Saugerties’ new town board cleaned up shop at their January 3 reorganizational meeting at the Frank Greco Senior Center, designating citizens for town committees and divvying up liaison positions.
“I’m so proud,” said Lanny Walter, Democratic town chairman after the initial meeting of the new all-Democrat endorsed board. “It was mobbed here [at the inaugural ceremony], and it really was exciting. They have themselves to thank, although we did our part.”
Supervisor Fred Costello, formerly deputy supervisor as a town councilman, passed his former office to Leanne Thornton, who has been on the town board since 2003. “This board is going to be incredible to work with,” said Thornton. “These gentlemen bring so much to the table.”
The Saugerties Times was again designated as Saugerties’ official newspaper for the tenth year in a row, according to Marjorie Block of the Saugerties Historical Society; The Daily Freeman was named an additional newspaper in which the town board can disseminate news of its meetings, resolutions and ordinances. M&T Bank remains the town’s official bank, a position it has held for at least the last 14 year, according to Costello.
George Redder and John Greco were appointed as the official attorneys serving the town. Audrey Klinkenberg will serve again as the town historian. Gary Newkirk was appointed town accountant, Brinnier & Larios the official engineers for the town, Nick Monaco the information systems support consultant, and Daniel Shuster the town’s consulting planner this year.
Mary O’Donnell was appointed as the chair of the conservation advisory committee, and Mike Harkavy, Skip Arthur, Mary Anne Wrolsen, Elizabeth Shafer, Al Bruno, Ann Bryan and Patrick Wadden were appointed to that committee. Named honorary member was naturalist Spider Barbour.
Jeanne Goldberg will serve the next five years as the chair of the zoning board, with Sam Dederick as vice-chair and Patti Kelly as an alternate for a one-year term. Paul Andreassen’s term on the planning board, which expires in 2024, will be taken up by Carol Furman, with Robert Hlavaty as an alternate. Howard Post was again chosen as planning board chair and William Creen as vice chair. Gregory Roque will assume Cindy Saporito’s place on the town’s ethics committee. Elly Monfett, who just passed her civil service test, was hired full-time for the town’s animal control department.
“There’s been some nice continuity on a lot of these committees,” said Costello. “The new folks add a new perspective, which is valuable.”
The Bristol Beach advisory committee, with Leanne Thornton at its helm, was just started this year. According to Costello, the Winston Farms Alliance donated $80,000 to the initiative.
The board determined the dates of its meetings for the rest of the calendar year: January 3 and 17, February 7 and 21, March 7 and 21, April 4 and 18, May 2 and 16, June 13, July 11, August 15, September 5 and 19, October 3 and 17, November 7 and 21 and December 12.
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