North East Town Board appoints Mayville, sets 2024 agenda

MILLERTON — The Town of North East unanimously selected Christopher Mayville to join its board at the start of its regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 11.

Mayville will fill the vacancy left when Councilwoman Meg Winkler was elected to a different seat with a longer, four-year term. Mayville, a Republican-endorsed candidate, lost to Lana Morrison and Winkler for the two four-year seats.

Town Supervisor Chris Kennan commented: “Chris has deep roots in the community, having worked with the village’s youth recreation program and also having previously served on the Webutuck Central School District Board of Education. Chris showed his sincere interest in being on the Town Board by campaigning for the job as well as by attending several of our meetings. I am delighted that he is now on the board. Welcome, Councilman Chris Mayville.”

The next item on the agenda was Kennan’s announcement of board committees. Between meetings, it falls to these committees to tackle the work of town government.

Kennan and Morrison will continue on the Budget Committee. Kennan and Ralph Fedele will be responsible for the Highway Committee. The Building and Grounds Committee, which has overseen the construction of the new garage and will focus on the new Town Hall next year, is Morrison and Winkler. Fedele and Mayville were appointed to the Cemetery Committee, which is involved in the restoration of the historic Spencer’s Corners burying ground on Merwin Road, and the Emergency Services Committee.

Hazard Mitigation planning will involve Kennan and Fedele as well as Bob Stevens and Ken Mclaughlin. Mayville and Winkler will guide the town’s Communication Committee.

The town’s involvement with housing will be headed by Kennan and Winkler. Fedele and Morrison will be in charge of the Personnel Committee, and Mayville and Morrison will coordinate recreation with the village. Kennan and Morrison will continue to work on the Wastewater District. Kennan, Morrison and Winkler will coordinate with the work of the Zoning Review Committee (ZRC).

In addition to board committees, Kathleen Spahn was added to the Climate Smart Task Force headed by Kathy Chow.

Kennan welcomed the new year and the new Town Board. He emphasized the collegial, collaborative working environment at Town Hall: “It’s a pleasure to be at work.”

The big projects for the new year will be the renovation and move to the new Town Hall, and the sewer project.

Housing in the Town of North East continues to be an issue, and Kennan promised to see what creative and constructive solutions could be implemented.

Also mentioned was the pedestrian bicycle plan the village is considering that will be put before the Town Board at its February meeting after consideration by the Village of Millerton.

On Jan. 2, 2024, the Town of North East held its first meeting of the year: the legally mandated annual organization meeting, which specified 25 appointments or designations for everything from the official newspaper — The Millerton News — to records retention policy, animal control and town appointed officials. The town’s official bank has changed from Salisbury Bank and Trust to NBT. The last item was the reappointment of Julie Schroeder to the Zoning Board for another five-year term ending in 2028.

There were no surprises, and policies and people remained the same as at the beginning of 2023. The town’s website is current and contains the positions, names and contact information of all town government members.