HIGHLAND – Following the installation of the newest Town Supervisor John Pizzolato and his deputy Supervisor Glenn Pontier, the Highland Town Board approved the reorganizational appointments for a variety of positions.

Sitting members of the Town Board now include James Akt, Laura Burrell, Kaitlin Haas (returning) and Tom Migliorino. Attorney to the Town Board is now Steven N. Mogel, who is replacing Michael Davidoff, Esq.

Returning to their respective positions are Debra Conway as Town Historian, Monica McGill as Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Secretary and Planning Board Secretary, Terri Robertson as Bookkeeper, Fawn Schneider as Animal Control Officer, Susan Hoffman as Registrar of Vital Statistics, Lorry King as Sole Assessor, Terri Fountain as Clerk to the Assessor, Joseph Mellan as Assessor-Data Collector, and Patricia Summa as Court Clerk.

Additional returners are Anthony LaRuffa as Emergency Service Board Representative, Dave Preston as Fire Advisory Board Member, Margie Granese as Sullivan County RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) designee, and Gerald Finn as the delegate for the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, with Lacey Madden as an alternate.

New appointments include Christine Martin and Supervisor John Pizzolato as delegate and alternate for Upper Delaware Council (UDC), Frank Monteleone and Bernie Kozykowski as Planning Board alternates, and Terri Robertson as Website Administrator.

For the standing committees, Tom Migliorino and Jim Akt were named to Community Planning/Seniors, Supervisor Pizzolato and Town Board member Haas were assigned to Youth & Parks Development, Migliorino and Burrell were named to both the Codes and Buildings committees. Supervisor Pizzolato and Migliorino are set to Public Safety. Pizzolato and Burrell are set to Grants. Pizzolato, Haas, Akt are assigned to Insurance.

The Beautification Committee’s “Marion O’Neill Beautification, Ceremonies, Heritage, and Culture Club” expansion will see Karol Sundholm, Tim Oset, Roswell Hamrick, Darlene Haas, Maryanne Migliorino, and Shane Pearson lend their talents. 

Other new committees include Pizzolato and Burrell on Personnel, Burrell, Robertson and Summa on Website, Peter Carmeci for September 11th, 2001 Hero’s Park remembrance ceremony, and Carol Roig, Paula Campbell and Brandi Merolla as Special Community Liaisons for the Energy & Environment Committee and Community Outreach.

Heather Jacksy, Carol Roig, Scott Hallock, Dawn Payne, Matt Nelson, Sonia Kidney, and Laura Silverman were appointed to the Establish Comprehensive Plan Personnel and Committee.

The town designated the Sullivan County Democrat as one of their official newspapers, Thunder Country (Bold Gold Stations), and WJFF as Official Radio Stations, and confirmed contracts with Yulan Fire Department, Highland Lake Fire Department, &and Sunshine Free Library. 

The First National Bank of Jeffersonville was designated as the Official Depository. 

Tax “Grievance Day” was set for May 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

What’s ahead

In addition to the reorganization, the new Town Board held discussions on recording all meetings and making them available online after meetings with the potential to utilize Zoom or other streaming services. However, the conversation was tabled in order to secure the necessary equipment to do so before calling the vote.

It was also announced that the Town Historian, Debra Conway, will host a Black History Month event on February 10th at 2:00 p.m, which will include a presentation by Town of Deerpark Historian Michael J. Worden on his new book “Lynched by a Mob.”