Town Supervisor John Valk and Councilman Brian Amthor endorsed the idea of forming a joint association with the Gardiner Association of Businesses (GAB) to promote businesses in both towns.

Valk and Amthor made their statements to the Wallkill Valley Times following the June 15 Town Board meeting at the Town Hall. The entire board attended a GAB mixer June 8 at the Oyster & Clam Bar at the Bruynswick Inn in Wallkill.

“There were businesses there from Walker Valley all the way to the Town of Newburgh line,” Valk said. “It was a nice, big mix of businesses. Even though we don’t have a lot of stores on the Main Street (of Wallkill), we have a lot of businesses that operate. Electricians, plumbers, attorneys and engineers. It’s a matter of bringing awareness to the businesses.”

Valk said putting out a directory would be a good step to promote all the local businesses.

During the board session, Amthor said about 80 people representing businesses from the Town of Shawangunk and Gardiner attended the event. “The response was really good,” Amthor said. “We had about 15 or 20 more people than we expected. I spoke to all the businesses in town and they’re happy we were able to put together an event like that. They’re (GAB) going to have to recalibrate how the board was set up. Would Shawangunk be joining? Changing the name and things like that. We’re well on our way. It’s far from there, but we’re going to get there.”

Amthor said there are “well over 100 businesses” in the Town of Shawangunk. “Yes, you want to bring in new business but at the same time you have to support the businesses that you have,” Amthor said. “That’s what this organization will do. It’ll give them support. I foresee having training on how to public speak, how to market, how to deal with difficult people. A lot of promotional things tying in with other chambers, too.”

Lucia LaSpada, GAB president and co-founder of LACE Photo Media in Gardiner, said the association offers a variety of services to promote and assist local businesses.

GAB’s website has a directory of local businesses, a listing of events and articles about businesses. Local writer Matthew Silverman writes a blog for the business association.

The GAB membership currently totals around 50 businesses, LaSpada said. She said at its height, the organization had 100 members.

“I really think this makes more sense to connect the two because the mission of Gardiner, Shawangunk and Wallkill is very similar,” she said. “The vibe is very similar. You have the same scenery, a lot of the same mindset.”

In other news, the board agreed to allow Watchtower Farms at 900 Red Mills Road to pave the roads near its complex at its own expense. The estimated cost to the group is about $1.4 million. Peckham Industries will do the work.

“They want this to last 25 years without repairs,” Valk said. “It’s more costly than what we would spend on roads. The town is contracting for the work and they’re (Watchtower) reimbursing (us).”

Police Chief Gerald Marlatt announced that Sgt. Jesse Vail had resigned to join the Town of Lloyd police force. Marlatt said Vail had worked for the Town of Shawangunk for six or seven years. His last day of work will be June 20.

“We now have a vacancy for the full-time sergeant’s position,” Marlatt said.

“He’s been an outstanding police officer,” Valk said. “We’re sorry to see him go.”

The board unanimously approved police officer Nicole Brooks to a provisional appointment to fill Vail’s spot pending the outcome of the civil service test. Marlatt said Brooks took the civil service test last week.

The board agreed to hire junior counselors Kaydence Vermilling ($14.45 per hour) and Angelica Lomangino ($14.25) and senior camp counselor Jonathan Avila ($16.25) for the upcoming summer camp.