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ELIZABETHTOWN — Nicole "Nicky" Bryant bid Essex County a tearful goodbye Monday as she announced her pending retirement as head of Mental Health Services.
Bryant became the latest of several department heads to retire from county service in the last year or so.
"I've decided to retire at the end of May this year," she told the County Board of Supervisors.
"I want to thank you all for the wonderful opportunity of serving the residents of this county. Every day has been a learning experience. It has been challenging and rewarding."
A Moriah resident, Bryant went to work for Essex County Community Mental Health Services in 1986 and became director of the department in 1989.
Bryant choked up as she told supervisors she liked her job and appreciated their support.
"This has been quite an experience."
She said that, by law, the Community Mental Health Services Board is responsible for hiring a new director; the Board of Supervisors sets the salary. The position is currently at about $86,000 a year.
"It's my recommendation that the Board of Supervisors appoint a joint search committee for the purpose of finding a new director," Bryant said.
The board will take up that issue at its regular session next Monday in the Old County Courthouse at Elizabethtown.
Board members stood and gave Bryant a round of applause as she left the podium in supervisors' chambers.
She greeted many board members with hugs as she left.
"When everyone stands and congratulates you, it's a pretty good indication you're well-liked and have done a good job," Supervisor Roby Politi (R-North Elba) said. "Congratulations for a job well done."
Bryant joins the heads of the County Department of Public Health, Department of Public Works, Office of Emergency Services, Real Property Tax Services and Board of Elections in recently retiring from county service. The county is still looking for a director of Public Health.
Bryant said after the meeting that she's going to take her time deciding what she wants to do now. She said her husband, William, isn't retired yet, but is working only three days a week.
"I'm not ready to do nothing, but I am ready to take a break," she said.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
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