Newburgh Town Board reappoints advisors, approves 2026 schedule and Gardner Ridge sewer deal

The Town Board of the Town of Newburgh completed its 2026 reorganization meeting on Jan. 12, reappointing its legal and financial advisers, confirming personnel and committee assignments and approving administrative policies and a sewer agreement.

Supervisor Gilbert J. Piaquadio and Councilwoman Mary L. McLymore were sworn in at the start of the meeting by Town Justice Richard Clarino. The board unanimously approved the 2026 schedule of Town Board meetings and the official list of holidays as presented.

The board reappointed Mark Taylor of Rider, Weiner, Frankel, P.C. as Town Attorney and named the firm Thomas, Drohan, Waxman, Petigrow & Mayle LLP as the labor attorneys for 2026. The board also reappointed Douglas E. Goodfriend (Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliff) as bond counsel and Munistat Services Inc. as financial advisor; all such legal and financial appointments passed by unanimous votes.

Several administrative reappointments and confirmations were approved. Lisa M. Vance Ayers was reappointed Registrar of Vital Statistics and Freedom of Information Officer; Dominique Rivera was named Deputy Registrar. Saziye Mustafa and Abigail Puntar were confirmed as court clerks for Judge Martini’s and Judge Clarino’s courts, respectively. Gerald Canfield was reappointed Town Safety Officer and Confined Space Officer.

The board approved a slate of court officers and other public-safety appointments submitted by the police office and confirmed positions including bingo inspectors and a school crossing guard. It also designated the Mid-Hudson Times as the Town’s official publication and set representation to the Association of Towns, naming Scott Manley as official delegate and Anthony LoBiondo as alternate delegate.

On finance matters, the board set travel reimbursement rates for the Association of Towns conference ($80 per day with receipts for New York City attendance; $40 per day for other travel), designated official bank depositories (M&T, TD Bank, Orange County Trust and Webster), authorized the Town Supervisor to sign checks and other instruments for authorized banks, and authorized the Supervisor to approve budget transfers up to $7,500. The board approved the audit/budget figure of $1,150,421.01 (less $56.08) as recorded.

Supervisor Piaquadio presented a summary of the town’s 2025 accomplishments, citing highlights including the opening of the new recreation center at Chadwick Lake, a finalized UPSEU union contract, grant awards for DWI enforcement and courthouse refurbishment, hiring of seven police officers, enactment of a nuisance ordinance and other administrative changes.

The board approved the Gardner Ridge Sewer Agreement “as presented” by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.

Councilman Scott M. Manley noted in remarks that the new recreation center is gradually reopening with indoor soccer and basketball programs and highlighted the Military banner program timeline for Memorial Day. Councilwoman Mary McLymore thanked voters after her swearing-in and expressed a desire for civil discourse on town matters.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records unanimous or near-unanimous passage on the meeting schedule and holidays, reappointments of legal counsel and town officers, designation of banks and official publication, approval of travel reimbursement rates, authorization of limited budget transfer authority, appointment of auditors, and approval of the Gardner Ridge Sewer Agreement. Where the transcript records individual mover/second attributions, those attributions are reflected in the official minutes but in one or two instances the transcript lists mover/second names that do not appear on the initial roll call (see audit).