Glens Falls Chronicle Serving the Glens Falls/Lake George region; Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties since 1980
By Cathy DeDe, Chronicle Managing Editor
Did the faction-afflicted Warren County Board of Supervisors just stumble into a moment of “Kumbaya?”
Last Friday’s monthly meeting included dueling resolutions whose unexpected outcome was accidental compromise.
It involved ARPA, the committee charged with guiding how the County will spend its $12.4 million grant from the U.S. American Recovery Plan Act.
Johnsburg Supervisor Andrea Hogan stepped down as ARPA chair on January 18, creating a vacancy that, for complicated reasons, needed to be filled by the full board, not simply by Board Chair Kevin Geraghty of Warrensburg.
Resolution 110, offered by Mr. Geraghty, added Lake George Supervisor Dennis Dickinson to the Committee and made Mr. Dickinson committee chair.
Resolution 114 named as chair Claudia Braymer, the Glens Falls Ward 3 Supervisor already a member of ARPA.
Both resolutions were voted on separately, and by roll call. In the shocked nanosecond after Amanda Allen, the Clerk of the Board, announced the results of the second vote, someone, maybe even her, muttered, “You just appointed two chairs; we have two chairs.”
Ms. Braymer enthused on the spot, “Congratulations to my co-chair from the Town of Lake George.”
The buzz was palpable, punctuated by outright laughter.
At the close of the meeting, Ms. Braymer told the board: “…I actually think this is a very strong message — that this board can unify, and we can pick good people who can serve the entire board and our communities, and I look forward to serving with my colleague from Lake George.”
Separately after the meeting, both Ms. Braymer and Mr. Dickinson told a reporter they expect to work well together.
The Chronicle has reported on tense interactions between board members going back as far as late 2020.
It erupted in April 2021 with accusations on the Board floor of “misogyny.”
Glens Falls Ward 5 Supervisor Ben Driscoll, just before the two ARPA votes, remarked, “I’m gonna tell you who I’m not going to vote for.” He cited “card-carrying members” of groups that call themselves “the squad” or “good ol’ boys.”
Mr. Driscoll said, “I’m sick and tired of the cliques, middle school cliques that exist on this Board of Supervisors. Twenty bright, intelligent, hard-working people who swore to serve the public to the best of their abilities too often put up these sides that shouldn’t exist in this great institution.”
Prior to the vote, Queensbury At-Large Supervisor Doug Beaty suggested combining the two resolutions. “Just let everyone just say who they want, Braymer or Dickinson.”
Stony Creek Supervisor Frank Thomas said, “I object. I want to vote for both.”
And a unifying outcome occurred.
How they voted on ARPA chair
For Dennis Dickinson — 477 votes
Ron Conover (Bolton, 31 votes),
Peter McDevitt (GF Ward 2, 59 votes)
Edna Frasier (Hague, 10 votes)
Michael Geraci (Horicon, 22 votes)
Dennis Dickinson (Lake George 53)
Gene Merlino (Lake Luzerne, 47)
John Strough (Qby. Town, 89 votes)
Mike Wild (Qby. At Large, 89)
Debra Runyon (Thurman, 17)
Kevin Geraghty (Warrensburg, 60)
For Claudia Braymer — 466 votes
Jack Diamond (GF Ward 1, 39 votes)
Claudia Braymer (GF Ward 3, 57)
Dan Bruno (GF Ward 4, 28)
Ben Driscoll (GF Ward 5, 42)
Andrea Hogan (Johnsburg, 33 votes)
Brad Magowan (Qby. At Large, 89)
Rachel Seeber (Qby. At Large, 89)
Doug Beaty (Qby. At Large, 89)
For both Braymer & Dickinson —59
Craig Leggett (Chester, 47 votes)
Frank Thomas (Stony Creek, 12)
Final weighted vote count
Dennis Dickinson total: 536
Claudia Braymer total: 525
502 or more: Resolution passes.
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