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TOWN OF ORANGETOWN
REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
JANUARY 2, 2007
This Reorganizational Meeting was opened at 7:37 p.m. Supervisor Kleiner presided. The Town Clerk called the Roll. Present were:
Councilman Denis O’Donnell
Councilman Denis Troy
Councilwoman Marie Manning
Councilman Thomas A. Morr
Also present: Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk
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Eliot Tozer, Deputy Supervisor
Teresa Kenny, Town Attorney
John S. Edwards, First Deputy Town Attorney
Robert Magrino, Deputy Town Attorney
Dennis Michaels, Deputy Town Attorney
Suzanne Barclay, Executive Asst. to Supvr.
Charles Richardson, Director of Finance
James Dean, Superintendent of Highways
Ron Delo, Dept. Environmental Mgt. & Eng.
Kevin Nulty, Chief of Police
Robert Zimmerman, Police Captain
Robert Simon, Receiver of Taxes
Mary McCloskey, Assessor’s Office
Richard Rose, Superintendent of Parks, Rec. & Bldg. Maint.
John Giardello, Director, OBZPAE
* * *
The meeting started with the Presentation of Colors by the Orangetown Police Department. Pastor David Kim, from the Church of the Lord, sang the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, which followed, was led by Sparkill Fire Chief, John McCullough.
Msgr. O’Keefe of St. Margaret’s Church offered the Invocation and a moment of silence was observed in memory of President Gerald Ford.
The following organizations and members of the Police Dept., Fire Departments and EMS were recognized for their heroic actions responding to the October 27, 2005 Thorpe Village fire.
Orangetown Police Dept. Piermont Police Dept. Orangeburg Fire Dept.
Sgt. Joseph Holihan PO John Dowd Tappan Fire Dept.
PO Richard Kopunek Piermont Fire Dept.
PO Brian Lyons Sparkill-Palisades Fire Dept. S Orangetown Ambulance
PO David Brockway John Paulding Engine Co. #1 Pearl River Ambulance
PO Nicholas Whalen FF John J. Streppone Rockland Paramedics
PO Michael McNally FF William Nelson
PO Ronald Amoia
Supervisor Kleiner State of the Town Address
- Rockland Psychiatric Center
For much of the last year the Town Board has been earnestly negotiating an agreement to develop the Rockland Psychiatric Center. While each of us on the Town Board would have preferred to have this part of the process completed, we are committed to working through the remaining issues to ensure that the interests of our residents are protected.
The basic ingredients of the plan have not changed: significant annual tax ratables, a sizeable influx of cash to the Town’s coffers and other additional amenities. But each of us is keenly aware that the agreement we sign today must not only be good enough for us now, but one that our community can be proud of 100 years from now. We recognize that we have an amenity that is unique to the metropolitan region: 348 acres of land on a water body (Lake Tappan) that has value now and which will only appreciate in the future.
Our negotiations are even more significant now that the State has broken ground for the new Children’s Psychiatric Center to be located next to the high-rise buildings. When the site becomes available, the Town will have the opportunity to plan and control the entire Lake Tappan waterfront, stretching from Convent Road in the north, to Veterans Highway in the south.
Last week, we met with State Senator Morahan and Assemblywoman Jaffee to discuss legislation that our representatives will introduce in Albany to allow us to purchase the “Staff Court” parcel on the southernmost portion of the site. Its acquisition will enable us to offer a future commercial developer – such as a small office-building user – a larger, more contiguous site than we can offer now.
The Town has not stood still while these land negotiations have proceeded. The passage of a Town-wide referendum last June permitted us to move forward with the building of soccer and little league fields. These will expand recreational opportunities for the South Orangetown Little League and the Orangetown Mighty Midgets Soccer League, in particular, and will free up existing fields in Veterans Park for other users such as the Patriot Football League and the newly popular lacrosse leagues.
2) Route 303
The Town has been meeting on a regular basis with State officials and Rockland County planners to implement the Route 303 Sustainable Development Study recommendations. It may come as a surprise to some, but the funding for the project is actually on schedule. Last month we met with our study partners to analyze the new traffic patterns that would be produced if the Orangeburg Road Bridge is realigned with Route 340. Additional analysis needs to be done before our findings are presented to the public for comment this spring.
