NORWICH – In an unexpected move, Richard W. Breslin will retire Dec. 30 after a 21-year career as counsel for Chenango County.
The 62-year-old made his resignation known to fellow Republicans at caucus at the end of last month, however many of those attending the Chenango County Board of Supervisors’ final meeting for 2011 yesterday were unaware of the news. Breslin did not attend the meeting where Clerk of the Board RC Woodford read a prepared statement from him.
Assistant County Attorney Leonard “Bill” Smith said he found out sometime last week that he would be standing in for Breslin at Monday’s meeting.
Breslin will have completed a 10th, 2-year term in office, though Woodford said he began his long career in county government as an advocate for the social services department back in the 1970s. He could not be reached for comment.
Chenango County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker took the opportunity to thank Breslin for his many years of service.
“I’d like you all to know that even though we’ve had some tough times, his decisions were always made in the best interests of this county,” said Decker. The board chairman did not elaborate.
Breslin joins four other veteran government officials who tendered their resignations this year: Chenango County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker; former board chairman and Town of Afton Supervisor Robert D. Briggs; Department of Public Works Director Randy Gibbon; and Probation Department Director Laureen J. Clarke. Also, the county’s longtime treasurer William E. Evans stepped away from his post last year.
In all, with supervisors’ retirements and three incumbents ousted during the November elections, the county board will see seven new supervisors around the table at its reorganization meeting on Jan. 3.
The county attorney earned $122,422 salary plus benefits in 2011, including compensation for part time legal work monitoring the county’s self-insurance plan.
Breslin’s retirement sparked speculation about his subsequent replacement, with some supervisors suggesting that Chenango County Public Defender Alan E. Gordon would be automatically appointed to the position at the same rate as Breslin. Town of Smyrna Supervisor James B. Bays displayed and read aloud a county resolution dating back to 1996 that stipulates vacant appointed department head positions must be advertised.
“I’m assuming we are going to follow this resolution,” he said.
Fellow Democrat Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan of Preston also defended the board’s right to advertise for the position and set salary, saying the same was already underway for the public works department head position. The vacant head probation job was also advertised.
Assistant County Attorney Smith concurred that he was under the impression that the position would be posted by the Personnel Department.
However, Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown, disagreeing with his fellow party members, said the county attorney’s position is not a department director’s position, and, as such, would then render the 15-year old statute inapplicable. He said as a member of the board, any supervisor could amass support for a prospective candidate and move to appoint him or her from the floor, whether or not the position was advertised.
And Board Chairman Richard B. Decker, R-N. Norwich, in his last official meeting of the year and career, said appointments to positions are never advertised, but the board could “do whatever you want.”
“It’ll be on your agenda for January 3. Appoint whoever you want,” he said.
Personnel Committee Chairman Wayne Outwater said no time was left in the year to set salary, advertise or interview, but all could be done in 2012.
“It’s not like there isn’t going to be anybody there to do the job. He does have assistants,” he said. “Let is roll into January, then advertise and set salary.”
Gordon, 59, currently earns $56,927 in salary as public defender, plus benefits. He has held the position since 2004.