County will name Jack Welch as new chief administrative officer

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 March 2020 at 6:06 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jack Welch has been the county’s personnel director since 2004.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature next week plans to officially name Jack Welch as the county’s new chief administrative officer.

Welch has worked as the county’s director of personnel and self insurance since 2004. He succeeds Chuck Nesbitt, who left the job in December to take a position in the private sector. Nesbitt held the county’s top administrator post for 14 ½ years.

“It is an honor and privilege to be selected for this position and I am truly blessed to be given the opportunity,” said Welch, a Holley resident and former member of Holley’s Board of Education.

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, said Welch is well regarded in the county.

“Jack’s reputation precedes him,” she said. “He has certainly risen to the occasion during this unprecedented time with great leadership ability.”

Welch is also well respected among his colleagues around the state. He is the president New York State Association of Personnel & Civil Service Officers.

As chief administrative officer, Welch will lead a county government with a $71 million budget, and 415 employees in 24 departments.

The job description posted by the county for the CAO lists key responsibilities for the job as preparation of the county budget, developing long-range capital improvement budgets, purchasing oversight, labor relations management, property control and risk management, intergovernmental relations and legislative advocacy, public information officer duties, and general oversight of departments and the coordination and administration of county government functions and activities.

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