Unlike the committee’s previous endorsement, 22-year-old Christina Abele, Oligny is likely to get the full Board of Supervisors’ seal of approval.
The public stormed the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meeting in March after learning that county officials were attempting to appoint recent college graduate Abele to the $62,800 salary position. After hours of complaints by county residents, the full county Board of Supervisors rejected the proposal in a 13-10 vote. Many citizens were outraged over Abele’s lack of supervisory experience and concerns that she was picked over others because of political connections—her father, a partner in Abele Builders of Halfmoon, is a major donor to the Republican Party in Saratoga County and has donated thousands to Supervisor Wormuth and other candidates over the past several years.
Oligny applied for the position the first time around but was not selected for an interview. This time, she was one of eight candidates interviewed for the position.
Oligny, who has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Cornell University and has been working in the field of animal science for 30 years, in addition to running her own business, North Country Critter Sitters. If she is approved by the county Board of Supervisors at its monthly meeting July 16, Oligny will start the new job August 2.
The six-member committee spent time in executive session with Oligny before publicly voting on her appointment July 8.
Members of the subcommittee who originally chose Abele were Personnel Officer Jack Kalinkewicz, county board Chairman Alan Grattidge, Wilton Supervisor Art Johnson, county Administrator Spencer Hellwig, Halfmoon Supervisor Mindy Wormuth and Malta Supervisor Paul Sausville.