I am also working to keep the Erie Street intersection project on track. Safety there was improved with the implementation of a left-hand turn signal. Although accidents slightly decreased after its installation, the improvement was nowhere near as dramatic as the results at other intersections. (At Kings Highway in Tappan, for example, the left-hand turn signal resulted in a yearly reduction of accidents from 24 to five.) It is likely that a left hand turn lane will be recommended to continue to improve safety at Erie Street,
The Erie Street intersection project will include the construction of a median, at least a thousand feet in either direction to improve the aesthetics of the road, and left-hand turn lanes to improve safety. Once the width of the median is decided upon, we will meet with local property owners to determine how best to deal with curb cuts and other access issues. Our expectation is that no matter what particular design is selected, it will improve safety, and over time, will enhance business itself along Route 303.
3) Pearl River Theater, Hamlet Revival and Proper Planning and Zoning
- The Pearl River Theater/Hamlet Revival
The denial of the Gatto Lane zone change has not discouraged us from pursuing the revival of the Pearl River Theater. We are working with our Theater partners on different options to accomplish that purpose
From the beginning, those in support of reviving the theater have been motivated by two factors: the sincere belief that many of us would rather see movies in Pearl River than in the Palisades Center Mall, and, along with the Pearl River Chamber of Commerce, the expectation that a theater would ensure the health and prosperity of area businesses. Similar hamlet-enhancing efforts are underway in Tappan, Sparkill and other areas.
- Zoning and Planning
What was reaffirmed in the zone change process was the lesson that we all thought we knew when we took office, but is always good to be reminded about: no Councilmember or Town Supervisor has a monopoly on wisdom, and it is important to keep an open mind when discussing issues that affect any part of our community, particularly regarding zoning and planning issues. That is what happened in the Gatto Lane zone change, where
it was made clear to us that even if the zone change was determined to be appropriate for Gatto Lane, its potentially negative implications for future planning argued against its passage.
This was acknowledged as particularly important when we recognize the dearth of developable properties in Orangetown. And while we have been very prudent in our use of Town funds to protect open space – securing those parcels that should never be developed on steep slopes and other environmentally sensitive areas – there are other areas that need to be acknowledged as transitional that particularly affect their immediate neighbors. The 13 acres that Wyeth owns to the south of the Gatto Lane parcel, for example, are probably appropriately zoned residential, but need to be better protected in any development process.
I am now proposing that our conservation easement law be amended to enable the Planning Board, particularly in cases where the Town Board is not involved (where a zone change is not required) to require conservation easements to protect neighbors in those few remaining parcels. We will consider setting a public hearing on this matter later this evening.
- Quality of Life Issues
As I think over my tenure as Town Supervisor and look forward to 2007, there are some issues that persist no matter which new topics rise to the top of our priority list in any particular year. All can loosely be described as “quality-of-life” issues.
- Taxes and Spending
The cost of living, the challenge in buying a home or raising a family here is the one issue that most affects our “quality-of-life.” So when we consider large projects, such as the sewer infrastructure improvements, the impact on taxes must always be analyzed simultaneously. That is why we changed the formula for calculating sewer charges. The result of the new system is that homeowners, on average, will pay less under the new system, even after the cost of the new improvements is taken into account.
And for the third consecutive year, we have either had the lowest, or next to the lowest tax increase for each of the five Rockland towns.
We are working to attract new tax rateables to increase our tax base. Most significantly, two active adult residential projects have been approved, and zone changes will permit the Commons development next to Lowe’s and the Hunter-Douglass project on Veterans Memorial drive to proceed. The Hunter-Douglass architect visited with me last month and shared plans for their new building. The corporate headquarters has been designed to be sensitive to the unique environmental issues that the site presents.
We will also save money by instituting Energy Performance Contracting recommendations.
