Victoria Perotti reflects on 18 years of service

AMENIA — Preparing to step away from her long service to the town’s administration, first as councilwoman and then as five-term town supervisor, Victoria Perotti agreed to an interview to reflect on her abundant commitment to public service that she termed a “calling.”

Perotti, who grew up in Amenia, was first elected councilwoman in 2006, then reelected to the position in 2010; then came the distinction of being elected to serve five consecutive two-year terms as town supervisor, a first in the town’s history.

“People care about each other and are willing to help in time of need,” Perotti said. Her approach to the position has always been the same: being accessible 24/7 and working hard to make the town affordable by keeping the taxes low.

Transitioning the former school building into today’s Amenia Town Hall to serve the town as a business office and community center was a major achievement, said Perotti.

Energy efficiency within the building was a priority, she said, describing the installation of a more efficient hot water heating system to replace two outdated steam boilers. Lighting was changed to LED and first-floor windows were replaced. The addition of heat pumps in offices added to efficiencies.

Completion of the Wassaic Trail to the Train project, assisted by an additional $250,000 grant, to enable train passengers to walk to the village of Wassaic from the MetroNorth station was another achievement cited by Perotti as contributing to economic growth in the hamlet.

But what she singled out as most important was the town’s successful negotiation with multiple state agencies to have 5 acres of land transferred to the Town of Amenia to facilitate the building of a new highway garage.

“Not used to having downtime,” Perotti said that she will use January and February to plan her next chapter. She added, however, that she will continue to support local organizations, including the VFW, Indian Rock Schoolhouse, Amenia Free Library, Amenia Historical Society and more, continuing her tradition of attending their fundraising events as they occur.

“I would like to see a safer walkable community in Amenia,” Perotti said of hopes for the town’s future. She recalled a recent meeting at Fountain Square with state Department of Transportation officials to explore ways to make that intersection safer. They agreed to adjust the stoplight’s timing to give pedestrians more time to cross the street. As a result of that meeting, they also agreed to add better signage and street markings to the Cumberland Farms crosswalk.

She also praised local business owners who are working together to make the community’s business district more attractive. Perotti says that she is very supportive of those efforts.

Perotti was proud that, during her tenure, the town saw new businesses open their doors, but importantly, had also retained its rural character.

A deep, lifelong devotion to the town will continue for Perotti as she nears the end of her current administrative duties, but not her unwavering commitment to Amenia, its businesses and its residents.

This year, Perotti earned enough town administration terms to achieve the status of Certified Town Official from the NYS Association of Towns.

Hard at work in her final days in office, however, Perotti stressed the importance of a smooth transition within the town supervisor’s office as she prepares to step down at the end of the year. Voters in a close November election (482-451) chose Leo Blackman of Wassaic to become town supervisor. He will assume those duties in early January.