Pawling board appoints interim assessor, approves stipend and schedules sewer-rate hearing

The Pawling Town Board approved an interim appointment for town assessor and a related stipend at a brief special meeting on Jan. 28, and added a public hearing on sewer rates to the agenda for Feb. 11.

The presiding official moved to pass Resolution 2026-44 "appointing Seth Plosky as the town of Pawling's assessor to fill the unexpired term of Robert Taft," and the board approved the motion. The presiding official also moved for Resolution 2026-45, described in the meeting transcript as providing a "scar stipend" for the assessor "to defend our small claims," saying the work "is gonna take a lot of time and effort." That motion was approved as well. The board voted to table agenda item 46, which related to a hiring matter the board said it was not prepared to proceed with.

Why it matters: The appointment fills a sudden vacancy in a town office that oversees property assessment and related duties; the stipend vote and the tabling of a separate hire reflect immediate personnel and budgetary decisions the board handled in the special session. The added Feb. 11 public hearing gives residents a formal opportunity to comment on a proposed sewer-rate increase that the board moved to place on the agenda.

Meeting details and votes: The board opened the special session with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. The presiding official made the motions to approve Resolutions 2026-44 and 2026-45 and to table item 46; other board members seconded the motions and the board voted in the affirmative on each. The transcript records members saying "Aye" on each vote; the minutes show the meeting proceeded without recorded public comment before adjournment.

On the appointment: "I will make a motion to pass resolution 2026 44, appointing Seth Plosky as the town of Pauling's assessor to fill the unexpired term of Robert Taft," the presiding official said during the meeting. The board approved the appointment.

On the stipend for small-claims work: The presiding official framed the stipend vote by noting the volume of work: "We have a whole bunch of them and, it's gonna take a lot of time and effort," the presiding official said when describing the stipend for the assessor’s defense of small-claims matters. The board approved the stipend measure (Resolution 2026-45).

On the sewer-rate hearing: The board voted to add to the agenda a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 11 "to consider the ratification of an increase in the sewer rates." The hearing will be the formal venue for public comment on the proposed rate change.

Adjournment: The presiding official asked for public comment; none was recorded on the transcript. The board moved to adjourn and approved the motion.

What the transcript does not show: The meeting transcript records the motions, seconds and affirmative "Aye" votes but does not record detailed roll-call vote tallies by name in the transcript for each resolution, nor does it include details of the tabling motion beyond the statement that the board was "not prepared to go ahead with this hire right now." The transcript also contains inconsistent spellings of the assessor's name (for example, "Seth Plosky" and a later variant). The board’s formal minutes or later filings should provide the official spelling, full vote tallies, any stipend amount or ordinance language, and the agenda item details for the tabled hire.

Next steps: The board will hold the public hearing on Feb. 11 to consider the sewer-rate increase. Other items (including item 46, the hire) remain tabled pending future action by the board.