The Maybrook board of trustees, during its August 24 meeting, announced that Valentina Johnson, a longtime resident and former village clerk-treasurer, will take over the seat of late Trustee William Treco, who passed away on July 25. Johnson will serve the remainder of Treco’s term until the village’s next election in 2027.

“Tonight, I am appointing Valentina Johnson to fill the vacancy on the village board created by the unexpected passing of our friend and colleague, Trustee William ‘Bill’ Treco. This was a decision I gave a great deal of thought to, because Bill’s passing left not only a tremendous personal loss, but also an important role to fill as we continue the work currently underway throughout our village,” said Village Mayor Dennis Leahy on August 24. “I wanted to appoint someone who is familiar with the Village of Maybrook, understands the projects and initiatives we have going on, and is prepared to step in and contribute immediately. I believe Tina is the right person to do that; she knows our community, understands the direction we are heading, and shares our commitment to working together in the best interest of our residents.”

Johnson originally grew up in Newburgh, though she and her family frequently visited her grandparents in Maybrook. She adored the village’s activities and tight-knit community, so she and her husband moved to the area in the mid-1970s.

“My grandparents were from Maybrook, so we would spend every Sunday here in the village. We enjoyed going to the park and the store on Tower Avenue. With those experiences, I always said ‘this is the kind of place I would like to live and raise my family one day.’ And sure enough, I did,” Johnson said on August 26. “Everybody knew everybody, and it was just a small and close-knit community. The church at that time was huge; you had a church family, a community family, and a recreation family. The village had so much to offer back in the day, so that’s why we decided to move here.”

Johnson graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1975, then studied accounting and banking at Mount St. Mary College and Orange County Community College. She worked for several banks over the years, serving as a bank teller, a teller manager, and a teller representative. In 1998, Johnson became Maybrook’s village clerk after a friend suggested that she apply for the position. She was promoted to village clerk-treasurer in 2002, serving until her retirement in 2023.

“I started out as a bank teller, and from there became a teller manager and then a teller rep,” Johnson said on August 26. “That’s when I had a dear friend, who was also my branch manager, tell me about an opening for village clerk back in that time. The village clerk at that time was retiring, and my friend said ‘you would be perfect for the position, you should apply.’ I did apply, I got interviewed, and got the job in 1998. I started out as a village clerk, and one of my former mayors promoted me to village clerk-treasurer.”

Johnson juggled numerous responsibilities as Maybrook’s clerk and clerk-treasurer, from taking meeting notes and doing payroll to overseeing the village departments and their daily activities. She was also the secretary for the board of trustees, the planning board, and the ZBA. Outside of work, Johnson served her community as former president of the Maybrook Kiwanis Club, a local service group. She is also a current member and former president of the Walden Rotary Club.

“When I started out as village clerk, I took the minutes for the village board meetings and administered the office, overseeing the daily activities of the office and departments,” Johnson said on August 26. “When I was promoted to village clerk-treasurer, that encompassed me learning and carrying on the duties of payroll and accounting. Along with that, I took on the planning and zoning boards; I was the secretary for both of those boards, as well as the village board.”

Johnson felt very honored that the mayor chose her to fill Treco’s seat and finish his remaining term. She looked forward to working with the village board and serving her community as its newest trustee.

“I’m really honored and excited. It’s unfortunate the way things took place, because our former trustee and dear friend Billy Treco was a true blessing. He was such a great guy and dedicated public servant,” Johnson said. “So to be considered to fill his seat, it just means a lot to me that they considered me. He did a great job, and he was a great man, so I’m just really honored.”