County Legislature recognizes 2 Leadership Orleans alumni of the year
Legislators also highlight Probation Department, Arc of Genesee Orleans
Robert Batt and Melissa Blanar have both been recognized as alumni of the year by Leadership Orleans.
The Orleans County Legislature last week recognized two leaders with special recognition awards, and also highlighted the Probation Department.
The Legislature also issued a proclamation declaring March as “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.”
Robert Batt and Melissa Blanar were recently announced as the Leadership Orleans alumni of the year.
Blanar is director of the Office for the Aging and Batt is executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. Blanar completed the year-long Leadership Orleans program in 2019 and Batt was in the inaugural class in 2018.
The two have stepped up leading their agencies or organizations in the past year, with added responsibilities due to Covid-19 and the restrictions from the state due to the pandemic.
Blanar and Batt also have been critical to food distributions which started last April and are currently being held most Fridays at a site in the county.
“You have gone far and beyond your professional leadership roles in serving the aging of our county during the Covid-19 pandemic through your extreme efforts in organizing multiple food distributions and other pandemic realities,” The Legislature said in the Special Recognition Award for Blanar. “This will forever be widespread, long lasting and extremely appreciated. The Orleans County Legislature does hereby commend you for your passion and dedication to our Orleans County residents.
Batt was praised his “extreme efforts in organizing multiple food distributions and other pandemic realities. This will forever be widespread, long lasting and extremely appreciated. The Orleans County Legislature does hereby commend you for your passion and dedication to our Orleans County residents.”
• Probation Department: The Legislature also presented a Special Recognition Award to Orleans County Probation Department, congratulating the department on being recognized from NYS Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. The state praised the county Probation Department for developing a “Best Practice” procedure for the return of Violation Of Probation: Declaration of Delinquency Petitions from the courts.
Probation also was recognized by the state for creating and using a “Probationer Handbook” which is a document developed to assist adult offenders placed under probation supervision with all aspects of their sentence.
“The Orleans County Legislature wishes to share our appreciation for your passion and dedication to the duties of your department and does hereby commend you and your team in the services you provide Orleans County and beyond,” the award states.
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: The Legislature also issued a proclamation declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The Legislature said developmental disabilities affect more than 7 million Americans and their families.
“People with developmental disabilities can be vital and vibrant members of our communities, improving the quality of life for all of us,” the proclamation states.
There are about 600 ARC chapters in the country, including the Arc of Genesee Orleans.
“The Orleans County Legislature proudly recognizes the achievements of Arc of Genesee Orleans and supports this organization’s mission of being a partner for people with disabilities, and a gateway to opportunities for each person to experience their desired potential,” the proclamation states.
