By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Monday was the first day on the job for the newest employee of the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. Fran Ritzenthaler made his debut in legislative chambers as the new director of implementation for the control board's Office of Management and Productivity. Ritzenthaler, who is an engineer and analyst, says he will be paid $85,000 a year, including salary and benefits.
Ritzenthaler sat in on the Legislature's Finance and Management Committee to get a handle on some of the issues he will be working on. Ritzenthaler says his job is to monitor and make sure about 160 cost savings ideas become reality.
"My primary consideration, or mission, is transition," said Ritzenthaler. "It's [being] in here to help the County implement the plans they've put in place, or help them to put new plans in place in case they find they can't implement the plans currently in the budget."
Ritzenthaler says he is still in the process of reviewing the initiatives that are expected to save the county more than $100 million over four years.
Ritzenthaler is a native of Western New York with a Bachelor's of Science Degree from Buffalo State College.