The Allegany County Board of Legislators elected W. Brooke Harris chair and confirmed a slate of appointments, official newspaper designations and a county employee compensation amendment at its organizational meeting on Jan. 2.

The action establishes leadership and committee assignments for 2025 and authorizes a personnel compensation amendment that passed on roll call. The organizational decisions set the board's leadership for the year and formalize vacancies on county advisory boards and committees that advise on planning, emergency management, agriculture, veterans services and other county functions.

W. Brooke Harris was appointed chair under Resolution Intro. No. 1 (2025). The resolution was offered by Legislator Kevin Fred Demick; Demick moved the measure and Legislator Jennifer Ricketts Swales seconded. A roll-call vote recorded 13 ayes, 2 absent and the resolution carried. The board then named Kevin Fred Demick vice chairman by voice vote under Resolution Intro. No. 225 (voice vote recorded as carried).

The board approved Resolution Intro. No. 325, which designates the county's official newspapers for publication of local laws and notices in 2025. The Ways and Means Committee brought the resolution; Legislator Philip Stockton made the motion and Legislator Fanton seconded. That resolution was adopted by voice vote.

By roll call the board also approved, under Resolution Intro. No. 425, an amendment by substitution to Resolution No. 4 49024 concerning compensation for county officers and employees. The roll call again recorded 13 ayes, 2 absent and the amendment was approved.

Chair W. Brooke Harris opened the meeting's procedural business with a brief state-of-the-county statement and thanked the board and administration for work in 2024. Harris said the county had increased support for emergency services and economic development and reported that "Allegany County has recently been awarded $1,000,000 in competitive state and federal grants" across areas including infrastructure, economic development, housing and outdoor recreation. Harris added, "I'm confident in the ability of this board to accomplish this goal," and said the board will prioritize projects and services in the coming year.

The chair listed a series of appointments to county advisory boards and committees that are subject to board approval or were being placed by the chair, including appointments to the Accord Board of Directors (Jennifer Bigelow and Rita Lynch); the Allegany County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (Scott Tauri); the Cattaraugus-Allegany workforce development board (a joint measure with Cattaraugus County naming Andrew Burr, Lisa Lee, Jeremy Martin, Frank McAndrew and Richard Zink); and a slate of representatives to emergency management, hazard mitigation and veteran service bodies. The board also received party communications recommending that Stephen A. Havey serve as majority leader and recommending the Times Herald and Alfred Sun as party-designated official newspapers for 2025.

County Attorney Lisonbee B. Carroll filed a designation of succession for the county attorney's office naming Aaron G. Moore as first assistant county attorney and Shacora Perks Morris as third assistant county attorney, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Clerk staff distributed committee assignments for 2025. Chair Harris said achieving quorums was a primary factor in how members were placed on committees. There were no further substantive policy actions or referrals recorded at the meeting; the board adjourned after taking the organizational votes and distributing assignments.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution Intro. No. 1 (2025): "Appointment of Legislator W. Brooke Harris to chairmanship of the board of legislators." Moved: Kevin Fred Demick; Second: Jennifer Ricketts Swales. Roll-call vote: 13 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 2 absent. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution Intro. No. 225: "Appointment of Legislator Kevin Fred Demick as vice chairman." Motioned by Philip Stockton; second by Legislator Fanton. Adopted by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution Intro. No. 325: "Designation of official newspapers for the publication of local laws, notices, and other matters required by law to be published in 2025." Moved by Philip Stockton; second by Fanton. Adopted by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution Intro. No. 425: "Approval of amendment by substitution to Resolution No. 4 49024 (compensation of county officers and employees)." Motion made by Legislator Ricky (as recorded); second by Legislator Ricky (as recorded). Roll-call vote: 13 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 2 absent. Outcome: approved.

The meeting record shows 13 legislators present and 2 absent for roll-call votes. Several ceremonial items (pledge of allegiance, invocation, oath of office administered by Judge Brown) and a request for a group photograph concluded the session.