The Town of Shawangunk Police Reform and Reinvention Committee continues to gain traction.

The committee includes Town Councilman Brian Amthor, Town Councilman Robert Miller as well as Police Chief Gerald Marlatt. They continue to grow in size as Town Supervisor John Valk Jr. sees fit.

Recently, the committee welcomed Richard Barnhart, who spearheaded the Town of Shawangunk Community Clock Project. The clock is located in the Hamlet of Wallkill at the head of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and across the street from the police station on Wallkill Avenue. Now that it is operating, the clock provides an attractive amenity to passerby. In addition, Barnhart brings a tremendous amount of relevant experience to the committee, as he served as head of campus police at SUNY New Paltz and taught criminal justice at Dutchess County Community College.

Rebecca Mantello has also joined the committee. She is senior counsel for Jacobowitz and Gubits LLP in Walden, concentrating on litigation and appeals including civil and commercial litigation, personal injury, civil rights and municipal law. Mantello is also a social member of the Wallkill Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

The committee features many other involved members of the community, such as Pastor of the Wallkill Reformed Church Stan Seagran, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services at the Wallkill Central School District Brian Devincenzi and John Spinato, a member of the Town of Shawangunk Police Benevolent Association. Marlatt also anticipates that a representative of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office will join the board.

“It’s quite a full committee,” Valk said.

The group held its third meeting on Thursday, Feb. 4. So far they have been reviewing many of the police department’s current policies and procedures. There have also been discussions about improvements that can be made. The group has mulled over the possibility of body cameras for officers as well as in-car cameras. Sensitivity training and responses to mental health problems have also been pitched.

“We’re taking that all into account and drafting a form for the board to review and essentially for the town supervisor to sign off on and send back to the state by April 1,” Marlatt said.

It is imperative that the department meet that deadline, as per Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order, every locality must adopt a plan for reform by April 1 to be eligible for future state funding.

To strengthen the plan, the committee seeks public input. There is a survey on the town’s website (shawangunk.org) where people can share their ideas on how to improve the police department.

Public discussions will also take place via Zoom. They are currently scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. A link to the call will be accessible on the town’s website.

“We didn’t want to have it the same day in case somebody had a conflict,” Marlatt said. “We had one on a Tuesday and one on a Thursday so it breaks it up a little and those who couldn’t attend on a Thursday might be able to attend on a Tuesday.”