by Kieron Kramer
With the exception of two resolutions authorizing expenditures for the expert witnesses in the murder trial of Joseph McElheny of Hoosick Falls, there were no resolutions passed at the Rensselaer County Legislative meeting on Tuesday, January 10, that related directly to the communities of Eastern Rensselaer County. Both experts were needed by the prosecution to counter the defense expert’s testimony that challenged the prosecution’s assertion of the cause of death of McElheny’s infant daughter. [private]The child died May 12, 2010, at Albany Medical Center Hospital after being found unresponsive at the couple’s Hoosick Falls home. An autopsy later found that the child had many fractures sustained over a period of time, as well as a perforated small intestine. Carole Jenney of Providence, RI, was paid $10,566.06 and Jeffrey Hubbard of Clermont, NY, was paid $6,692 for their testimony for the prosecution.
McElheny faced charges of murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and four counts of assault. He could have been sentenced to a prison term of 25 years to life, but he was acquitted of the charges in a jury trial on October 12, 2011.
A Different Story
However, the presentation period before the regular meeting was a different story. Two Hoosick Falls families, the family of Greg Moses and Sierra Bailey and her father Don, appeared in the well of the Legislature to receive copies of resolutions passed in December.
In Fond Memory Of Gary Moses
At Tuesday’s presentation period the resolution adjourning the December 20, 2011
legislative meeting in memory of Gary Hugh Moses was presented and read by a friend of the Moses family, District Five Legislator Lester Goodermote, who represents the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
The resolution says, “It is customary for this Legislative Body to pay honor and respect to persons who have had a great impact and influence on the citizens of this County during their time on this earth; it is with particularly deep sadness that we conclude this evening’s deliberations in honor of a truly respected member of the community…it is the intent of this Legislative Body to convey its sincerest sympathy upon the death of Gary Hugh Moses, which occurred on the twenty-eighth day of November of the year Two thousand eleven.”
According to the resolution, Gary Hugh Moses was the son of the late Edward and Marjorie Scott Moses. He graduated from Cambridge Central School, class of 1967, and served six years in the United States Army. “Gary loved working at the Moses Vegetable Farm. He worked in the fields as a youth, and, in recent years, he delivered produce to local markets,” the resolution says. He was employed by the Rensselaer County Department of Public Safety as a 911 Dispatcher and also worked in Troy for 36 years. He was active in his community, serving on the Buskirk Volunteer Fire Department for forty-four years. He was also a Life Member of the Department, holding many different offices including Chief, and was the current 1st Assistant Chief.
The resolution says, “Gary Hugh Moses will be missed by his family: his wife of forty-one years: Diane Tate Moses; his two children: Michael (Heather) and Jodie (Ron); five siblings: Barbara, Patricia, Christine (John)/ Stephen (Wendy) and Janice (Donald); his nieces and nephews: Travis, Danny, Lindsay, Jill, Caryn, Jennison, Laurel and Kristen; his in-laws Lawrence and Phyllis, and Alan and Dian; his four grandchildren: Colby, Ashley, Kylie, and Ayla.”
Goodermote said a few words, “This is a heartfelt resolution; I’ve known Gary for 20 years. Gary was a great guy; he was a hell of a fighter. The last time I saw him was at a breakfast in Buskirk in November. A few weeks after that his condition changed for the worse. It is with deepest sympathy that I convey our condolences.” Moses died from cancer at the relatively young age of 62.
Gary’s wife, Diane Moses, his son, Michael, and his daughter Jodie accepted the copies of the resolution presented by Goodermote. In the tradition of public service embodied by Gary his son Michael is also on the Buskirk Fire Department, serving as Chief at the present time.
Cheerleader Bailey
Stan Brownell, Vice Chairman of the Legislature, who represents District five, made the presentation to Sierra Bailey for her Cheerleading accomplishments that led to her appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City last November. Sierra Bailey is a senior
cheerleader at HFCS, and she tried out for a spot on the nationally recognized Varsity Cheer Squad over the summer at a cheerleading camp and was accepted. Brownell said, “I think it is an awesome, awesome accomplishment. I watched [the parade on TV] particularly to catch you – which I think I did although you all looked alike.” Sierra, with her father Don at her side, proudly accepted the copy of the resolution, suitably engrossed, presented by Brownell.
When he left the well of the Legislature after the meeting Brownell had a stack of resolutions with him. All but one were meant for the Hoosick Falls Central School’s Girls Varsity Soccer team which was commended at last month’s meeting for winning the State Class C/CC Co-Championship. The other was meant for Kealan Hitt who was selected to play on the Coast to Coast Baseball Team which takes players from 46 different states to compete in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia and Puerto Rico. Neither the Panther Girls Soccer Team nor Hitt were present to receive copies of their resolutions. It is likely that Brownell and Goodermote will make the presentations locally at an appropriate event.
Politics As Usual
There are two less Democrats in the Rensselaer County Legislature. Lou Rosamilia was elected Mayor of Troy last November and relinquished his seat when he took over the mayoralty on January 1. Democratic Legislator Peter Ryan, who had been the Minority Leader, left to become Rosamilia’s Deputy Mayor. At a special meeting on January 4, Harry Tutunjian, the former Mayor of Troy, a Republican, was appointed to fill one of the vacant seats. The Democrats nominated Phyllis Raymond to fill the other seat, but the appointment was defeated along party lines. Brownell said that there are about five candidates to fill the remaining seat. Apparently there is no rush to fill it. The Republicans now have an ironclad majority.[/private]