At that meeting, long-time board member James Brown of Gilboa announced his retirement. Mr. Brown, Supervisor of the Town of Gilboa for the past 14 years and past chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors, has been the Schoharie County representative on the CWC Board, and the Board Secretary, since its establishment in 1996.

He was an original member of the Executive Committee of the Coalition of Watershed Towns which was formed in 1991 in response to new watershed regulations announced by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The Coalition subsequently negotiated the 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement which created the CWC.

Mr. Brown was hailed by fellow board members for his many years of unwavering support for Watershed residents. His seat on the Board will be filled by an election among supervisors of the four Schoharie County towns in the Watershed - Gilboa, Conesville, Broome and Jefferson. A new representative is expected to be seated in January 2004 to complete Mr. Brown's remaining term through 2005.

In regular business, the CWC Board approved the following economic development loans:

• Sports Equipment Specialists of Walton, owned by Michael Stuligross, will receive assistance to purchase land in the Walton Industrial Park and build a 4,000-square-foot building to house its gymnastics equipment rental and sales business, now currently housed in space leased from Northeast Fabricators. The company, which has been engaged to supply equipment for several national gymnastic events, anticipates adding five employees to its current staff of four.
• Liberty Cinema, owned by David Gibson, will receive funds to renovate the Cinema building on Main Street, Liberty to house a triplex theater, café, diner, sport and bike shop, nail salon and a corner store. The second floor of the buildings contains offices. Eighteen people are currently employed by Liberty Cinema LLC; 27 employees are anticipated by 2005.
• Mountain Flame, owned by Brian and Marcia Olenych, will use the CWC loan to purchase and renovate a building on Route 28 in Arkville where they will consolidate offices and showrooms currently located in Bovina Center and Shokan. The company sells and installs soapstone fireplaces and looks to add two employees over the next two years.