A little more than two months after leaving office as the Town of Plattekill Supervisor, Joseph Croce has returned to serve on the town’s Veteran’s Committee.

Supervisor Jennifer Salemo announced at the board’s March 2 meeting that Croce would replace Nelson Rivera, who resigned from the committee after moving to Florida.

Croce served as Town Supervisor from 2013 through 2021. He chose not to run for re-election for another two-year term clearing the way for Salemo to win the position over former Supervisor Judy Mayle in last November’s election.

Salemo said Croce was well qualified to fill the vacancy on the Veteran’s Committee.

“He has been a liaison to the Veteran’s Committee during his term as Supervisor of the town,” she said. “He was also part of the team to help facilitate the grant for the Veteran’s Memorial Park that was received from the state through (State) Senator (William) Larkin’s office in 2015.”

In an interview with the Southern Ulster Times during his last months in office, Croce said that one of his proudest achievements was establishing the Veteran’s Memorial at Thomas Felten Park.

In other news, Salemo said the board just received the revised towing law from Town Attorney Paul Kellar and hopes to present the revised law at its March 16 meeting.

Kellar has spent several months reviewing objections made by Mayle at a Dec. 15 public hearing. The board has been working on a towing law that would alternate calls between four towing companies since September 2021.

Over the years, the town worked without a towing ordinance and alternated calls between Town of Plattekill towing companies. But when several towing companies from outside Plattekill inquired about getting towing calls, the board decided to create a town ordinance.

“We’re getting close,” Salemo said.

Highway Superintendent Robert Wager announced that highway department secretary Linda Byrnes has become a notary. She is the only notary in the Town of Plattekill.

In the public comment period, town resident Annette Laskowski asked the board to detail its policy for making appointments to town boards. Her question was prompted by Darlene Ruscelli’s appointment to the Town Planning Board in January.

Salemo replied that the board had applications on hand “for a while now. If we see someone that is a good fit for the planning board, then there’s no reason to advertise an open spot when you have someone who’s already applied that we feel is a fit for the board.”

“You never can tell,” Laskowski said. “Somebody new could come in.”

“Understood,” said Town Councilman Dean DePew Sr., who noted that the town would advertise openings for various boards if no applicants were on file.

The board voted 5-0 to correct the salary of Assessor Matthew Sabia that was incorrectly listed in a resolution at the reorganizational meeting as $74,602. The correct salary is $74,131, Salemo said.

Following a question by Laskowski at the board’s Feb. 16 meeting about Sabia’s pay and hours, Salemo said at Wednesday’s meeting that the duties are split between the Town of Plattekill and the Town of Gardiner.

Plattekill pays 53 percent of Sabia’s salary and benefits, while Gardiner picks up the remaining 47 percent.

Councilman Darryl Matthews said a shortage of assessors in the area has led to towns having to share services with other towns.

“It’s the only way to get it done at this point unless Ulster County does something to try to take it over,” Matthews said. “I kind of like having it local, so local people can deal with an assessor right here.”

Matthews explained the assessor’s job in Plattekill had been part-time until recently.

“This is completely different,” Matthews said. “Now he (Sabia) has a full-time position, but he’s split between two towns.”

“I think it’s a win-win for us and a win-win for Gardiner,” DePew said. “And a win-win for the employee also. We’re very fortunate to have Matt (Sabia). He’s a great assessor.”

The board also voted 5-0 to increase insurance coverage for injuries at the summer camp. The additional expense will cost $685 for 2022.