RENSSELAERVILLE — Alden Pierce, the town’s deputy supervisor, was recently appointed the chairman of the zoning board of appeals.

Pierce is enrolled as a Republican.
"I think it’s important for citizens in a small community to make some contribution to local government in some way," Pierce said.

Spending a career working for several corporations in environmental management, Pierce now works for a small company that develops and deploys environmental management software.

He has worked for Getty, Martin Marietta, and W.R. Grace and Company.

Pierce lived in Rensselaerville in the early 1970s. His job, he said, took him all over the country — to Los Angeles, Denver, and New York City.

He came back to Rensselaerville seven or eight years ago. He was living in Florida, and bought a summer home in Rensselaerville. He has since sold his Florida home and has lived in the Hilltown permanently since 2002.

Pierce said he is involved in things in his backyard, with habitat improvement and civic activities.
"We like the area very much and we like the people here," he said.

At the town’s June meeting, some residents objected to Pierce’s appointment over current, experienced zoning-board members.
"It’s not a time to put a rank amateur, a political hack as chairman of the ZBA," said Assessor Jeff Pine, a Democrat and the husband of Councilwoman Sherri Pine.

He said Pierce was appointed because of his relationship with Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg. Others said the post should have been advertised and the appointment openly discussed.
Nickelsberg responded at the June meeting by saying Dr. Pierce had an I.Q. of 145, and he has over 40 years worth of business experience. Nickelsberg was shouted down with cries of, "He’s a hack!"

This week, Pierce laughed at the criticism.
"I can’t imagine what the criticisms are," Pierce said, adding that he suspects that those who have been critical don’t know him.
Nickelsberg has lauded Pierce as "a town-first guy," saying he has no real-estate interests, is a bright and exceptional man, and will do an extraordinary job.

The town is currently finishing its work on a comprehensive land-use plan. The plan — its process, cost to taxpayers, and implementation — has been scrutinized by many town residents.
"It isn’t finalized yet," Pierce said. "There are always different views," he said, adding that people don’t always agree and the issues are areas of "debate and dissent."

On New Year’s Day, 2006, when Nickelsberg took office, the town board voted unanimously to appoint Pierce as the town’s deputy supervisor.

Acting as both deputy supervisor and chair of the zoning board of appeals is not a conflict of interest since Pierce cannot vote on the town board, said William Ryan, the town’s attorney, at this month’s town board meeting.
Nickelsberg was criticized last year when, backed by the Republican majority, he appointed a new member to the planning board in place of David "Earl" Potter. Some residents claimed the appointment resulted in unequal representation on the board.

At this month’s town board meeting, Nickelsberg announced James Bashwinger is resigning from the zoning board and opened the vacant seat to all interested citizens.
The announcement sat well with Marie Dermody, who has often been critical of Nickelsberg. She wrote in a letter to the Enterprise editor, "As far as I’m concerned, this is how such issues should be routinely handled, and I hope it’s a process that the supervisor intends to continue."