Senate Resolution No. 330 BY: Senator TEDISCO CONGRATULATING Jean Raymond upon the occasion of her retirement after nearly 37 years of dedicated service as Supervisor of the Town of Edinburg, New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor those distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have devoted themselves to faithfully serving the best interests of their community and the needs of its residents; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Jean Raymond upon the occasion of her retirement after nearly 37 years of dedicated service as Supervisor of the Town of Edinburg, New York; and WHEREAS, From grant writing to literal bridge building, 81-year-old Jean Raymond is the town's longest-tenured leader and Saratoga County's longest-serving female supervisor; and WHEREAS, Elected in 1987, Jean Raymond worked tirelessly to bring in the money to revamp the Town of Edinburg; she secured five federal Housing and Urban Development grants to help those on the Great Sacandaga Lake update their homes with indoor plumbing, furnaces, roofs and electrical service; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, she delivered on a promise to bring cable television to the area and was responsible for building the one-million-dollar town hall in 2005; prior to construction, officials worked out of their homes; and WHEREAS, Jean Raymond will be most remembered for securing the funds to rebuild the $46 million Batchellerville Bridge, the span that links the communities around the northern end of Sacandaga Lake; additionally, she wrote and won a $1.7 million grant from the state's Bridge-NY Program to fund bridge repair work on Fox Hill Road and Military Road; and WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to her community, Jean Raymond was also instrumental in the formation of the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages, a coalition of each town and village in the Adirondack Park who worked on behalf of its residents, building consensus on common park-specific issues, and promoting a balance of community building while still adhering to the park's mission of environmental stewardship; and WHEREAS, Originally from Stamford, Connecticut, Jean Raymond discovered Edinburg on a visit there in 1975; she soon built a summer home and moved to the area permanently; for 10 years, she ran the town's four-corner store, Fuller's; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Jean Raymond has been admired by her fellow county supervisors who call her "The Queen of Saratoga County," describing her variously as a mentor, a jewel, and a class act; she also stood up for the other women in the male-dominated board of supervisors meeting room, regardless of their political affiliations; and WHEREAS, In her much deserved retirement, Jean Raymond plans to spend more time with her family, including a great-grandchild who is on the way; and WHEREAS, Through her dedication and tireless efforts, Jean Raymond has helped make the Town of Edinburg a place where families want to live, tourists want to visit, and businesses want to locate; her unwavering commitment, willingness and ability to understand and respond to the concerns of the people of Edinburg, have made a substantial contribution to the betterment of this community; and WHEREAS, For more than 36 years, Jean Raymond rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the Town of Edinburg, earning the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blending of strength, leadership, intellect, and commitment as that demonstrated by Jean Raymond over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate Jean Raymond upon the occasion of her retirement, and to wish her well in all her future endeavors; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Jean Raymond.