Vandalism, changes come to Millerton

MILLERTON — There’s a new face in the village hall of Millerton. On Friday, Nov. 4 in a special meeting the village’s Board of Trustees a resolution was passed to select Nicole Richard to replace Kelly

Kilmer who has been the village’s clerk for the last five years. The search for a new clerk was necessitated when Kilmer accepted the position of Treasurer for the Webutuck School District. Mayor Jenn Najdek said that 10 or 12 candidates applied for the clerk position but some were from Connecticut, and many from outside Dutchess County. Richard is from Salt Point.

Kilmer has also acted as the Village Treasurer and the village is currently seeking an experienced part-time person for that position. Kilmer started at Webutuck on Monday, Nov. 7 but will work part-time at nights to keep the village’s books up to date while the search proceeds for a replacement.

The village office will have reduced public hours during this period of transition and will be open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday while Richard is getting settled in. Residents can always call Mayor Nadjek on her cell phone at 845-705-5601 if they have an urgent issue. By the end of the year a new, improved website should be launched and full-time office hours back in effect.

On Monday, Nov. 14 there will be a public hearing on a new law entitled “A Local Law to Add a New Chapter 14 “Entitled “Residency Requirements” to the Village Code to Allow Certain Public Officers and Employees to be Residents of Dutchess County” to officially correct the residency issue. The law pertains only to the Village Clerk and Treasurer who previously were required to live in Millerton and addresses the problem of filling positions in village government which require municipal, administrative or financial expertise.

“Kelly will be great at the school,” commented Najdek, “But we’ll really miss her. She has been an invaluable asset to the village over the last five years and has worked very hard as Treasurer and Clerk to keep the village on track. Kilmer, who is a resident on the Village, said the decision to leave was bittersweet but she’ll continue to be active in the community.

Vandalism at Park

On Sunday Oct. 30 three juveniles were identified by an eyewitness as responsible for breaking the door into the concession area at Eddie Collins Field. Officer Erik Breen of the Millerton Police Department was just coming on duty when the youths were seen leaving the park. All were interviewed with their parents at the Village Hall. The youths denied being responsible for the more serious damage to the changing room and new bathrooms where paint stored for summer camp crafts was splashed over all the surfaces.

According to Officer

Breen said they claimed that damage had already been done when they arrived on the scene. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department sent a crime scene photographer who took over 100 photos of the damage. The matter is still under investigation by the Millerton Police.

Windows, floors, bathrooms, and the changing room were all splashed with paint at the Eddie Collins Field bath house on Sunday, Oct. 30. Photo by Christine Bates

  

Windows, floors, bathrooms, and the changing room were all splashed with paint at the Eddie Collins Field bath house on Sunday, Oct. 30. Photo by Christine Bates