TERRY H. MARTIN, CHIEF PLANNER RETIRES WITH OVER NINETEEN YEARS OF SERVICE TO CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
- News Release from the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development Planning & Tourism
- Contact: (716) 938-9111 ext. 2312
- Released: March 27, 2006
Terry H. Martin, retiring Chief Planner and William Sprague, Chairman of the Cattaraugus County Planning Board, March 22, 2006 at HoliMont Main Chalet, Ellicottville, NY - Photo by Jack Berger
A retirement dinner honoring retiring Chief Planner, Terry H. Martin, was hosted by the Cattaraugus County Planning Board at HoliMont on March 22, 2006.
Colleagues, friends and family came to honor and roast Terry on his retirement. County Legislature Chairman Gerard "Jess" Fitzpatrick opened the evening by stating that "we're here tonight to honor a terrific guy and whose service to the County everyone can be proud of. Terry is someone you can count on to 'get'er done' when given a tough project." Chairman Fitzpatrick then joked about the "volume" of some of Terry's documents.
Barbara "Charlie" Murphy, from the NYS Department of State in Albany presented Terry with a letter from Lt. Governor Mary O. Donohue congratulating him on his retirement and thanking him for his years of "ardent support of the State's Quality Communities initiative". Ms. Murphy then presented Terry with his very own Quality Communities flag to fly from his front porch.
Chairman Fitzpatrick read a resolution sponsored by Senator Catharine Young and enacted by the NYS Senate recognizing and honoring Terry for having "devoted himself to faithfully serving the best interests of his community and the needs of its residents".
Wendy Brand read a letter from Assembly Joseph Giglio congratulating Terry on his many years of service to Cattaraugus County, the planning profession and the quality of life for Cattaraugus County residents.
County Planning Board Chairman William Sprague presented Terry with a plaque recognizing him for his "years of dedicated work as Chief Planner and for the creation of the award winning 'Smart Development for Quality Communities' initiative for Cattaraugus County and its communities". Charles Couture, Assistant Secretary of the County Planning Board presented Terry with a handcrafted cherry pen and pencil set.
Lifetime friend, Gary Day, told childhood experiences of Terry's that Mr. Day believed prepared Terry for his years of service to Cattaraugus County. County Planning staff members Paul Bishop and Margaret Puszcz roasted Terry in good humor, while Thomas Livak, Director of the Economic Development, Planning and Tourism Department MC'd the evening.
Rick LeFeber, Director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation spoke of Terry's dedication to trails development and especially to the Pat McGee Trail. The Lane between the County Building parking lot and the Pat McGee Trail will be named the "O'Brien Martin Lane" in memory of past Planner Carol O'Brien and in honor of Terry Martin. Mr. LeFeber also presented Terry with a Plan to implement for a Memorial Garden near the Lane.
The final presentation of the evening was from Paul Mager, Vice Chairman of the Cattaraugus County Planning Board. It was a video, in picture format, of Terry's life from when he was young to the present and was set to the music of Frank Sinatra's song, "I Did It My Way".
To read Mr. Martin's bio of accomplishments, click here Size: 246 KB, PDF.