With Water Dept. demolition on the horizon, Farr-Killmer leads project to rebuild

MILLERTON — Caroline Farr-Killmer never imagined herself managing construction projects for a municipality. As a college student studying criminal justice, her future seemed rooted in law. But after the fire devastated Millerton’s Water and Highway Department building in the snowy, pre-dawn hours in February, Farr-Killmer stepped into an unexpected leadership role and hasn’t looked back.

“I would’ve laughed if someone told me I’d be working for a municipality and, let’s face it, in such a male-dominated space,” Farr-Killmer said of her current role as fire project manager for the Village of Millerton.

Farr-Killmer, who also serves as secretary for the village Planning and Zoning Board, was initially hesitant to take on the added role. Without a background in construction or municipal infrastructure, she worried about being taken seriously as a 25-year-old woman.

“I’m a young woman with no experience managing fire recovery or construction projects,” she said. “But everyone’s been respectful, patient and understanding.” Farr-Killmer credits Mayor Jenn Najdek for setting the right tone and paving the way as a role model.

Farr-Killmer’s responsibilities now include coordinating with contractors, village trustees, engineers and state agencies. She manages demolition timelines, monitors code compliance, documents inventory losses and keeps the public informed.

“It’s not often you see a young woman managing a demolition crew or working with state officials on infrastructure,” she said. “But I don’t have to pretend to know everything. I just have to ask the right questions, listen and make decisions that move things forward.”

In the weeks after the fire, Farr-Killmer made near-daily visits to the charred building, camera in hand. She documented the shifting structure — from collapsing rafters to snow-drenched equipment — helping the village rebuild its lost inventory piece by piece.

“Photographing the entire building became a way to track what was lost,” she said. “But every time I came back, something else had crumbled.”

Farr-Killmer said the fire was only the beginning.

“People think the fire was the disaster,” she said. “But the real challenge is everything that comes after — the paperwork, the insurance, the rebuilding plans and the deadlines. That’s where the work really begins.” She stressed that from the outside, it might not look like progress is being made. But the village has been working around the clock to move things forward and recover all lost items.

Despite the pressure, Farr-Killmer credits her confidence to her roots in the community and the support around her.

“When you work in a positive and supportive environment, it makes all the difference,” she said. “There’s a lot of work to do, but when you have that backing, it’s a whole different world.”

The demolition of the building is expected to begin this summer with BELFOR Property Restoration. The process will take place in phases to safely dismantle and clear the site. Additionally, Farr-Killmer and village leaders are working to develop plans for two separate replacement facilities: one for the Highway Department and another for the Water Department, each designed to meet current building codes and future needs.

Though she’s still figuring out what comes next, Farr-Killmer has considered returning to her roots in criminal justice — possibly advocating for wrongly incarcerated women.

For now, she is enjoying working in a supportive municipality and learning on the job.