Lexington Reorganizes for 2024

LEXINGTON - All the necessary steps have been taken to prevent any government befuddlement in Lexington.

Town council members recently held their annual reorganization meeting, making the appointments and designations required to conduct official business on behalf of their fellow citizens.

It is traditionally a quick, cut and dried affair and this year was no different, starting with renaming councilman Michael Barcone as deputy supervisor.

Barcone is authorized to step in for town supervisor Jo Ellen Schermerhorn should she ever be absent or unavailable for any reason.

In a similar move, Christine Dwon was again chosen as deputy town clerk, fulfilling those duties in the absence of town clerk Charlotte Jaeger.

Other appointments include: Tal Rappleyea (town attorney), Carl Giangrande (code enforcement/zoning officer);

Nicole Pursell (short term rental/enforcement officer), Mary Palazzolo (town historian), Christine Dwon (deputy historian);

Michelle Brainard (town bookkeeper), Bruce Feml (dog control officer), Liza Dwon (health officer), Andrea Searcy (inventory clerk);

Beverly Dezan (planning board), Elizabeth Martin (planning board secretary), Ron Lipton (zoning board), Kim McGalliard (zoning board secretary), Paul Dwon (disaster coordinator);

Town clerk/tax collector Charlotte Jaeger (registrar of vital statistics, secretary to the supervisor, records management officer, webmaster).

Government committees for 2024 are as follows:

—Highway (highway superintendent Kevin Simmons, Mike Petosa and councilman Bradley Jenkins);

Building (councilman William Pushman, William Decker and code enforcement officer Giangrande):

Monthly Audit (councilwoman Rose Petrella-Wilson and councilman Jenkins), Clerk Audit (supervisor Schermerhorn and councilman Jenkins);

Comprehensive Plan (Lynn Byrne, Jennifer Cawein, Kim McGalliard), Ethics (town clerk Jaeger, John Berger and councilwoman Petrella-Wilson);

Memorial Bricks (town historian Palazollo), Patriots Day (town historian Palazollo and deputy historian Dwon); 

Negotiations (councilmen Jenkins and Barcone), Emergency (disaster coordinator Paul Dwon, highway superintendent Simmons and town supervisor Schermerhorn);

Schoharie Watershed/Greene County Soil and Water Conservation recreation (Lynn Byrne and Beverly Dezan);

Board of Assessment Review (Ron Lipton, Susan Falke, Schuyler Minew), Policy Review (supervisor Schermerhorn and councilman Barcone);

Planning Board (Jennifer Cawein (chairwoman), Beverly Dezan, Nancy Orr, Cawsey Scieszka and Taris Charysyn);

Zoning Board (Sarah Pellizzari, Ron Lipton and Nancy Wyncoop-Bower), Official Newspapers (Mountain Eagle and The Daily Mail), Official radio station (WRIP in Windham).

In other matters:

—Council members reported there is positive movement at the venerable Baptist Church in the hamlet of Lexington.

The structure had seemingly become abandoned, causing concerns in the community about it deteriorating into a safety hazard.

However, there has been activity at the site and the long term hope is that the historic meeting house will again have a busy congregation and potentially serve as a training center.

Inspections of the structure show that it is solid, officials said. Windows have been closed in (hopefully making it harder for bats to enter).

Optimism is likewise being expressed for the onetime Baptist parsonage in the hamlet section of West Kill.

The building is standing empty and falling into disrepair. The town is hoping to sort out ownership and title details to be able to proceed with some plan for rehabilitation or demolition.