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Village Staff and Officer Appointments

2026last touched · 21 source resolutions
↑Village/Rules/Policies/Adopted/village_staff_appointments
Resolutions appointing the village clerk and deputy clerk, village attorney and special counsel, special prosecutors, vital statistics registrars, and modifying residency requirements for appointed officers.
Synthesis written as-of 2026-07-31. A time-bounded clause in this rule expires on 2026-12-31
In force, by year of last update
2026this year
Special Prosecutor Appointment — Kerri Yamashita
The Mayor is authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Kerri Yamashita as Special Prosecutor for the Village of Red Hook.[20]
Registrar of Vital Statistics — Jennifer Cavanaugh
Jennifer Cavanaugh is appointed as Registrar of Vital Statistics for the Village of Red Hook for a period coterminous with her term of office as Village Clerk.[21]
Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics — Diana Devens
Diana Devens is appointed as Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics for the Village of Red Hook for a period coterminous with her term of office as Deputy Clerk.[21]
2025
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.[17]
Special Counsel — Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro
The Mayor is authorized to sign the 2025 engagement letter with Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro as special counsel to the Planning Board and for general land use related legal advice.[18]
Village Attorney 2026 Engagement — VanDeWater & VanDeWater
The Mayor is authorized to sign the VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026 engagement agreement, covering the period through December 31, 2026.[19]
2023
Deputy Village 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.[12]
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.[7]
Village Clerk Employment Status — Full-Time
Village Clerk Jennifer Cavanaugh was moved from part-time to full-time employment, effective February 8, 2022.[9]
Deputy Clerk Position — Hours and Rate
A Deputy Clerk position was authorized at 15 hours per week at $17 per hour, effective June 1, 2022. Responsibilities include office coverage, garbage tag sales, resident inquiries, and Village communications.[10]
2020
Appointed Officer Residency Requirement Modification
Pursuant to Village Law §3-300(2)(a), all appointed officers of the Village of Red Hook need not reside in the Village, but may reside anywhere in the County of Dutchess, State of New York.[5]
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.[2]
History · superseded or expired
2024
Labor & Employment Counsel — Youngwirth Law (2024 Engagement)
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. Expired December 31, 2024.[14]
Village Attorney Appointment — Mackey Butts & Whalen, LLP, Richard Olson
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. Expired; superseded by appointment of VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP.[15]
Special Prosecutor Appointment — Christopher Montalto (2024–2025)
The Board approved the Mayor's appointment of Christopher Montalto, Esq. as Special Prosecutor for a term ending April 7, 2025. Expired; superseded by appointment of Kerri Yamashita.[16]
2023
Labor & Employment Counsel — Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP (2023 Engagement)
The Mayor was authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP. Superseded by the engagement of Youngwirth Law.[11]
Labor & Employment Counsel — Youngwirth Law (Fiscal Year 2023)
The Mayor was authorized to engage Youngwirth Law to provide Labor and Employment Legal Services for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, at rates consistent with the prior agreement with Mackey, Butts & Whalen. Expired.[13]
2022
Labor & Employment Counsel — Mackey, Butts & Wise
The letter of engagement with Mackey, Butts & Wise was renewed at hourly rates of $190.00 for attorneys and $110.00 for paralegals for labor and employment legal services, with Brooke Youngwirth replacing retired David Wise. Superseded by engagement of Youngwirth Law in 2023.[8]
2021
Special Prosecutor Appointment — Christopher Montalto (2021)
Christopher Montalto was appointed as Special Prosecutor for Village Code violations for a cost not to exceed $1,000.00, subject to authorization from the District Attorney of Dutchess County. Superseded by subsequent special prosecutor appointments.[6]
2018
Village Attorney Appointment — McCabe and Mack
McCabe and Mack was re-appointed as Village Attorney. Superseded by the appointment of Mackey Butts & Whalen, LLP in 2024.[4]
2015
Special Prosecutor Appointment — Christopher Montalto (2015)
Christopher Montalto was appointed as Special Prosecutor, replacing Michael Pollok who resigned. Superseded by Resolution 17-2021 and later appointments.[3]
2008
Village Attorney Appointment — Kelly Floor-Myers
Kelly Floor-Myers was appointed as Village Attorney to fill Jeff Martin's term ending 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]2015-06-08Special Prosecutor Appointment
  4. [4]2018-04-09Re-appoint Controller, Attorney, and Engineer
  5. [5]2020-01-13RESOLUTION REGARDING MODIFICATION OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTED OFFICERS
  6. [6]2021-08-31RESOLUTION #17-2021
  7. [7]2022-01-10RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF JENNIFER CAVANAUGH TO POSITION OF VILLAGE CLERK
  8. [8]2022-01-10Legal Counsel Services Agreement Renewal
  9. [9]2022-02-02Change Village Clerk to Full-Time Status
  10. [10]2022-03-10Deputy Clerk Position Authorization
  11. [11]2023-04-10Engagement letter with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP
  12. [12]2023-06-12RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF DIANA DEVENS TO THE POSITION OF DEPUTY CLERK
  13. [13]2023-06-22RESOLUTION TO ENGAGE YOUNGWIRTH LAW AS LABOR & EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL
  14. [14]2024-02-22Youngwirth Law engagement letter for labor and employment services
  15. [15]2024-07-15RESOLUTION TO APPOINT MACKEY BUTTS & WHALEN, LLP, RICHARD OLSON AS VILLAGE ATTORNEY
  16. [16]2024-11-21RESOLUTION TO CONFIRM SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTMENT
  17. [17]2024-12-09Resolution to Appoint VanDeWater & VanDeWater, Kyle Barnett as Village Attorney
  18. [18]2025-03-10Authorize engagement of Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro as special counsel
  19. [19]2025-10-27VanDeWater & VanDeWater 2026 engagement agreement
  20. [20]2026-06-08Special Prosecutor Engagement Letter
  21. [21]2026-06-22RESOLUTION TO APPOINT REGISTRAR AND DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS

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.