SRO AT CANAAN TOWN BOARD
Peter Flierl
In addition to chairing her first annual organizational meeting as Supervisor, Brenda Adams had a standing room only crowd of over 85 there to hear about the proposed program at Berkshire Farm for unaccompanied alien children being funded by the United States Department of Health of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement. There were a few hearty souls left with an interest in town business from appointments and salaries to other routine town organization.
A resolution was passed setting salaries for key positions,including: Supervisor, $5,000; Council Members, $1,800 each; Justice I, $12,297; Justice II, $12,543; Superintendent of Highways, $56,805; Assessor, $26,052; Dog Control Officer, $5,000; Code Enforcement Officer, $17,899. The board also passed a resolution naming The Columbia Paper as the official newspaper for the Town for the year 2020 “to ensure timely notification to the public of meetings, schedule changes, and/or needed vacancies.”
The board passed staffing resolutions named Supervisor Brenda Adams as Town Budget Officer, Darsi Frederick as Court Clerk for the Justice Court, Daryl Schiffer as Highway Clerk, Heather O’Grady as First Deputy Town Clerk and Deputy Tax Collector, Sandy Haakonsen as Second Deputy Town Clerk and Deputy Tax Collector, and Mary Jahn as Assistant to the Assessor.
Volunteer appointments included: Patricia Liddle to a 5 year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Brian Lossow to a 2 year term as ZBA alternate; David Birch to a 7 year term on the Planning Board with Pierre Gontier designated as Chairman; Sallie LaValle as Town Representative to Columbia County Office of the Aging Committee. Jeean Stellin was reappointed to administer the home delivered meals program, while Stephanie Guelpa was named to administer the Canaan Wednesday 60+ Meal Program. Doris Gearing was named Town Historian.
The board also approved payments to support local cemeteries: Canaan Cemetery, $8,500; Cemetery of the Maples, $6,000; Red Rock Cemetery, $3,000.