Organizational meeting reveals candidate to fill upcoming vacancy
As a new year begins in Glenville politics, one board member prepares to step down, and a replacement has already been tapped.
At the Glenville Town Board organizational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 5, Councilwoman Gina Wierzbowski and Town Justice Brian Mercy were sworn in, but what followed wasn’t listed on the agenda: Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle announced the search for resigning Councilman Mark Quinn’s seat is complete, and former Scotia Police Chief John Pytlovany is stepping up to serve.
Quinn has served on the board for seven years, but he was recently selected to be the deputy commissioner for elections in Schenectady County. On March 1, Quinn leaves his fellow all-Republican board, but he will be training Pytlovany, also a Republican, and helping him with the transition to public office.
I realized how much I missed being involved in the community, and I was trying to think of a way I could put my expertise or past knowledge to some sort of good use, and this was just a perfect fit for me, said Pytlovany. `I’m really excited about this because it is a whole new opportunity, but I get to use the knowledge and the training I have had and yet at a different location with different people, so I am really excited. I am really anxious for March 1 to come.`
Koetzle said the town received three resumes for the upcoming vacancy after Quinn’s announcement last month. There were an additional six resumes from the previous vacancy Wierzbowski filled last year, and those were included in the selection process, said Koetzle.
Now that Pytlovany has his foot in the door, he isn’t planning on leaving anytime soon, assuming voters choose to elect him next year.
`This is not a one-year commitment for me, this is a multi-year commitment,` he said. `I intend to run in the fall and do my best to get re-elected. This is going to give me kind of a head start.`
Koetzle said making the selection as soon as possible was best so the appointee could be thoroughly briefed on town affairs. During the Town Board work session on Wednesday, Jan. 12, council members will formally interview Pytlovany. Koetzle urged residents to attend the work session and submit any questions they have to the town board.
Koetzle said Pytlovany was selected because of his previous experiences, and he will be a good representative for the town.
`He’s got a lot of experience in municipal government and he’s got a lot of knowledge of public safety, and those are the areas that we really needed help in right now,` said Koetzle. `He is going to have a very important area in public safety, and there is a lot of things going on right now.`
Recently, the town has been trying to reach an agreement with the Glenville Police Benevolent Association over health concessions, and Pytlovany will be working as a town liaison in those discussions. In the future, Koetzle said he hopes to work out an agreement with the Village of Scotia to consolidate police services with the town, which Pytlovany will assist in.
Following the announcement, Koetzle returned to the agenda, where the board quickly moved through 36 resolutions, leaving the last eight, including an add-on, for discussion.
James MacFarland received a promotion to director of operations for the town, which Koetzle said MacFarland has already been performing the duties of, without the title.
`This brings [MacFarland] in line with actually what he has been for 2010. He’s been doing these jobs as an acting director of operations and he’s performed wonderfully and I think deserves this promotion,` said Koetzle.
Quinn also praised MacFarland for his work in the town.
`In my 10 years of service to the town, Jamie has proven to be an invaluable resource,` said Quinn. `He has more institutional knowledge then I dare say anybody else in the town has. He is also a tremendous ambassador for the town and he has served very well in a variety of capacities.`
Koetzle said MacFarland wasn’t getting a raise, as some town employees initially thought, but was receiving a salary increase equal to his new title. Councilman Alan Boulant said the town could afford the increase, because it was still less expense than a similar position the previous board had paying a $120,000 salary. MacFarland will make a salary of $79,500 under his new position.
Also passed was a resolution authorizing an inter-municipal agreement, which added $6,543 of revenue to the town.
Glenville will provide dog control officer services for the Town of Charlton, which Koetzle said was a `win-win` agreement. Boulant came up with the idea after the town had struggled with the position in the budget, so to ease the financial burden he developed a `creative solution,` said Koetzle.“
