Rachele Grieco Cole excited to join North East Town Board

MILLERTON — From the Jersey shore to the Taconic Mountains, incoming Democratic Town Board member Rachele Grieco Cole has followed a distinctive path – one that includes living in a seminary, earning a degree in theology and navigating the world of nonprofit grants and fundraising.

In January, she will become the newest member of the Town Board, where she looks forward to contributing in myriad ways – especially when it comes to affordable housing. She hopes to collaborate closely with Councilwoman Meg Winkler, who leads the housing committee and has spearheaded efforts toward Pro-Housing Community status and supported the PlusOne ADU program.

“There are people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads,” said Grieco Cole. “Whether it’s the ability to age in place or young families trying to put down roots, we need affordable housing and we need to keep talking about it as a board.”

Grieco Cole’s uncontested run this year contrasted sharply with her 2024 campaign, when she sought to fill a one-year vacancy on the board.

Although she lost to Republican Chris Mayville – who also secured an uncontested win this year to retain his seat – Grieco Cole doesn’t view her earlier defeat as a “loss.” The race was tight, and as a newcomer she earned 47% of the vote, giving her name recognition and valuable experience ahead of this election cycle.

“I think I knocked on over 200 doors,” she said. “I met a lot of people and we had good conversations – I feel like they got to know me.”

The 2024 campaign helped her hit the ground running this fall as she canvassed for Democratic candidates for county office. Among the most common concerns she heard from residents were the timeline for the long-awaited grocery store, veterans’ benefits and high vehicle speeds on residential roads.

Grieco Cole plans to bring her extensive background in grant management to the board. She currently manages grants for a New York Law School, a nonprofit law school in New York City, securing funding for social justice and civic engagement initiatives.Over the years, she has developed a nuanced understanding of how communication, trust and relationship building drive successful grantmaking.

“It’s about putting in the time to establish relationships and follow up,” she said, adding that federal grants are “drying up.” Still, she said she isn’t afraid of the work required to achieve results.

Locally, Grieco Cole has helped guide the process for three New York State grants supporting the new short-course Olympic pool at Eddie Collins Memorial Park. “It has been really interesting and exciting and I can’t wait for it to come to fruition,” she said. The village expects to break ground on that project next summer after the July celebration of the Village of Millerton’s 175th anniversary.

Grieco Cole says she and her husband fell instantly in love with Millerton and can’t imagine themselves living anywhere else. Like many residents in the region, they traded in the hustle and bustle of New York City for the slower pace and rural charm of the area. “I love how everyone here has a voice,” she said. “You don’t get that in the city.”

The historic Moviehouse and downtown played a role in their move, and when they found an old house to restore, Grieco Cole said “there was no turning back.”

A regular at town meetings, a volunteer with the new village tree committee and an active patron of Main Street businesses, Grieco Cole wants residents to know she’s invested in Millerton’s future, follows through on commitments and approaches the role with good intentions.

She will soon attend a three-day training session for newly elected town officials. “The agenda is really loaded and I want to absorb as much as I can out the gate,” she said. “It will be a learning curve and I’m looking forward to that.”