By Nathan Mayberg
SOUTH FALLSBURG — March 25, 2005 – The Town of Fallsburg’s new police chief officially took office this past Tuesday evening in a ceremony at the Town of Fallsburg Board meeting.
Angel Lamboy, a former New York State Trooper based at the barracks in Liberty, took over duties from Brent Lawrence, who retired after 11 years as chief of police and 32 years altogether on the force.
Town of Fallsburg Supervisor Steven Levine said Lawrence’s service to the community will “be sorely missed” and “tough to replace.”
However, for the first time in the town’s history, he said, the town sought a leader outside the department in order to go “in a new direction.”
Levine said that Lamboy will offer the department “new leadership and new perspective.”
Lamboy’s appointment drew no objections, although Deputy Supervisor Arnold Seletsky abstained since one of his relatives had applied for the position. Lamboy’s annual salary was set at $61,792.
The new chief’s speech was short.
“I look forward to this challenge,” he said. “I look forward to making this an outstanding police department, not that it isn’t already.”
Councilman Neil Gilberg said the board made a “good choice” in selecting Lamboy. Gilberg said that Lamboy had a “a great background. He is well thought of by members of the State Police.”
He said the appointment could lead to increased cooperation between the two agencies.
Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen Lungen was on hand to watch the proceedings. Several State Troopers and Fallsburg police officers were also there.
Trash Talk
In other business, the meeting was filled with complaints by the public and the board about garbage pick-up.
Several people said that garbage was being left on the street and in driveways by the town’s contracted sanitation business.
Councilmen Gilberg, Joseph Perrello and Seletsky all concurred that garbage was being left on their driveways and/or in the streets.
The matter is being looked into.
Condo Settlement
The board unanimously approved three separate resolutions to settle litigation with the Board of Managers of Laurel Ledge Villas Condominiums, Luxor Estates Condominiums and Twin Oaks Village Condominiums over their assessments.
The settlement lowered the assessments on the condo units, although their assessment will be higher than it was before they were assessed by Town Assessor Michael Pilmenstein, according to Levine.
Levine said the increase in the assessment of condominium units will “set a standard” in dealing with the condominium projects which come before the town. Condominiums can be taxed at a lower rate than regular homes, due to New York State law.
New Lab Worker
The board appointed Chester Williams to the position of Laboratory Director/Working Supervisor at the salary of $42,300. Perrello attempted to table the measure but received no support, so he voted against it.
Williams will have the responsibility of running the lab which tests the town’s water. He will also serve as the sewer foreman.
Levine said the state mandates the town conduct the testing. The town previously had a lab foreman, who moved on, said Levine. After he left the town, the town was forced to contract elsewhere. The testing is required by the state, he said.
Time and Money
The board unanimously approved a bond anticipation note of $148,521 for the purchase of equipment for its golf course and for vehicles in the Parks Department.
In Levine’s opening statements at the meeting, he said it was a rough winter for the highway department. He stated that the price of sand had shot up an incredible 50 percent.
He noted that there is a “major increase in potholes” this winter and that the blacktops were not open yet, so the department was only able to conduct temporary fixes.
Eugene Walkowiak, a member of the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, expressed concern that a lamp has been out for the past six months near low-income housing development, which could result in increased crime, he said.
Levine said he would contact NYSEG to take care of it, but they usually take between four and eight weeks.