NORWICH – Richard B. Decker, R-North Norwich, was unanimously appointed to another one-year term as chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors Monday during the first day of the 2011 session.

Unlike last year, when both Democrats and Republicans joined forces to nominate two candidates in hopes of unseating the now 14th-term chairman, the motion to appoint Decker went unchallenged.

Supervisor Robert Briggs, R-Afton, the Republican Party and board’s most senior member, made the motion for Decker. Supervisor David C. Law, R-Norwich, seconded it.

The politically-unaffiliated New Berlin Supervisor Ross Iannello, who last year nominated Sherburne’s then supervisor William C. Craine to the top post, and Democrat Peter C. Flanagan, the Preston supervisor, who seconded Iannello’s motion, were both absent from yesterday’s proceedings. Supervisor James J. McNeil, D-City of Norwich, was also absent.

In his acceptance speech, Decker said 2011 would be “a year of tough decisions” when budgeting ever-increasing health care and retirement costs. He said he hoped New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo would “take some of the dysfunction out of Albany” and help counties by supporting a complete state take-over of Medicaid administration and program costs.