Even before it announced two new appointments to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), the Plattekill Town Board was criticized at its April 6 meeting by two town residents for dumping a longtime Planning Board member and for its appointment process.

Former Town Board member Cindy Delgado and town resident Annette Laskowsky took turns questioning the board about recent appointments in the public comment period.

Delgado criticized the board’s decision to not reappoint Dr. Kathie Beinkafner to the Planning Board even though she said the planning board had unanimously recommended that Beinkafner be reappointed to another seven-year term.

“She’s been a long-standing member of the planning board and she has a doctorate in geology and she’s very knowledgeable,” Delgado said. “I’m a little bit perplexed why somebody with that much knowledge would not be appointed.”

Councilman Dean DePew Sr. said that when notified that Beinkafner’s term was up at the end of last year, “the board just chose to go a different way and get new ideas. It is a new board, so that’s what we decided collectively and that’s what we stand by.”

Supervisor Jennifer Salemo emailed Beinkafner on Jan. 11 that the board had decided not to reappoint her.

The board voted on Jan. 19 to appoint Darlene Ruscelli to a seven-year term on the planning board from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2028.
Delgado asked why the planning board vacancy wasn’t advertised rather than filled so quickly.

“We did have applicants on file and we decided at that time to make changes,” DePew said. “And we just made changes for the betterment of the town.”

Laskowsky criticized the board’s selection process, which she said excluded other possible candidates. She pointed out that the town didn’t receive an application to fill Beinkafner’s spot until Jan. 14 and appointed a replacement for her just five days later.

“There may be other people besides the ones that you know if you went out and advertised,” she said. “You might get somebody else that is as good as the person you are replacing.”

Salemo asked Laskowsky if she was interested in applying for any upcoming vacancies.

“No,” Laskowsky replied. “I’m saying there are many other people who would like the opportunity. Even if I were planning on applying, which I could have done, you wouldn’t pick me anyway. Why? Because I disagree with what you’re doing.”

When encouraged by Salemo and DePew to put in an application, Laskowsky reconsidered and said she would.

Later in the meeting, the board voted 3-0 to appoint current ZBA member George Hickey to replace Phil Sabarese on the planning board through Dec. 31, 2026. Sabarese resigned on Feb. 22.

The board also voted 3-0 to appoint Helene Dembroski to replace Hickey on the ZBA through Dec. 31, 2027.

In other news, the board voted 3-0 to hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on April 20 for the establishment of a drainage district for the Innovation Homes subdivision.

The board approved by a 3-0 vote to have Dick’s Landscaping and Property Maintenance of Highland mow town properties.