New Appointee to Join Planning Board

MIDDLEBURGH - On Thursday evening, the Middleburgh Town Board appointed Steve Swift to the Planning Board before discussing the community center itself.

With an open vacancy in the Planning Board, Mr. Swift showed up in person on Thursday to tell a little bit about himself and make everyone’s acquaintance.

A local property and business owner, he stated that he’s been a local of Schoharie County for over fifty years, and he’s made Middleburgh his home for the last forty.

With Chairman Fred Risse of the Planning Board vouching for him, the Town Board found no reason not to appoint Mr. Swift, and member Wes Laraway quickly made a motion to do so.

As soon as it passed, Town Clerk Renee Schmidt noted that it would be a few weeks until Mr. Swift could be sworn in, but the Town is welcome to have him nonetheless.

“It’ll be good to have a Village resident on the Planning Board,” Town Supervisor John Youmans said. “Thanks for coming on with us.”

In other news, the Board was pleased to receive a close out letter on the community center at 139 Cotton Hill Road, which doubles as an emergency shelter and the new town hall.

In accordance with the letter, the Town will not be able to charge for use of the space or change the permanent walls or foundation within a five year period, however, Supervisor Youmans explained that they can continue using their temporary dividers.

In the same vein, Mrs. Schmidt also raised a point about preserving the community center, as the sand and salt tracked in from the parking lot during the winter is “ruining” the flooring.

To that end, she requested that the Board consider an investment into several more rugs priced between $28 to $50, as the current ones do not have enough grip to wipe visitors’ shoes clean.

Once again, Mr. Laraway proposed a motion to allow a budget limit of up to $500 for new floor mats to be placed inside the community center, which the rest of the Board readily passed.