Lynne Johnson picked for fourth term as Legislature leader

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lynne Johnson, right, signs the oath of office as the chairwoman of the Orleans County legislature. It will be her fourth two-year term leading the County Legislature. Nadine Hanlon, the county clerk, is at left.

ALBION – Lynne Johnson received unanimous backing today for a fourth two-year term as chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.

Johnson has led the seven-member Legislature for six years. She was praised by the other legislators for keeping the group informed and involved in managing the county government.

“She is very organized,” said John Fitzak, who is starting his second term as legislator. “She is very knowledgeable.”

Bill Eick also was backed by the group to stay as vice chairman. Fitzak said Johnson and Eick have built a strong team among the legislators.

“They are very observant of all of our strengths,” Fitzak. “They assign us to committees to play to our strengths.”

Fitzak just finished his first two years as a legislator after being on the Carlton Town Board. He said the county government, with a $92 million budget, is far more complicated and time-consuming than when he was a town councilman.

“Being on the legislator is much busier,” he said. “It’s a much bigger operation.”

Nadine Hanlon administers the oath of office to seven county legislators including three in the photo, from left: Skip Draper, John Fitzak and Fred Miller.

Fred Miller, the lone Democrat on the Legislature, said Johnson and Eick have served the county well in their leadership roles.

“They are doing a fine job,” Miller said. “I don’t see a reason for a change.”

Johnson was willing to stay the chairwoman because she wants to see several projects to completion. That includes moving the treasurer’s office to the former Bank of America building on South Main Street, and shifting Probation and the District Attorney’s Office from the Public Safety Building to the former GCC campus on West Avenue.

In September the Legislature approved spending $250,000 for the former Bank of America site at 156 S. Main St. It will become the treasurer’s office this year. That building has a drive-through and is more easily accessible than the current office on East Park Street.

The Legislature in October also approved spending $975,000 for the former Genesee Community College site on West Avenue in Albion.

“We’re in the middle of so many projects,” Johnson said after today’s meeting. “We’ll be relocating some of our departments.”

She said the county has been diligent in recent years working to upgrade its infrastructure, including the completion of a broadband internet project.

If Johnson completes the fourth term, she would tie the late Marcia Tuohey of Medina for the longest leadership tenure for the Legislature at eight years. Tuohey served in the role from January 1996 to December 31, 2003.

These legislators raise their right hand and take the oath of office. From left include Bill Eick, Ed Morgan and Don Allport.

Bill Eick has been on the Legislature for 18 years, after 20 years on the Shelby Town Board. A retired dairy farmer, Eick said he has the time to devote to the county.

One of his main goals is moving forward on a new emergency management office. The county has been awarded a $2 million from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand towards that project, which is expected to cost about $12 million. The county is also seeking state funding towards the center, which would double the space from the current setup that was built in the 1960s in an underground bunker as a bomb shelter.

The legislators are receiving 2 percent pay increases in 2024. The salaries include $20,021 for the chairwoman, $15,138 for the vice chairman and $13,347 each for the five other legislators.