- Traffic Enforcement
Other quality-of-life issues, particularly traffic enforcement issues, translate less into dollars and cents and more into the safety and well being of our residents. Complaints about speeding, especially within quiet neighborhood areas, appear to be increasing. The use of cell phones, CD and DVD players distracts drivers and frequently puts the safety of our neighborhood residents, particularly children, at risk. Congestion on our arterial streets has lead to more cars on our local streets.
Edward Street in Sparkill, where I live, is a through street between Kings Highway and Sparkill Center and many people use it as an alternative to Route 340. Similarly, Lexington Road and Concord Drive in Tappan has become a short cut between Washington Street and Route 303. Speeding on these streets is a particular hazard.
We will continue to work with the Police Department to enhance traffic safety and enforcement, always being mindful of the cost of adding additional officers to the force as a whole. But the police need more than just more frequent patrols to make a meaningful impact on this problem.
(The Police Department is engaging in a new recruitment effort to increase the diversity of the Department. Each of you is encouraged to take a look at the poster in English and in Spanish outside the courtroom, which is designed to accomplish this.)
I will, therefore, ask the Town Board to consider a dramatic increase in fines for speeding in residential neighborhoods. When New York City raised certain parking fines, the number of people illegally parking in congestion-sensitive areas plummeted. There is no reason we can’t achieve the same results in Orangetown. If the fine is high enough, more people will simply slow down.
In the New Year, we also intend to explore and experiment with different traffic calming techniques. It has been suggested that we install a speed hump in select areas similar to those that Nyack has installed on an experimental basis. While they have had some success, there are noise problems and the inevitable speeding up after the cars clear the speed hump.
One innovative solution, listed in the New York Times’ List of 100 Great Ideas for the New Year, is using graphic artists to paint three-dimensional designs on the roadway. While those in the neighborhood will eventually learn that it’s a flat surface even though it appears to be otherwise, it will likely slow down those that are using the road for the first time or only occasionally.
Superintendent Jim Dean and his staff have had some success with aspects of this approach by painting lines on the road to indicate a change in lane condition. He did this on South Broadway off 9W approaching South Nyack, where cars were routinely entering the area at a high rate of speed.
Finally, in addition to improving Route 303 safety and aesthetics we are working with County Legislators Connie Coker and John Murphy and the Rockland County Planning Department to institute quiet zones from Tappan to West Nyack. This will dramatically improve the quality of life for our residents. It was announced on Sunday that funding for the consultant had finally been approved.
5) Regional Issues
I have often said that politics on a local level should be non-partisan and would easily apply to every issue that I have addressed so far tonight. This theme has been echoed nationally by Barack Obama and, in yesterday’s inaugural address, by Governor Eliot Spitzer. It is also true, however, that the results of the 2006 elections will be of assistance to all of us, regardless of party, in addressing some of the issues which are most pressing in Orangetown, in Rockland County and in our State. Here’s why:
- Indian Point
Newly elected Congressman John Hall, whose district includes part of North Rockland, has for over 30 years been an advocate for providing safe, alternative energy sources and, in his 2006 campaign, issued a 35-page blueprint for converting the Indian Point nuclear power plant to alternative sources of energy. We need to support the work of Congressman Hall and others in Congress who are ready to work with Entergy to transition the plant to provide additional, alternative forms of energy. That will address concerns raised by some about how our energy needs will be met, and it will save jobs in the Hudson Valley region.
The reelection of Congresspersons Engel and Lowey will directly benefit us as well, particularly by enabling us to access more homeland security funds which all of New York deserves. The Town Supervisors, County Executive and local law enforcement officials will meet later this month with our three congressional representatives and our U.S. Senators to maximize our share of this critical funding.
- Tappan Zee Bridge
It is essential that we continue to be vigilant in overseeing the recommendations of the study group on the Tappan Zee Bridge/1-287 corridor so that our local residents are protected and our regional transportation needs are addressed.
- Millennium Pipeline
Just last week, it was revealed that the Millennium Pipeline has reared its ugly head. We will work to ensure that its route does not imperil the sensitive marches and wetlands of Piermont and Palisades.
