[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7433]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         TRIBUTE TO RETIRING HOMER MAYOR MARY ALICE BELLARDINI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the work of a 
tireless village mayor in New York's 25th Congressional District, Mayor 
Mary Alice Bellardini of the Village of Homer. Mayor Bellardini retired 
as Mayor on March 31st after fourteen years at the village's helm. 
Prior to her initial election as mayor in March 1987, she served as a 
Cortland County Legislator for almost seven years.
  During her tenure, the Village of Homer prospered. She is credited 
with renewing the village's historical preservation and planning 
efforts, improving its public water system, expanding economic 
development efforts and beautifying the Main Street corridor, 
establishing weekly summer band concerts on the village green, 
improving public safety operations, and reopening the Water Street 
bridge as a pedestrian walkway.
  I have always regarded Mayor Bellardini as a strong partner in my 
work in Cortland County. Married to Harry Bellardini, the former 
Cortland County Republican Party Chairman, Mayor Bellardini is a proud 
Republican though always anxious to work in a bipartisan manner on 
behalf of her constituents. She has worked especially close with 
Democratic Village Trustee Virginia ``Ginny'' Swartwout--a twenty-six 
year veteran of village government, who also deserves special 
recognition for service to her community as she retires from her post 
this year.
  Besides her work on behalf or the people of Homer, Mayor Bellardini 
is committed to community service. She served as President of the New 
York State Conference of Mayors from 1995 through 1996. She still holds 
positions on the Boards of Directors for numerous organizations, 
including Alliance Bank, Central New York Blue Cross/Blue Shield, 
Excellus, Inc., the Home Store, and the Cortland County Business 
Development Corporation. Last year, Governor George Pataki named Mayor 
Bellardini to serve on a select Advisory Committee to the Quality 
Communities Interagency Task Force for New York State.
  A lifelong Cortland County area resident, Mayor Bellardini has three 
children and five grandchildren. Though Mary Alice believes that it's 
time for ``a fresh face and new blood'' in the village Mayor's Office, 
I am certain that her accomplishments and dedication as Mayor of Homer 
will live on for generations to come.
  I congratulate her on her retirement from public life, thank her for 
her over twenty years of service as an elected official, and wish her 
well in all of life's future pursuits. Her daily presence and 
involvement at village offices will certainly be missed.

                          ____________________