The Greene County Legislature elected Patrick Eslinger as chairman at its organizational meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, following a roll-call vote, and sworn in 14 newly seated or returning legislators. The body also designated Matthew F. Rivera as majority leader and Harry A. Lennon as minority leader and approved committee assignments and several board appointments for the coming year.

The organizational meeting opened with the formal oath of office administered by County Clerk Marilyn Farrell to the full legislature. After the roll call on the chairman nomination, the motion to elect Eslinger carried and Eslinger took the oath for chairman of the Greene County Legislature.

Selecting leadership and confirming appointments set the work plan for 2025. The legislature certified Matthew F. Rivera as majority leader for 2025–2027 with an annual salary stated in the record as $1,250 for 2025, payable biweekly by the Greene County treasurer; Harry A. Lennon was certified as minority leader for the same period and salary. Chairman Eslinger said he appreciated the board's support and urged collegiality: “I hope that even if we're not in agreement on things, that we can all go home afterwards as friends,” he said.

The chairman announced several appointments made by his authority. He appointed Greg Davis to serve as parliamentarian for 2025. Eslinger also named appointees to outside boards, including Michael Dulles (Altamont Fair Board), Jerry King True (Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties) with Matthew F. Lubera as alternate representative, and Darryl E. Legg to the Greene County Economic Development Corporation board of directors.

The legislature approved designations of official newspapers for publishing election notices and official canvass materials. The Republican members designated the Mount Eagle as the official Republican newspaper for 2025; the transcripts record the Democratic members' designation but the exact newspaper name is garbled in the record and is noted below as not specified.

Committee chairs and memberships for standing committees were announced. Notable assignments include:
- County Resources: Chair Karen Dulich; members Thornton, True, Lucas and Hobart.
- County Services: Chair Jerry King True; members Handel, Legg, O'Connell, Venuto and Lucas.
- Economic Development & Tourism: Chair Darryl E. Legg; members Handel, Drew, Thornton, Dulich, Lennon.
- Finance: Chair Charles A. Martinez; members Davis, Legg, Dulich, Tru—(transcript truncates some names).
- Government Operations: Chair Greg Davis; members Martinez, O'Connell, Hobart, Lucas, Lennon.
- Health Services: Chair Patricia M. Handel; members Davis, True, Hobart, O'Connell, Venuto.
- Public Safety: Chair James M. Thornton; members Martinez, Handel, Davis, Venuto, Hobart.
- Public Works: Chair O'Connell; members Orrington, Martinez, Eulich, Handel, Legg.
(Committee membership is reported from the meeting record; some recorded member names are partially garbled in the transcript and are marked as such in clarifying details below.)

The chairman said committee agendas for the first round of meetings would be posted online and encouraged public engagement: anyone may speak at committee meetings though only committee members may vote. He emphasized the distinction between legislative policy-making and county operations, noting that administration and department heads handle daily operations.

The meeting included additional routine organizational items referenced on the record—designation of official county bank depositories and other housekeeping motions—each presented and carried as part of the organizational agenda. Tomorrow night was announced as the first round of committee meetings.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution 1-25, Select chairman (motion): carried (roll-call vote recorded; individual vote tallies not fully transcribed).
- Certification of majority and minority leaders (action): adopted; salary noted as $1,250 for 2025.
- Appointments (parliamentarian; Altamont Fair Board; Cornell Cooperative Extension representatives; Greene County Economic Development Corporation): made by chairman; recorded as appointments in the meeting minutes.

The meeting concluded with the chairman urging the legislature to work together through a busy agenda that includes ongoing capital projects and a county emergency services review.