By Alberto Gilman
The Town of New Windsor held its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 8, as Supervisor Stephen Bedetti and Councilmembers Eve Lincoln, Charles Broe, Steven Moreau, and Sylvia Santiago convened for the annual reorganizational meeting.
During the session, the board adopted the 2025 rules of procedure and finalized the schedule for town board meetings, which is available on the town’s website. Councilman Moreau was named deputy supervisor for the year, with a salary of $2,500. Highway Superintendent Anthony Fayo was appointed supervisor of refuse and garbage, with a salary of $22,000.
Department Liaisons and Appointments
Liaison officers for town departments were assigned as follows:
• Supervisor Bedetti: Ambulance and police departments
• Councilwoman Lincoln: Assessor’s office, recreation, and sewer departments
• Councilman Broe: Buildings and grounds, justice court, and the Newburgh School District
• Councilwoman Santiago: Comptroller’s office, senior citizens, and water department
• Councilman Moreau: Highway department, planning/zoning boards, and building department
Town Clerk Patricia Clarino was reappointed as the registrar of vital statistics. The board also received and filed the appointments of Kathleen Mackey as first deputy town clerk (full-time) and Melissa Conley as second deputy town clerk (part-time). Clarino will continue serving as the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) officer, while Town Attorney David Zagon was named the FOIL appeals officer.
The Records Advisory Board for 2025 will include Town Historian Glenn T. Marshall and Deputy Town Clerk Mackey. Marshall was reappointed as town historian.
Additional Appointments and Terms
Police Chief Daniel Valeri was reappointed as emergency management director, while Town Assessor J. Todd Wiley was approved for a six-year term starting Oct. 1, 2025. Nancy Wilkins was appointed deputy receiver of taxes.
Contracts and Policies
The board approved retaining Nugent and Haeussler, P.C., to conduct the town’s annual audit and authorized agreements with Munistat Services, Inc., for municipal advisory services, and Summit Actuarial Services, LLC, for a biennial actuarial valuation.
The town also adopted its 2025 standard schedule of fees, covering various services, including building permits, sanitation, water rates, and recreation facilities. The schedule is available on the town’s website.
Salaries and Mileage
Clerical staff attending evening town board meetings will earn $90 per meeting, paid from the General Fund. Planning and zoning board members, along with assessment board members, will also receive meeting stipends. The town set the 2025 mileage reimbursement rate at $0.70 per mile.
Official Designations
The board designated the Mid Hudson Times as the official town newspaper and WGNY as the official radio station. It also approved various policies, including those on fair housing, equal employment, and disadvantaged business enterprises. Supervisor Bedetti was named the town’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator.
Looking Ahead
Supervisor Bedetti concluded the meeting by expressing gratitude for the town board and staff for their hard work in 2024 and optimism for the year ahead.