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Village Administrative Staff and Attorney Appointments

2025last touched · 17 source resolutions
↑Village/Rules/Policies/Adopted/village_administrative_appointments
Resolutions appointing or reappointing the village attorney and authorizing legal services engagement letters, and appointing, reclassifying, or changing the status of the village clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer, and other administrative positions.
Synthesis written as-of 2026-05-10. A time-bounded clause in this rule expires on 2026-12-31
In force, by year of last update
2025
Special Counsel — Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro
The Mayor is authorized to sign the 2025 engagement letter with Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro for special counsel to the Planning Board and for general land use related legal advice.[15]
Temporary Building/Planning/Zoning Clerk — Katie Khakhar
A part-time temporary Building/Planning/Zoning Clerk position is created, and Katie Khakhar is engaged to fill it at $26.00 per hour, working an average of 10–15 hours per week, until Lara Hart returns from medical leave. Costs are charged to General Fund Account 8010.1 Zoning – Per Srv, with budget adjustments for fiscal years 2024–25 and 2025–26.[16]
Village Attorney Engagement — VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026
The Mayor is authorized to sign the VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026 engagement agreement, covering services through December 31, 2026.[17]
2024
Village Attorney Appointment — VanDeWater & VanDeWater, Kyle Barnett
The law firm of VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP, Kyle Barnett (Partner), is appointed as attorney to the Village of Red Hook, effective January 1, 2025. The Mayor is authorized to sign the Engagement Agreement – 2025 with VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP dated November 25, 2024.[14]
Full-Time Treasurer — Pay Rate and Benefits
The Mayor is authorized to hire a Full-Time Treasurer at $30.00 per hour with a 15% employee contribution toward health insurance, starting work no earlier than January 6, 2025. The budget is to be adjusted when the new Treasurer is hired and actual additional costs are clear.[13]
2023
Deputy Clerk Appointment — Diana Devens
Diana Devens is appointed to the position of Deputy Village Clerk for the applicable term as provided by law, at a starting salary of $17.00 per hour. Pursuant to Section 3-300(2)(a) of the New York Village Law, she need not reside in the Village of Red Hook but may reside anywhere in the County of Dutchess, State of New York.[9]
2022
Village Clerk Appointment — Jennifer Cavanaugh
Jennifer Cavanaugh is appointed to the position of Village Clerk for the applicable term as provided by law. Pursuant to Section 3-300(2)(a) of the New York Village Law, she need not reside in the Village of Red Hook but may reside anywhere in the County of Dutchess, State of New York.[3]
Village Clerk Full-Time Status
Village Clerk Jennifer Cavanaugh was moved from part-time to full-time employment, effective February 8, 2022.[5]
Deputy Clerk Position — Hours and Pay Rate
A part-time Deputy Clerk position is authorized at 15 hours per week at $17.00 per hour, effective June 1, 2022. Responsibilities include office coverage, garbage tag sales, resident inquiries, and Village communications.[6]
Part-Time Bookkeeper Position
A part-time bookkeeper position is established in place of the full-time Treasurer position previously approved.[7]
2010
Part-Time Secretary Position
A part-time Secretary position for the Village of Red Hook was created as required by the Dutchess County Department of Personnel. Lara Hart retained the title of Deputy Clerk at the time of creation.[2]
History · superseded or expired
2024
Labor & Employment Counsel — Youngwirth Law (2024)
The Mayor was authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Youngwirth Law for labor and employment legal services for 2024, as amended to remove reference to the Town of Red Hook. This engagement expired December 31, 2024.[11]
Village Attorney Appointment — Mackey Butts & Whalen, Richard J. Olson (2024)
The law firm of Mackey Butts & Whalen, LLP, Richard J. Olson of counsel, was appointed as attorney to the Village of Red Hook through December 31, 2024. Superseded by the appointment of VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP effective January 1, 2025.[12]
2023
Village Attorney Engagement — Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP (2023)
The Mayor was authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP. Superseded by the appointment of Mackey Butts & Whalen with Richard J. Olson in July 2024.[8]
Labor & Employment Counsel — Youngwirth Law (Fiscal Year 2023)
The Mayor was authorized to engage Youngwirth Law for labor and employment legal services for fiscal year 2023 at rates consistent with the prior Mackey, Butts & Whalen agreement. This engagement expired December 31, 2023.[10]
2022
Labor & Employment Counsel — Mackey, Butts & Wise (2022 Renewal)
The letter of engagement with Mackey, Butts & Wise was renewed at $190.00/hour for attorneys and $110.00/hour for paralegals for labor and employment matters, with Brooke Youngwirth replacing retired David Wise. Superseded by the 2023 engagement of Youngwirth Law.[4]
2008
Village Attorney Appointment — Kelly Floor-Myers
Kelly Floor-Myers was appointed as Village Attorney to fill Jeff Martin's term, which ended April 1, 2009. Expired; superseded by subsequent attorney appointments.[1]
Source resolutions
  1. [1]2008-07-07Village Attorney Appointment
  2. [2]2010-08-19Create part-time Secretary position
  3. [3]2022-01-10RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF JENNIFER CAVANAUGH TO POSITION OF VILLAGE CLERK
  4. [4]2022-01-10Legal Counsel Services Agreement Renewal
  5. [5]2022-02-02Change Village Clerk to Full-Time Status
  6. [6]2022-03-10Deputy Clerk Position Authorization
  7. [7]2022-12-01Part-time bookkeeper position establishment
  8. [8]2023-04-10Engagement letter with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP
  9. [9]2023-06-12RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF DIANA DEVENS TO THE POSITION OF DEPUTY CLERK
  10. [10]2023-06-22RESOLUTION TO ENGAGE YOUNGWIRTH LAW AS LABOR & EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL
  11. [11]2024-02-22Youngwirth Law engagement letter for labor and employment services
  12. [12]2024-07-15RESOLUTION TO APPOINT MACKEY BUTTS & WHALEN, LLP, RICHARD OLSON AS VILLAGE ATTORNEY
  13. [13]2024-11-04Resolution Authorize Change to Full Time Treasurer
  14. [14]2024-12-09Resolution to Appoint VanDeWater & VanDeWater, Kyle Barnett as Village Attorney
  15. [15]2025-03-10Authorize engagement of Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro as special counsel
  16. [16]2025-05-12RESOLUTION TO HIRE TEMPORARY BUILDING/PLANNING/ZONING CLERK WHILE LARA HART IS OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE
  17. [17]2025-10-27VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026 engagement agreement

Synthesized from the chronological history of these resolutions. Each clause shows the year it was last established or amended. The text is a reading aid — for legal force, consult the source resolutions and the Village Code.