Outgoing mayor reflects on decade in office as clerk is introduced and election results announced

Mayor Alex Kittley used his March meeting remarks to reflect on roughly a decade of service and to welcome the village—s newly appointed clerk, Chris Cleveland. Trustees and the clerk also reported results from the village—s annual election held the day before the meeting.

Clerk Chris Cleveland told trustees that the village sold 464 trash tags in the month and that 100 voters were recorded at the election, with three absentee ballots; the clerk reported that 97 voters "came out." Reported vote counts in the clerk—s announcement were: Emily Major received 98 votes for mayor; Peter Valdina received 92 votes for trustee; Bill Schilling received 92 votes for trustee. The clerk also reported two write-in votes for mayor, for Lisa Schwartzbaum and for Jose Malaras.

Kittley framed the meeting as one of "firsts and some lasts," noting that he welcomed Chris Cleveland back to village service and that this would likely be his final meeting presiding as mayor. In extended remarks he reflected on joining the board in 2011, running the village through the pandemic and other crises, and his personal experience when his mother died in 2020. "I feel so blessed that I'm born and raised in Tivoli and I grew up here in this village," Kittley said. He thanked residents, staff and intergovernmental partners and said he will remain engaged in community activities after leaving office.

Trustees and staff also used the meeting to report routine monthly business: Treasurer Bonnie Day presented a monthly financial summary (the board heard a reported total spending of $77,719.55 for the month split between the general and capital funds), zoning and building permits were summarized by Trustee Bill Schilling, and the police report showed nine incidents and five uniform traffic tickets for February.

The board's next scheduled meetings were announced: a budget workshop on April 9 at 6 p.m., and the next board meeting on April 16 at 7 p.m., preceded by a 6 p.m. workshop; both meetings were scheduled for Watts De Pastre Hall.

Why it matters

Leadership transitions affect operational continuity and public expectations. The introduction of a new clerk and the upcoming reorganization and public hearings establish the calendar for administrative handoffs and for public review of the tentative budget.

Quotations and meeting notes

Clerk Chris Cleveland reported the election results: "So we had a hundred voters that came out. 3 were actually absentees, so we had 97 voters that came out. And, Emily Major received 98 votes for mayor. Peter Valdina received 92 for trustee, and Bill Schilling also received 92." Mayor Kittley reflected on his time in office: "I feel so blessed that I'm born and raised in Tivoli and I grew up here in this village, this community was so good to me my whole life... Getting to serve on the board and eventually... become mayor... has just been such a tremendous experience." Trustee Schilling thanked the fire department and election hosts for supporting voting and the polling location.

Speakers (attributed in this article)

- Alex Kittley, mayor/president of the board of trustees (government) - Chris Cleveland, village clerk (government) - Bonnie Day, treasurer and deputy clerk (government) - Emily Major, (mayor-elect as reported) / deputy mayor (government) - Bill Schilling, trustee (government) - Peter Valdina, (as reported candidate for trustee) (citizen)

Proper names and positions

- Chris Cleveland, village clerk - Emily Major, reported winner for mayor in village election - Peter Valdina, reported winner for trustee in village election - Bill Schilling, trustee (reelected as reported)

Ending

The board adjourned after routine business; the next significant village actions will be the April 9 budget workshop and public hearing and the April 16 reorganization and regular board meeting.