SMYRNA – Supervisor James Bays, D-Smyrna, tendered his resignation Monday to the Chenango Board of Supervisors after accepting the position of first deputy commissioner of the New York State Department of Agricultural and Markets. He has served 16 years in government at the town and county level combined.

Bays said the decision to leave during the middle of his term as Smyrna supervisor was a difficult one, but Ag & Markets Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine asked him last week to help out in a time of departmental restructuring.

In his new post, which begins Thursday, he will be responsible for the day-to day-operations of the department including personnel and budgets; food and plant inspections; agricultural development, including the New York State Fair; and weights and measures.