Erie County Executive Chris Collins formally introduced himself and his top staff to the state-appointed control board Friday, and both he and its chairman said they are looking forward to working together.

Collins and board Chairman Anthony J. Baynes had met before. In fact, when Baynes asked Collins to speak to the board Friday, he introduced him as “my friend Chris Collins.”

“Thank you, Anthony,” Collins responded, before talking about how his administration will run the government more efficiently. He introduced his budget director and his director of Six Sigma, the person assigned to push Collins’ beloved business discipline through the bureaucracy.

“It’s a refreshing start,” Baynes said later.

The Giambra era was nearly over.

Former County Executive Joel A. Giambra and the control board traveled a long and rocky road for two and half years. But it wasn’t just Giambra. The County Legislature often bristles under the control board’s heavy hand, and the county comptroller has questioned control board decisions.

Minutes later, however, after Collins had left for another meeting, the Fiscal Stability Authority gave him some work to do if he ever wants the board to soften to advisory status.

The control board, as expected, rejected the final four-year financial plan that Giambra had submitted before leaving office. Members said it too optimistically forecasts both revenues and expenses, as does the 2008 budget.

So they declared both out of balance, and they remained a “hard control board,” free to reject any contract involving $50,000 or more and insisting that the control board approve any sale of bonds.

Collins will have to address the perceived soft spots in this year’s budget and draft a new four-year forecast the control board likes if he wants the state panel to loosen its grip on county government and revert to an “advisory” role.

Both Collins and his deputy county executive, Mark Davis, are taking only $1 a month in salaries, and giving the rest to charities, as long as the control board remains hard.

So when might the Collins team go about addressing the budget and four-year plan? After the control board meeting, Davis said he wasn’t sure and referred questions to Budget Director Beth Kornbrekke, standing nearby. Kornbrekke, saying she wasn’t authorized to talk to reporters, refused to answer.

The control board Friday took the formal actions that will allow Erie County to finally borrow almost $52 million for 2007’s capital projects. The board, the Legislature and Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz had waged a months-long struggle over the sale of bonds.

The control board wanted to supplant Poloncarz as county government’s borrowing agent. Neither the Legislature nor Poloncarz was willing to let that happen, because they did not want the control board hanging around for decades to repay a loan.

With help from the governor’s office, the parties agreed to sell “mirror bonds,” which gives both the county and control board roles in selling bonds. The arrangement lets the control board go out of existence before the debt is repaid.

Baynes was presiding over his first meeting since he collapsed during a session in July. Later, he said he was glad to be back and looking forward to working with Collins.

Is that because he and Giambra always seemed to be at war? Baynes was asked.

It takes two people to fight, Baynes responded.

“Mr. Giambra fought a war by himself.”

mspina@buffnews.com

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