Chairman Wise referred to an organizational chart of DEC’s Bureau of Marine Resources that gives the name of the incumbent in each of the bureau’s technical positions and the source of funds (state, federal, etc.) through which each position is funded. He noted several vacancies on the technical staff and asked Mr. Colvin to explain the problems the DEC has been having filling these vacancies. Councilor Schwab noted that there are eight vacancies, four of which are in the Finfish and Crustaceans Section, whose funding is federal, not from the state’s General Fund. Why can’t positions for which federal funds were available be filled? Mr. Barnhart indicated that it was DEC policy, under a hiring freeze, to treat all positions alike regardless of the source of the funding.

Most of the vacancies are at the Technician I or Technician II level. Messrs. Young and Colvin explained what the technicians do: field work; data collection and entry; some sample preparation; data compiling; and preliminary work for analysis. Some technicians also run programs. Councilor Schwab asked if the DEC could fill these positions on a provisional basis until Civil Service can hire from a list, and if MRAC could help solve whatever is preventing the hiring. Mr. Colvin responded that there are several obstacles to filling the vacancies. One is that the Civil Service has been very slow to review and reclassify the technician positions. Civil Service merged the fish and wildlife and marine technicians into a single classification, but approved upgrades only for the higher level technicians and rejected traineeship. The DEC decided to hire only Technician IIs. Also, the lists did not have enough candidates. Finally, New York State has a hiring freeze in effect, and special exemptions have to be requested for each position. It was suggested that the Council could assist in convincing the Division of Budget that these vacancies were "essential to health, safety, and welfare." Mr. Barnhart suggested the Council communicate with the Department of Civil Service about upgrading Technician I positions to Technician II and defining Civil Service minimum qualifications for open competitive provisional appointments to Fish and Wildlife Technician II. The Division of the Budget should be contacted to get the freeze exemptions for the other vacancies.

Mr. Wise motioned that the Council authorize him to communicate with appropriate authorities to expedite filling the DEC vacancies. Councilor Knobel seconded the motion but pointed out that while any shellfish vacancy causes an immediate economic hardship and is often filled first, equally debilitating vacancies in research might be overlooked with severe future repercussions. The motion passed unanimously.

A press release from North Carolina was distributed announcing a major infusion of state funds (several $ millions) for that state’s marine resources management program. Chairman Wise pointed out that one of the responsibilities of the Marine Resources Advisory Council is to find funding for increased marine resource programs in New York. He indicated that he would pursue this matter at a future Council meeting.