Following resignations that left the Cayuga County Emergency Management Office in January short-staffed, fire chiefs from departments throughout the county met Monday to discuss a way forward while the office is rebuilt.
Both newly appointed Director W. Douglas Whittaker and longtime Deputy Director Maureen Conley of the EMO office resigned suddenly at the end of January, leaving the department with just one full-time employee, Deputy Director Niel Rivenburgh, and 15 part-time employees.
In a resignation letter, Whittaker offered no reason for leaving after less than a month in office. Conley's letter said she could "no longer be a part of what's happening in this County, or more specifically in the Office of Emergency Services."
Citing personnel matters, county officials have declined to discuss the resignations.