Chamber made excellent choices on service awards

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February 8, 2012

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Wed Feb 08, 2012, 02:25 AM EST

A special committee selected by the Otsego County Chamber has made two excellent decisions regarding the organization's annual awards for service to our communities.

Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller will receive the Eugene A. Bettiol Jr. Distinguished Citizen award, and Springbrook will be honored as the NBT Bank Distinguished Business.

We are delighted with both selections.

The recipients will be honored at the chamber's annual dinner and Celebration of Business on March 24. The event will be at 7 p.m. in the Hunt Union Ballroom of the State University College at Oneonta.

Miller is on something of an awards roll, having shared the 2012 Thurgood Marshall Unity Award _ the Oneonta NAACP's highest honor _ with Professor Caridad Souza-Watkins last month.

Miller has steered his city through several challenging episodes, including an investigation of Oneonta's police department that has led to a much-needed reorganization.

When it appeared that the Foothills Performing Arts Center was destined to go under, it was Miller who took a leadership role in getting the community to invest time and money in its future.

Miller has been active in trying to revitalize Oneonta's downtown and is holding meetings to seek solutions to Oneonta's housing problem.

In addition, he shepherded through a revision to the city charter, which included voter approval of a city manager, and has drawn plaudits for the way he has dealt with what can be a fractious Common Council.

The mayor most certainly has his detractors, but that's something that comes with the territory.

"When there are disagreements, he likes to discuss them," then-Eighth Ward Alderman Kevin Hodne told the Daily Star about a year ago. "He's really good at helping people with different points of view come to an agreement. In conflicts, he doesn't take things personally."

Miller also has been omnipresent at all kinds of ceremonial events in which a proclamation or short speech is appropriate, and has been open about communicating city issues with the news media and the public.

Perhaps most importantly, Miller has sounded the alarm that the city must get its financial act together before its reserve funds run out.

Springbrook, an educational and residential institution for people with disabilities, employs about 980 people.

And is destined to grow.

The nonprofit agency with headquarters near Portlandville last week announced plans to buy the former St. Mary's School building on state Route 7 in the town of Oneonta.

Otsego County Chamber Board Chairwoman Roxana Hurlburt said Springbrook provides a vital service to the county.

"We thank them for their commitment to making the difference for people with disabilities for a lifetime," she said.

We applaud the recipients and wish them continued success.