The Allegany County Administrator's chair remained empty Tuesday and the response as to why remained "no comment." County Legislative Chair Curt Crandall said last week that Debbie McDonnell, who was hired in June, has taken a leave of absence effective October 2nd. County legislators have remained publicly silent on the issue. On Tuesday, H. Robert "Bobby" Budinger had little more to offer. Budinger is the Personnel Officer. Wellsville Regional News (WRN) reached out to him, but he had little to offer, citing it was a personnel matter:
WRN: Is this a paid or unpaid leave?
Budinger: "She is on leave."
WRN: Is the leave set for a defined time or open-ended?"
Budinger: "No comment, she is on leave"
WRN: Again, when is she expected to return to work?
Budinger: "Again, she is on leave."
WRN: Is there a Deputy Administrator?
Budinger: "No."
WRN: When Mr. Crandall said "all county operations continue as usual," who is doing the work?
Budinger: "Citizens will not suffer," he said. 'Bobby' noted that there is a team effort to keep the flow of business moving. He noted that department heads can take vacation and others step in to fill the void. He echoed Crandall's comment that county operations will continue as usual.
To be fair, this is a personnel matter and Budinger has very little he can say. WRN posed several other questions to him and his response remained, "she is on leave."
No legislators were willing to discuss any event(s) that led to McDonnell's abrupt leave of absence. The on-leave Administrator recently purchased a home in Wellsville.
