Middletown

Staff report
A new candidate has entered the Town of Middletown supervisor’s race and another potential entrant said he is not running.

Arkville resident Marjorie Miller issued a statement that she will be an Independent candidate for the Middletown supervisor’s position this fall.

Margaretville Mayor Bill Stanton, who told the News last week that he had been contemplating running for Middletown supervisor, said he has reconsidered and will not enter the race.

“I’ve thought a lot about running, but I’ve decided to stay where I am,” said Mayor Stanton.

Arkville — The Historical Society of the Town of Middletown is seeking volunteers as it continues to repair the grounds of the Arkville Cemetery on the cutoff road. A workday is planned for Sunday, June 27 beginning at 1 p.m.

John Biruk of Halcottsville was appointed Middletown superintendent of highways by the town board at its June meeting. Biruk succeeds Bill Russell, who retired May 21 after nearly 19 years as superintendent of highways.

By Brian Sweeney
The deadline for written comments on the Comprehensive Plan proposed for the Town of Middletown has been extended to July 1. The draft Comprehensive Plan is continuing to take shape following a public hearing held June 5. About 20 people attended the public hearing and others submitted written comments on the plan.

The Town of Middletown Planning Board will be taking written comments regarding the town’s Draft Comprehensive Plan until July 1.

By Brian Sweeney
A public hearing on the proposed Town of Middletown Comprehensive Plan will be held Saturday, June 5 at 10 a.m. at the Margaretville Fire Department on Church Street. The Middletown Planning Board will conduct the hearing. Public input on the Draft Plan is critical in order to ensure the plan addresses the concerns of the residents and landowners in the Town of Middletown.

Margaretville — The Middletown Town Board is seeking persons interested in serving on the town’s various appointed boards. The boards involved are the planning board, the zoning board of appeals and the board of assessment review.

By Julia Green
Rev. James J. McDevitt, the former priest at the Sacred Heart Parish in Margaretville, appeared briefly in the Town of Middletown Justice Court Thursday morning. McDevitt is currently facing charges of sexual misconduct for incidents that allegedly occurred during his time at the parish. McDevitt appeared with his newly appointed attorney, Paul L. Gruner, who requested a 30-day adjournment to familiarize himself with the case.

Staff report
The Town of Middletown will no longer operate its solid waste Transfer Station on Mondays, effective Jan. 4. The town board voted unanimously at its November meeting to cut Transfer Station operation to six days as a budget-cutting measure. The move is projected to save more than $14,000 in salary and benefit costs.

Staff report
The Middletown Town Board has adopted a 2010 budget that reflects a tax levy increase of 3.3 percent. Following its November budget hearing, the town board made additional cuts to the Preliminary Budget. The key budget reduction was the decision to trim hours from daily operation to six days a week at the solid waste transfer station in Kelly Corners. The savings in payroll and related expenditures totaled more than $14,000.