Albion town officials take oaths of office
ALBION – Matt Passarell, the Albion town supervisor, takes the oath of office during tonight’s organizational meeting for the Town Board. Town Justice Gary Moore administers the oath at Town Hall.
Passarell is beginning his third year as town supervisor. He just completed his first two-year term and was unopposed for a new term for the last election in November.
Michael Neidert takes the oath with his mother, Nancy Neidert, administering the oath. Neidert was elected highway superintendent in November, defeating incumbent Jed Standish.
Darlene Benton takes the oath administered by Town Justice Gary Moore. Benton won a close election to the Town Board in November.
Passarell appointed her to a new committee for economic development this evening during the Town Board’s organizational meeting. She will be on that committee with Councilman Jake Olles. Benton said she will reach out to village officials and others in the community for ideas to retain and attract businesses.
She would also like to target companies in solar energy. “I’d like Albion to get on that bandwagon because really it’s just exploding,” she said.
Passarell also assigned two Town Board members to be liaisons to Village Board members. Benton and Olles will also serve as town representatives to the village. Passarell said he would like to see the town and village work together for joint municipal agreements and projects.
The Town Board approved many appointments and set salaries during the organizational meeting, including the following:
Ian Mowatt as town historian, $450 annual salary;
Richard Remley as deputy town supervisor;
Michael Neidert as water superintendent at a salary of $20,908. (The highway superintendent pay is also $54,815;
Sarah Basinait’s salary for town clerk was set at $36,330. She also will be paid $7,679 as water/sewer clerk and $3,060 as registrar of vital statistics;
Town Board members (4) will be paid $3,704 each for the year;
Passarell will be paid $5,750 as town supervisor and another $1,000 as budget officer;
Town Justices Gary Moore and Joe Fuller will each be paid $17,146;
Planning Board chairman will be paid $1,000 for year and other members $600 each
Zoning Board chairman will be paid $350 for the year and other members will each be paid $250;
Board of Assessment Review chairman will be paid $300 and other members will be paid $175 for the year;
First Niagara Bank will serve as official depository for town funds;
Phil McKenna will be town constable at a salary of $100 for the year;
Sara Stirk will serve as deputy town clerk at a salary of $14.78 per hour;
Election inspectors will be paid $9.30 per hour;
The Daily News of Batavia will be the official newspaper with The Lake Country Pennysaver and Orleans Hub to be used for supplemental public hearing notices and other notices as the Town Board deems appropriate;
James Bell will serve as attorney for the town for routine matters with Hodgson Russ in Buffalo appointed for special services, including bond issues;
Chatfield Engineers will serve as engineer for the town.
