“This was the single greatest point of pride in my dad’s life,” said former mayor John Nader, as he accepted a plaque this evening after Common Council unanimously voted to rename the Oneonta Municipal Airport as The Albert S. Nader Regional Airport. Nader, president of SUNY Farmington, who drove up for the event, read a statement from his father, who remarked, “I regret that I am unable to be with you tonight, but I want to thank each and every one of you for bestowing this honor on me.” The vote was broadcast on the city’s Facebook page, allowing Sam to watch from home. With Nader is Mayor Gary Herzig, who presented the idea to Council just before Thanksgiving. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Oneonta native John S. Nader high-fives members of the SUNY Farmingdale lacrosse team yesterday after being installed as the college’s ninth president. Nader praised Farmingdale’s focus as “a center of applied learning,” according to a report in today’s Newsday. “I arrived here at a remarkable time. We are attracting more and better-prepared students than ever before, our reputation is ever-improving and our profile on Long Island continues to increase,” the former Oneonta mayor said in his speech to hundreds of well-wishers. (Newsday photo by Steve Collins)
John S. Nader will become president of SUNY Farmingdale on Long Island.
ONEONTA – John S. Nader, former Oneonta mayor and SUNY Delhi provost, today was appointed the ninth president of Farmingdale State College on Long Island by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Nader will succeed W. Hubert Keen, who has served as president of Farmingdale for the last nine years, effective July 15, 2016.
SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall said, “As provost at SUNY Delhi and a former mayor, the Board has every confidence that Dr. Nader can step seamlessly into the leadership role at Farmingdale State College and continue the campus’ world-class service to its students, faculty, and staff.”
Nader, son of another former mayor, Sam Nader, has been provost at SUNY Delhi since 2009. He directly supervises all academic programs, as well as the library and learning center, career and business services, grants and sponsored programs, and partnerships with the community colleges and local high schools. From 2012-2013, he was president of the SUNY Chief Academic Officers organization.
The original Charter Commission had been advised that emergency powers must be exercised by a city manager, but City Attorney David Merzig, left, said Municipal Home Rule Law would allow a city to give those powers to the mayor. Clockwise from Merzig, others at tonight’s ad hoc Charter Revision Committee meeting were committee member Melissa Nicosia; citizen George Siaros; former Charter Commission members Paul Scheele and Steve Londner; Council member John Rafter; committee members Russ Southard, David W. Brenner and David Martindale, and committee chair John Nader. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ONEONTA – As the waters rose around Oneonta during the 2006 floods, Mayor John Nader was constantly on the phone, talking to government officials, worried citizens and businesses affected by the rising river.
“It was crucial to have an elected official to speak to and for the community,” said Nader, who is chairing Mayor Gary Herzig’s ad hoc Charter Review Committee.
The power to call out police and fire in an emergency situation was given to the city manager under the new charter, but at tonight’s meeting the review committee concluded – with some dissension from members of the original Charter Revision Commission – that the power should revert back to the mayor.
For now, the suggestion is just that. When the ad hoc committee’s review is done, Common Council would be able to make minor changes to the charter. However, significant changes would require a public vote, like the one that approved the original charter by 71 percent of voters in 2010.
Joining Mayor Herzig’s ad hoc Charter Review Committee is new Common Council member John Rafter, Seventh Ward. Behind him is Council member Russ Southard, Sixth Ward. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
ONEONTA – Though a mayor’s vote is normally limited to breaking ties, the ad hoc Charter Review Committee is recommending that a mayor be part of the search for the city manager, and be allowed a vote along with Common Council to make the appointment.
“Both have to be heavily involved,” said Council member Russ Southard, Sixth Ward. “Otherwise, you don’t have a buy-in. Mayor Dick Miller was heavily involved in the search for the first two city managers.”
The continued clarification of the mayor and city manager’s roles were discussed in length at the charter review meeting this evening. Former Council member Maureen Hennessy had resigned from committee, and Mayor Gary Herzig appointed new Council member John Rafter to take her place.
HERKIMER – An open public forum with Herkimer County Community College presidential candidate Dr. John Nader will be at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 15, in the Hummel Corporate & Professional Education Center, Room 288, located in the Robert McLaughlin College Center.
This will be the last of four open forums held with candidates in the search for the College’s fourth president. Background information on each of the candidates is available at www.herkimer.edu/presidentialsearch.
Nader, the former Oneonta mayor, had been scheduled to appear at a forum last Wednesday, but it was cancelled due to the inclement weather.
SUNY Delhi provost wasn’t looking for a new opportunity when he opened his email in September. “I got an inquiry that piqued my interesting,” said John S. Nader. “I went ahead and applied to it.”
The former Oneonta mayor saw that Herkimer County Community College was seeking a new president, and he immediately applied. “Their program mix is consistent with the skill set I’ve tried to apply to SUNY Delhi,” he said. “They have a wide range of students from across the state and internationally, and they’re a leader in online education.”
And on Monday, Nov. 24, he got the news that he has been selected as one of the four finalists for the position. “I’m flattered that they’ve taken an interest in me,” he said.
The other three are Eunice Bellinger, vice president/academic affairs, Niagara County Community College; Stuart T. Blacklaw, vice president for instruction and student services, Yavapai College, Prescott, Ariz., and Cathleen C. McColgin, provost, Onondaga Community College.
The four will be invited to Herkimer in December for campus forums before a final decision is made. Nader’s will be the last, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in HCCC’s Robert McLaughlin College Center. “They hope to have someone in by June 2015,” Nader said.
The former mayor, part of an Oneonta political dynasty begun by his dad, Sam Nader, mayor during the 1960s, has been at SUNY Delhi since 1982, when, while working on his Ph.D. at the New School’s social research program, he taught economics, history and public policy.
In 2000, he was named the dean of the Liberal Arts & Sciences Department. In 2009, was named as provost.
The additional press of business made him realize he couldn’t continue at City Hall, and he recruited Dick Miller to run that fall on Democratic and independent lines.
Beth and Robert O’Brien and their two daughters will be spending their first Thanksgiving with triplets, who arrived home from Albany Medical Center in recent days. They are the only identical triplets in Otsego County, as detailed in this week’s Hometown Oneonta & The Freeman’s Journal.
Dr. John S. Nader, SUNY Delhi provost and former mayor of Oneonta, is one of four finalists for president of Herkimer County Community College. The college announced today that the four will be invited to Herkimer in December for campus forums before a final decision is made.
The other three are Dr. Eunice Bellinger, vice president/academic affairs, Niagara County Community College; Dr. Stuart T. Blacklaw, vice president for instruction and student services, Yavapai College, Prescott, Ariz., and Dr. Cathleen C. McColgin, provost, Onondaga Community College.
