NEWS FROM THE ULSTER COUNTY COMPTROLLER

ELLIOTT AUERBACH COUNTY COMPTROLLER 244 FAIR STREET KINGSTON, NEW YORK 12401 PHONE: (845) 340-3529 eaue@co.ulster.ny.us www.youreyesonulster.com

PRESS ADVISORY

ULSTER COUNTY DEPUTY ADDRESSES THE NATIONS GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS

San Francisco, CA (June 3, 2013) Ulster County Deputy Comptroller Joe Eriole was invited by the nation's preeminent government finance organization, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), to address its 107th National Convention, held June 2-4 in San Francisco. Eriole, an attorney with 20 years of municipal government experience, delivered an address on inter-agency cooperation. In particular, the session focused on achieving best practices and high levels of compliance through agency collaboration rather than enforcement and penalty concepts. "The focus of my presentation was really about re-learning basic rules of human interaction, applying principles you learned as a kid about respect, dignity, teamwork, to our everyday work, and remembering that working in the public sector is about delivering services to people, not who gets credit for getting it done. When we all take that approach, we stop trying to just win political battles or avoid change. Instead, we embrace the common good," said Eriole. Added Eriole, "I joined the Comptroller's Office because Elliott Auerbach understands that to be truly functional, every unit of government and all the people in them, whether elected, appointed, or civil service, have to start the day asking what's best for the people they serve. If we're working together with that goal in mind, then 'compliance' isn't about enforcement, its about cooperation." Eriole has lectured regularly over the years in educational and professional settings on municipal law as well as communication and leadership skill development. The Ulster County Comptroller's Office was established in 2009 and is charged with prescribing accounting methods and monitoring compliance of county agencies. Comptroller Elliott Auerbach commented that "Joe's a consensus-builder, and his skill set reflects the tone I've tried to establish in this office since I was first elected to it. The common goal is to protect the taxpayer - and everyone in County government should be excited about the opportunity to do that."

The mission of the Ulster County Comptrollers Office is to serve as an independent agency of the people and to protect the public interest by monitoring County government and to assess and report on the degree to which its operation is economical, efficient and its financial condition sound