Gelbsman Assumes Chair Of Admin Without Incident

CHALLENGE TO ‘PAST PRACTICE’ AT END

Gelbsman Assumes Chair

Of Admin Without Incident

Without incident, county Rep. Craig Gelbsman, R-Oneonta, assumed the helm of the county Board of Representatives’ key Administration Committee this morning, signalling an end to questions raised about the board chair appointing committee chairs, at least for this year. When two of the board’s committees – Health & Education and Performance Review – convenes in the past several days, members voted for their committee chairs. That occurred after county Rep. David Bliss, R-Cooperstown/Middlefield, observed the board chair appointing committee chairs is not provided for in the board’s bylaws, and thus must be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order. Bliss said Robert’s Rules call for committees to elect their own chairs, but County Attorney Ellen Coccoma e-mailed an opinion to reps saying her reading of the latest edition gives the appointing officer authority to appoint chairs. She also reportedly said “past practice” rules. The initiative may have been motivated, in part, by board chair Kathy Clark, R-Otego, removing Len Carson, R-Oneonta, from his Public Safety Committee chairmanship after he challenged her for board chair at the reorganization meeting on Jan. 4. Gelbsman is flanked by Ed Frazier, R-Unadilla, right, and Brian Pokorny, county IT director. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

Mayoral candidate Len Carson faces backlash over vaccine billboard ads

Mayoral candidate Len Carson faces backlash over vaccine billboard ads By Kevin Limiti • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA — Len Carson, the Fifth Ward Common Council member and Republican mayoral candidate, received some heat at the council’s meeting Tuesday, Aug. 17, for approving billboard ads through his company, DC Marketing, that presented false information about coronavirus vaccines. Jennifer Hill spoke at the meeting at City Hall, saying the ads were dangerous and strongly condemning Carson for his role in putting up the ads. “It’s unconscionable that a member of the council and one who wants to lead the city to spread…

August 18, 2021

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CHALLENGE TO ‘PAST PRACTICE’ AT END