By Doug La Rocque
Rensselaer County legislator Stan Brownell of Hoosick Falls has assumed the duties of Chairman of the County Legislature, following the arrest and arraignment of Chairman Martin Reid of Sand Lake. Reid resigned the post and Brownell, as Vice Chairman, automatically took over.
[private]
Reid has been charged by the NYS Attorney General’s Office with 41 felony counts concerning the alleged theft of $15,000 in state unemployment benefits collected in 2013. Reid is accused of filing for the benefits while still employed as a legislator. It is alleged he failed to report his $30,000 legislator salary to the NYS Labor Department when filing for unemployment after he lost his job with the NYS School Boards Association. He was released without bail after pleading not guilty.
Brownell said he does not think assuming the post of chairman will mean any special treatment for the towns of Eastern Rensselaer County. In his new post Brownell says he now represents the concerns and wellbeing of all of the people in the County. He says he “has a lot to understand and get up to speed with the job.” To that end, he said he has already met with County Executive Kathleen Jimino and they are on the same page. He said they plan to talk at least once a week to stay that way. The reaction to Brownell assuming the post by eastern county officials is mostly positive. Berlin Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger praised his work as a legislator and said he has always been very responsive to the concerns of Berlin.
Brownell said the legislature’s Republican Caucus will meet soon, probably in September, to re-organize and pick a new chairman. The Republicans hold the majority of the seats in the legislature. When asked by the Eastwick Press if he plans to seek the job, he said he is unsure right now. Other legislators mentioned as possibly interested as well are current majority leader Kenneth Herrington of Brunswick and Phil Danaher of East Greenbush.
The case against the 51 year old Reid came to light late last year, following a Labor Department’s Administrative Law Judge’s finding against Reid’s appeal of the overpayment.
The Democratic minority in the legislature called for Reid’s resignation in January but he declined to step down and had the continued support of his caucus. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office picked up the investigation and eventual prosecution after Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove declined to investigate.
Despite stepping down as chairman, Reid remains a member of the County Legislature.
Brownell represents the towns of Hoosick, Petersburgh, Grafton, Berlin and Stephentown as well as the Village of Hoosick Falls.[/private]