John DeFilipps picked new chairman of Orleans County Legislature

Photos by Tom Rivers: John DeFilipps takes the oath of office from Orleans County Clerk Karen Lake-Maynard.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2017 at 11:15 am

Clarendon resident fills vacancy from David Callard’s resignation

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has a new chairman. John DeFilipps of Clarendon was backed for the position in a 4-2 vote this morning. Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville received the other two votes.

DeFilipps, 60, has been a county legislator for nearly four years, following 12 years as a Clarendon town councilman.

He is an at-large legislator, which is a county-wide position. He was praised by Legislator Ken DeRoller for attending many town and village meetings the past four years, while being active on county committees, including as a board member for the Orleans Economic Development Agency.

“He’s a team player,” DeRoller said in nominating DeFilipps for chairman. “He’s a good listener and he does his homework.”

DeFilipps has also worked to increase his understanding of county government through the New York State Association of Counties and the Intercounty Association of Western New York, DeRoller said.

DeFilipps also represents the county the Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, which includes officials from nine counties.

“He takes the time to be in the room,” DeRoller said.

DeFilipps was backed for chairman by DeRoller, Fred Miller, Don Allport and DeFilipps. Lynne Johnson received yes votes from Bill Eick and herself.

John DeFilipps sits at the chairman’s desk after being picked to serve as Legislature chairman.

He will fill the vacancy created when David Callard resigned on Aug. 2, citing “personal reasons.” Callard was the Legislature chairman for nearly eight years.

The seven-member group will vote again on a chairman in early January. DeFilipps will serve the remaining 3 ½ months of Callard’s term. It will be a busy time as the Legislature and department heads craft the county’s budget for 2018.

“I’ve enjoyed being involved and working on the issues with the my fellow legislators and department heads,” DeFilipps said.

The Legislature also is looking at an addition for the County Administration Building. The county also is working on a law enforcement efficiency study with the villages of Albion, Holley Lyndonville and Medina. DeFilipps said information continues to be gathered with that study. He expects there will be public hearings in the future about a possible plan for law enforcement services in the county.

Johnson will remain as Legislature vice chairwoman. She congratulated DeFilipps after he was elected chairman this morning.

Eick, who backed Johnson, said there isn’t division among the legislators.

“We all work together as a team,” Eick said.

Return to top