With 2 Nays, Bliss
Keeps Chairmanship
Clark Again Demurs; Frazier Joins Her
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – His predecessor, Kathy Clark, R-Otego, again voted nay, but county Rep. David Bliss, R-Cooperstown/Town of Middlefield, was reelected nonetheless for a second year as chairman of the county Board of Representatives.
Clark was joined by her vice chair when she led the board, Ed Frazier, R-Unadilla, making the vote 12-2 for Bliss. Bliss’s vice chairman, Gary Koutnik, D-Oneonta, was unanimously reelected to that post.
Regardless, Bliss then announced he would keep the same committee membership in place this year. While that means Clark doesn’t get a chairmanship, Frazier – despite his nay vote – will continue to chair Public Safety & Legal Affairs.
That was a marked difference from what happened during Clark’s last year as chairman.
When she turned back a challenge by then-county rep. Len Carson, R-Oneonta, on Jan. 5, 2017, she settled scores, removing Carson as chair of Public Safety & Legal Affairs, and banished him from the board’s two most influential committees, Administration and Inter Governmental Affairs.
Frazier wasn’t immediately available to explain his vote.
Other reps continuing as chairs are Meg Kennedy, C-Mount Vision, Administration and IGA; Health & Education, Andrew Stammel, D-Oneonta; Koutnik, Human Services; Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, Public Works, and Keith McCarty, R-East Springfield, Solid Waste & Environmental Concerns.
The only change Bliss made was to removed Kennedy from Human Services, noting she is heavily burdened chairing the two top committees.
“I appreciate the free time,” said Kennedy. “But I do wish I could do everything.”