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Brown replaces Scheer as deputy on county board

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HUDSON—Art Baer (R-Hillsdale), chairman of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, announced Friday, August 20, that Germantown Supervisor Roy Brown (R) will replace Gallatin Supervisor Lynda Scheer, as a deputy chairman of the board.

The change takes effect September 1.

Mr. Baer’s announcement Friday said that Ms. Scheer resigned from the post for personal reasons, and Ms. Scheer confirmed that was the case Monday afternoon, August 24.

She said that with the county’s budget process looming the the commitment to serve as deputy chair “was more than I could handle… the time commitment, especially.”   

Mr. Brown has been a close ally of Mr. Baer’s initiative to purchase and renovate the old Ockawamick  School building on Route 217 in Claverack, which the county plans to use as an office building. The Ockawamick decision generated controversy because it called for moving the county Department of Social Services out of Hudson. The latest plan would see the county also buy the City Centre office building in Hudson and keep most functions of the social services department in the city.

Through all the twists and turns of that process so far, Mr. Brown has supported Mr. Baer, although other members of the GOP majority have broken ranks with the chairman.

In his statement, Mr. Baer thanked Ms. Scheer personally and on behalf of the Board of Supervisors for “the outstanding work she has done as deputy chair during the past 20 months.” He said her support had been a great help in implementing “a number of important changes to the operation of county government.” He did not mention any specific changes.

She will continue to serve as chairwoman of the Finance and Health/ Mental Health committees, assignments Ms. Scheer said she could handle. Evaluating her situation, Ms. Scheer said there are times “you have to reset your priorities.”

There are two deputy chairmen of the Board of Supervisors. The other deputy is Livingston Supervisor Phil Williams, a Democrat.

 

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