As of Monday evening, Fort Montgomery’s Philip Hannawalt is the new Town of Highlands Building Inspector (3). That may be a surprise to some who assumed he’d held the position for the last several years.

“Since I’ve been liaison to the Building Department for the last seven years we’ve had COVID, we’ve had staff resign, we had the storm last year,” Deputy Supervisor Rich Sullivan said at the Town Board meeting. “In that time Mr. Philip Hannawalt, who for a good number of years has had the credentials of Code Enforcement Officer, Building Safety Inspector, Fire Inspector, and worked many hard hours for us to get us through all that. But what he didn’t have was the Civil Service test behind him.”

Sullivan said that the particular test Hannawalt needed to take had not been available for awhile, it finally was in January, and Hannawalt took it, scoring high.

“He did incredible and had very good standing on the county list,” he said. “So, tonight, I make the motion that we hire Phil to the position of Building Inspector (3).”
After the board did that, Supervisor Bob Livsey and others congratulated him and acknowledged his parents, Roy and Maria Hannawalt, and wife Heather, in the audience.

“I thank all of the Hannawalt family for all of your community dedication through the years,” Sullivan added.

In other personnel matters from Monday’s meeting, the board hired three part-time police officers. They are John McDonald, a retired NYPD officer and former sheriff’s deputy who worked at the Fort Montgomery Elementary School; Geovanni Villalone, who currently works in Ulster County; and Ava Smith, who the THPD will sponsor in the police academy.

In another police matter, Officer James Secreto received a letter of thanks for the second meeting in a row. He also was praised by Councilman Ty King for his help during the rainy ‘Dancing Under the Stars’ at Mine Dock Park. “He’s one of our great day-shift officers,” Chief Joseph Burns said, noting that when hiring officers he’s focused on finding “community-minded” men and women.

The board also removed an EMT who no longer works for the Town of Highlands Ambulance Corps from the town employee list, Sean Boyle.
Also at the meeting:

-- King reminded residents that Buffalo Soldiers will again be remembered at the Sunday, Sept. 1 wreath-laying ceremony on West Point’s Buffalo Soldier Field. It’s set for noon.

-- Supervisor Bob Livsey thanked Recreation Director Aaron Falk for his ‘pivoting’ what summer day campers do on recent very hot days. “No matter what these kids always seem to have a great time,” he said.

-- Regarding the extended periods of high heat, King reminded residents there are several protocols in place for cooling shelters, and thanked the volunteers who are willing to staff those facilities, mainly the Highland Falls Senior Center, when needed.

-- The board authorized Livsey to sign a new ALS interceptor agreement with New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, “updating billing protocols”, Attorney Justin Rider said. The board also okayed new billing rates for the THAC, raising them slightly to reflect rates in other communities across the county. The last time the rates were raised was April 2022. The ALS (Advanced Life Support) rate went from $1150 to $1600; there was previously no ALS 2 rate, now it is $1600; the BLS (Basic Life Support) rate went from $1150 to $1300; the bill for refusing medical service went from $400 to $500; and the mileage charge went from $35/mile to $40/mile. Those charges go to insurance companies, not individuals.

-- Chief Burns said the THPD will participate in National Night Out activities in Highland Falls (with the HFPD, West Point Military Police and NYS Park Police) on Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 5-8 p.m. in the vicinity of the West Point Visitor’s Center.

-- Livsey said a bid request has gone out for the rebuilding of a dog kennel near Mine Dock Park. He said he hopes local contractors will consider bidding on the project.