Town of Clinton adopts 2025 reorganization resolutions, appoints deputies, sets payroll and mileage rates

The Town Board of Clinton on Jan. 1, 2025, approved a set of reorganization resolutions including appointments, designations of official banks and media, and administrative policies such as establishing biweekly payroll and a mileage reimbursement rate.

The actions taken at the reorganization meeting formalize whom the town will rely on to conduct routine business in 2025 and set administrative policies for staff and elected officials. The board approved appointments, authorized the supervisor to name a deputy supervisor, designated banks and official media, and set pay- and travel-related rules for town personnel.

Key actions approved by the board included reappointment of Councilman Elliot Werner as deputy supervisor for the term Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025, and the appointment by Town Clerk Carol Mackin of Mary Malloy as first deputy town clerk and deputy vital statistics registrar for the same term. The board also approved a resolution making bonds and insurance for elected and appointed officials part of the official record and directed that the bonds and insurance be filed with the Dutchess County Clerk.

Procedural resolutions passed as a group under numbered resolutions included: resolution number 1 of 2025, making annual appointments to establish town positions and their rates of pay; resolution number 2 of 2025, appointing consulting professionals; resolution number 3 of 2025, designating regular meeting nights for boards and committees; resolution number 4 of 2025, designating official media; resolution number 5 of 2025, designating official banks of deposit for town funds; and resolution number 6 of 2025, making appointments to town boards and committees. Each of those resolutions was put to a voice vote and the board approved them.

The board approved administrative authorizations including: payment of routine contracts and bills (electric, telephone, postage, insurance, bond payments, wages, credit card and copier rentals) upon receipt of billing; authorization for advance payments for seminars and conferences when preapproved; reimbursement for meals at Dutchess County Association meetings up to $35 or actual cost, whichever is less; establishment of biweekly payroll for all town employees with the first payday on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025; and mileage reimbursement of $0.70 per mile for official town business using personal vehicles.

Other items noted in opening remarks and background included the town’s Hometown Heroes banner program (17 banners installed in 2024), a Dutchess County community development block grant obtained by the recreation department to install a pickleball court at Friends Park, and Climate Smart Communities Task Force obtaining bronze certification which made the town eligible for recent grants (a $10,000 award was noted and the town had applied for a $50,000 grant). The remarks also noted use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for security camera installation at the Town Hall campus, new community room flooring, and replacement windows in Town Hall; contracts were mentioned for refinishing the Town Hall floor, repairing the highway roof, and installing playground equipment at Friends Park.

All motions and resolutions introduced during the reorganization meeting were approved by voice vote (recorded on the transcript as “Aye” with no roll-call vote or named tallies provided). No motions in the transcript failed or were tabled.

The board adjourned at the close of the reorganization proceedings.

Votes at a glance

• Reappointment of deputy supervisor (Councilman Elliot Werner), term Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — Approved (voice vote).

• Appointment of Mary Malloy as first deputy town clerk/deputy vital statistics registrar, term Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — Approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 1 of 2025 (annual appointments and rates of pay) — Approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 2 of 2025 (appoint consulting professionals) — Approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 3 of 2025 (designate regular meeting nights) — Approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 4 of 2025 (designate official media) — Approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 5 of 2025 (designate official banks of deposit) — Approved (voice vote).

• Resolution 6 of 2025 (appointments to town boards and committees) — Approved (voice vote).

• Authorization to pay routine contracts and bills upon receipt — Approved (voice vote).

• Authorization for advance payment of seminars/conferences after prior board approval — Approved (voice vote).

• Reimbursement up to $35 for meals at Dutchess County Association meetings or actual cost, whichever is less — Approved (voice vote).

• Establish biweekly payroll for all town employees, first payday Jan. 3, 2025 — Approved (voice vote).

• Mileage reimbursement of $0.70 per mile for official town business — Approved (voice vote).

Speakers

• Supervisor Witten — Supervisor (identified in the transcript as the meeting chair and making appointments and motions). (government)

• Carol Mackin — Town Clerk (appointed Mary Malloy as first deputy town clerk). (government)

• Elliot Werner — Councilman; reappointed deputy supervisor. (government)

• Mary Malloy — Appointee, first deputy town clerk and deputy vital statistics registrar (term Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025). (government)

• Councilwoman Auspitz — Council member (appears in liaison appointment discussion). (government)

• Joe Phalen — Chair, Climate Smart Communities Task Force (mentioned in background remarks). (nonprofit/government task force)

Authorities

• statute: Town Law §63 — referenced when the board adopted prior rules for meetings (referenced_by: ["resolution_adopt_rules"]).

• other: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) — referenced in background remarks about prior-year funding and projects (referenced_by: ["background_arpa_projects"]).

