County board ends the year with pay and term increases

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By JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–The Columbia County Board of Supervisors raised the salaries of several county personnel, lengthened the terms of Election Commissioners, and appointed individuals to various county and organizational boards at its year end meeting December 30 and its organizational meeting January 6. At the organizational meeting, Board Chair Matt Murell (Stockport) read his State of the County message, in which he foresaw work on bridges, culverts, 11 Warren Street and Solid Waste in 2025.

On December 30, the board authorized a 2.75% pay increase for 2025 for non-union county “personnel” in several positions in several specified positions, including — among others — department directors, licensed professionals, confidential secretaries, and aides. For the same year, it also authorized salary upgrades of “applicable salary percentage increases” for certain other positions, most in the Board of Elections, and “according to the Salary Schedule” for several attorneys.

The terms of the full-time election commissioners were two years, but December 30, with the agreement of both political parties, the County Board lengthened them to four years. On January 6, the board appointed Kelly Miller-Simmons full-time Republican election commissioner and Mara Estribou full-time Democratic election commissioner for four years, from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.

On January 6, the board also welcomed new member Randall Martin (Hudson, 1st Ward) and chose its own officers for 2025. Mr. Martin replaces Claire Cousin who resigned. Mr. Murell recognized Ms. Cousin’s service in his State of the County address.

The Board re-elected Mr. Murell its chairman, in addition to appointing him the county’s budget officer and representative to the County Jury Board. The board approved its additional 2025 officers as: Deputy Chairs James Guzzi (Livingston) and Robert Lagonia (Austerlitz); Majority Leader Ron Knott (Stuyvesant); Minority Leader Tistrya Houghtling (New Lebanon); Deputy Majority Leader Clifford Weigelt (Claverack); and Deputy Minority Leader Michael Chameides (Hudson, 3rd Ward).

Early in his address, Mr. Murell said that the county was heading into 2025 without any lay-offs or service reductions. He proceeded to review 2024 developments, including a citizens review panel for the police, the Blanche Hotaling Memorial Mission for emergency housing, the Animal Abuse Registry, the short-term rental occupancy tax, the Conflict Defenders Office, two bridge replacements, and putting the county’s remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to productive use. Mr. Murell thanked the people who helped make these possible.

For 2025, Mr. Murell said he foresees: construction work to upgrades on several bridges and culverts, including the Stuyvesant Falls Bridge; and continued preparation of 11 Warren Street, which the county bought in 2023 for office space. In addition, Mr. Murell appointed a solid waste work group, chaired by Mr. Knott, with additional members: Supervisors Ray Staats (Clermont), Mr. Guzzi, Mr. Lagonia, and Brenda Adams (Canaan); as well as Solid Waste Director Wendy Madsen; Public Works Commissioner Ray Jurkowski; Controller Jim Breig; and Treasurer PJ Keeler

The board appointed for 2025: Clerk of the Board Kelly S. Baccaro; Corporate Compliance Officer Human Resources Director Michaele Williams-Riordon; Third Party Administrator of the County’s Self-Insured Workers’ Compensation Benefits Program Mr. Keeler; representatives to the County’s Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisors Ryan Skoda (Taghkanic) and Donal Collins (Chatham); and representative to the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Board of Directors Supervisor Timothy Ooms (Kinderhook). It also re-appointed to the County Ethics Board for two years: Richard Washburn, Michael Nabozny, and Robin Andrews.

Altogether, the board passed 10 resolutions December 30 and 13 resolutions on January 6.

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