DelCo Organizes For 2024

Official Newspaper and County Attorney Designations Opposed & A New Vice Chair

DELHI - Delaware County Supervisors held their 2024 organizational meeting where several appointments and designations were made. One significant incident was that there were two nominations for vice chairperson to the board of supervisors. Other key discussions were that the official newspaper designation and county attorney position were opposed by some supervisors.

Meredith Supervisor James Ellis and Andes Supervisor Wayland Gladstone were both nominated to serve as vice chairperson to the board of supervisors. Ellis was nominated by Colchester Supervisor Arthur Merrill while Gladstone was nominated by Hamden Supervisor Wayne Marshfield. Gladstone received three votes from Marshfield, Delhi Supervisor Maya Boukai, and himself. Ellis was appointed to the position with the majority of votes.

Amy Merklin was re-appointed as county attorney with one opposition from Boukai. "I don't believe her actions have been in the best interest of the taxpayers of Delaware County," said Boukai. She was unable to comment on specifics at this time.

Boukai along with Marshfield and Gladstone also opposed the official newspaper designations. Newspaper designations are required by state law for the county to publish public notices, local laws, and other government business. The designation was awarded to the Hancock Herald and the Mountain Eagle.

Marshfield requested supervisors add The Reporter as a designated paper. Marshfield claims The Reporter has the widest coverage of county affairs. He also argued that The Reporter has software that allows the public to view notices free of charge.

It is important to note that all newspapers are required by state law to make public notices available free of charge.

The county does pay for the publication of such notices. Marshfield argued that the county budget could handle adding a third newspaper. He said even if it were to cost $45,000 annually that would be $1 a person since the county population is roughly 45,000. He added that for many people The Reporter is the only publication they receive which includes himself.

Gladstone said he would not support the resolution if The Reporter was not added to the list.

Boukai said, "Delaware County is huge, and to limit the newspaper designation to the two papers with the smallest circulation isn't in the best interest of the entire county." She added that having an additional newspaper designation would reach more people. "The more eyes on the public notices the better, especially when seeking out bids."

The Mountain Eagle covers Delaware County affairs and towns including Andes, Bovina, Davenport, Delhi, Harpersfield, Kortright, Middletown, Roxbury, and Stamford. The paper also includes coverage of surrounding counties.

Merklin informed the opposing supervisors that the county is unable to designate The Reporter due to the law of publication. "The Reporter has taken itself out of its ability to be designated," she said. Merklin was unable to provide further comment and referred all questions to the law firm representing the county from the lawsuit issued by Decker Advertising, publisher of The Reporter. 

Other appointments include: 

Bovina Supervisor Tina Molè was re-appointed as chairperson to the board of supervisors.

Penny Bishop was re-appointed as clerk to the board of supervisors with deputy clerk Sarah Gutliph. 

Colchester Supervisor Arthur Merrill was re-appointed as county budget officer. 

Carlos Valery, Jr., Meredith, Jeffery Taggart, Franklin, and Deposit Supervisor Rebecca Walley were appointed to the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board for a four-year term.

Sarah Nagy-Fleischmann, Joanne Sampson, and Gay Merrill were re-appointed to the Community Services Board for a four-year term.

Andes Supervisor Wayland Gladstone was re-appointed to the Cooperative Extension Service Committee for a one-year term.

James Thomson was re-appointed to the Industrial Development Agency Committee with a one-year term. Wayne Oliver and Flerida Santana were also appointed to the industrial development committee with three-year terms.

Noel Goodspeed was appointed to the Local Development Corporation Committee for a three-year term.

Dale Downin, James Erwin, Mark Lee, Travis O'Dell, and Diane Munro, were re-appointed to the County Planning Board for a three-year term.

Masonville Supervisor Betty Scott, Director of Public Health Amanda Walsh, NYS DOH District Office representative Edward Bartos, Heather Warner, and Kyra Shew were re-appointed to the Health Services Advisory Board for a two-year term.

Kortright Supervisor George Haynes and Meredith Supervisor James Ellis were appointed to the Soil and Water Conservation District Board for a one-year term while Jeffery Taggart and Andy Kiraly were appointed for a three-year term.

Stamford Supervisor John Kosier was appointed to the Tourism Advisory Board for a three-year term.

Diane Oles was re-appointed to the Youth Bureau Board for a three-year term.

Glenn Nealis was re-appointed as director of economic development for a two-year term.

Maria Kelso was re-appointed as Republican elections commissioner for a two-year term.

Shelly Johson-Bennett was re-appointed as county planning director for a three-year term.

Sylvia Armanno was re-appointed as youth bureau director for a one-year term.