After serving thirteen years on the local bench, Town of Blenheim judge William Kniskern has handed in his resignation, effective March 31, to town officials. Kniskern, who was first elected as a write-in candidate in 2000 with only five votes, submitted his reasons for stepping down to Supervisor Shawn Smith earlier this month.
At a special board meeting held on March 14 to announce the resignation, members of the Blenheim town council weighed their options moving forward. Initially the consensus was to advertise the vacancy and accept resumes for the board to consider, but upon further discussion town officials voted to explore the possibility of consolidating the court with an adjoining town.
Supervisor Smith, who made the adopted motion, told the Schoharie News that, "if we can do this it should save tax payers in both towns money." He would go on to add that in addition to Blenheim shedding the cost of the court, "the other town should be able to increase their revenue without any additional costs."
It remains to seen how Blenheim handles judge Kniskern's resignation and whether the town will consider dissolving his position altogether. Answers to that question may be available at the small community's April 7th town board meeting.
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