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Village Staff and Officer Appointments

2025last touched · 25 source resolutions
↑Village/Rules/Policies/Adopted/village_staffing_appointments
Resolutions appointing and setting employment terms for the Village Clerk and Deputy Clerk, building inspectors and code enforcement officers, and the village attorney and special legal counsel, as well as modifying residency requirements for appointed officers.
Synthesis written as-of 2026-06-13. A time-bounded clause in this rule expires on 2026-12-31
In force, by year of last update
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 dated November 25, 2024, and the 2026 engagement agreement.[22][25]
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.[23]
Temporary Building/Planning/Zoning Clerk — Katie Khakhar
The Mayor is authorized to engage Katie Khakhar as a part-time temporary Building/Planning/Zoning Clerk 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.[24]
2023
Part-Time Zoning Enforcement Officer Position
A part-time Zoning Enforcement Officer position is established at 15 hours per week to address the increased number of permits and complaints.[14]
Fire Inspector Appointment — Clark Kimble
Clark Kimble is appointed as Fire Inspector for the Village of Red Hook.[17]
Building Inspector, Code & Zoning Enforcement Officer Appointment — Gary Beck
Gary Beck is appointed as Building Inspector, Code & Zoning Enforcement Officer for the Village of Red Hook.[17]
Deputy Building Inspector & Code Enforcement Officer Appointment — William Johosky
William Johosky is appointed as Deputy Building Inspector & Code Enforcement Officer for the Village of Red Hook.[17]
Deputy Zoning Enforcement Officer Appointment — Thomas Keith
Thomas Keith is appointed as Deputy Zoning Enforcement Officer for the Village of Red Hook.[17]
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, with 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.[18]
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.[10]
Village Clerk Employment Status — Full-Time
Village Clerk Jennifer Cavanaugh was moved from part-time to full-time employment, effective February 8, 2022.[12]
Deputy Clerk Position — Hours and Pay Rate
A 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.[13]
2020
Appointed Officers Residency Requirement
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.[9]
2011
CEO/ZEO Proactive Code Enforcement Directive
The CEO/ZEO is directed to be proactive and drive around the Village to identify code violations.[3]
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)
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.[20]
Village Attorney Appointment — Mackey Butts & Whalen, Richard Olson (2024)
Mackey Butts & Whalen, LLP, Richard J. Olson of counsel, was appointed as Village Attorney through December 31, 2024, following the dissolution of McCabe & Mack, LLP. Superseded by the appointment of VanDeWater & VanDeWater LLP effective January 1, 2025.[21]
2023
Special Counsel Engagement — Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP (2023)
The Mayor was authorized to sign the letter of engagement with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP. Superseded by the engagement of Youngwirth Law for labor and employment matters.[15]
Z3 Consultants Building Code & Zoning Enforcement Agreement
A consultant agreement with Z3 Consultants, Inc. was authorized for building code and zoning enforcement services from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 at $125.00 per hour. Expired May 31, 2024.[16]
Labor & Employment Counsel — Youngwirth Law (FY 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. Expired December 31, 2023.[19]
2022
Labor & Employment Counsel — Mackey, Butts & Wise
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 engagement of Youngwirth Law.[11]
2018
Acting Building Inspector Appointments — Beck & Greaves
Gary Beck and James Greaves were appointed as Acting Building Inspectors. Superseded by the 2023 formal appointment resolution (footnote 17).[5]
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.[6]
Controller Appointment — Michelle Zagorski
Michelle Zagorski was re-appointed as Controller. Outside the scope of current active appointments tracked in this family.[6]
CEO/ZEO Appointment — Donald Cocker
Donald Cocker was appointed to CEO/ZEO with office hours on Wednesday afternoons. Superseded by the 2023 formal appointment resolution (footnote 17).[7]
Assistant Clerk Drewes — Water Department Duties and Pay Rate
Assistant Clerk Drewes was assigned additional administrative tasks in the water department at an increased hourly rate of $18.59, effective October 1, 2018. Superseded by subsequent staffing changes.[8]
2012
MOU with Gary Beck for Building Inspector Services
A Memorandum of Understanding with certified building inspector Gary Beck was approved to address the backlog in the zoning office. Superseded by formal appointment resolutions.[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]2011-04-29CEO/ZEO code violation enforcement
  4. [4]2012-05-17MOU with Gary Beck for Building Inspector Services
  5. [5]2018-04-09Appoint Building Inspectors
  6. [6]2018-04-09Re-appoint Controller, Attorney, and Engineer
  7. [7]2018-06-11Appoint Donald Cocker as CEO/ZEO
  8. [8]2018-09-20Assign administrative water department duties to Assistant Clerk
  9. [9]2020-01-13RESOLUTION REGARDING MODIFICATION OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTED OFFICERS
  10. [10]2022-01-10RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF JENNIFER CAVANAUGH TO POSITION OF VILLAGE CLERK
  11. [11]2022-01-10Legal Counsel Services Agreement Renewal
  12. [12]2022-02-02Change Village Clerk to Full-Time Status
  13. [13]2022-03-10Deputy Clerk Position Authorization
  14. [14]2023-02-13Establish part-time Zoning Enforcement Officer position
  15. [15]2023-04-10Engagement letter with Mackey Butts & Whalen LLP
  16. [16]2023-05-25Resolution to Authorize a Consultant Agreement Between Z3 Consultants, Inc., and the Village of Red Hook
  17. [17]2023-06-12RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF FIRE INSPECTOR, ZONING & CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, BUILDING INSPECTORS & DEPUTIES
  18. [18]2023-06-12RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF DIANA DEVENS TO THE POSITION OF DEPUTY CLERK
  19. [19]2023-06-22RESOLUTION TO ENGAGE YOUNGWIRTH LAW AS LABOR & EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL
  20. [20]2024-02-22Youngwirth Law engagement letter for labor and employment services
  21. [21]2024-07-15RESOLUTION TO APPOINT MACKEY BUTTS & WHALEN, LLP, RICHARD OLSON AS VILLAGE ATTORNEY
  22. [22]2024-12-09Resolution to Appoint VanDeWater & VanDeWater, Kyle Barnett as Village Attorney
  23. [23]2025-03-10Authorize engagement of Rodenhausen Chale & Polidoro as special counsel
  24. [24]2025-05-12RESOLUTION TO HIRE TEMPORARY BUILDING/PLANNING/ZONING CLERK WHILE LARA HART IS OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE
  25. [25]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.