By JAIME STUDD

For the C-S-E

FONDA — Root town Supervisor John Thayer will retain his position as chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors for the coming year following a unanimous vote during the board’s annual organizational meeting held Tuesday morning.

Thayer assumed the role in October, following the death of then-chairman and Charleston town Supervisor Shayne Walters.

Amsterdam 3rd Ward Supervisor Ronald Barone will also continue to serve as the board’s vice chairman.

Following the meeting, Thayer said there are a number of issues he was eager to address over the course of the year, identifying negotiating contracts with the county’s unions, dealing with Otsego County’s decision to break away from the Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Solid Waste Authority, increased economic development efforts and exploring consolidation of some services as among his top priorities.

“I don’t believe we should let Otsego County not take some part of ownership,” Thayer said, referring to MOSA.

Thayer said he believed the county needed to make a concerted effort to persuade state legislators to at least amend the home rule legislation that allows Otsego County to withdraw from the authority this year.

The county board is currently considering whether Montgomery County should follow suit. Thayer also serves as the chairman of MOSA’s board of directors.

Thayer also said generating economic development initiatives in the western portion of the county is among his highest priorities.

Thayer said the “strong focus” on development initiatives recently generated in eastern Montgomery County is “starting to see some movement,” but that officials have yet to move the investment westward.

“We really need to focus on that to bring jobs in,” Thayer said.

Toward that end, Thayer said he hoped to organize a roundtable discussion to focus attention on that issue, share ideas and generate a shared vision.

The roundtable would include supervisors, economic development officials and area business owners, Thayer said, adding that he hoped to be able to hold the meeting as soon as this month.

Reducing the size of government as a cost-saving measure will also be a priority this year, Thayer said, identifying consolidation efforts as a crucial means to that end.

“We need to downsize where we can and try to save money,” said Thayer.

He declined, however, to say exactly where he believes consolidation efforts could be employed.

“I see a few areas, but I’d rather not say right now,” Thayer said

In a separate resolution Tuesday, the board also voted to appoint Montgomery County Treasurer Shawn Bowerman to also serve as the county’s budget officer.

That vote, however, was not unanimous, with Amsterdam 2nd Ward Supervisor Jeff Stark, Amsterdam 5th Ward Supervisor Michael Chiara and St. Johnsville town Supervisor Dominick Stagliano voting against the measure.

Budgetary issues last year prompted supervisors to consider eliminating the stipend, and in November, Chiara sponsored a resolution would have done just that.

Following the meeting, Stagliano said his opposition to the resolution stemmed from the $10,000 stipend it also includes for Bowerman to take on the role, noting that county law already stipulates that the treasurer is to also serve as budget officer.

“The opposition was in $10,000 for doing something that was in his job description anyway,” Stagliano said. “I didn’t vote to reinstate it last January either.”

Stagliano also said his vote was not a reflection of opinion of Bowerman or his performance either way.

“They want to make it personal and it’s not personal,” he said.