Long-time Holley public servant calls it a career

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2013 at 12:00 am

Ross Gaylord is pulling back from some village duties

Photo by Tom Rivers – Village Trustee Ross Gaylord attended his final meeting as a village trustee tonight. He was praised by his fellow board members for a half century of service to the community. Trustee David Dill is at right.

HOLLEY – He has been a volunteer in the Holley Fire Department for 52 years. He has served on the Village Planning Board for nine years and logged 13 years on the Village Board.

Ross Gaylord has been a committed community member. Tonight he attended his last meeting as a village trustee. Gaylord isn’t seeking re-election. (Four candidates are running for two positions during the June 18 election.)

“It’s been fun over the years, but it’s time to relax,” Gaylord told his fellow board members just before the meeting was adjourned.

Mayor John Kenney made a point of thanking Gaylord for a long record of community service. The mayor said Gaylord has been a mentor and a resource, with lots of knowledge about the village.

Gaylord would also attend county and state meetings “on his own dime,” to be a more effective trustee, Kenney said.

Gaylord, 76, is a retired printer. The former Holley fire chief said he is most pleased the Village Board was able to convince Jerome Pawlak to open the Save-A-Lot grocery store last year. That filled a void in the community. Jubilee closed in 2006, leaving Holley without a grocery store.

“That was major,” Gaylord said about Save-A-Lot coming to town.

Gaylord said he won’t entirely stay away from the Village Office.

“I’ll probably stop in once in a while,” he told the board.