Millerton seeks volunteers for three village committees

MILLERTON — Village officials are seeking volunteers to fill positions on three different committees.

The village is seeking individuals to fill positions on the Planning Board and Tree Commission in addition to seeking an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals who could serve in the case of a regular member’s absence.

Millerton Mayor Jenn Najdek called attention to the open positions during the most recent Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Oct. 26. She said village government depends on volunteers to function and urged Millerton residents to apply for the position.

Appointed village board positions are open to any Dutchess County resident, following a decision by trustees in August 2025 to strike the village’s local residency requirement. The board made that move last year as village officials struggled to find Millerton residents to fill empty seats on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Village Trustee Matt Soleau said the decision to allow any Dutchess County resident to apply to those boards spurred greater interest from Millerton residents to fill the positions. He said there were concerns at the time that the move would lead to outsiders from distant communities making decisions that impact villagers, but those worries didn’t come to fruition.

“We had an influx of people that are village residents come in and fill seats,” Soleau said. “We do want the people that live here and the people that care about the village to have input on those boards.”

Additional information on the open positions can be provided by the Village Clerk, Lisa Cope. She can be reached via email at clerk@villageofmillerton-ny.gov or by phone at 5518-789-4489.