State Sen. John Flanagan, Long Island Republican and new Senate majority leader, confers this morning at The Otesaga with community leaders, including, from left, ONC BOCES Superintendent Nick Savin, Tony Casale of Cooperstown, the retired assemblyman, and Bassett President/CEO Vance Brown. In the foreground is state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, who hosted the gathering. Flanagan cut through specific concerns with this declaration: “The single elixir that will cure us is strong economic development and good jobs.” (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)Frank Leo, proprietor of the Tunnicliff Inn, Cooperstown’s oldest business, tells Majority Leader Flanagan (at head of table) that the same type of attention to detail businesspeople apply to their enterprises is needed to reduce the cost of education. Clockwise from Leo’s left are Ken Meifert, Hall of Fame VP and Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce president; Otsego County Chamber President/CEO Barbara Ann Heegan; retired assemblyman Tony Casale; Bassett President/CEO Vance Brown; Flanagan; state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, the host; Springbrook Executive Director Patricia Kennedy; Joe Sutaris, VP and regional executive, Community Bank; Scott White, president, Bank of Cooperstown, and Dan Robinson, president, New York Central Mutual.Kathy Clark, R-Otego, chair, Otsego County Board of Representatives, greets Flanagan, making his first visit to the county since succeeding Dean Skelos as majority leader. At left is county Rep. Rick Hulse, R-Fly Creek. At right is Senator Seward, who hosted this morning’s event.
