Honor Ed Neary Retirement

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.