NISKAYUNA — Town Supervisor Jaime Puccioni and Town Board Member Jason Moskowitz sparred over a pair of planning board appointments made during Tuesday night’s Niskayuna Town Board meeting, with Moskowitz contending that the supervisor was appointing two new members to the board because of the their political affiliation.
Moskowitz, the sole Republican on the five-person town board, voted against the appointments of Sarah Bilofsky and Nancy Strang to the planning board, as well as the appointment of Ehasuyi Gomes to an alternate spot on the board, arguing that Bilofsky and Gomes were chosen to the board because they are Niskayuna Democratic committee members.
“They have been appointed to paid positions, with no process,” Moskowitz said during the meeting. “They were handpicked. Since day one I have been a firm believer in a proper process with applications, resumes. These two Democratic committee members were handpicked and are now being paid to serve in roles that we don’t know that they’re qualified to be in because of that lack of process.”
Each member of the planning board receives a $1,000 annual salary, with the chair receiving $1,600 per year.
Strange previously served as an alternate member of the planning board before her appointment to the board was confirmed on Tuesday to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Michael Skrebutenas.
Bilofsky was named to replace Patrick McPartlon, whose term on the planning board expired at the end of 2023. Patrick McPartlon is the brother of current Town Board Member Bill McPartlon.
Puccioni contended during Tuesday’s meeting that the planning board appointments were not political, noting that she supported the reappointment of Planning Board Chair Kevin Walsh, a Republican, earlier in the meeting.
“To insinuate that individuals were placed on boards because of their political affiliation is offensive to me,” Puccioni said.
Puccioni replied to Moskowitz during Tuesday’s meeting that the process to identify the candidates was in line with the process that Town Planner Laura Robertson has used previously.
Puccioni asked Moskowitz during the meeting if he had discussed the process with Robertson, with Moskowitz replying that he didn’t believe the conversations should be addressed during a public meeting.
“You’ll probably just release the email secretly,” Puccioni replied, referencing an email from Moskowitz to Puccioni that leaked to the Daily Gazette anonymously in October wherein Moskowitz accused Puccioni of glaring at him during town meetings.
The planning board appointments were confirmed by a 3-1 margin during Tuesday’s meeting, with Puccioni and board members Bill McPartlon and Jessica Brennan voting in favor of the three candidates and Moskowitz in opposition.
Puccioni noted during Tuesday’s meeting that she intends to increase diversity and representation on town committees, noting that there were no female members of the planning board when she took office in January 2022. With Tuesday’s appointments, there are now four women on the eight-person board, including an alternate position.
Moskowitz said following Tuesday’s meeting that Patrick McPartlon had previously submitted a letter to the town asking to be reappointed to the planning board.
McPartlon was informed on Friday that he would not be reappointed to the position after spending seven years on the planning board.
“I’m a little concerned that we’re taking all of that knowledge and experience that we as town board members rely upon and depend on to make informed decisions regarding land use and development and essentially eliminating it by giving Mr. McPartlon only four days notice that he would not be reappointed,” Moskowitz said after the meeting.
Puccioni said during the meeting that her office had received concerns about Patrick McPartlon’s professionalism during his time on the planning board.
“Mr. McPartlon has served that board very well, there is no denying that,” Puccioni said during Tuesday's meeting. “However, there have been concerns raised about his professionalism by residents, staff and members of the planning board. I listened to our department heads regarding his reappointment and I took their recommendation to consider alternatives to that appointment.”
Puccioni said on Wednesday that residents and staff members had reported “unprofessional interactions” with Patrick McPartlon.
“His verbal tone and responses were considered unprofessional by these individuals and this was shared with me,” Puccioni said.
Moskowitz said after Tuesday’s meeting that he believed it was improper for Puccioni to broach personnel matters regarding Patrick McPartlon during the meeting.
“Her comments were incredibly inappropriate and I would never publicly discuss personnel matters,” Moskowitz said. “The fact that she did disclose a personnel matter in a public meeting in my opinion is completely inappropriate.”
Puccioni added that Patrick McPartlon was invited to join the Zoning Board of Appeals or the Conservation Advisory Committee, but McPartlon declined to take a spot on those boards.
The supervisor said she also had concerns about the brother of a current town board member sitting on the planning board.
“I do not think it’s appropriate for a sibling to be on the planning board,” Puccioni said. “I’ll give an example why. This year, the planning board heard an application from the Mohawk Golf Club. Residents reached out to me with concerns about potential conflict of interest because siblings were on the planning board and the town board and that application could eventually come to the town board.”
The golf club’s proposal to construct a subdivision on 14 acres of club property has yet to be approved after the town board issued a positive declaration detailing environmental concerns with the project.
Moskowitz said the planning board vacancies were never advertised by the town.
“I’d like to make it very clear that my comments are not directed towards the individuals being appointed, but only the process or lack thereof that was used,” he said after Tuesday’s meeting.