Walsh looks ahead with term as new town supervisor

PINE PLAINS — Brian Walsh is a person who puts community above most other things.

It’s not surprising, then, that he serves as the Pine Plains Fire Company’s fire chief, and takes his responsibilities as such seriously. Walsh was re-elected this past December to serve another one-year term for what will be his seventh year as chief. He’s been a volunteer firefighter with the department for 16 years; his wife, Ronnie Brenner Chase is a longtime EMT; she is also the captain of the Rescue Squad.

Aside from the Walsh family’s dedication to emergency services, it’s also dedicated to the town of Pine Plains, with many generations having lived there.

That devotion to Pine Plains spurred him to seek another volunteer post, requiring more of his time, yes, but allowing him to share his love of community with those who live and work alongside him.

“I wanted to give back to my community, and I thought this was the best way to do it,” said Walsh shortly after the Pine Plains Town Board held its first monthly meeting in January. “And I thought it was time for a change.”

The recently-sworn-in Republican town supervisor said he thought long and hard before committing to campaigning against two-term former Democratic supervisor Darrah Cloud.

According to the results posted by the Dutchess County Board of Elections on Election Night, Nov. 2, 2021, Walsh received 410 votes while Cloud received 349 votes; with one write-in ballot cast.

Cloud had said immediately after the election that she was “incredibly disappointed” and surprised by the results, as she was hoping to work on a number of large and ongoing projects.

But Walsh said he had a special reason for running, and for having confidence in his chance for success.

“In Pine Plains, the question I always have for people who move to Pine Plains is they always move to Pine Plains to implement change,” he said. “It’s so drastic; you move to Pine Plains because want to change it or you move to Pine Plains because you love the way it was. I’ve always lived in Pine Plains. I’m born and bred here.”

When asked if he’s going to live there till the end? His response was he’s “trying to, hopefully.”

Infrastructure needs

To make the town resilient, though, and ensure its infrastructure can withstand future growth and its economy develop alongside it, Walsh has to plan ahead.

While his main campaign promise was “government transparency,” to “make sure taxpayers know nothing hidden, nothing secretive is going on,” he acknowledged he wants to make improvements in town.

“Mainly we need to fix infrastructure that’s broken: water lines are not really broken but older, from the light south on Main Street towards the firehouse,” said Walsh, adding town   engineers are getting estimates together. “Some of our older  buildings need attention. Any project that is started currently I would like to get completed before we start anything new.”

Walsh said he’s not including the proposed wastewater project in that nor the former Durst Hudson Valley project, which he chose not to comment on as “we’re waiting for their next proposals because they changed from their original build-out plan.”

He was referencing the very original Durst proposal dating back to the days when Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature Gregg Pulver (R-19) was town supervisor, roughly two decades ago.

Walsh also said 8 and 12 Main St. are in discussion. The two adjacent properties were demolished late last year to potentially be redeveloped for a new Town Hall. He agreed moving Town Hall to the main hamlet is a good idea.

“We definitely need to move Town Hall to the center of town,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s the correct location, it could be. It depends on cost; that’s going to be a pretty pricey project. It will come back to taxpayers whether they would like that to happen.”

He also wants to see repairs made at the ball fields, where some of the backstops are in bad shape and the fields are starting to show their age.

“It’s time,” said Walsh. “We have to take care of what we have here instead of start something brand new, before it gets much worse.”

Right now the town is seeking volunteers for its Beautification Committee to help with small projects such as the town park. Walsh explained with excitement that “It’s actually technically an official committee now,” even though residents have been doing the work for years. A chair still needs to be chosen, as do seven members who will have staggering terms.

“I think we’re going to have a great year,” said Walsh, who added, “my door is always open.”