The Montgomery Fire House buzzed with anticipation on Saturday, March 8, as residents gathered for the highly anticipated Meet the Candidates forum, a key event ahead of the upcoming Village of Montgomery trustee election. The forum provided an opportunity for the community to engage with the four candidates vying for two trustee positions: Cynthia Nokland, Stephen Imbriani, Kevin Conero, and Randy Wilbur.

John Fallon, chairman of the Town of Montgomery Zoning Board of Appeals, moderated the event, posing questions submitted by the audience. The discussion centered on pressing village matters, including safety, board governance, communication, and long-term vision.

Cynthia Nokland
A lifelong village resident, Cynthia Nokland has a long history of community involvement, volunteering with the First Presbyterian Church, Valley Central councils, and various county organizations. She has a background in account management and currently works for Bob Barker, a faith-based company that supports incarcerated individuals. Nokland sees the trustee position as a means to improve transparency and strengthen relationships between the board and residents.

“I was fortunate, while raising my two children, that the business of the village ran pretty seamlessly. I never had an issue, and the hard work of these people put this village on the map,” Nokland said. “However, in the last two years, I have watched it deteriorate. People are upset, not being heard, and problems are going unresolved. My call to action nature will not let me sit back any longer, and that is why I am running again for a chance to be your village trustee, to make a difference and bring this community back together.”

Nokland emphasized the need for open dialogue and resident participation in board meetings. She proposed holding meetings in more accessible locations, such as the senior center, and reinstating traditional public comment sessions. She also suggested reintroducing an “old business” section on agendas to ensure unresolved matters receive proper attention.

“It is my belief that all village residents have a right to speak at a village board meeting. It is not right to silence the public if they wish to speak to their elected officials in a public setting,” Nokland said. Regarding safety, Nokland expressed a willingness to collaborate with residents and first responders to address concerns. “This is a great village, I look around this room and I see people from all different aspects of my life, both old and new. I can’t wait to work together with everybody here and find some great things that we can do for this village together,” Nokland said. “I will take information from anybody and meet with anybody. I promise I will be there, whether I’m in the trustee seat or not. We’re all going to work together for this village, and I appreciate your vote.”

Stephen Imbriani
Stephen Imbriani, a Valley Central graduate, returned to Montgomery several years ago to care for his mother. With 40 years of experience in nursing, coaching, and youth engagement across multiple school districts, he brings a fresh perspective to village governance. Imbriani’s platform focuses on protecting water resources, preserving green spaces, and fostering community engagement.

“My career has offered me the chance to travel the country extensively, and has opened my eyes to many different creative ways of approaching the same issue. The experience has given me insight into sharing different perspectives with citizens on all sides of an issue,” Imbriani said. “People continually bring up that we need to elect an experienced candidate, but what matters is the wealth of experience that someone ultimately brings to the job, and their ability to translate that experience into rallying support and action.”

Imbriani believes in increasing resident involvement in decision-making, especially among younger generations. He proposed mentorship programs and committees to encourage youth participation in local government.

When addressing unruly meetings, Imbriani advocated for understanding residents’ frustrations rather than dismissing them outright. On safety, he noted that while the village is secure, he supports proactive community discussions on potential concerns. Regarding the Montgomery Senior Center Advisory Board (MSCAB), he recommended appointing a mediator to address financial and operational concerns.

“Elected officials have a duty to listen,” Imbriani said. “If I don’t have an immediate answer, I will find one.”

“It is the sworn duty of an elected official to earnestly listen to the thoughts and concerns of those they represent and examine their own merit. There’s no place for personal agendas in public office that will take, and I will take the time to sit down with anybody that wants to be listened to.”

Kevin Conero

A 37-year resident, Kevin Conero is a current trustee and former planning board chairman. He has served in various government capacities since 1992, including roles on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the New York Forward committee. Conero, a network communication specialist, is seeking reelection to continue his efforts in planning and infrastructure development.

Since joining the board,Conero has enrolled the village in the New York State Water Source Protection Program and continued work on the truck bypass project.

Conero aims to update the village’s comprehensive plan and establish a capital plan to address water, sewer, and public works improvements. He also seeks to enhance village communication through social media, website updates, and other digital tools.

Regarding meeting accessibility, Conero is not opposed to holding meetings in the senior center, but he and the board would need to address challenges associated with that building, such as the strain put on the village clerk. He is also open to working with the mayor to reestablish traditional public comment sessions and old business on the agenda.

Conero asserted that he has the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to serve in a government capacity, qualities that he feels are crucial for successful leadership.

“If you value living in the village and want to ensure that it remains a safe and thriving community, you have to support the individuals who have dedicated years of their lives working together as a team to serve you in various capacities,” Conero said. “I feel you need to serve before you can lead, and I have served for over 34 years on various committees, boards, and civic events. Without prior understanding of how our systems work, effective leadership is impossible, and I believe on-the-job training is not a luxury that we can afford at this time.”

Randy Wilbur
A 35-year resident, Randy Wilbur is a trustee who was appointed last year. He has a background in project management at Novartis and runs his own home renovation business. Wilbur previously chaired the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals for over 20 years. He is running to continue his work in infrastructure and community engagement.

Wilbur’s priorities include updating the sewer system, modernizing internal operations, preserving historic values, and expanding community events. He believes in direct communication between trustees and residents through phone calls, emails, and in-person discussions.

“Most people want to focus on their families and daily lives,” he said. “They should trust that their village government is handling things effectively.”

Like Conero, Wilbur supports evaluating the senior center as a meeting location but recognizes logistical challenges. He believes the current system, where residents submit comments in advance, provides adequate input. He also helped establish the village’s decorum rules to maintain order during meetings.
“Board meetings are for conducting business,” Wilbur said. “Public input is valuable, but meetings should remain professional.”

In closing, Wilbur urged voters to consider his experience and qualifications.

“I’m here in front of you today not because I want the job; I do, but I’m not here to convince you to vote for me because I want the job,” he said. “I want people to understand why they want me for the job.”

Election Details

The Village of Montgomery trustee election will take place on Tuesday, March 18, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Montgomery Senior Center, 36 Bridge Street. The two candidates with the most votes will serve four-year terms.