Pine Plains organizes for 2022

PINE PLAINS — In less than 10 minutes, the Pine Plains Town Board got itself ready for 2022 at its annual organizational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 6.

Starting at 7 p.m., the board met in-person at Town Hall and live-streamed the meeting on YouTube. A recording of the meeting can also be viewed on www.pineplains-ny.gov.

Following the acceptance of the 2022 town salaries, town Supervisor Brian Walsh read aloud the list of board and department liaisons, which was approved unanimously.

Liaisons

Councilwoman Sarah Jones was appointed liaison for both assessment review and the Planning Board while Councilman Matthew Zick was appointed liaison for the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) and recreation. Councilman Robert Ambrose was appointed liaison for the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

For department liaisons, Jones was appointed to the Justice Department, the Pine Plains Free Library and the town clerk. Ambrose was appointed liaison for the fire district and the Highway Department, while Councilman Don Bartles was appointed liaison for the Assessors Department and the town engineer. Battles and Zick were appointed liaisons for the Water Department, while Zick and Walsh were appointed liaisons for the Pine Plains Central School District. Zick was also paired with the Beautification Committee. Walsh was appointed liaison for insurance, town attorney and the town police.

Appointments

Next Walsh proceeded to read a list of appointments, which were promptly approved. Following Walsh’s appointment as chairperson to the Town Board, James A. Smith III was appointed deputy supervisor while Town Clerk Maedelin Dafoe was appointed clerk to the Town Board, registrar of vital statistics and marriage officer.

Judy Harpp was appointed deputy town clerk/registrar while Eileen Ciaburri was appointed tax collector.

Walsh was appointed budget director while Karena Frenzel was appointed bookkeeper to the supervisor.

Warren Replansky was appointed attorney to the town; and the firm Clark, Patterson & Lee and Ray Jurkowski was appointed town engineer/Pine Plains Water Improvement Area (PPWIA) engineer.

Robert Lee Couse was appointed to Building and Grounds.

Karen Pineda was appointment secretary to the highway superintendent and Debra Phillip was appointed clerk to the PPWIA.

Richard Diaz was appointed chairperson to the assessors with Lynda Wisdo as secretary to the assessors. Patrick MacMurray, Scott Chase and Anne Noone were appointed to the Board of Assessment Review, followed by Drew Weaver’s appointments as code enforcement officer and zoning enforcement officer.

Maryann Lennon was appointed justice court clerk while Robert Harpp Jr. was appointed court clerk and Kerri L. Yamashita was appointed town prosecutor.

John Hughes was appointed police officer-in-charge of the Pine Plains Police Department with Michael Beliveau, Steven Camburn and Mark Perotta as patrol officers.

Richard Prentice was appointed animal control officer and all hazard mitigation plan representative.

Michael Cooper was appointment recreation director and Gerald Parliman was appointed recycling attendant.

One by one, the board appointed the chairpersons, secretaries and members of the Planning Board, ZBA and CAC.

Lastly, Little Nine Partners Historical Society was appointed town historian.

Meeting dates & times, designations

The board established its monthly meeting date as the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. with its working meeting date scheduled for the Monday before its regular meeting at 7 p.m., if needed.

The Planning Board will meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. while the ZBA will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

The mileage reimbursement was set at 0.56 cents per mile per IRS standard, and the courier fee was established at $35 per trip plus mileage.

The Millerton News was established as the town’s official newspaper with The Poughkeepsie Journal as its alternate. Both Bank of Millbrook and Salisbury Bank & Trust were appointed as the official banks.

Before entering executive session, the board authorized Walsh to enter into contract with the Pine Plains Free Library and the Pine Plains Veterinary Association P.C. for its respective services.

Walsh was also authorized to enter into contract with Dutchess County Department of Public Works for shared services for diesel and gas.