NORWICH – Appointing Chenango County supervisors to fill seven committees vacancies, including two open chair and one vice chair positions, was probably a little trickier than Board Chairman Richard B. Decker would have liked.
The Republican from North Norwich had the sole responsibility for filling the openings this morning. With three of the four supervisors elected to a first term this fall voting against him for board chairman last week, and two of them being fellow party members, the longtime chairman no doubt revisited his preliminary roster of selections.
After last Monday’s vote, which gave the majority of weighted votes needed to earn him a 13th year in office, Decker told his audience that he recognized that supervisors “were all in politics” and that “politics is the name of the game.” But afterward, when asked about the unprecedented challenge to his seat, he said government was “not a matter of politics with me.”
Republican Supervisors William C. Craine of Sherburne and Linda E. Natoli, who represents Wards 4, 5, and 6 in the City of Norwich, both accepted nominations and seconds from the floor in an effort to unseat Decker. Though Craine was just elected to office in November, he was chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors from 1977 to 1979. Natoli has represented the city since 1994. Craine voted for himself. But while Natoli did not vote for herself and indeed sided with Decker, her nomination was still a challenge to Decker’s position.
Last year, Natoli was chair of the Planning & Economic Development Committee and a member of Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds.
Another former supervisor who is back in office again, John M. Phelan, R-Coventry, presents a different scenario for Decker. He was a town supervisor from 1989 to 1997 and served as chairman of the county’s powerful Finance Committee from 1993 to 1995. Since two vacancies on Finance needed to be filled, Phelan might have been considered a shoe-in (and so might have Craine with his experience). But, not only did Phelan second Natoli’s nomination for board chairman, he also called his vote for Craine.
Jerry L. Kreiner, R-Plymouth, who nominated Natoli, was vice chair of Planning & Economic Development and a member of Personnel last year. Interestingly, had Natoli and Kreiner voted for Natoli, there would have been a re-vote. Or, had they voted for Craine, the Sherburne supervisor would have won.
In making today’s appointments, Decker might not look favorably upon Craine, Phelan and to a degree, Natoli and Kreiner, but instead might turn to his fellow party members who supported him. The group includes newly elected Supervisor George Seneck, R-Guilford.
The challenge to Decker’s seat was seemingly orchestrated by the Democratic supervisors, who all, except Dennis Brown of Pharsalia, voted for Craine. The roll call vote was close, with 1,454 for Decker and 947 for Craine.
Decker was scheduled to announce his roster for 2010 committees this morning before the full Board of Supervisors. The meeting kicked off Chenango County government’s 212th official year.