New administration in Lloyd

Pizzuto sworn in as new Lloyd Town Supervisor

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 1/8/20

Lloyd Judge Terry Elia officiated over the swearing in of town officials on New Years Day at the Highland Fire House. He acknowledged the presence of the Highland Boy Scouts of Troop 70, who led in …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

New administration in Lloyd

Pizzuto sworn in as new Lloyd Town Supervisor

Posted

Lloyd Judge Terry Elia officiated over the swearing in of town officials on New Years Day at the Highland Fire House. He acknowledged the presence of the Highland Boy Scouts of Troop 70, who led in the Pledge of Allegiance, and of the Color Guard from the Highland Hose Company #1. Summer Bugbee sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Fr. John W. Lynch, of St. Augustine’s Church, offered an invocation.

“As we welcome this new year, we pray Blessed are you O Lord, Great God of Mercy, who through your son gave us a wonderful example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another,” he said. “Send down your blessings upon these, your good servants here who so generously devote themselves to helping others. May they be enabled by your powerful protection to discharge their duties with honesty and humility.”

Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson congratulated all who were being sworn in.

“I know all of you and I look forward to working with you to make the Town of Lloyd an even better place to live,” he said. “Serving in local government, especially on the Town Council, is a unique experience. Not all decisions fit into a box or can every decision be explained on a bumper sticker. As Gov. Mario Cuomo once said, you campaign in poetry and you govern in prose.”

In quick succession Judge Elia swore in Wendy Rosinski as Town Clerk, who in turn swore in her Deputy Clerks Rena Rizzo and Vera Lawrence.

Rosinski thanked everyone for their support in November but took a moment to thank her predecessor, Rosalie Peplow.

“I really want to thank Rosalie who brought me in under her wings and taught me so very much,” Rosinski said.

Judge Elia continued by swearing in Highway Superintendent Richard Klotz.

“All of the support comes from out there,” he said, motioning to the audience. “You people out there letting me know what’s going on helps me an awful lot.”

Councilmen Joe Mazzetti recalled that what was important to him as a child is still important to him today, “quality of life, a community that we’re all proud of. This Town Board is dedicated to listening to all of you. Please come to the board meetings and tell us what you think and this board will do the changes that you need and support the things that you hold sacred. You need to be part of it and we hope all of you come out and thank you for the support.”

Councilman Mike Guerriero thanked his family, especially his son who managed his campaign, and for all who turned out for the swearing in ceremony.

Judge Elia also had the honor of swearing in his fellow Judge Eugene Rizzo, who has served the town for 36 years. He acknowledged the candidates who ran in November but did not win – John Fraino, Jeff Paladino and Bud Walker, “thank you for your effort and you put up a good race.” He thanked his wife, Rena, saying, “I tell her every morning that she got the raw end of the deal and how lucky I am to have her.”

Judge Elia introduced special guest speaker Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian (Butch) Anderson.

“I’ve known Fred [Pizzuto] for many years. He has discretion, compassion, he’s objective and his integrity is second to none. He’s proud and he’s a caring man and he loves his community; give him a chance,” Anderson said.

Judge Elia swore in Pizzuto as Supervisor. He stood beside his son Rick, who held the family bible for his father.

“As you all know I’m a registered Independent and I’ve always had the ability to walk down the center of the line. Going forward I have a very good board; it’s a new decade and it’s a new time for us to pull ourselves together and do the town’s business and represent the town,” he said. “This is the kind of town that draws you in and draws you back and it is our job to maintain the character of the town, so we can love it, live it and retire here.”

Pizzuto invited former Supervisor Paul Hansut up to the podium.

“Paul I would like to thank you for your eight years of service. You were invaluable to me in helping me get elected. I would just like to say thank you,” he said. Pizzuto presented Hansut with a plaque with a gavel, “from your friends.”

Hansut said, “I just want to say it’s been a pleasure not only to serve you eight years as Supervisor but for four years as a County Legislator. I decided to give up to be with my family and unfortunately God gave me another thing to deal with but we’re going to get through it because I’m from Highland; I’m from the Town of Lloyd. I’m not a Republican, I’m not a Democrat, I’m someone battling cancer and I know with this community I’m going to kick it’s ass.” Hansut apologized if he had offended anyone while serving on the Town Board, “but it was only in the good sense of serving our community.”

Summer Bugbee sang “God Bless America” and Fr. Lynch concluded with a Benediction.