By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Cathay Mackay, who retired after 27 years as director of the Cattaraugus County Department of Aging, was recognized Wednesday at the county legislature’s last meeting of 2024.
County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr and Human Services Committee Chairman Kelly Andreano presented Mackay with a proclamation and an engraved gift.
Burr said Mackay “has been committed to assisting Cattaraugus County’s aging community live productive, healthier lives of their choice for as long as possible.”
Burr added: “Cathy’s years of service was dedicated to ensuring that all communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have the opportunity to participate and live independently.”
Mackay, who thanked Burr and other county lawmakers for the opportunity to be Department of the Aging director said she loved what she did and that “it was not a job — it was a blessing.”
For the past two years, Mackay, a cancer survivor, has also served as executive director of the Youth Bureau.
Mackay joined 26 other county employees in retirement at the end of 2024. They include: Marlene Allison, Krtistina Austin, Richard Blemel Jr., James Boberg, John Bronenneberg, Sally Busekist, Patricia Cheek, Chris Covert, Gerald Embs, Theresa Grove, Hanz Heineman, Laurie James, Renee Kamrowski, Eric Keller.
Also Kevin Koch, Tammy Kranock, Denise Lenrvasrsky, Anne Marie McRae, Lori Pangborn, Kerime Perese, Craig Querns, Kenneth Rice, Regina Rogers, Jeremy Schadt, Timothy Whitcomb and Cheryl Wohlers.
Legislature Vice Chairman Michael Brisky thanked the retirees, saying they represented several hundred years of work experience.
The duties of the Youth Bureau have been divided among the Department of Social Services, Probation and the new Department of Aging and Youth Services.
The legislature appointed Bonnie Saunders as director of the Department of Aging and Youth Services for a three-year term effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Saunders, a 39-year county employee, started with the Department of Social Services and moved to the Department of Aging in 1994.
Legislators agreed to a three-year contract with the state Office of Indigent Legal Services for $10.4 million under expansion of the Hurrell-Harring Reform Grant for Counsel at Arraignment, Quality Improvement and Caseload Relief. Funding goes to the Public Defender’s Office, Assigned Counsel Program and Legal Aid Bureau of BUffalo (appeals).
Nine former county employees and officials who died during the year were also remembered:
Duane Hill, former Public Works employee; Charles Couture, former county legislator, Planning Board chairman; Hope Phillips, former Real Property Tax Services employee; Terry Martin, former planner, Economic Development, Planning and Tourism; JoAnn Hammond, former Real Property Tax Services employee; Giles Hamilton, Board of Health vice president; Sue Fries, former Board of Elections commissioner; John Luzier, former assistant District Attorney and assistant Public Defender, and Timothy Lexer, Emergency Services dispatcher, Sheriff’s Office.
The county legislature set its reorganization meeting for Jan. 8 at 5 p.m.
