2013 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award

The Cattaraugus County Planning Board, at its July 24thAnnual Dinner Meeting, presented the 2013 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Awardto Helyn Wilson and Susie Folts of the Town of Hinsdale for their outstanding leadership in community involvement and their dedicated effort in spearheading the completion and adoption of the Town of Hinsdale's first ever Comprehensive Plan. The meeting was held at Good Times of Olean with 90 in attendance.

The recipients of this annual award are chosen to give Countywide recognition to leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and its region and who exemplify the outstanding spirit and example that Torrance Brooks and Donald Patterson set during their lifetime of dedicated service to their respective communities, County Legislature, County Planning Board, and regional agencies.

The first land use document ever adopted by the Town of Hinsdale, this Comprehensive Plan shows their commitment to providing the best possible future for their residents. The Plan was several years in the making and it took the guidance and perseverance of Helyn and Susie and their Boards to see it through to completion. Helyn, as a member of the Hinsdale Town Board, was instrumental in promoting the development of the Comprehensive Plan. Susie, as Chairman of the Hinsdale Planning Board, spent countless hours with her Board creating the proper wording and gathering the public input necessary to make the Plan a document that reflects the vision of the residents of Hinsdale.