Reporter 1218

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DA Boys Win Tourney

Hobart Cousins Recognized

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VOLUME 135 — WHOLE 71825

WWW.THE-REPORTER.NET

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019

$1.00

The Reason for the Season...

Rosie Cunningham/The Reporter

Delaware County Chairperson Tina Molé hugs Roxbury Supervisor Tom Hynes on Wednesday and thanked him for his service on the board.

Del. County BOS Bids Farewell To Retiring Supervisors By Rosie Cunningham DELHI - The Delaware County Board of Supervisors bid farewell to two colleagues who are retiring. Stamford Town Supervisor Michael Triolo, who has served on the board for 12 years and Town of Roxbury Supervisor Tom Hynes who has held the post for 36 years. John Kosier will be the new Stamford supervisor effective Jan. 1, while Allen Hinkley will serve in the absence of Hynes. Delaware County BOS Chairperson Tina Molé introduced Betty Scott, the new supervisor for the town of Masonville. Scott has taken the position of Mike Spaccaforno, who has taken ill. The chairwoman called upon

Hynes and noted that he is potentially one of the longest-serving supervisors of the board. She noted that he is an advocate for human services in the county as well as the senior population. Hynes will continue to serve as a councilman for Roxbury. Hynes, who serves on the social services committee, said it has been a privilege to serve Roxbury and the county. He touched upon some of the challenging decisions he has had to made on the board. He noted that one of the worst votes he has ever had to make is regarding the firing of the Social Services Commissioner Dana Scuderi-Hunter - Hynes voted “no” to her firing. He said the decision came down to his conSee Retiring Supervisors page 6

Franklin Railroad and Community Museum Celebrates Community, Raises Funds For Hospice Flag Pole Erected In Memory of Scott Taggart

By Rosie Cunningham FRANKLIN - The Franklin Railroad and Community Museum

Serving Delaware County and the Surrounding Areas Since 1881 ———— Delaware County’s Leading News Source

held a fund drive for a great cause on Sunday, Dec. 15. Each December, according to museum president John Campbell, Franklin Railroad raises money and this year the recipients are Hospice/Helios care. Assisting the museum in this fund raiser are the Franklin National Honor Society and the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). On Sunday, Campbell said there are multiple items up for a silent bid auction. “They are now up until the Dec. 29 and we will be announcing the winners at 4 p.m.,” said Campbell, who added that anyone can bid on the auction up until that date and time. Items for the 2019 Hospice fundraiser include: two See Franklin Museum page 13

Dan Flanagan/The Reporter

On Friday, December 14, the Gray family of Nel-Jean Farm, in New Kingston, conducted a living nativity with friends and family in conjunction with the Margaretville United Methodist Church, Pastor Donna LeRoy. Pictured: Shepherds: Jackie Gray, Barbara Moses, Nora Todd, Matthew Gray (Joseph), Angels: Hayden Olsen, Addie Olsen, Megan Stephens (Mary), Blair Olsen (Baby), and the Three Kings: Lisa Tait, Frank Canavan and Joyce St. George.

Delaware County DSS Commissioner Fired By Lillian Browne DELHI - Dana Scuderi-Hunter, Delaware County’s appointed

commissioner of social services, was fired by a majority vote of the board of supervisors at a meeting held on Dec. 11. Scuderi-Hunter had been on

Lillian Browne/The Reporter

Bovina Supervisor and Chairperson of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors, Tina Molé, left, flanked by County Attorney Amy Merklen, as Molé announces the firing of Social Services Commissioner Dana Scuderi-Hunter on Dec. 11.

paid leave since July 9. Seven charges were brought against Scuderi-Hunter which included instances of misconduct, conduct unbecoming an employee, insubordination, mismanagement, disloyalty to employer and she was accused of belittling, demeaning and bullying county employees and defying her superiors. The charges resulted in a nineday Article 75 disciplinary hearing brought by Delaware County against Scuderi-Hunter in accordance with New York’s civil service law. In a decision dated Dec. 6, Hearing Officer Alfred Riccio, who presided over the hearing, selected by Delaware County, See DSS Commissioner page 3

Delhi Council, Residents Protest County’s Renewed Plan for DPW Move to McFarland Property By Lillian Browne DELHI - Protesters gathered outside the Charles E. Cook county office building in advance of the Dec. 11 Board of Supervisors meeting voicing their opposition to the county’s Department of Public Works Committee revisiting the purchase of the McFarland property on county Route 18 to build a new highway garage. Among the protesters was Laura Stewart of Delhi, who said she and other taxpayers have been fighting the build-out of a new highway garage at the McFarland property since 2017. The McFarland property was voted against by the board of supervisors in 2018, Stewart continued, and instead, supervisors agreed to a vastly scaled-down hybrid plan, which would include two different locations, but not include the McFarland property. “We are very confused as to how the issue of the McFarland property can be brought up again.” Stewart said. There are good alternatives for new construction, Stewart said, including building a second floor on the Public Safety Complex on Pheobe Lane in Delhi. The com-

Lillian Browne/The Reporter

Fred Onasch of Delhi, among protesters in opposition to Delaware County revisiting the purchase of the McFarland farm off county Route 18 in Delhi, said the relocation to the property will mar the landscape and create another host of problems. plex houses the county jail, probation offices, emergency services and public meeting space. If the McFarland property was purchased by the county to build a new highway garage, a bridge would have to be built to provide

alternate access during flooding events, she said. The proposed bridge, Stewart continued, is a “bridge to no where,” because it would be inaccessible during a flood event. See DPW Protest page 4


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