by Kristina Gabalski
The Brockport Village Board (l-r) Clerk Leslie Ann Morelli, Trustee Carol Hannan, Trustee John LaPierre, Mayor Margaret Blackman, Deputy Mayor Bill Andrews, Trustee Valerie Ciciotti.During a re-organizational meeting July 15, four Brockport Villlage Board members were ceremoniously sworn-in. Newly elected Mayor Margaret Blackman; Trustee Carol Hannan, who is beginning her second term on the board; newly elected Trustee Valerie Ciciotti, and newly appointed Trustee John La Pierre – who was appointed by Mayor Blackman to complete her trustee term – each took their oath-of-office just after the meeting began.
Blackman was sworn-in by Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene, who called her election a new beginning for Brockport.
“I will do my best to help fulfill your expectations,” Mayor Blackman said. “I promise to be around to listen.”
She announced she will hold regular office hours at the Village Hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and said taxpayer relief, promoting Brockport and improving the quality of life in the village would be her priorities.
Trustees Hannan and Ciciotti were sworn-in by Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti and Trustee LaPierre was sworn-in by Deputy Mayor Bill Andrews.
Not only are there new faces on the board, some slight changes have been made to the meetings, as well.
Blackman has instituted a new feature called the “Brockport Historic Moment.”
At the July 15 meeting, Deputy Mayor Andrews discussed Milo Starks, “a farm boy from the town of Sweden,” who became a hero of the Civil War. Starks fought with the 140th NY Volunteer Infantry Regiment and lead them valiantly during the Battle of Gettysburg after Colonel Patrick O’Rourke was killed. Starks, himself, was killed during the war in a later battle and Andrews announced the Town of Sweden Bicentennial Committee will dedicate a historical marker next May at the home where Starks lived.
During her report, Mayor Blackman said she has not forgotten about the issue of establishing a village court. She said because of various concerns, the College at Brockport has dropped its earlier offer to house the court on campus, but that the village will continue to look into establishing a court.
