279,855 in this year's budget. Most of that increase is for salary and benefits. 

McNabb-Coleman encouraged the county Legislature to keep the funding in the budget. 

"We are in the middle of a crisis," she said. "If we have ever needed a county manager, it is now. There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of things to keep track of. We definitely need somebody to come in and direct the response to this crisis." 

For the county, that crisis has multiple parts. It began the year with a damaged roof on the county office building. Four months later, the building was closed after asbestos-containing vermiculite was found throughout the interior of the structure. It will remain closed for up to two years.

Amid the building closure and departments being relocated, the county has been dealing with a budget crunch that's required the Legislature to use millions from its fund balance. The proposed job cuts are part of the response to the ongoing fiscal situation.