The end of year brought some changes in Colonie, with a new EMS chief being named and a board member stepping down after four years of service.
At the Colonie Town Board meeting Thursday, Dec. 19, Peter Berry was promoted to EMS chief. He had previously served as deputy chief.
“This is a very special night for EMS,” said Supervisor Paula Mahan. “When I first came here, Peter and I began working together, and I began learning more and more about the department. Peter very graciously stepped into the position. He’s been deputy for quite a while.”
Mahan said Berry’s qualifications and commitment to the department made him ideally suited to the new role.
“He really has shown that he is not only the best candidate for the job as chief, but he has shown so much commitment, so much dedication. He has gone above and beyond in every way,” said Mahan.
Berry took the podium in his dress uniform to formally accept the job as chief.
“One of the things that I’ve really come to realize since I took over this position is that it’s really difficult to move forward in your mission without your team behind you, and here in the town of Colonie we really have an incredible team,” said Berry. “Not only my staff, that goes out every day and does the work that they do and produced so many positive comments and phone calls, but also to the other department heads and deputy department heads that I work so closely with. Without your support and assistance I couldn’t do my job.”
Also at the Dec. 19 meeting, town board member Daniel A. Hornick stepped down to focus on his career as a teacher for the Ballston Spa School District. In recognition of his service, Assemblyman Phillip P. Steck presented Hornick with a citation on behalf of the Assembly of the state of New York.
“I had the pleasure of working with Dan when I was the Democratic chairman here in the town, and I used to call him “the Rev. Dan Hornick” in those days for his impassioned speeches exhorting us to greater deeds,” said Steck. “He’s really been a measured contributor to the work of Paula and the rest of our town board members.”
As the last town board meeting of 2013 came to a close and Hornick gave his final “aye” in favor of resolution 594, Mahan thanked him for his service to the town. In his parting words, Hornick spoke highly of the Colonie town government.
“In my mind, town government should never be a stepping stone to higher political office through catchy headlines and problematic gimmicks. It should be, and here in Colonie it has been, about taking care of the basic needs of the residents,” said Hornick.