MAYVILLE — A new position that was created this summer to work in county government has been eliminated, although it may be brought back differently in the future.

In July, the Chautauqua County Legislature set the salary for the public relations officer, a new position. The individual would be paid between $53,674 and $82,248. It passed by a 14-3 margin, with Republican support only. Democratic legislators Bob Bankoski of Dunkirk, Susan Parker of Fredonia and Billy Torres of Jamestown voting against it. Democratic legislator Paul Whitford of Jamestown was absent.

In August, the local law was rescinded by the legislature at the request of County Executive PJ Wendel, a Republican.

Before the vote, Wendel discussed his reasoning. He noted that local law was adopted before the stabbing of noted author Salman Rushdie on Aug. 12 at Chautauqua Institution.

“The County Executive’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office received calls from all over the world — CNN, places as far away as Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand,” he said. “We realized the critical nature of public information. It’s not the public relations component that we’re looking for. So upon further review, it’s better to make sure we have a position that is rightly fitted and rightly described in the job description, that is fitting to what we’re looking for.”

Wendel said that individual would disseminate information, use the county’s social media pages and coordinate information among multiple departments. “As you know, in the midst of prosecuting cases, and cases still coming out, that information is critical to get out in a timely manner and in a manner that we don’t impede or jeopardize the investigations that are going on, or in the case of the attack that took place in the Institution, jeopardize an international investigation,” he said.

After Wendel spoke, the legislature unanimously agreed to rescind the law local.

After the meeting, Wendel was asked if the plan was to bring the position back in the future. “We’re looking at it. We’re reevaluating it. Chances are we will,” he said.

Wendel said he has some job descriptions from other counties that he wants to review before bringing a proposal back to the legislature.

The three Democratic legislators who voted against the resolution in July stated at that time their issue was with funding the position. After the August meeting, Wendel said their objections weren’t the reasons why he asked the position to be pulled; it was more on what the job description was listed. He wants more focus on disseminating information than public relations. “It was easier for us to rescind it and start over,” he said.