A message from Janet Depalma, Town Supervisor;
Hello and Happy New Year!
I wanted to start out 2025 by providing a “State of the Town” update.
First some good news. Our 2025 budget is in place, and we were able to stay under the tax cap. With increased costs in all areas many other municipalities found themselves in the position of exceeding their caps. Please know that the board and I take our fiscal responsibilities very seriously and will always strive to make the right financial decisions, always keeping our taxpayers in mind.
In January 2024 we hired a new bookkeeper and welcomed a new judge to the bench. Throughout the year we also appointed new members to both our Planning and Zoning Boards. We continue to see a lot of activity with new businesses inquiring about coming into the Town of Mohawk and the growth of existing businesses. It’s great to hear about new ideas and ways to keep our town the wonderful place we choose to live in and raise our families.
The town was also selected last year for an audit by the State Comptroller’s Office. As a new supervisor I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it overall was a very positive experience. We learned some things along the way and the results of the audit showed that while there are always areas of opportunity to do things differently, the town did well and there were no significant concerns.
Thanks to the efforts of our Highway Superintendent Bill Holvig, we were awarded a grant to replace a box culvert on Duane Drive. The project is estimated to cost $865,000 and will be fully funded through this grant. This is a multi-year project with engineering work slated to begin in 2025.
A town-wide fire protection committee was created and held its first meeting in November with participants from both the Tribes Hill Fire Department and the Town of Mohawk Fire District as well as representatives from the Village of Fonda and Town of Mohawk. The goal of this committee is to put plans in place so we are prepared for whatever emergency may come our way. We are also planning to engage participants from Montgomery County as we move forward with this important initiative.
I have also been able to participate in a Regional Water Co-Operative Committee consisting of members of the Village of Fonda, Montgomery County, the cities of Johnstown and Gloversville and the Village of Fultonville, as well as representatives from the NYS Dept of Health. As many are aware there have been some water challenges in the past year and the goal of this committee is to try to mitigate those challenges by looking for alternative solutions to supply water to the Village of Fonda and residents of the town who also utilize the municipal water supply.
So, what’s happening in 2025? We are in the beginning phases of the 10-year review of our Comprehensive Plan. Watch for more information on this in the near future as we seek input from the community on what you want to see in the Town of Mohawk.
One of my primary goals is transparency in our town government. Our board meeting agendas and minutes are always posted on our website for you to view. We encourage you to attend our meetings and hope to see many new faces. Your feedback is important. If you are unable to attend a meeting in person but have a question or concern, please feel free to call or email us anytime. We are here for you.
It’s been an honor to serve as your Town Supervisor and I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2025.
Janet DePalma
Supervisor, Town of Mohawk