Tom Fissell, Cobleskill’s longtime highway superintendent, is serving through a “stay in office” after Supervisor Tom Murray and councilmen held off on reappointing him at their reorganizational meeting Monday.
The decision didn’t sit well with everyone; Councilman Tim Purcell called it “malarkey” and fellow Councilman Ken Hotopp said he was “a little uneasy having someone out there who’s not sure he has an appointment.”
Newly-elected supervisor Tom Murray suggested the town hold off on reappointing Mr. Fissell until they have a job description and a contract in place.
Mr. Fissell would continue to serve through what’s called a “stay in office,” Mr. Murray said, Mr. Fissell is aware of the situation, he said.
Mr. Hotopp asked what a job description has to do with Mr. Fissell’s appointment; Mr. Murray answered that the town needs to know what he’s being appointed to do.
“So it’s all because of a job description?” said Mr. Purcell. “I find this hard to believe. It’s malarkey.”
Mr. Murray said he’d like the job description and contract in place by March; Councilman Sherwood Veith, a member of the joint town-village Highway Committee, said he’ll get something in place in time for the February meeting.

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Appointments made Monday include:
• Budget officer and service officer—Tom Murray.
• Deputy supervisor—Gail Murray and Bruce Stevens.
• Deputy town clerk—Tracy Cleveland, Ted Shuart.
• Bookkeeper—Jeffrey Haslun.
• Town historian—Ted Shuart. Deputy town historian—Bill Cleveland.
• Code enforcement officer—Pete Irwin.
• Town attorney—Mike West.
• Dog control officer—Allen Dibble.
• Representative to the Town/Village Youth Committee—Ryan McAllister.
• Safety Committee—Tim Purcell.
• Liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals—Sherwood Veith.
• Liasion to the Planning Board—Ken Hotopp and Tom Murray.
• Representative to the Joint Town and Village Highway Committee—Sherwood Veith and Ryan McAllister.
• Town Park—Art Boreali, Linda Angell, Bruce Wetsell.
• Ethics Committee—Tim Purcell (chair), Jeanne Kane, Bruce Stevens.
The official paper is the Times-Journal; official banks are: Key Bank, NBT, Trustco, Wilber National Bank, and the Bank of Richmondville.
Regular meetings will be held the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm.


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Salaries authorized Monday were:
• Highway superintendent--$55,603.
• Supervisor--$6,578.
• Town clerk--$35,832.
• Deputy town clerk--$25,007.
• Town justice (two)--$5,431.
• Dog control officer--$7,480.
• Code enforcement officer (part-time)--$21,711.
• Town attorney--$7,798.
• Sole assessor--$18,093.
• Planning board secretary--$3,605.
• Records management--$1,030.
• Councilmen (four)--$2,334.

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New numbers…
Several phone numbers for town offices have changed since the move to 378 Mineral Springs Road, the village-owned building; mailing address there is PO Box 327, Cobleskill, NY 12043.
Town clerk Tina Shuart can be reached at 234-1719. This is a corrected number. Her email address is coby1@nycap.rr.com.
Deputy clerk Tracy Cleveland is also 234-1719, email: coby2@nycap.rr.com.
Supervisor Tom Murray can be reached at 234-7547, email: supervisor12043@verizon.net.
Highway Superintendent Tom Fissell, 234-2990; email: fissell@telenet.net.
CEO Pete Irwin and Assessor Alan Danforth, 234-4661.
Mr. Irwin’s email: Irwin@midtel.net. Fax: 234-2068.
Mr. Danforth’s email: adanforth1@nycap.rr.com