by Rachel Hunter

Town of Gouverneur Council Member Lory Whitton was administered the oath of office by the Hon. Stanley Young, Gouverneur Town Justice, on Jan. 10.

The oath was administered as follows: “I, Lory Whitton, in the Town of Gouverneur, County of St. Lawrence, State of New York, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Town of Gouverneur Council Member, according to the best of my ability…”

Whitton was elected to a three-year term during the 2022 General Election. The seat had been vacated due to the passing of longtime public servant Eldon B. Conklin in May 2022. Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., the Gouverneur Town Council and Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall warmly welcomed Lory Whitton. “Congratulations!” they said, and great applause could be heard from various members of the public in attendance. Whitton was then urged to sign the oath, as directed by Town Clerk Marion Bowhall. Much gratitude was extended to Mr. Young for administering the oath of office.

Supervisor Spilman also extended great appreciation to former Town Supervisor Robert Ritchie, who was appointed to fill the seat until it was filled by a duly elected candidate in January 2023. Supervisor Spilman said, “I’d like to thank Bob Ritchie for stepping up and filling in for our friend Eldon for the remainder of his term. You have been an amazing asset to us, Bob.” Great applause sounded in appreciation of all of Mr. Ritchie’s hard work and dedication. “Don’t go too far, because we will pull you back into something else,” Supervisor Spilman said.

“That’s why I am here, to see that you do!” Mr. Ritchie said in response.

“We really do appreciate it, thank you,” Supervisor Spilman said.

The Town of Gouverneur held an organizational meeting on Jan. 10. The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Spilman at 5:30 p.m., who commenced the meeting by reporting the following appointments and salaried for 2023:

David L. Spilman, Jr., Town Supervisor, will be paid an annual salary of $11,870. His term expires on December 31, 2023.

Town Councilman Jay Bowhall was appointed Deputy Supervisor at an annual salary of $1,860.

Marion Bowhall, Town Clerk and Tax Collector, will be paid an annual salary of $35,310.00. Her term expires on December 31, 2025. The Deputy Town Clerk with full power to act will be paid at $15.50 per hour.

Town Council Members Jay Bowhall and Jaimee McQuade were appointed as single-audit officers (for receiving discounts on bills and sign in place of the Supervisor when necessary).

Case and Leader, LLP, Attorneys at Law, was appointed as the town attorney. They will be paid at $185 per hour up to $5,000 annually (retainer of $1,250 per quarter with a complete quarterly statement).

Town of Gouverneur Highway and Utilities Superintendent David Perrigo (January 1 to December 31, 2023) will be paid a salary of $64,270. Michael Wainwright was appointed as Deputy Highway Superintendent with full authority to act.

The Town Board Members are paid at $3,740 annually. The Town Board Members are Curran Wade (term expires December 31, 2025), Lory Whitton (term expires December 31, 2025), Jaimee McQuade (term expires December 31, 2023), and Jay Bowhall (term expires December 31, 2023).

Assessor Sherry Geer is paid an annual salary of $10,100. Her term expires on September 30, 2025. Data Collector Phyllis Shaw is appointed at an annual salary of $10,100.

Court Clerks Kylea Plantz and Taylor Andrews are paid $16.50 per hour.

Town Justice Travis Dann is paid at an annual salary of $20,063. His term expires on December 31, 2024. Town Justice Stanley Young is paid at an annual salary of $20,063. His term expires on December 31, 2023.

Dog Control Officer Daniel Moyer is appointed at an annual salary of $5,500, plus $4,850 for pound maintenance. Maria Moyer is appointed Deputy Dog Control Officer at no salary.

Bookkeeper Diane Kelley is paid at an annual salary of $37,080, plus micro-enterprise loan processing.

Code Enforcement Officer Richard Wood is paid at an annual salary of $14,000.

The Town Highway Employees are paid at $23.19 per hour (per agreement).

The Town of Gouverneur has appointed the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department as the town’s health officer.

Town Historian Joe Laurenza will be paid at an annual salary of $500.

The Town of Gouverneur has signed financial contracts with the following: American Legion and VFW ($200 each for maintenance of rooms and $50 each for patriotic observances for the year), Gouverneur Fire Department ($64,278), Gouverneur Rescue Squad ($33,500), Gouverneur Museum ($650), Gouverneur Reading Room ($5,000), Youth Commission with Village of Gouverneur ($13,000), Greater Gouverneur Recreation Area Association ($6,000), Gouverneur Senior Citizens ($500), and Gouverneur Cemetery Association ($7,000).

