Auburn has hired Wayne County’s auditor to be comptroller and run the city's finance department, City Manager Mark Palesh said today. The city selected Linda Harissis to succeed Lisa Green, who left the comptroller’s position to become business manager at the Auburn Enlarged City School District last month. “Academically she’s got exactly what we were looking for and she’s got...
Auburn has hired Wayne County’s auditor to be comptroller and run the city's finance department, City Manager Mark Palesh said today.
The city selected Linda Harissis to succeed Lisa Green, who left the comptroller’s position to become business manager at the Auburn Enlarged City School District last month.
“Academically she’s got exactly what we were looking for and she’s got the personality to work in a high-stress environment,’’ Palesh said of Harissis.
Harissis, a Rochester native and resident, is scheduled to start in her new position on Nov. 1. Her yearly salary will be $77,555, according to Palesh.
“This is an excellent opportunity for me,’’ said Harissis, who has a master’s degree in business administration and 10 years experience in municipal financial work. She also worked as treasurer for the village of Spencerport, outside Rochester, for nine years.
As comptroller, she will oversee the daily operations of the city finance department, manage the employees’ retirement fund and serve on the management team that negotiates new employee contracts, Palesh said.
Some 90 people applied for the job and Harissis was selected from a pool of five finalists, Palesh added.
The city has a residency requirement for its employees and Harissis said she intends to move to Auburn. She is married and has three children.
Green worked for 18 years in the comptroller’s office, the last five-plus years as comptroller. Her annual salary was $93,400 a year when she left.
You can reach Scott Rapp at srapp@syracuse.com or 289-4839