After eight years at the post, Earl VanWormer is no longer chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors.
In a split vote last Tuesday, supervisors elected Summit Supervisor Harold Vroman to replace the Esperance supervisor.
Eight supervisors picked Mr. Vroman as the new chairman while seven selected Mr. VanWormer. One supervisor was absent.
Mr. VanWormer has been chairman since 2003.
Voting for Mr. Vroman were supervisors Carl Barbic of Seward, Bill Goblet of Wright, Richard Lape of Richmondville, Bob Mann of Blenheim, Tom Murray of Cobleskill, Martin Shrederis of Schoharie, Dan Singletary of Jefferson and Mr. Vroman.
Casting votes for Mr. VanWormer were: Larry Bradt of Carlisle, Mike Brandow of Conesville, Marie Campbell of Broome, Sandra Manko of Sharon, Phil Skowfoe of Fulton, Tony VanGlad of Gilboa and Mr. VanWormer. Dennis Richards of Middleburgh was absent for the vote.
The vote did not follow party lines as both Democrats and Republicans supported both candidates. Mr. Vroman and Mr. VanWormer are Republicans.
Those voting for Mr. Vroman cited a need for a change in leadership.
“We could use a fresh face as chairman and someone who will mobilize us in a different way,” said Mr. Singletary.
Mr. Vroman served as the head of the finance committee last year and is really “a quiet giant,” Mr. Singletary said. “He’s very good at what he does.”
Mr. Singletary, a Republican, said he has thought about the idea of having different supervisors serve as chairman.
Mr. Murray, a Democrat, said a change was good.
“We need to move ahead. He’s a good choice,” Mr. Murray said. “A change is good once in a while.”
“The Republicans have the majority. We’re fine working with them. We’ll support him (Mr. Vroman) anyway we can.”
Mr. Shrederis, a Republican, backed Mr. Vroman but declined to give his reasons.
Mr. Skowfoe supported Mr. VanWormer and said he will read a statement at the next meeting of the county board on January 21 about the issue.
He said he supported Mr. VanWormer because “I didn’t like the back door meetings” that some supervisors have attended.
He said he was invited to one but did not go.
“I am open and transparent. Is our county so big we have to play games?” Mr. Skowfoe said.
“It’s going to be an interesting year,” said Mr. Skowfoe, a Democrat.
After being elected last week, Mr. Vroman said board members have a big year ahead of them.
“The state government is out of money,” he said. “The federal government doesn’t have much. We could be cut off. It could cause problems…We need to be creative. We need to do more with less because that’s what we’re going to get.”
Board members have to work as a team, Mr. Vroman said.
“The big thing is working together. We need to work together for the people.”
On Tuesday, he asked several committees to tackle important issues in the new year.
He asked the personnel committee to develop an evaluation system for department heads that was first discussed during budget time last year.
The rules committee will set up the presentations on possibly having a county manager or executive and the historic committee will oversee the big projects in the county such as the Howe Caverns and the Maranatha projects.
As for the vice chairman, Mr. Mann, Mr. Skowfoe, Mr. Shrederis and Mr. VanGlad received votes but no one had enough support to win the seat.
A roll call vote for Mr. Shrederis, who gained the most support in the initial vote, failed to give him a majority.
It was agreed in a split vote not to select a vice chairman.
It is not necessary to have a chairman and the board did not have a vice chairman until a few years ago.
Board members could agree to name a vice chairman in the future.