In January, legal teams for Allegany County determined that (then) legislator Adam Cyr had vacated his position by relocating outside of his district, which includes the town of Alma, Bolivar, Genesee, Independence, Scio, Willing, Wirt and the villages of Bolivar and Richburg. Charles Bessette of Wirt announced his intentions to seek the office to The Wellsville Sun in February. He told The Sun, "I have committed myself to community service for most of my adult life which includes the following: CA BOCES Board of Education-Currently President, Bolivar-Richburg Board of Education, Commander Bolivar American Legion, Soccer and Basketball referee for the past 30+ years and I retired from the US Air Force – Air Force Reserves after 22 years of service." Legislators will likely approve his appointment on Wednesday.
Intro. No. 138-25 RESOLUTION NO. Page 1 of 1 pages
APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES BESSETTE AS COUNTY LEGISLATOR FROM DISTRICT III FOR A PERIOD MARCH 26, 2025, TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2025
Offered by: Ways & Means Committee
WHEREAS, a vacancy has occurred in the office of County Legislator from District III; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7 of Local Law No. 3 of 1993, it will be necessary for this Board to appoint a person to fill this vacancy until January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Charles Bessette of the Town of Wirt has been recommended to this Board as the person who should be appointed to fill such vacancy; and
WHEREAS, the Ways & Means Committee of this Board believes that Charles Bessette meets the qualifications established for such office by Section 5 of said Local Law; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED:
1. That Charles Bessette of the Town of Wirt is hereby appointed as a County Legislator from District III with a term of office commencing March 26, 2025, and ending December 31, 2025.
2. That said appointee shall take and file his official oath in the Allegany County Clerk’s Office within thirty days after the commencement of said term of office and shall also, within such thirty day period, file in said Clerk’s Office an affidavit, subscribed and sworn to by said appointee, that he is presently a resident of the Town of Wirt and was a continuous resident of said Town for at least one year immediately preceding the 26th day of March 2025; and further, that he holds no other elected County office nor holds any elected town or village office. The foregoing affidavit shall be in such form as approved by the County Attorney.
3. That within ten days of the respective filing date of the official oath and affidavit, the County Clerk shall transmit in writing to this Board a notification that such official oath and affidavit have been filed and specify the respective filing date or dates.
