Mayor to appoint new trustee
Village Trustee Gary Phillips, who has served on the board for almost three years and who serves as the board’s water commissioner, has resigned from the board as of January 29.
His resignation was accepted, with regret, at Monday’s regular business meeting of the board.
In speaking with The News earlier in the day on Monday, Phillips said the resignation is “work-related”. His job at West Point has expanded, he said, and “I just can’t give the village’s business the full attention that I wanted to”.
“I’m just that kind of person,” he said, “If I can’t be involved fully, I don’t feel like I should be doing it.”
About his job as water commissioner, Phillips said he feels good about the place the Highland Falls Water Plant is in after the recent board decision to privatize operations there. He recounted months spent looking to find a replacement operator for the plant after the retirement of Jack Sibley, and said when that turned out to be difficult, the contracting with VRI to do the work. “They are doing a very good job,” Phillips said.
At Monday’s meeting, Trustee Dr. Melanie Guerrero called the resignation “quite a surprise” said she was “disappointed” in Phillips’ resignation.
“Gary has always treated me respectfully and I truly appreciate that,” she said. “He is always kind to me.”
She went on to say that Phillips “has a conscience” and “would rather resign than agree with things that are wrong”.
Deputy Mayor Jim DiSalvo immediately disagreed, saying Phillips” is not resigning because anything is wrong”.
Guerrero replied: “I didn’t say anything was wrong; I said he has a conscience.”
Earlier in the day Phillips said he was not resigning for any reason other than his work.
Phillips added that he appreciates all who voted for him in 2021, and hopes he has done a good job for them.
“I hope I made some good decisions while on the board, and I want to thank the other members of the board and the village staff for all of their help while I was on the board,” he said. “This was a hard decision to make.”
Mayor Joe D’Onofrio will now appoint someone to fill the remainder of Phillips’ term — whoever that is will have to run for re-election (should they so desire) in March 2025.
The appointment of a new trustee is one which does not require the approval of the rest of the board. D’Onofrio said on Monday that he expects to make his decision as to whom to appoint “in the next few days”.
Guerrero took time during her comments at the meeting to suggest that D’Onofrio appoint Sallie Dorsch, a 20-year resident and new vice president of the community’s Chamber of Commerce, “has proven to be a community leader,” Guerrero said. “She is intelligent and organized.”
