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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron

Saturday,ÊNo vemberÊ19,Ê2016

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www.SunCommunityNews.com

In SPORTS | pg. 20-21

Lady Eagles play in Final Four A recap of their game versus Poland

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In opinion | pg. 6

Marching in the streets Both sides at blame post-election

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In other | pg. 2

‘Lonny Cakes’ on road to recovery Fundraiser planned for local woman

Geraghty to step down as county board chair Will remain as local government CEO By Thom Randall

thom@suncommunitynews.com

QUEENSBURY — The man who has served at the helm of Warren County government for the past four years is stepping down as of Dec. 31, he confirmed this week. Kevin Geraghty of Warrensburg said he would not be seeking re-appointment as chairman of County Board of Supervisors next month. “I told my colleagues earlier this fall that I’m done,” he said Nov. 15, noting that his various responsibilities in public service were now requiring too much of his time and energy.

HundredsÊ gatherÊ inÊ ChesterÊ toÊ honorÊ thoseÊ who sacrificed for country

By Thom Randall

thom@suncommunitynews.com

CHESTERTOWN — Paying solemn respects to those who’ve served their nation in the military, hundreds of people gathered Nov. 12 in front of the Chester Town Hall to participate in the town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. Stiff cold winds didn’t deter a crowd of 500 or more from turning out for the service, held in the Chester Veterans Memorial Plaza. The annual ceremony had an additional aspect this year: the 10 soldiers whose names were recently added to the stately granite memorials on the plaza received special recognition. As Chester Town Supervisor Craig Leggett read their names to the assembled crowd, tears welled up in his eyes. Leggett’s voice was choked with emotion as he recalled how last year his uncle George Leggett, a World War II veteran, saw his name engraved in the memorial shortly before he died at age 91. >> See VETS | pg. 19

“Also, I made a pact with the other supervisors that I’d only serve three years.” Geraghty said he will continue, however, in his role as interim county Administrator — at the request of the board of supervisors. Geraghty assumed the board chairman role of the county in Jan. 2013 when then-chairman Dan Stec of Queensbury moved on to serve as state Assemblyman. In his new role, Geraghty confirmed his reputation as a fiscal conservative, keeping government expenses under control. For about five years beforehand, Geraghty had served as county Budget Officer, guiding Warren County finances through the financial crises prompted by the Great Recession. During those years, Geraghty engineered spending and personnel cutbacks in county government while it was under

financial duress. When he took over the county leadership role, government officials were borrowing money, up to $6 million per month, to meet payroll and expenses, month by month — and financial reserves were virtually depleted. Within a year after cost-cutting and personnel cutbacks, such short-term borrowing was ceased, financial reserves were built up, and the county credit rating was boosted, which lowered interest rates on its long-term borrowing. “I’m proud that I helped maintain financial stability under some very tough circumstances,” Geraghty said, crediting the full county board for their decisions. In April of this year, Geraghty’s frugality again came to the >> See COUNTY | pg. 19


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