KINGSTON — After serving the youth of Ulster County for more than a decade as director of the youth bureau, Krista Barringer was unceremoniously terminated from her post on Friday.

Told that the department, which staffs a full-time director and an administrative assistant, was being restructured, and that, as a result, her position was eliminated, Barringer said she was stunned by the news. Nevertheless, she said she feels "honored to have had ten years as county youth director."

Noting that the state, which helps to fund the mandated program, has slashed funding for youth programs, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein said the restructure represents a new financial paradigm for the county and will save taxpayers $75,000 annually. He said the savings will be realized by redefining the job description and combining the position of youth director with that of the director of the county Bureau of Consumer Affairs.

Janet Y. Caffo, current director of Ulster County's Bureau of Consumer Affairs, will assume the revised responsibilities of youth director. Caffo was hired by the county in early 2010.

Barringer hopes that the needs of the county's youth will continue to be served. Among the responsibilities listed for the youth bureau on the county website are the "planning, coordinating and supplementing of activities devoted to the well-being and protection of all youth in Ulster County."

During her tenure, Barringer networked with other organizations to help bring myriad youth programs to the county. She's most pleased with her successful efforts to institute a nationally-

recognized gang prevention program through the Boys & Girls of Ulster County. She also helped to initiate a program, called "Youth Voices," that placed 32 area youths on various municipal boards throughout the county to add the perspective of that age group.

Political insiders suspect that Barringer's dismissal by the county executive was politically motivated, noting that he didn't offer the youth director another position within the county as he did when he restructured his administration earlier this year.

In January, Hein announced his "Taxpayer's First" initiative that eliminated an assistant deputy county executive from his staff. Vincent Martello, who had served as Hein's director of communications, was reassigned to a reclassified position within the health department. Hein said the move would save the county more than $89,800 in 2011. Since then, the executive has reclassified the duties of deputy budget director to include the responsibility of public communication; James J. Hanson was hired in May to serve in that capacity.

Hein said Barringer's termination was motivated, not by politics, but by trying to be responsive to the financial crises that the county and state face. "The reality is that this was a business decision — and, quite simply, my administration is committed to making the tough choices that others in government just want to talk about."

The county executive said he had to choose between funding the children's programs and funding a full-time director.

Tired of Employee Theft
A 20-year county employee was arrested last week and charged with grand larceny and falsifying records; both charges are felonies that each carry a maximum sentence of 1 to 4 years in prison. Anthony Gallo, 44, of Saugerties, a fleet maintenance facilitator for the county, allegedly ordered and installed six tires on his personal pick-up truck and then filed a false work order for the purchase.

Gallo worked as a mechanic and administrative supervisor for Central Auto from November 2006 to December 2009. Central Auto, located on Maxwell Lane in Kingston, is responsible for repairing and maintaining county-owned vehicles.

Gallo was also charged with official misconduct, a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. He was arraigned before Ulster Town Justice Susan Kesick and released on his own recognizance pending a court appearance on July 21, 2010.