2007 awaits us with many challenges and opportunities. Each has its pitfalls, but, if we prevail, the benefit to Orangetown will be great. Please join us on that journey. Anyone with particular suggestions is welcome to contact me at: 845-359-5100, Ext. 261. My e-mail address is: supervisor@orangetown.com. Happy New Year to all!
All of the Town Board members wished everyone a Happy New Year and look forward to working in 2007.
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 1 OFFICIAL UNDERTAKING FOR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Morr and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that Official Undertaking is approved to be filed in the Rockland County Clerk’s Office for elected and appointed officials, officers and employees as the Town Board may require for the faithful performance of their duties and the prompt and proper account for paying over all money received by said employees in their official capacities.
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, Morr, O’Donnell, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 2 2007/MARRIAGE OFFICERS
Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Morr and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following are designated as Marriage Officers for a one-year term, effective January 1, 2006.
Supervisor Thom Kleiner Councilwoman Marie Manning
Councilman Denis O’Donnell Councilman Denis Troy
Councilman Thomas Morr Town Clerk, Charlotte Madigan
Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, Morr, O’Donnell, Troy
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
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RESOLUTION NO. 3 JOURNAL NEWS/OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
Councilman Morr offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman O’Donnell and was unanimously adopted:
Resolution No. 3 – Continued
RESOLVED, that the Journal News is designated as the official newspaper for the Town of Orangetown pursuant to NYS Town Law Section 64 (11).
Ayes: Councilpersons Morr, O’Donnell, Troy, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
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RESOLUTION NO. 4 ADDITIONAL NOTICES/OUR TOWN/ROCKLAND COUNTY TIMES
Councilman O’Donnell offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Morr and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, for the purposes of additional notices beyond those published in the Journal News as the official newspaper, designate the Our Town and the Rockland County Times for any notices of the Town Board and for any other official Board of the Town of Orangetown. Publication of such bids and notices shall be at the discretion of the Town of Orangetown.
Ayes: Councilpersons O’Donnell, Morr, Troy, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
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RESOLUTION NO. 5 2007 BANKING DEPOSITORIES
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following banks are designated as banking depositories for the Town of Orangetown:
HSBC Union State Bank Provident Bank
MBIA Chase Manhattan Bank Commerce Bank
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, Manning, O’Donnell, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
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RESOLUTION NO. 6 2007 RECEIVER OF TAXES BANKING DEPOSITORIES
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Morr and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that JP Morgan Chase Manhattan Bank is designated as the banking depository for the Receiver of Taxes.
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, Morr, O’Donnell, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
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RESOLUTION NO. 7 2007 VOLUNTEER HEALTH SERVICES COMMITTEE
Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman O’Donnell and was unanimously adopted:
Resolution No. 7 – Continued
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Volunteer Health Services Committee:
Donna Alise James Dress Paul Morer
Paul Hadeler Kitty Rooney Koch Maryanne Portoro
William McDowell
Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, O’Donnell, Troy, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 8 CITIZENS ADVISORY COMM FOR CDBG FUNDING
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Citizens Advisory Committee for CDBG Funding Applications:
Sr Jude Miriam DePa lma Sr Peggy Scarano Eliot Tozer Dennis Leote
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, Manning, O’Donnell, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 9 ORANGETOWN PARKS DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Councilman O’Donnell offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Orangetown Parks Development Advisory Committee:
Catherine Dodge Dr. Robert Schelin Rita Dinan
Dan Dinan Mary McCloskey Brian Terry
Watson Morgan
RESOLVED FURTHER, that Anne Byrne and Loretta Jara are appointed to the Orangetown Parks Development Advisory Committee.
Ayes: Councilpersons O’Donnell, Manning, Troy, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 10 TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Morr and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Traffic Advisory Board:
Philip DeLorenzo Thomas Edatell Leroy Holmes
Mike Yannazzone Robert Simon
Resolution No. 10 – Continued
RESOLVED FURTHER, that Sgt. Michael Moroney is appointed to the Traffic Advisory Board and Rosemarie Fornario is reappointed clerk.
