MINOA — With the new year, Minoa Mayor Bill Brazill has been named the new president of the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM). Brazill will be finishing out the term of former City of Olean Mayor William Aiello. Aiello did not earn reelection in November and therefore had to relinquish his rol e as president since he was no longer serving as a mayor as of Jan. 1. Brazill will then be officially sworn in during NYCOM’s banquet at the Sagamore Resort on Lake George May 14 for the regular one-year term. On moving up to the president’s seat, Brazill said he’s “very fortunate and blessed” and that he’s looking forward to getting started in the position. “It’s certainly an honor, and I’m very humbled that I’m now president and representing all the mayors of all the cities and villages throughout the state of New York,” Brazill said. “I am beyond thrilled to step into this role. It’s really incredible.” With his ascension to the presidency effective New Year’s Day, Brazill becomes the 100th president of NYCOM, and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard has been elevated to first vice president. Brazill was previously chair of NYCOM’s nominating committee, which selects occupants for the organization’s leadership position openings. He was later appointed to head up NYCOM’s executive committee before being named second vice president in 2024 and then first vice president this past year. Brazill is one of only four NYCOM presidents in history to have hailed from the Central New York area, joining the company of former mayors of Syracuse William F. Walsh and Roy Bernardi as well as his own predecessor as mayor of Minoa Dick Donovan. Adding that it’s a rarity for two NYCOM presidents to come from the same place, Brazill said he “owes a debt of gratitude” to Donovan for helping him along and involving him as his deputy mayor over the course of 12 years, including the year from 2013 to 2014 when Donovan was president of NYCOM. Brazill began attending NYCOM conferences in 2002 when he was first elected to the village of Minoa’s board of trustees. He said that over the years he has learned something new at every single one of the organization’s conferences he’s attended. He called NYCOM a valuable resource that provides legal guidance about different aspects of municipal governance and plenty of opportunities to network and share tips with other elected officials regarding how to handle certain issues they’re all facing. “NYCOM has always been a great partner, always working really strongly and tirelessly to protect our interests as local governments and ensure our voices are always heard,” Brazill said. “And I want to continue that tradition.” As president of the statewide municipal government association, Brazill will preside over seminars and general membership meetings attended by guest speakers and hundreds of officials, and he will set priorities and agendas for the organization to bring forward to the governor and state legislators. Brazill will also be the state of New York’s representative at the National League of Cities, which is the United States’ country-wide conference of mayors. “I always feel that the key to New York State starts from the bottom up,” Brazill said. “Local government is where the real work gets done, and I’ve seen time and again how our cities and villages rise to meet challenges head on…Together, we will work to secure the resources, recognition and respect our municipalities deserve, and reinforce the critical role of local leadership.” Barbara Van Epps, the executive director for NYCOM, said in a press statement that Brazill’s “depth of experience and practical understanding” of municipal challenges will greatly benefit the organization. “His commitment to open communication and his ability to connect with people will strengthen collaboration among our members and in Albany,” Van Epps said. “I am confident he will be a tremendous leader and I look forward to working alongside him throughout his term.” Established in 1910, NYCOM now gives assistance to over 570 member municipalities of varying sizes. ...read more read less