The Town of Gouverneur will utilize the following banks/financial institutions to hold town accounts:

Community Bank, NA (Checking and Savings Accounts) for tax collection and town clerk accounts, DEC Sweep Account, Highway Townwide (DA) accounts (misc., brush, weeds, and snow removal), Highway Outside (DB) accounts (road building and repairs), accounts payable account, payroll account, trust and agency fund for withholding and trusts, general fund, full town accounts, utilities (sewer and water district accounts), General Fund Outside Village, Justice Accounts, Micro-enterprise accounts (HUD, Rural Development, Small Cities, Health Insurance -0- Account). Also CLASS-MBIA (for investments).

The official newspapers are the Gouverneur Tribune Press (weekly) and Watertown Daily Times (daily).

The Town of Gouverneur Council also set the regular town board meetings to be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. The Economic Development meetings will be held on the fourth Friday of each month at noon, unless otherwise stated. The Gouverneur Community Center Inc. holds meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m.

The Town of Gouverneur named Town Council Members Jay Bowhall and Jaimee McQuade as the auditing officers for the monthly billings.

The Town of Gouverneur Board of Review Members serve five year terms. The members include Diane Cotter (term expires September 30, 2025), Albert Desormeaux (term expires September 30, 2026), Gary Tweedie (term expires September 30, 2027), Dorothy Vorce (term expires September 30, 2024), and Tania Sterling (term expires September 30, 2023).

Town of Gouverneur Planning Board Members serve three-year terms. The board meets on the second Monday of each month. There is one vacancy. Members include Diane Kelley (term expires December 31, 2025), Charlie Titus (term expires December 31, 2025), Carol Dier (term expires December 31, 2024), Steven Jackson (term expires December 31, 2024), Robert Ritchie (term expires December 31, 2025), and John Wetmore (term expires December 31, 2025).

The Zoning Board of Appeals members serve three-year terms. There are two vacancies on the board. Members include Kenneth Saucier (term expires December 31, 2025), John Wetmore (term expires December 31, 2024), and Steven Jackson (term expires December 31, 2025).

Anyone interested in filling the vacancies on the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals are urged to contact the Town of Gouverneur at 315-287-2340.

Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr. made the following appointments: Deputy Supervisor (Jay Bowhall), Insurance Committee (Lory Whitton and Jaimee McQuade), Planning and Zoning Committee (Curran Wade and Lory Whitton at no salary), Assessor/Code Enforcement committee (Jay Bowhall and Lory Whitton at no salary), Building and Grounds Committee (Jay Bowhall and Curran Wade at no salary), Sewer and Water District Committee (Lory Whitton and Jay Bowhall at no salary), Highway Committee (Jay Bowhall and Dave Spilman, Jr. at no salary), Shared Services Committee (David Spilman, Jr., and Lory Whitton at no salary for monthly meetings), Economic Development Committee (shared with the Village of Gouverneur at no salary are Town Board Representatives Dave Spilman, Jr. and Jay Bowhall, Town Planning Board Member John Wetmore, and Community Members at Large), Justice Committee (Dave Spilman, Jr. and Lory Whitton at no salary), Town Clerk Committee (Jaimee McQuade and Lory Whitton at no salary), Dog Control Committee (Curran Wade and Jaimee McQuade at no salary), Ethics Board (Jaimee McQuade, Diane Kelley, Robert Ritchie), and Community Center Building (Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor).

Town Clerk Marion Bowhall was appointed as Registrar of Vital Statistics, and Deputy Town Clerk was appointed as deputy registrar both at no salary.

The Section 3 Housing Coordinator is Richard Wood at no salary.

The Fair Housing Coordinator is Richard Wood at no salary.

Town Councilman Jay Bowhall was appointed as the Labor Standards and Compliance Officer at no salary.

Mileage will be paid at 50 cents per mile for 2023.

Diane Kelley, secretary for the Board of Review and Planning and Zoning Meetings, will be paid at $75 per meeting (only duties are taking minutes of meetings, typing and sending out meeting notices).

The Town of Gouverneur Council also approved the Youth Commission Resolution for 2023, the Investment Policy for 2023), the Audit Resolution for 2023, and the Procurement Policy Resolution (no changes for 2023).

The next regular meeting of the Town of Gouverneur Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 6 p.m., at the Town of Gouverneur Offices Building, 1227 US Highway 11, Gouverneur. For more information about the Town of Gouverneur, call 315-287-2340.