NEW SCOTLAND -- The town board here on Monday appointed Adam Greenberg to fill the seat left vacant by the mid-term resignation of Daniel Mackay.

Supervisor Thomas Dolin told the board that the seat would be filled by the elective process in November, but he suggested an appointment by the board now, in case one of the remaining board members were to be absent.

"We still have five months left in the year, and there's a lot of work to be done, especially budget," said board member Willam C. Hennessy, a Democrat who is running in November to keep his position on the board. "I prefer to fill that seat."

Last week, Greenberg, a Democrat, announced his intention to seek Mackay's seat. Greenberg served on the zoning board for 11 years, but left the board in December, in accordance with recently enacted town term limits.

Republican candidate Craig A. Shufelt in July also announced his intention to run for Mackay's seat in November.

"I think the residents expect a full board," said Independent Douglas LaGrange, who currently serves on the council and who is running for supervisor unopposed on the Democratic ticket this fall. "The residents still have a choice in November to vote otherwise, or to concur."

"We have a lot of important work before us," said Councilwoman Patricia Snyder, a Democrat who is also seeking re-election. "Mr. Greenberg is a lifelong resident. He is very familiar with the town codes. I would support his nomination.

Greenberg, who was present at the meeting, accepted the nomination. The board voted unanimously to approve him, effective Aug. 1.

"We'll have another farmer on the board," Dolin said. Greenberg and LaGrange both farm on family lands within the town.

Earlier this year, the town board appointed Greenberg to the study advisory committee for the zoning plan being prepared for the hamlet of New Scotland.

“Since I had been working with Dan [Mackay] on wrapping up the town's long-term plan for the commercial district, and finalizing the language in our zoning law barring big-box development in that area, filling his vacancy seemed like a natural extension of those efforts,” Greenberg wrote to The Enterprise in an e-mail last week. 

Other business

In other business, the town board:

— Set two public hearings for the extension of the Heldervale water and sewer districts to 16 lots in Bruce Boswell's Creekside Development on Miller Road off New Scotland South Road, and to four neighboring lots, with the hearings on Aug. 12 at 6:45 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.;

— Voted to go to bid for the Krumkill Road reconstruction, after Tropical Storm Irene damaged the area, with a bid opening date to be determined.

“I would just like to say, ‘Yay!” Snyder said. “It’s been a long time coming”;

— Agreed to apply for a New York State Community Development Block Grant to cover planning and construction costs for new sidewalks in Clarksville.

Hennessy is preparing the application, and he said that the project is estimated to cost about $200,000. If New Scotland receives the grant, the work would be done in 2016, Hennessy said;

— Set a public hearing to discuss new fees and regulations for the New Salem water district for Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m.;

— Heard from engineer R. Mark Dempf that the newly installed water systems along New Scotland Road in New Salem “are up and running.”

Constractor Casale Excavating Inc. is still working to finish restoration projects like driveway and sidewalk reconstruction, Dempf said.

The board agreed to pay an additional $30,400 for the project, bringing the total to $210,987; and

— Agreed to hire Ian G. Kundel as a seasonal laborer for the remainder of the summer at $12.50 per hour. Kenneth C. Guyer, the town’s highway superintendent, said that Kundel worked for the town doing community service, but that Guyer needs help for an additional five weeks, before Kundel leaves for college.

Kundel was one of four students who were arrested for vandalizing the high school before graduation. Each student was ordered to pay restitution and to perform community service.

Guyer said that he had budgeted for two laborers, but that he only has one now. The funds to pay Kundel will come from the highway budget, he said.