GASPORT — A group of residents and local officials turned out to Hartland town hall on Thursday afternoon to bid farewell to departing town Supervisor Ross Annable.
Annable’s long-standing experience with the town included 12 years in the supervisor post and also as a town board member from 2008-2012. Prior to his three terms as supervisor, his father, William, held the post for over 30 years.
“This town was important to me,” Annable said when reflecting on his tenure Thursday. “My father was here for 34 years, I’ve been here for 12 (years). My goal was just to make sure the town cruised along.”
The informal gathering served as a farewell of sorts for him and fellow departing town board members David Hill and Clifford Grant, whose terms expire at the end of the year.
Annable lost his re-election bid for supervisor to Margaret “Peggy” Zaepfel. Hill and Grant lost their town board re-election bids to Elizabeth Neadow and Sean Walp.
The challengers had campaigned together primarily on their stance of stark opposition to Ridge View Solar Center, a proposed 350-megawatt solar farm raised over 2,000 acres leased by willing landowners. The impending project has been a front-and-center issue for several town residents, particularly throughout the election.
“I’m not thrilled that (the solar project) came here. I wish it hadn’t, because we’d be continuing along. But if it’s done right this town would benefit from the revenue from it,” Annable said.
Among the several duties of town supervisor, Annable said he will most miss working with town personnel and residents alike.
“We have an excellent workforce and a very efficient operation, particularly with the highway (department). I’d put them up against anybody…I liked meeting with people and trying to help them,” Annable said.