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, Morr, O’Donnell, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 11 BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION
Councilman Morr offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Troy and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Bureau of Fire Prevention:
John Ahlf Mike Bettmann Christopher Flatley
Robert Morrison Paul Raso William Schlickenreider
Ayes: Councilpersons Morr, Troy, O’Donnell, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 12 SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Councilman Morr offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee:
Mary Brennan Kay Ferrera Veronica Blaine
Mary Martini Shirley McGowan Martha Mian
Josephine Urban, Senior Leader
and Rosemarie Fornario is reappointed clerk.
Ayes: Councilpersons Morr, Manning, O’Donnell, Troy
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 13 BOARD OF ETHICS/APPOINT
Councilman O’Donnell offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Morr and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the following members are reappointed to the Board of Ethics, for a 5-yr term with effective dates of January 1, 2007 thru December 31, 2011.
Rev. Louis E. Sanders Dr. Margaret Mary Fitzpatrick John Lukens
Ayes: Councilpersons O’Donnell, Morr, Troy, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 14 2007/ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS
Councilman Morr offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that permission is granted to Elected Officials and Department Heads or their representatives to attend the 2007 Training School and Annual Meeting of the Association of Towns in New York City, February 18-21, 2007 with the Town paying lodging cost of courses, and travel, to be charged to appropriate departmental accounts.
Ayes: Councilpersons Morr, Manning, O’Donnell, Troy
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 15 2007/DELEGATE ASSOC OF TOWNS
Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Troy and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk, is the delegate to the Association of Towns Meeting February 18-21, 2007 with Robert Simon, Receiver of Taxes, as the alternate delegate to represent and vote on behalf of the Town of Orangetown.
Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, Troy, O’Donnell, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 16 2007 COMMITTEE LIAISONS
Councilwoman Manning offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman O’Donnell and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the Town Board designates the following as Committee Liaisons:
ACABOR Marie Manning
BLUE HILL GOLF Denis O’Donnell
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW Thom Kleiner
BOARD OF ETHICS Thom Kleiner
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION Tom Morr
CABLE TV COMMITTEE Thom Kleiner
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CDBG) Thom Kleiner
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE Eliot Tozer
HISTORIC AREAS BOARD OF REVIEW Marie Manning
HOUSING AUTHORITY Tom Morr
OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE Tom Morr
PARKS DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY Marie Manning
PEARL RIVER PARKING ADVISORY Denis Troy
PLANNING BOARD Marie Manning
PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE Thom Kleiner
SAFETY COMMITTEE Thom Kleiner
SANITATION COMMISSION Denis O’Donnell
SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY Denis Troy
SHADE TREE COMMISSION Marie Manning
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COMMITTEE Denis Troy
TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD Denis Troy
VOLUNTEER HEALTH SERVICES Denis O’Donnell
YOUTH RECREATION ASSESSMENT
ADVISORY COMM Tom Morr
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Denis O’Donnell
Ayes: Councilpersons Manning, O’Donnell, Troy, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
RESOLUTION NO. 17 SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE AMENDING TOWN CODE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Manning and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that a public hearing to consider amending the Town Code regarding Conservation Easements is scheduled for January 29, 2007, 8:00 p.m.
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, Manning, O’Donnell, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 18 AMEND PROCUREMENT/TRAVEL POLICY MILEAGE RATE
Councilman Morr offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman Troy and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the Procurement and Travel policy is hereby amended to reflect the IRS mileage rate of $48.5 cents.
Ayes: Councilpersons Morr, Troy, O’Donnell, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 19 AMEND PROCUREMENT/TRAVEL POLICY/VERBAL QUOTES/VOUCHERS
Councilman Morr offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman O’Donnell and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that the Procurement and Travel policy is hereby amended that all verbal quotes be written down and submitted with a voucher or purchase order as recommended by the Town’s external auditor.
Ayes: Councilpersons Morr, O’Donnell, Troy, Manning
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
* * *
RESOLUTION NO. 20 ADJOURNMENT/MEMORY
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which was seconded by Councilman O’Donnell and was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, that this Reorganizational Meeting hereby adjourned at 9:07 p.m. in memory of Gerald Ford, former US president.
Ayes: Councilpersons Troy, O’Donnell, Manning, Morr
Supervisor Kleiner
Noes: None
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Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk