LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Karen Pellettier upon the occasion of
her retirement as Director of the Town of Bethlehem Senior Services
Department

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals who have faithfully served the needs of their commu-
nity and its senior citizens with diligence and compassionate commitment
to improving the quality and dignity of life in the community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Karen Pellettier upon the occasion of her retirement as Director of the
Town of Bethlehem Senior Services Department after 32 years of distin-
guished service to the Town; and
WHEREAS, Karen Pellettier began volunteering for the Town of
Bethlehem's Parks and Recreation Department in 1978 as a liaison between
the Town and its Town sponsored senior citizen social groups, Bethlehem
Senior Citizens Organization and, later, Sunshine Senior Citizens; and
WHEREAS, She was hired by the Town the following year to begin devel-
oping services for Bethlehem's older residents, expanding the breadth of
senior support provided by the Town; and
WHEREAS, By 1980, several volunteers were assisting Karen Pellettier
in what became the Senior Services Department, which today offers trans-
portation, social outings, caregiver services, legal assistance, and
many other programs and services to the Town's seniors and also operates
Bethlehem's food bank program; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Bethlehem Senior Services Department has seven
full-time and several part-time employees, over 200 volunteers and runs
many programs and services with its not-for-profit partner, Bethlehem
Senior Projects, Inc., an innovative model for public-private partner-
ships in local government which has been adopted by other communities;
and
WHEREAS, Karen Pellettier served as Co-chair of the Bethlehem Senior
Housing Committee in the mid-1980s which was instrumental in bringing
senior housing options to the Town and was a founding member of Bethle-
hem Senior Projects, Inc.; she has, in addition, been a valued member of
many community based boards and organizations; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Karen Pellettier has, fittingly, been honored
many times for her outstanding, dedicated service to the Town of Bethle-
hem and its citizens; the commendations and awards she has received
include the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award in 1987, the
1st Annual Good Samaritan Award in 1994, the Bethlehem AARP Chapter
1598's AARP National Women's History Month Woman of the Year Award in
1994, and the DeWitt Clinton Masonic Award for Community Service in
1999; and
WHEREAS, In retirement, Karen Pellettier, widely recognized as the
veritable founder of the Town of Bethlehem Senior Services Department,
looks forward to spending more time with her family; she and her husband
John have three grown children and are awaiting the birth of their fifth
grandchild; and
WHEREAS, As she completes her service as Director of the Town of Beth-
lehem Senior Services Department, Karen Pellettier leaves an indelible
imprint on the Town, its services and quality of life, and richly merits
the gratitude and appreciation of the citizens of the Town of Bethlehem
and the recognition and commendation of this Legislative Body; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Karen Pellettier upon the occasion of her retirement as Director

of the Town of Bethlehem Senior Services Department after 32 years of
distinguished service to the Town; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Karen Pellettier.