Actions

(Note: votes were recorded as unanimous voice votes on the transcript; no roll-call tallies or named yes/no votes were provided.)

1) kind: appointment; motion: "Supervisor reappoints Councilman Elliot Werner as deputy supervisor for term Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote; names not recorded"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"deputy_supervisor_2025"}.

2) kind: appointment; motion: "Town Clerk Carol Mackin appoints Mary Malloy as first deputy town clerk / deputy vital statistics registrar for term Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025"; mover: "Carol Mackin"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote; names not recorded"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"deputy_town_clerk_2025"}.

3) kind: resolution; motion: "Resolution number 1 of 2025: make annual appointments to establish town positions and their rates of pay"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"resolution_number":"1-2025"}.

4) kind: resolution; motion: "Resolution number 2 of 2025: appoint consulting professionals"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"resolution_number":"2-2025"}.

5) kind: resolution; motion: "Resolution number 3 of 2025: designate regular meeting nights for all boards and committees"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"resolution_number":"3-2025"}.

6) kind: resolution; motion: "Resolution number 4 of 2025: designate official media"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"resolution_number":"4-2025"}.

7) kind: resolution; motion: "Resolution number 5 of 2025: designate official banks of deposit for town funds"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"resolution_number":"5-2025"}.

8) kind: resolution; motion: "Resolution number 6 of 2025: make appointments to the town board and committees"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"resolution_number":"6-2025"}.

9) kind: other; motion: "Authorize payment of contracts and bills (electric, telephone, postage, insurances, bond interest, wages, credit cards, copier rental) upon receiving billings"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"authorize_payments_2025"}.

10) kind: other; motion: "Authorize advance payments for seminars, conferences and meetings at time of registration after prior approval of the town board"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"advance_payments_seminars_2025"}.

11) kind: other; motion: "Reimburse certain town officials and staff for meals at Dutchess County Association meetings up to $35 or actual cost, whichever is less"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"meal_reimbursement_2025"}.

12) kind: other; motion: "Establish biweekly payroll for all town employees with first payday Friday, Jan. 3, 2025"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"biweekly_payroll_2025"}.

13) kind: other; motion: "Town personnel shall be paid $0.70 per mile when on official town business with personal vehicles"; mover: "Supervisor Witten"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"mileage_reimbursement_2025"}.

14) kind: other; motion: "Adjourn meeting"; mover: "not specified"; second: "not specified"; vote_record: []; outcome: "approved"; notes: "voice vote"; identifiers: {"agenda_item_id":"adjourn_2025"}.

Discussion vs. decision

• Decisions: The resolutions and administrative policies listed above were formally adopted by voice vote during the reorganization meeting. The transcript records affirmative voice votes (“Aye”), with no roll-call tallies provided.

• Discussion/background: Opening remarks summarized 2024 community projects and grant activity (Hometown Heroes banners, Friends Park pickleball court funded by a Dutchess County community development block grant, bronze Climate Smart Communities certification, a noted $10,000 grant and an application for $50,000). ARPA-funded projects referenced included Town Hall campus security cameras, community room flooring and Town Hall windows, and contracts were noted for Town Hall floor refinishing, highway roof repair and playground equipment installation at Friends Park. These remarks provided context but did not alter the formal reorganization actions.

Clarifying details

• Deputy appointments: both deputy positions (deputy supervisor and first deputy town clerk) carry terms listed on the record as Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025.

• Hometown Heroes banners: 17 banners installed in 2024 (noted in opening remarks).

• Grants: $10,000 grant received following Climate Smart bronze certification; town had applied for a $50,000 grant (status: application submitted; outcome not specified in transcript).

• ARPA projects: transcript references ARPA-funded work completed in 2024 (security cameras, flooring, windows); specific ARPA award amounts were not specified.

Proper_names

[{"name":"Town of Clinton","type":"location"},{"name":"Carol Mackin","type":"person"},{"name":"Elliot Werner","type":"person"},{"name":"Mary Malloy","type":"person"},{"name":"Joe Phalen","type":"person"},{"name":"Friends Park","type":"facility"},{"name":"Dutchess County","type":"jurisdiction"},{"name":"American Rescue Plan Act","type":"statute"},{"name":"Hometown Heroes","type":"program"}]

community_relevance

{"geographies":["Town of Clinton","Dutchess County"],"funding_sources":["American Rescue Plan Act","Dutchess County Community Development Block Grant"],"impact_groups":["town residents","veterans","park users","town employees/elected officials"]}

meeting_context

{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":6,"duration_minutes":10,"items_count":14},"implementation_risk":"low","history":[{"date":"2024","note":"Hometown Heroes banner program and ARPA-funded projects implemented in 2024"}]}