We never thought it was necessary to create a special committee to address concerns with how the county’s Child Protective Services program operates.

That doesn’t mean legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, was wrong, however. She’s actually correct – the County Legislature does have the responsibility of oversight. And in our opinion the county should use it.

We reiterate our opinion first broached a few weeks ago in opposition to the special committee. A special committee isn’t needed. Questions and answers about CPS are needed. Members of the legislature’s Human Services Committee should take a closer look at complaints raised by CPS workers, as Parker’s committee would have done. Committee members should also ask the questions that are often raised by the public about the cases CPS takes, the cases CPS turns away, and if there should be advocacy for changes at the state level to better protect children.

Before the vote took place, one employee of the county’s CPS office in Jamestown asked legislators to make sure the Human Services Committee is focusing on child protection specifically. We couldn’t agree more. We also call attention to something legislator Jamie Gustafson, R-Lakewood, said.

“Children, of course, are very important, as is CPS and they are dealing with the problem by having them report to us regularly. We’re creating accountability and we are overseeing from a committee level, instead of a special committee,” she said.

We, and the voting public, are going to hold members of the Human Services Committee to that.