Millbrook Mayor Rodney Brown suddenly resigns at Zoom meeting

MILLBROOK — “I’m resigning.” 

This surprise announcement came from Republican Mayor Rodney Brown at the end of a long — two hour and 57-minute — Village Board virtual meeting on Tuesday, June 9. He added that he would submit his official letter of resignation at the next meeting with a date effective as of Friday, July 31. Brown added that he was not giving any specific reason, and will not furnish any further information about his decision to step down from office just months before his term was set to end, aside from the fact that he had discussed it with his wife, Linda, and the rest of his family. He also noted that he will be on vacation the week prior to his official resignation date, but that he gave the board seven weeks’ notice.

“It’s been a pleasure,” he said. “We got a lot of stuff done.” 

Looking back over Brown’s time as mayor, he  accomplished much, including the painting of the water tower and the formation the Thorne Building Committee. Brown has also enhanced the Millbrook Police Department, adding more officers to the roster, and through the Village Board, updating both the department’s communications and equipment.

Having served as village treasure under former Mayor Laura Hurley before becoming mayor at the start of 2017, Brown’s financial acumen helped him create reserve funds for numerous budget items and allowed him to tighten the overall budget process. Under his direction, the village was able to enhance its software and computer training has brought Village Hall into the 21st century.

Brown formalized Village Board meetings, acknowledging doing so was not always to the pleasure of participants. He streamlined the meetings while asking that department heads report at the first meeting of each month; he also limited questions/remarks from the public to three minutes each.

Communications and technology are the things Brown will most likely be remembered for; he got the village of Millbrook its own cable channel, Channel 22. He requested grant money and raised donations for the technological equipment that has allowed the village to tape not only the official meetings, but also the show. “Kevin at 11,” with Village Trustee Kevin McGrane, which airs on Fridays at 11 a.m. and delivers business and village news. The cable channel has also allowed local houses of worship to televise their services during the COVID-19 pandemic while their buildings have been shut down to prevent the spread of the virus.

Brown mentioned that between being mayor, treasurer and before that a village trustee, he has spent the last seven years serving the village of Millbrook. He had announced previously that he was not going to run for re-election in November, but his resignation last month came as a surprise to most. 

The next step for the Village Board will be to appoint an interim mayor, to serve the remainder of Brown’s term until the election. In November a new mayor will be elected, who will take office in January 2021.