Kortright Gets an Early Start on the New Year

BLOOMVILLE  – Members of the Kortright Town Board conducted audits and reviewed balances and reserves during their first regular meeting of the new year on Monday. Newly elected Highway Superintendent Harry Craft developed a list of roadways slated for repairs in 2026 as the town awaits receipt of its Consolidated Highway Improvement Program fund reimbursements from 2025. 

The CHIPS funds will be key to balancing the highway budget and determining the final figures. Craft is currently working on getting those figures together for submission by the Feb. 12 deadline.

The lists of roadways slated to see repair in the coming season include: Turnpike Road, Irish hill Road, Scott Road, McMurdy Hill, McMurdy and Roberts Turnpike Road.

Board members also approved the purchase of a load of salt for the highway department.

Board members discussed the Bloomville Pride Committee and the need to designate a specific person to be in charge. A fundraising campaign to purchase new playground equipment for the playground and field behind the old Bloomville Elementary School. The town is supportive, but they need to have specifics of the project, who is designing it and how much the group is hoping to spend. Councilman Mike Pietrantoni said he would reach out to the committee to see if they can designate someone to work with the town board.The town owns the property and is ultimately responsible or the activities that take place on the property.

The Bloomville Pride Committee has done a great deal to restore the ball field, playground and other things, hosting activities and generally improving the grounds as a not-for-profit group. 

Board members held their organizational meeting on New Year's Day, with the following appointments and designations, after which they conducted inventory of the highway department.

Monthly board meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.; Josh Morgan, code enforcement officer; Kevin Young, Young and Sommer, town attorney; Archibald Gallup, planning board chair.

The paper of record is the Walton Reporter; Kristian Craft is handicap parking permit agent and water district collector; Mike Pietranton, deputy supervisor; Margaret Kenyon town historian; Meg Hungerford, bookkeeper; Chris Bod, dog control officer. Larry "Bucky" Soule was appointed to a six-year term as town assessor. Mileage rate for official town business will be paid at 72.5 cents per mile.

Board members also approved the contract with Delaware County Planning Dept. in the amount of $3,500 for planning services. The planning board will meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m..