strikezone31
12-06-2009, 07:16 PM
Civil Service regulations force fisheries chief out
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 12:02 PM CST
Albany - Civil Service regulations have forced DEC Fisheries Bureau Chief Steve Hurst to step down from that job, officials announced earlier this month.
Hurst, who had been a provisional appointee to the fisheries bureau post since early last year, was not among the top three names on the Civil Service testing list established in late July.
Indications are Hurst was fourth on the list, and one individual ahead of him on the list had expressed an interest in the fisheries bureau chief post.
DEC_Assistant Director of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Doug Stang said that once the list was established, DEC "had 90 days to determine 'reachability' of a candidate on that list and either permanently appoint the provisional appointee or terminate their provisional appointment."
DEC_Director of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Patricia Riexinger said Hurst will remain with DEC in a special projects role.
"It's a very distressing time for all of us; pretty emotional for a lot of folks here," Riexinger said of the situation. "Steve had done a terrific job and tried to tackle a lot of issues. He's a very structured, very organized manager and we will be tapping into some of his expertise."
Art Newell, chief of wildlife services for DEC, will serve as acting fisheries bureau chief until a replacement is hired. That, however, may not happen for some time, since New York is in a hiring freeze as it battles a massive fiscal crisis.
"With the current hiring freeze we are unable to hire a replacement off the (Civil_Service) list,"_Riexinger said. "So Art Newell will be acting fisheries bureau chief until such time as we get a waiver (to hire a replacement for Hurst). We are committed to filling the position as soon as we can, and Steve (Hurst) can help us transition."
Stang, a former fisheries bureau chief, will assume many of Newell's wildlife services responsibilities. Hurst had replaced Stang when Stang was named assistant director of DEC's Bureau of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.
Hurst inherited many major challenges when he stepped into the fisheries bureau post, among them invasive species, declining participation in sportfishing, and the arrival of the fish-killed viral hemorrhagic septicemia in some New York waters. He orchestrated tough restrictions on baitfish movement - criticized by many western New York anglers - designed to halt the spread of VHS and other diseases.
A graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science degree in aquatic science, Hurst received his master's degree in public administration from the University of Albany. He has worked with DEC since 1987, and prior to his appointment as fisheries bureau chief served as leader of the bureau's Biological Survey Unit.
http://www.nyoutdoornews.com/articles/2009/12/03/top_news/news03.txt
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 12:02 PM CST
Albany - Civil Service regulations have forced DEC Fisheries Bureau Chief Steve Hurst to step down from that job, officials announced earlier this month.
Hurst, who had been a provisional appointee to the fisheries bureau post since early last year, was not among the top three names on the Civil Service testing list established in late July.
Indications are Hurst was fourth on the list, and one individual ahead of him on the list had expressed an interest in the fisheries bureau chief post.
DEC_Assistant Director of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Doug Stang said that once the list was established, DEC "had 90 days to determine 'reachability' of a candidate on that list and either permanently appoint the provisional appointee or terminate their provisional appointment."
DEC_Director of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Patricia Riexinger said Hurst will remain with DEC in a special projects role.
"It's a very distressing time for all of us; pretty emotional for a lot of folks here," Riexinger said of the situation. "Steve had done a terrific job and tried to tackle a lot of issues. He's a very structured, very organized manager and we will be tapping into some of his expertise."
Art Newell, chief of wildlife services for DEC, will serve as acting fisheries bureau chief until a replacement is hired. That, however, may not happen for some time, since New York is in a hiring freeze as it battles a massive fiscal crisis.
"With the current hiring freeze we are unable to hire a replacement off the (Civil_Service) list,"_Riexinger said. "So Art Newell will be acting fisheries bureau chief until such time as we get a waiver (to hire a replacement for Hurst). We are committed to filling the position as soon as we can, and Steve (Hurst) can help us transition."
Stang, a former fisheries bureau chief, will assume many of Newell's wildlife services responsibilities. Hurst had replaced Stang when Stang was named assistant director of DEC's Bureau of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.
Hurst inherited many major challenges when he stepped into the fisheries bureau post, among them invasive species, declining participation in sportfishing, and the arrival of the fish-killed viral hemorrhagic septicemia in some New York waters. He orchestrated tough restrictions on baitfish movement - criticized by many western New York anglers - designed to halt the spread of VHS and other diseases.
A graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science degree in aquatic science, Hurst received his master's degree in public administration from the University of Albany. He has worked with DEC since 1987, and prior to his appointment as fisheries bureau chief served as leader of the bureau's Biological Survey Unit.
http://www.nyoutdoornews.com/articles/2009/12/03/top_news/news03.txt