Senate Resolution No. 2815

BY: Senator BRESLIN

COMMENDING Ed Neary upon the occasion of his
retirement after 16 years of distinguished service
to Colonie Senior Services

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those
individuals whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to
enhance the stature of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, For the past 16 years, Ed Neary rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to Colonie Senior Services; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Ed Neary joined the Colonie Senior Services Board
of Directors; two years later, he left his job as a banker, and began
his distinguished career as the Executive Director of Colonie Senior
Services, a position from which he will officially retire in the summer
of 2017; and

WHEREAS, Through Ed Neary's financial knowledge and experience, he
brought business acumen to what is basically a social services driven,
non-profit organization and the annual budget went from $1 million in
1999, to more than $8 million today; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, Ed Neary stabilized the workforce by
giving employees incentives to stay for more than a year, and
established a new program to recruit volunteers; today, Colonie Senior
Services employs 70 full-time, half-time and part-time employees, and
has more than 250 volunteers; and

WHEREAS, Ed Neary also expanded services by implementing new
programs such as Umbrella of Colonie, which helps seniors stay in their
homes by connecting them with handymen willing to work for a nominal
fee, and the Toolbox, where seniors can donate tools which are then sold
to help sustain the core mission of this vital organization; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Ed Neary was instrumental in finding volunteer
work for seniors still willing and able to contribute, whether it is
driving a bus a couple times a week, participating in the Umbrella
program or just reading to children at the library; and

WHEREAS, Under Ed Neary's luminous leadership, approximately 10,000
seniors have been served by Colonie Senior Services; currently, the
center offers capital district seniors 250 market rate apartments at the
sprawling Beltrone Living Center, 50 apartments at the Sheehey Manor and
96 apartments at the recently opened King Theil complex on Elks Lane off
Route 155; and

WHEREAS, In his much deserved retirement, Ed Neary plans on spending
more time with his family, especially his six grandchildren; he may also
volunteer at the Toolbox; and

WHEREAS, In his capacity as Executive Director, Ed Neary served with
loyalty, honor and distinction; in his official acts, he was governed by

a keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems;
and

WHEREAS, During his tenure with Colonie Senior Services, Ed Neary
earned the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Ed Neary upon the occasion of his retirement after 16 years of
distinguished service to Colonie Senior Services, and to wish him
continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Ed Neary.