December 23, 2010

Tatko says goodbye

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B everly Tatko said “good bye,” and “you can do better” as she held the floor during her final Washington County Board of Supervisors’ meeting Friday, Dec. 17, in Fort Edward.

Tatko became interim supervisor followed the death of Rodger Hurley in March, but she chose not to run again because of health reasons. Matthew Hicks was elected in November to finish the remaining year of Hurley’s term.

The final item on Friday’s agenda was set aside to thank Tatko for her service, but during the meeting, she kept up the same kind of vigilance she has become known for. During a debate about writing off bad debts from the Pleasant Valley Infirmary, she said, “That’s the worst business practice I have ever heard of.” Since there was no chance the debts would be collected, the board voted to accept the resolution, but Tatko voted against it. In a previous meeting, she was one of seven supervisors who voted against the budget, which was passed anyway.

Tatko, who is one of the owners of Sheldon Slate Products., was generous to her soon-to-be former colleagues, giving them each a slate coaster with the county symbol on it and a small bottle of maple syrup from Matt Rathbun, a Granville Town Council member. She also singled out board clerk Debbie Prehoda by giving her a plaque “for putting up with all of the nonsense” involved in being the board clerk.

In the supervisors’ chambers, Tatko sat to the right of Fort Ann Supervisor Gayle Hall and to the left of Greenwich’s Sara Idleman. She gave each of the two female supervisors, plus Prehoda, a specially made red clay bowl.

“I wanted to leave a little piece of Granville with everyone,” she said.

Tatko pointed out her political career started when she ran for school board in Granville, because she did not like the way the school was running its double sessions. She was there for 22 years and served as board president, “You need someone pushy,” she said. “I am good at pushing.”

Tatko said serving on the Board of Supervisors was never part of her plan. “I had no intention of ever coming here. She also said she has confidence in Hicks, but told the supervisors they needed to show her some improvement.

“You folks need to run this place better,” she said. “All I can do now is get ahold of Matt and give him a lot of suggestions. I know Matt will do a good job.”

by Bill Toscano