CANAAN—Brenda Adams chaired her first annual organizational meeting as town supervisor last month.
But before the meeting a standing-room-only crowd of more than 85 heard about the proposed program at Berkshire Farm for “unaccompanied alien children” funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement. By the time the Berkshire Farm presentation ended, only a few hardy souls remained to observe the Town Board address appointments, salaries and other routine town organization matters.
The board passed a resolution approving salaries for key positions, including:
• Supervisor, $5,000
• Council Members, $1,800 each
• Justice I, $12,297
• Justice II, $12,543
• Superintendent of Highways, $56,805
• Assessor, $26,052
• Dog Control Officer, $5,000
• Code Enforcement Officer, $17,899.
The board also passed a resolution naming The Columbia Paper the official newspaper for the Town of Canaan for the year 2020 “to ensure timely notification to the public of meetings, schedule changes, and/or needed vacancies.”
The board passed staffing resolutions that named Supervisor Adams town budget officer; Darsi Frederick court clerk for the Justice Court; Daryl Schiffer, highway clerk; Heather O’Grady, first deputy town clerk and deputy tax collector; Sandy Haakonsen second deputy town clerk and deputy tax collector; and Mary Jahn, assistant to the assessor.
Volunteer appointments included: Patricia Liddle to a 5-year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals; Brian Lossow to a 2-year term as ZBA alternate; David Birch to a 7-year term on the Planning Board with Pierre Gontier designated chairman; Sallie LaValle as town representative to the Columbia County Office for the Aging Committee.
Judy Stelling was reappointed to administer the home delivered meals program and Stephanie Guelpa was named to administer the Canaan Wednesday 60+ Meal Program. Doris Gearing was named town historian.
The board also approved payments to support local cemeteries: Canaan Cemetery, $8,500; Cemetery ofcthe Maples, $6,000; Red Rock Cemetery, $3,000.
