Tina B. Molay sworn in as Delaware County Board chairman; board names officers and reappoints members

Tina B. Molay was elected and sworn in as chairman of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors during the board’s organizational meeting called to organize for 2025. County Clerk Haley Gransberry administered the oath of office after members nominated and voted to close nominations and elect Molay.

Molay opened the regular portion of the meeting with a wide-ranging statement about county operations and services and thanked department heads and staff for their work. "I attribute this success to the talents, professionalism, and expertise of our department head and our staff," Molay said, listing county programs such as the municipal composting facility, a county-run drone program used for search-and-rescue and flood assessment, and multiyear capital projects that recently reached completion.

The board also elected other officers for the year: a vice chairman was approved by voice vote; Penny Fisher was reappointed clerk of the board; and Arthur Merrill (listed in nominations) was approved as budget officer. Following the officer elections, Molay announced a set of appointments and reappointments to county boards and advisory bodies, including reappointments and appointments to the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency, the Local Development Corporation, the Planning Board, the Health Services Advisory Board, the Soil & Water Conservation District Board, the Tourism Advisory Board and the Youth Bureau. Several named reappointments were announced publicly during the meeting, including Michael O'Brien (IDA), Bruce Dolf and Art Edel (Planning Board), and supervisors Wayland Gladstone and James Ellis on other panels.

Molay used the organizational remarks to highlight past investments and county accomplishments, including completion of Department of Public Works facilities and Department of Social Services facilities and a range of ARPA-funded projects. He said those ARPA projects "included funding to support local farmers, preservation of historically significant structures, enhancement of broadband services across the county, improved county infrastructure, a commitment to strategic planning for our future, and support of our county fairgrounds." The chairman closed by urging continued cooperation as the board faces new state mandates and rising costs.

The invocation for the meeting was delivered by Chaplain Donna Ladner, and Glenn Faulkner led the pledge of allegiance prior to the elections and remarks. The board moved immediately from organizational formalities into the regular meeting agenda after the oaths and committee appointments were announced.