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On Tuesday, December 3, the City of Oneonta’s Common Council initially declined to pass the tentative 2025 budget that they had approved on November 19. When put to a second vote, six of the seven council members consented to pass the 2025 budget of $20 million, with the caveat that there would be future budget cuts and solutions to cover the deficit while drawing down less of the reserves.…
Eight candidates for the City of Oneonta Common Council attended a forum hosted by the Hartwick College Institute of Public Service on the evening of Wednesday, November 1. The candidates were first asked to introduce themselves and explain their positions with a brief, three-minute opening statement.…
The Charter Review Committee of the Oneonta Common Council met on Thursday, July 20 to discuss potential changes to the city’s governing document. Chairman Scott Harrington (R-6th Ward) and members Len Carson (R-5) and Kaytee Lipari Shue (D-4) met with City Attorney David Merzig to discuss a potential amendment that would allow a majority of the Common Council to remove members of boards and commissions.…
Common Council approves CAB plan and Witzenberg as police chief, discusses county board EMS issue By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council unanimously passed a motion to approve and adopt the Implementation Plan for Police Reform and Reinvention, which was worked on by the Community Advisory Board and the subsequent council led review committee, Tuesday, Oct.5. Mayor Gary Herzig thanked the CABRC members who worked for six months on creating the plan to implement the…
First in-person common council since COVID celebrates recent achievements By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The Common Council met in person Tuesday, July 6, with an atmosphere of visible joviality and relief after spending a year meeting via Zoom. “This is something we haven’t done in a long time,” Mayor Gary Herzig said, which elicited some appreciative chuckles. Some of the agenda items passed included motions authorizing the acceptance of a state grant for the development of…
City Clerk Powell Retires, Assistant Will Succeed Her By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com Except for Council member Scott Harrington recusing himself, Tuesday ’s vote for Kerriann Harrington to succeed City Clerk Nancy Powell was smooth. Kerriann is Scott’s wife. “As an older person, I knew I wouldn’t be here for 20 years,” said Powell. “My goal was to build a team to make that transition seamless, and we were able to accomplish that.” Among those who joined her…
What To Swear-In On? Bible? Constitution? By JAMES CUMMINGS • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — The traditional swearing-ins were Wednesday, Jan. 1, in Common Council chambers, but swearing-in with a hand on the Bible was one tradition that may be waning. When each of the nine candidates approached the podium, City Judge Lucy Bernier asked them if they would like to place their hand on the Bible, or on the U.S. Constitution. Three of the nine – seven Council members…
Republicans Keep County Board Majority By JIM KEVLIN & LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com The Republicans rained on the Democrats’ parade on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Republican Rick Brockway won Laurens-Otego’s District 3, 697-548, turning back a Democratic effort to take control of the county board for the first time in memory. “Otsego County is red,” declared a jubilant Republican County Chairman Vince Casale. “It has always been red. It will always be red. People in Otsego County…
2019 GENERAL ELECTION Carson, Harrington Win Common Council Seats Shue, Drnek, Davies Also Join Board By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Republicans have doubled their Common Council seats on Oneonta’s Common Council with wins by Len Carson, Fifth Ward, and Scott Harrington, Sixth Ward. Carson defeated Democratic challenger Danielle Tonner 157-112; Harrington handily held back democrat Mark Boshnak 146-96.…
LETTER from BILL SHUE Scott Harrington Has Roots In Sixth Ward Politics To the Editor: I have known Scott Harrington since he was a boy. Now he is a responsible husband and father. He was raised by two hardworking people, Stan and Mary Jane Harrington. Scott saw first-hand the ideals of true volunteerism and dedication to the task at hand. Unfortunately, Stan, a county representative for Wards 5-6, passed away at a fairly young age. Both he and Mary Jane Harrington gave to…