Chronis Appointed to Schoharie Town Board

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE — There's a new face on the Schoharie town board.

Fonda Chronis was appointed as a council member by a 3-1 vote at the board's Wednesday, May 8 meeting. He fills the vacancy created by the April 3 resignation for personal reasons of Town Supervisor Alan Tavenner. Council member Ben Oevering was then named town supervisor, creating one vacancy among council members.

Oevering and council members James Schultz and Floyd Guernsey voted in favor of Chronis' appointment. Council member Marion Jacqueway was the lone no vote, saying she had nothing against Chronis but that she preferred another candidate for the vacancy who had more time in the community. Chronis will serve through the end of this year by virtue of the appointment but must run and win in the election to retain the seat for longer than that.

"I'm honored," Chronis said after the appointment. "It's always been my dream to serve and this is a great opportunity to do so."

Chronis is CEO and executive director of the Schoharie County Industrial Development Agency. He said he sees no general conflict with that job and his position on the town board but that if a conflict arises on any particular issue, he can always recuse himself from a vote on that issue.

In other news from the May 8 meeting, Ed Manchester and Richard Price were appointed to terms on the town's zoning board of appeals. Price will serve through the end of this year and Manchester through the end of 2027.

"I've lived here since I was four years old," Price said. "I don't know much about this but am willing to learn and do my part."

Added Oevering "You are both very involved in the community and will do a good job."

The town board approved a resolution extending the Central Bridge Water District, an action that will provide public water service to about 11 additional households, according to Oevering.

Also approved was a contract for Town Assessor Erin Smith, who had been serving as assessor for both the towns of Schoharie and Esperance since 2022 without a formal contract, said Oevering. The deal runs through Sept. 30, 2025 and will keep Smith's total annual salary at $33,410 while also spelling out items like holiday and vacation time and benefits, Oevering said, and added the contract must still come before the Esperance town board for approval.

As assessor, Smith sets property valuations in both towns.

In his report, Zoning and Building CEO Cliff Dorough said issuing citations to residents not keeping the outside portions of their properties up to code has become time consuming and aggravating.

"They are not hoarders inside, they are hoarders outside. Holy Cow!" Dorough said. "Some of these are near entrances to the town and we want these properties cleaned up."

Oevering said he appreciated Dorough's efforts on the matter.

"We know you have your hands full," the town supervisor said. "Thanks."

A somewhat informal and at times rather heated discussion arose near the end of the meeting between council members Schultz and Guernsey and some members of the audience regarding the recent approval of an expansion of a dental practice by the Village of Schoharie board.

Schultz and Guernsey questioned why there was no approval of additional parking adjacent to the business, a move they said showed a lack of regard for an upstanding business that pays a lot of taxes to the village. One audience member explained that a lot has been purchased across the street by the dental practice's owner to provide for additional parking.

Other audience members explained the matter was in keeping with the village's land use laws and went back and forth with Schultz and Guernsey about why the two council members were making an issue of it.

"We aren't going to solve this tonight," Oevering said to close the discussion. "We can take this offline and if necessary bring it up at another meeting."