by Rachel Hunter
In accordance with New York State Public Law, Town of Fowler officials have been administered their oath of office. The majority of the oaths were administered by the Hon. Tim Knowlton, Town of Fowler Justice, in a swearing-in ceremony during the Town of Fowler’s year-end budget transfers meeting on Dec. 29 at the Fowler Town Hall.
NYS Public Law §10 requires "every officer shall take and file the oath of office required by law." It further states, "every officer of a municipal corporation, including a school district, with the clerk thereof; and, every other officer, including trustees and officers of a public library and the officers of boards of cooperative educational services, in the office of the clerk of the county in which he shall reside, if no place be otherwise provided by law for the filing thereof." NYS Public Law §30 (1)(a) states "his refusal or neglect to file his official oath or undertaking, if one is required, before and within thirty days after the commencement of the term of office for which he is chosen, if elective office, or if an appointed office, within thirty days after notice of his appointment, or within 30 days after commencement of such term."
Town of Fowler Supervisor Rick Newvine announced at the Town of Fowler Swearing-In Ceremony that all elected officials, anyone on the municipal payroll, and appointed officers of a town board (paid and unpaid) needed to take their oaths of office.
During the General Election in 2021, voters elected into office Town of Fowler Councilmen Scott Cleveland and Lynn Bishop, and Town of Fowler Tax Assessor Michael Bates. Town of Fowler Councilman Lynn Bishop was administered the oath of office at the Fowler Town Clerk’s Office on Dec. 27. Town of Fowler Councilman Scott Cleveland was the first to be administered the oath of office by Judge Knowlton during the swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 29. He placed his hand on the Holy Bible, provided to the Town of Fowler by Deputy Supervisor Karen Simmons, and raised his right hand as he pledged the following: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of town council of the Town of Fowler, according to the best of my ability.”
Next to the podium was Town of Fowler Tax Assessor Michael Bates, who followed the same format, and recited the following oath as administered by Judge Knowlton: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of tax assessor of the Town of Fowler, according to the best of my ability.”
Others taking the oath of office for 2022 at the swearing-in ceremony included the following: Dog Control Officer Dan Moyer, Budget Director Rick Newvine , Deputy Supervisor and Town Historian Karen Simmons, Second Deputy Town Clerk and Deputy Tax Collector Kimberly Reed, Code Enforcement Officer Glen Besaw, Bookkeeper Barbara Finnie, Custodian Rosalee Thornton, Tax Collector and Registrar of Vital Statistics Tami Gale. They were administered the oath of office as one group by Judge Knowlton with each saying their respective office in the oath as follows: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of (insert office) of the Town of Fowler, according to the best of my ability.” Following the swearing-in ceremony, all town officials signed their oaths of office.
Oaths reportedly filed included Court Clerk Irma Ashley (Dec. 28), Planning Board Member Leo Knight Jr. (Dec. 29). Oaths still needed to be filed as of the date of the swearing-in ceremony was as follows: Town Attorney Henry Leader, Maintenance Specialist Byron Woodward Jr., First Deputy Town Clerk/Deputy Tax Collector/Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics Debra Tupper, Deputy Highway Superintendent Nelson Bice, Board of Assessment Review Member Richard Weaver, and a Board of Ethics Committee Member TBD (oath will be taken after the ethics meeting in January).
All town officials must sign their oaths of office within 30 days after notice of their appointment, or 30 days after commencement of their terms. The next meeting of the Town of Fowler Council is to be held on Monday, January 10, 6 p.m., at the Fowler Town Hall, Little York Road, Fowler. For more information about the Town of Fowler, visit fowlerny.com or call 315-287-0045.