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Walton board approves appointments, budgets and operational updates; assessor warns equalization rate may fall
Summary
At its May 11 meeting the Town Board approved a deputy clerk appointment, planning board member appointments, multiple facility-use requests and $300 for porta‑john transportation, approved vouchers, and received reports including an assessor warning that the town's equalization rate may drop for 2027.
The Town Board of Walton on May 11 handled routine town business including personnel appointments, planning board changes, facility‑use approvals and budgetary voucher approvals while receiving several departmental reports. The board also approved moving into executive session for contract negotiations at 7:30 p.m.
In personnel actions, the board appointed Sue Huntress as Deputy Town Clerk/Tax Collector effective May 12 through Dec. 31, 2026, at the current 2026 budgeted rate after Councilwoman Patricia Wood moved the resolution and Councilman Kevin Armstrong seconded it. The board also approved Katherine Taggart to fill a vacant Planning Board seat (effective May 12–Dec. 31, 2028) and Gary Gregory as an alternate Planning Board member (effective May 12–Dec. 31, 2026).
The board approved requests to use the Veteran's Plaza for Walton Porch Fest (June 5–8) and for Riverside Alliance Church to advertise Vacation Bible Camp on July 11, and waived the $25 fee for Porch Fest. Council authorized $300 to fund transportation of porta‑johns for the Freedom Festival. Vouchers across funds were approved, with amounts recorded in the minutes (for example General A vouchers totaling $8,362.10; OV HWY DB included a line of $196,398.23).
Town officials provided routine reports: Assessor Penny Haddad said notices of assessment changes were mailed May 4 and the tentative assessment rolls are on file; she warned that without a town‑wide values analysis the equalization rate could drop below 100 for the 2027 roll. Code Officer Garrett Newbauer submitted an April summary showing eight building permits issued and other inspection activity. Dog Control Officer Christopher Bodo reported 15 complaints in April, one dog seized and one dangerous‑dog case pending in court. Highway Superintendent Jeff Offnick said the South River Road project is complete and crews are preparing roads for sealcoating.
Supervisor Cetta also told the board a resident had requested a speed‑limit reduction on Lower Third Brook but said the town does not have authority to change the posted limit and that the state Department of Transportation would have to act. He reported Verizon reached out about discussing a generator at the cell tower, which would involve Crown Castle.
The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session for contract negotiations at 7:30 p.m.; no contract decisions were recorded in the public minutes.
