Roxbury Organizes For 2026

By Mary A. Crisafulli

ROXBURY - The Roxbury Town Council held its organizational meeting on January 6th, where several appointments and designations for 2026 were made.

With no new council members this year, committee appointments remained unchanged, and a Financial Committee was formed. Councilmembers Deanna Osborn and Lisa Ciaravino were appointed to finance. Other committee appointments include Supervisor Allen Hinkley, highway; Councilmember Kenneth Davie, highway, water, building/grounds, and transfer station; Osborn, personnel, civic center, and Kirkside Park; Ciaravino, building/grounds, transfer station, and civic center; and Councilmember Michael Hynes, water, personnel, and Kirkside Park.

Other appointments and designations are as follows:

Davie was reappointed as deputy supervisor.

Beth Bush will again serve as bookkeeper.

Scott Haskin was appointed deputy highway superintendent.

The justice clerk is Mildred Faulkner.

Stefani Abano will serve as registrar of vital statistics.

Anthony Liberatore was appointed town historian.

Verna Dietrich is the dog control officer.

Trisha Knoetgen will serve as clerk for the water and sewer districts of Denver, Grand Gorge, and Roxbury.

Rose Wright was appointed health officer.

Richard Briscoe will again serve as code enforcement officer.

The Parks director is Denise Johnston.

Hinkley will serve as the CRC representative and fair housing officer.

All town policies were approved with the understanding that they would be reviewed for revision and update shortly.

The Mountain Eagle is the designated official newspaper.

NBT Bank and Wayne Bank are official depositories.

The town renewed its contract for planning services with the County at an annual fee of $3,500.

Town meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, with meetings in April and August held in Grand Gorge. The November meeting is scheduled for Thursday, the 5th.

The next regular town board meeting is scheduled Monday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m.

In other business

Discussion on increasing transfer station fees was tabled.

Steven Martin, who co-operates the Grand Gorge Food Pantry, asked the council to consider expanding their rental space in the Civic Center. He requested consideration for the pantry to use the adjoining room, which is primarily used during the holiday season to store wreaths and other items. He requested a meeting to discuss the request. Hinkley said he believes there is a solution that might work.

The board held a public hearing regarding the Community Development Block Grant application. No one spoke after Peg Elsworth's presentation for the MARK Project.

The council agreed to install a chlorinator system for well five at a cost of roughly $7,500.

The building permit fees were adjusted to a square-footage-based payment structure, and a demolition permit was created. There is now a requirement for a CFC certificate for electrical inspections. For more information, visit roxburyny.gov/building-inspector-ceo.

Assessor Clerk Stefani Albano is advocating for access to paper tax exemption forms.

The council agreed to have Hinkley review and apply for a grant to demolish the old highway garage building along State Highway 30. It was also agreed to review the potential sale of Vega Hall.

The council entered an executive session to discuss an employee issue.