Brinkman takes over as Cobleskill mayor

8/25/2010

By Patsy Nicosia

Cobleskill’s new mayor, Ted Brinkman, brings with him an ambitious list of goals, not the least of which is moving Cobleskill past the controversy that’s dividing it.
Mr. Brinkman was sworn in to applause last Tuesday.
He succeeds Mark Nadeau, who resigned in July over his use of the “n-word,” but will serve only until voters elect a new mayor in November.
Mayor Brinkman asked for the community’s cooperation as he works to accomplish his goals over the next four months.
“My wife and I raised four children here,” he said of Cobleskill, “It’s a great place to live and raise a family, and as [former Mayor] Nick Iorio said, if you take you need to give back.”
Mayor Brinkman said he wants to see flags from Wal-Mart to the Hess station and is donating his four-month salary of about $2,500 to help pay for them.
He said he’d also like to see flowers planted along the same route.
“It’s important for Cobleskill to show a positive image,” Mayor Brinkman added.
“And it’s time to get back to doing business with the village.”
That includes:
• Signing a contract with the police and putting together the 2011 village budget, both by November.
• Making a request to the county for a bigger share of sales tax revenues.
• Reviewing the list of the 290 tax-exempt in the village.
• Working to support local businesses and attract new ones.
Mayor Brinkman served as trustee for more than two terms under the late Bill Gilmore, putting together several budgets and working on contracts with the PBA.
Trustee Mark Galasso had been filling in as deputy mayor since Mr. Nadeau resigned and along with former trustee Sandy MacKay, is running for mayor on the November ballot.
If Mr. Galasso wins that election, he will appoint someone to fill his trustee’s seat.
Trustee Howard Burt, appointed to fill the unexpired term of Bob LaPietra, is running for the remaining two years on his term.
He is being challenged by Dawn Fiorillo.