Town Board Re-Organizes
By Doug La Rocque
What is normally simply the formality of making annual appointments to a number of various posts, came with a couple of twists at the Monday, January 6 meeting. Town Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum appointed former Town Council member Eric Buckley as her Deputy Supervisor. Mr. Buckley lost his re-election bid in November. This is the Supervisor’s appointment and is not subject to Board approval. What is subject to the Board’s blessing however, is the authority for the Deputy Supervisor to sign checks, in the Supervisor’s absence. A resolution to authorize Mr. Buckley to do so was defeated by a 3 to 2 vote, with Council Members Jodie Deschaine, and newly elected Steve Beaudry and Frank Lewandusky III voting no. Supervisor Gundrum and Council Member Jeff Wagar were the yes votes. The three council members who voted against the resolution did not explain why.
One Too Many
The Board approved the re-appointment of Linda Laveway to the Planning Board for another five-year term, and then voted to name Tom Withcuskey as Planning Board Chairman for 2020. The problem is that Skip Grandjean is simply stepping down as Chair, but did not resign his term. That makes six people for a five-member board. As to what happens now, according to Supervisor Gundrum, they might pass a resolution at next week’s regular meeting to change the Board’s makeup to six members. By town code, they can have up to seven. Any other options will also have to be discussed by the Board.
Other Appointments
Mr. Withcuskey was returned as Codes Enforcement/Building Inspector, the Law Firm of Girvan and Ferlazzo was re-appointed town attorneys and Town Clerk Vicky Burdick will also continue as Dog Control Officer, Margaret Wilson and Linda Russell were named to the two open positions on the Board of Assessment Review, sometimes known as the “grievance board.”
Garbage Prices Are Going Up
The Board voted to retain the current fee schedules for 2020, with the exception of bagged trash. The price for the smaller household bags will climb from $3 to $4 and larger contractor bags will go from $7 to $8. This price hike will take effect on February 1.