The Warren County Board of Supervisors unanimously selected a chair for 2025, adopted the board’s rules for the year and tabled Resolution 454 until the board’s next formal meeting on Jan. 17, the board said during its organization meeting.

The board’s nomination for chair came from Supervisor Merlino, who said, "With great pleasure and respect, I'd like to nominate Kevin Gary to be chairman of the board for 2,025." A roll-call vote followed and the chair was declared by the clerk as the member identified in the meeting record as "Garrity." A person who stated the oath in the meeting record gave the name "Kevin Biggar" when asked to state his name for the record; the meeting minutes record the oath and the incoming chair's remarks. The board vote to install the chair was recorded as unanimous among members present.

Why it matters: The organizational meeting establishes leadership and committee assignments that shape agenda-setting and committee referrals throughout the year.

Most important actions

- Chair selection: Supervisor Merlino nominated the chair; the board conducted a roll-call vote and the clerk declared the nominated member chairman for 2025. The newly installed chair gave brief remarks thanking members and said he looked forward to working with the board.

- Rules adoption: The board adopted Resolution No. 1, "Adopting Rules of the Board of Supervisors for 2025." Staff told members the 2025 rules were carried over from 2024 with two changes: the 2025 board meeting dates were updated, the tourism and occupancy tax committee was split into two separate standing committees, and the size of the finance committee was reduced from nine members to seven. A roll-call vote was held with the members present recorded as voting "yes." The resolution passed.

- Tabling Resolution 454: Supervisor Wilde moved to table Resolution 454 "based on continuing negotiations" until the board’s next formal meeting on Jan. 17; Supervisor D'Arcy (recorded as the second) supported the motion. The board voice-voted the motion to table.

Other announcements and remarks

During the meeting’s privilege-of-the-floor period, Supervisor Schreiner recognized four Queensbury High School seniors—Parker Dixon, Colin McMahon, Elena Vialt and Delaney Wilson—for induction into the National Honor Society, praising their scholarship, leadership, service and character.

A supervisor also reported a county waste-hauling vendor failed to pick up solid waste and recyclables as scheduled over the previous weeks. The speaker said the county will use overtime and short-term staffing changes to catch up and asked town supervisors and residents to be patient; callers were directed to hotline numbers provided by the county.

Board members who serve on the Cornell Cooperative Extension Committee were reminded there is an orientation meeting the next morning from 9 to about 11:30 a.m. at the Cooperative Extension office; Supervisor Gilligan was welcomed as a new committee member.

The board adjourned after the routine organizational business and announcements.