New Justice Appointed in Schoharie

By Joshua Walther

SCHOHARIE - Last Wednesday evening, the Schoharie Town Board met to discuss their new Town and Village justice, a grant award, and the newest Lamont Engineers update.

With the judge position open, the Board was very pleased to review the resume of James Bryant, a legal staple in Schoharie for a number of decades.

Prior to his application, Mr. Bryant had run a law practice in the area since 1982, and he doubled as the attorney for the county’s Department of Social Services.

While he didn’t know if he should apply to the Town at first, after some urging by close friends, he agreed, and the Town couldn’t be happier.

“You have a very impressive resume,” Supervisor Ben Oevering said to Mr. Bryant at the Wednesday meeting. “I think you’ll be a great addition to the team and we’re happy to have you.”

After little discussion, the Board quickly approved a motion to appoint Mr. Bryant to the position of Town and Village justice, which he graciously accepted.

“I’m flattered and honored to be considered,” he said. “I hope I can do justice to the Town, the Village, and the people of Schoharie.”

In other news, the Board was awarded the Smart Growth grant for $90,000 after submitting their proposal six months ago.

With the comprehensive plan on the verge of being finished, Supervisor Oevering stated that the grant money would go toward their “second phase,” which will establish new zoning around the highway.

Dubbed “the gateway district,” it will include all commercially zoned properties around the intersection of 30A and 88. The Board hopes that the new district will encourage more business to flourish there.

Finally, the Board received the newest Lamont Engineers report on their SBP Water and Sewer Improvements Project.

They are continuing to run seventy two hour pump tests on their test production wells, which will continue into the second week of February, and they are performing site preparation work before they dive into directional drilling.

Lamont Engineers also recommended that the Board should revisit the SEQR and make the Town as lead agency, and they passed a resolution to do so.