Rockland Legislature Prepares For 2013 Reorganization Meeting

The Rockland County Legislature meets Thursday night for its annual reorganization meeting.  The session will include voting for the legislature’s chairperson and vice chairperson for 2013.  The newly elected chairperson will have the opportunity to deliver remarks after the vote. Harriet Cornell (D-West Nyack) served as the 2012 chairperson and Alden Wolfe (D-Suffern) held the position of legislative vice-chairperson.   

On Wednesday, Cornell said the Democratic majority endorsed her as chairperson. She expects to nominated, seconded and elected to serve her ninth consecutive term as the legislature’s chairperson. Cornell was the first woman to serve as chairperson and the first to be elected to that role more than four years in a row.

Cornell will speak about solving the county’s deficit, providing mandate relief and the need to create a better system for reimbursement of mandated programs.  

“I’ll certainly be talking about the development of a water conservation plan,” she said, adding she will also focus on education and children’s issues.

Additionally, the legislators from each party will vote for their respective leader and deputy.  The Democrats are the majority party with 11 representatives.  The majority leader last year was Michael Grant (D-Garnerville) and the deputy majority leader was Toney Earl (D-Spring Valley).  The six Republicans will choose a new minority leader and deputy minority leader. The 2012 minority leader was Frank Sparaco (R-Valley Cottage) and deputy minority leader was John Murphy (R-Orangeburg). Several Republicans spoke in favor of Legislator Christopher Carey (R-Bardonia) as a candidate for minority leader.

They will appoint a clerk of the legislature, a position currently held by Laurence O. Toole. Legislators will authorize the clerk to appoint a deputy clerk, a position held by Mary Widmer.