Christensen resigns his village post

PENN YAN—Penn Yan village board member Michael Christensen offered his resignation during the regular board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19. Christensen is resigning to accept the position of Milo town justice, replacing former justice John Symonds. The board officially accepted Christensen’s resignation, which will be effective starting Friday, Dec. 6.
Christensen said he has enjoyed working with the board, and is only resigning because he cannot legally hold both positions at the same time. He said he is “pleased with the progress this board has facilitated with waterfront development, and is on the verge of making some major steps for that to continue to move forward.”
“The most important part of this village is its employees,” Christensen said. “That’s what makes this village operate.”
Christensen said even though he cannot serve in an elected position while he is the Milo town justice, he will still help the village in any way he can. Trustee David Reeve said he accepts the resignation with “deep regret,” but said “if it is necessary, so be it.”
In other business:
• The board passed a number of resolutions regarding the staffing at the village wastewater treatment plant. The board accepted a letter of resignation from wastewater treatment plant operator Jeff Breuer effective Sunday, Dec. 1. Trustee Bart Winslow Jr. thanked Breuer for his service and said he was leaving to accept a job in the electrical field. They also voted to fill two operator trainees Monday, Dec. 2 and Tuesday, Dec. 3 at $18.81 an hour, while also creating three temporary certified part-time operator positions. Christina Galliher received a contingent permanent promotion to the chief operator position effective Oct. 16 at the current rate.
• The board scheduled a public hearing date for Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. for a proposed local law amending village code to allow for water pipes to be made of a material other than copper in order to modernize the village code.