Burgess And Griswold Win Stephentown Fire Commissioner Seats

by David Flint
In a much larger turnout than usual for a Fire District election, voters in the Stephentown Fire District elected Rich Burgess to a five-year term as Fire Commissioner. Burgess, who is currently Fire Chief in the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, will be stepping down from that position after serving four years. He has been a member of the Department for eight years.
Burgess received 116 votes versus 37 votes received by his opponent, Jamieson Pelletier. Pelletier was expelled from the Fire Department earlier this year, wrongfully he claims, and with no explanation given. He also has claimed that the Department has lost many good members because the Commissioners were not attending to matters of recruitment and retention.
In a contest for a second Commissioner position to complete the remaining two years in the term held by Sylvester Close, Douglas Griswold was elected with 124 votes. His opponent, Jonathan Koepp, received 25 votes. According to Bill Jennings, Secretary of the Board of Fire Commissioners of Stephentown Fire District #1, Doug Griswold has been a Fire Department member for 44 years and also serves the SVFD as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Jennings said that Griswold can continue to serve on the Board of Directors while serving as Fire Commissioner.
Wyatt Haley served as Chairman of the Election Inspectors, with Patrick Curtain and David Cornell serving as Election Inspectors and Ballot Clerks. Jennings said that the Board of Fire Commissioners sincerely thanks all who participated.