Clay Town Board Sets 2026 Priorities: Salaries, Legal Retainers, and Zoning Updates Approved
The Clay Town Board unanimously approved its 2026 organizational structure, setting salaries for town officials and retaining legal and engineering services. The board also adjusted its meeting schedule to accommodate holidays and reappointed several key board members.
●Annual Salaries Set: Board approved 2026 salaries ranging from $21,218 for councilors to $137,500 for the Commissioner of Planning & Development (Vote: 7-0).
●Meeting Schedule Adjusted: Regular meetings moved to the first and third Mondays at 7:30 PM; three meetings (Feb 16, July 6, Aug 3) were cancelled (Vote: 7-0).
●Legal Services Retained: Germain & Germain retained as Town Attorney and Zoning Board counsel; Bond, Schoeneck & King retained for Planning Board at $36,000 (Vote: 7-0).
●Engineering Services: C & S Engineers retained for town services and zoning map updates (Vote: 7-0).
●Deputy Supervisor Named: Councilor Joseph Bick appointed as Deputy Supervisor (Vote: 7-0).
●Planning Board Appointments: Michelle Borton reappointed as Chair; Harold Henty appointed to a seven-year term expiring in 2032 (Vote: 7-0).
●Zoning Map Adopted: Board accepted the revised Official Zoning Map dated Dec. 12, 2025 (Vote: 7-0).
●Board of Ethics: Town Clerk Jill Hageman-Clark appointed Chairperson for a five-year term (Vote: 7-0).
CLAY — The Town Board kicked off 2026 by unanimously adopting a slate of organizational resolutions Monday night, establishing the administrative framework for the coming year.
Supervisor Damian Ulatowski led the meeting, which included the appointment of leadership roles, the approval of official salaries, and the retention of legal and engineering professionals. All resolutions passed with 7-0 votes.
**Salaries and Leadership**
Compensation for town personnel was the first major order of business. The board set the annual salary for the Supervisor at $85,284, while Councilors will receive $21,218. Other notable appropriations included $118,183 for the Highway Superintendent and $113,603 for the Assessor.
The highest salary approved was for the Commissioner of Planning & Development, set at $137,500.
Councilor Joseph Bick was officially appointed as Deputy Supervisor, solidifying the leadership hierarchy for the year.
**Meeting Schedule and Holidays**
Residents looking to attend board meetings in 2026 should note the revised schedule. The Board will meet on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7:30 p.m.
However, the Board voted to cancel three meetings next year: Feb. 16 (Presidents' Day), July 6, and Aug. 3. Additionally, meetings falling on holidays will be shifted to Wednesdays. The Jan. 19 meeting (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) will move to Jan. 21; the Sept. 7 meeting (Labor Day) will move to Sept. 9; and the Nov. 2 meeting will be held Nov. 4.
Town Hall closures for 2026 were also established, including a two-day closure for Thanksgiving and closures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
**Legal and Engineering Contracts**
The Board moved to secure its professional services for the year. Germain & Germain was retained as the Town Attorney for 2026. They will also serve as counsel for the Zoning Board of Appeals at a cost of $18,000.
For Planning Board legal services, the Board retained Bond, Schoeneck & King with an annual fee of $36,000.
On the engineering front, C & S Engineers, Inc. was retained to perform special district services. The firm will also handle the annual update of the Town Zoning Map, to be paid from the General Fund.
**Board Appointments**
Several community members were reappointed to key volunteer roles. Michelle Borton will return as Chairperson of the Planning Board for 2026. Harold Henty was appointed as a new member of the Planning Board for a seven-year term expiring in 2032.
For the Zoning Board of Appeals, Vivian Mason was appointed Chairperson. Mary Lou Desrosier was appointed to a five-year term on the ZBA, expiring in 2030.
Town Clerk Jill Hageman-Clark was appointed to the Board of Ethics as Chairperson for a five-year term, while Chelsea Clark was appointed Secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Official designation for the town's newspapers were also approved. The *Syracuse Post Standard* remains the official newspaper, with the *Eagle Star Review* designated as an additional outlet for legal notices.
The next regular Town Board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19, moved to the following Wednesday due to the holiday.
This article was drafted by AI (claude-sonnet-4-20250514) from the official meeting transcript and reviewed by a human editor.
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