Chautauqua County confirms new Community Services Board members including hospital leaders

Carmela Hernandez, commissioner of mental hygiene and social services, and Trish McLennan, deputy director, presented a slate of nominees for the Chautauqua County Community Services Board and asked the committee to confirm appointments.

The list included Christopher Wachowski; Kelly Berghaus; Philip Lombardo; Tracy Gates (identified as CEO for UPMC Chautauqua); Kimberly Eklund (mayor of Jamestown); Ray or Raymond Manning (identified as CEO of New York Medical Center, the facility formerly Lakeshore Hospital); Thad Lund; Melissa Rivers; Lori Reynolds; and continued membership for Maria Marie Kuruba and Ellen Matronowski. Staff said Amanda Giesing and John Anderson are newer members who have been serving and that county staff—including Carmela Hernandez, Trish McLennan and Rachel Ludwig—also serve on the board.

Committee members asked about three nominees who do not live in Chautauqua County; McLennan said New York State allows members who either live or work in the county, and that some nominees were asked because of their professional contributions (for example, Tracy Gates at UPMC Chautauqua and Raymond Manning at New York Medical Center).

McLennan said the board had not been very active since COVID and staff have worked to make it a more meaningful advisory body with subcommittees and clearer expectations. She said the board will meet monthly and that staff met with prospective members in advance to explain the commitments. The committee approved the slate by voice vote.