The management of the New York Workers' Compensation Board was in an unsettled state yesterday after the legislature adjourned without approving Republican Gov. George Pataki's choice of chairman.
Mr. Pataki had submitted Richard Bell, the board's chief executive, for the group's chairmanship. When that nomination failed to move, his name was resubmitted for a commissioner's post, which was approved.
While the nomination as chairman failed, "as commissioner the nomination did go through," explained Jon Sullivan, WCB director of public information. Mr. Bell will now take part in the board on an appellate level instead of being in charge of the "day-to-day functions," added Mr. Sullivan.
Though Mr. Bell was previously the executive director of the WCB, no one has been appointed to his vacated position, and there are no plans to fill the role of chairman or of executive director in the near future, according to Mr. Sullivan.
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