LEGISLATURE STUFF - Tip of the Cap to Two

Greene County Legislature chairman Patrick Linger (right) presented Commendations and respectful farewells to lawmakers Edward Bloomer (left) and Linda Overbaugh at the board’s final meeting of year.

CATSKILL - Eighteen years of public service came to a close when the Greene County Legislature officially bid adieu to colleagues Linda Overbaugh and Edward Bloomer.

The legislature’s December 18 regular monthly meeting was the last for Overbaugh (District 1, Catskill) and Bloomer (District 3, Athens), both Republicans, who served 12 and 6 years, respectively.

Overbaugh has retired. Bloomer lost a Republican Party primary, this past summer, in an unexpected and politically charged challenge to his seat.

During their final three-year terms, Overbaugh was chairwoman of the legislative Economic Development and Tourism Committee. Bloomer chaired the County Services Committee.

Legislature chairman Patrick Linger read Commendations into the record, calling upon county residents to “join us in expressing admiration, appreciation and affection” for the leaving lawmakers.

“Thank you sir. It has been a pleasure,” Linger said to Bloomer, who in turn said, “it’s time to go. This has been the honor and privilege of my life. I enjoyed every moment of it, even the contentious moments. 

“I will miss this,” Bloomer said, a sentiment similarly voiced by Overbaugh, lauded by Linger for “a lot of good accomplishments” over the years.

“This has been the pleasure of my life,” Overbaugh said, noting there have been differing views between lawmakers during her decade-plus on the board, adding, “we got through it. I will miss every single one of you.”

The changing of the guard will continue on January 7, 2025, when the legislature holds its annual reorganization meeting.

Two new legislators, Michael Lanuto (District 1, Catskill) and James O’Connell (District 3, Athens) will then take the Oath of Office.

Lawmakers will also make a plethora of appointments and designations necessary to keep county government on cruise control.

Some of those anointments and assignments were handled on December 18 including:

—Edward Kaplan (reappointed the county attorney during the term of office for which the members of this legislature are elected, January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027).

—County administrator Shaun Groden (reappointed as a director of the Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation for a 3-year term, representing Greene County);

—Edward Bloomer (appointed to the Columbia-Greene Community College board of trustees, filling a vacancy left by the passing of Peter Markou, the late county treasurer);

—Deborah Fromer (appointed as a Greene County Board of Elections election commissioner, representing the Democratic Party);

Fromer was recommended by county Democratic Party chairwoman Lori Torgersen, replacing Maria Metzler who has retired.

—Angelo Scaturro (reappointed as fulltime public defender for a three-year term, commencing January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027);

—Four reappointments were made in the realm of county emergency services, all for 3-year terms including:

John Farrell (emergency services director),  Sean Hotaling (emergency medical services coordinator), Davia Montie (emergency medical services deputy coordinator) and Dr. Craig Stanger (emergency medical director);

—Dennis Lucas of Hunter, James Story of Catskill and David Cunningham of Durham (reappointed to the Soil Water Conservation District of Greene County board of directors for three-year terms);

—Legislators Michael Bulich, District 1 Catskill (reappointed a legislative representative to the Soil Conservation District board of directors and Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board) 

Legislator James Thorington, District 6, Ashland, Jewett, Prattsville & Windham (reappointed as legislative alternate to the Soil Conservation District board of directors);

—Legislator Charles Martinez, District 2, Coxsackie (reappointed to the Greene County jury board for a three-year term);

—David Merchant of Coxsackie (reappointed as a member of the Greene County board of Ethics for a three-year term);

—County sheriff Pete Kusminsky (reappointed as coordinator of Greene County STOP-DWI program);

—Legislator Joseph “Jay” Lucas (appointed as legislative representative to the STOP-DWI board of directors);

—Ward Fleming (appointed to the Community Services Board, replacing Beach).