Town Supervisor Paula Mahan was sworn in for her second term of office on Friday, Jan. 1, as she highlighted the challenges ahead, as well as her hopes for the coming year.
Supreme Court Justice Joseph Teresi administered the oath.
Colonie Town Clerk Elizabeth DelTorto, Receiver of Taxes C. Michele Zilgme, three other Town Board members and two justices were also sworn in.
Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, and Assemblyman Bob Reilly, D-Colonie, were also on hand to speak at the event and Siena College President the Rev. Kevin Mullen opened the ceremony with a prayer.
Mahan cited some road bumps, like sales tax revenue being lower than previous years and increasing costs, such as pension contributions looming, but said discipline and strategic economic development are key to success.
`Make no mistake, the challenges are formidable. For my part, I pledge to work tirelessly to achieve the goals we’ve set out and which are essential to the future of this great town,` she said. `Working together, I am sure we are up to the task.`
Albany County Executive Michael G. Breslin administered the oath to incoming Democratic board member Dan Hornick, Supreme Court Justice Eugene Devine did so for incoming Democratic board member Linda Murphy and Colonie Town Justice Peter Crummy swore in incoming Republican board member Dan Dustin.
`I’m very excited to have this opportunity,` Hornick said. `I want to make sure the town moves in the right direction.`
Hornick, a Siena College graduate, said he was thrilled to be sworn in by Breslin, a longtime friend, and honored to have a representative from Siena open the ceremonies.
`Having Father Kevin [Mullen] was very meaningful,` he said.
Dustin said he is glad to be a part of the town government and is looking forward to his term.
`It was the culmination of a lot of hard work ` of a lot of friends and supporters,` Dustin said.
He said he is looking forward to discussing new ideas during his term.
Murphy said she wouldn’t be there without the help of many.
`It’s all very exciting. It’s kind of fun to be in front of all the people who supported me,` she said.
Crummy administered oaths of office to DelTorto, Zilgme and Town Justice Andrew Sommers. Town Justice-elect Norman Massry was unable to attend the ceremony.
Reilly took a moment to honor politician and friend Jack McNulty, who died in late December, and said he is an example for those being sworn in to live by.
`If they emulate him, they will in fact fulfill the oaths they are taking today,` Reilly said.
Tonko said going forward with confidence is key, especially since the area has so much to offer.
`We have met the challenges and go forward with a sense of optimism,` he said.
He congratulated everyone who worked hard to make Colonie `a great town and a wonderful town.`
`It’s nice to see the hard work invested by Paula Mahan rewarded,` Tonko said. `Paula and the board have been great working partners.`
Tonko noted many pundits who called last decade the hardest in human history ` one that faced tsunamis, 9/11, an economic crisis and two major wars.
`If that’s true, we made it through and are strong,` Tonko said. `There were very difficult times at all levels of government.`
He said the Capital District has many resources that can help through the toughest of times and said its `innovation economy` will be an asset.
Breslin echoed Tonko and said nanotechnology, spearheaded at the University at Albany, and research at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are just some of the keys to a strong upstate economy.
Prior to the New Year’s Day ceremony, the Colonie GOP hosted an event to honor both those incoming and outgoing town officials in Colonie. The event was held Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Crossings of Colonie.
Chairman John A. Graziano Jr. and the Colonie Republican Committee said outgoing board members Nicole Criscione-Szesnat, Brian Hogan and Thomas With each had more than eight years on the town board and deserve recognition for their hard work. The GOP also honored outgoing justice Susan Tatro.
`We want to recognize the people going out of office,` Graziano said. `It’s something we are going to continue to do every year.`
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