Emily Marpe Takes Her Seat
By Doug La Rocque
Hoosick Falls Village Trustee Brian Bushner made the special meeting on Wednesday, September 25 his last, as he has moved outside the Village. In a statement to the Board, Mr. Bushner said “reflecting on the fact we have so many good people here dulls the sadness I feel that my time on this Board has come to an end. Serving as a Trustee comes with great responsibility, and as the name implies, an investment of the public trust to always vote in their interest. I hope I have taught you as much as I have learned from each of you. I ask that you continue to have in-depth discussions and debates, because they are healthy for our democracy.”
“Most of all, I thank you for the respect you have extended and for listening.” To the residents he said thank you “for allowing me to serve as an elected official in the greatest little village in the whole world, our hometown, Hoosick Falls.”
Mayor Rob Allen thanked Mr. Bushner for his service, saying “Brian always brought to the Board his openness and honesty. Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan said to Brian, “I think you did a fine job in your tenure on the board, and I thank you.”
Immediately following Mr. Bushner stepping down, Mayor Allen appointed Emily Marpe as his replacement.
Ms. Marpe ran for a board seat in 2018, losing by three votes to current Trustee Vanessa Lewis. She tells The Eastwick Press, Brian is the person who inspired and pushed me to run for the Board in the first place. “I have some big shoes to fill.”
Ms. Marpe also thanked Mayor Allen for the “opportunity to serve Hoosick Falls in another capacity.” She is currently a member of the Hoosick Falls Central School Board. Village Attorney Andy Gilchrist explained it is perfectly legal to serve on both boards simultaneously.