After 54 years of combined service, Councilmen Patrick Didas and Allan Hoy will be stepping down from their duties on the Clarkson Town Board. Saying that they’ve gone “above and beyond” to help the community is a huge understatement, says Supervisor Christa Filipowicz.
Councilman Pat Didas started his service to the Town on the Zoning Board of Appeals and later served as chair of the Planning Board before moving to the elected position. Didas is most proud of his conservative and critical review of town financial activity and the fact the town has never exceeded the tax cap. He would like to thank all of those who he has served with over the years. He sends a “big thank you to the citizens of Clarkson for their confidence in electing me to serve them. It has been a privilege.”
Didas is Assistant Vice President for Audit, Compliance & Advisement at RIT and his CPA background and expertise in finance and internal controls has benefitted the town and modernized policies and procedures.
Didas chaired the Wind Power Generation Committee, initiated the repair of the Clarkson Honor Roll and its move to the Veterans’ Park, initiated the Tree Planting and Dedication project at Kimball Park, introduced several changes to the town’s policies and employee handbook, implemented the Suggestion Box for the Town of Clarkson website, and volunteers as Santa for the Umpteenth Annual Kids Christmas Party.
Deputy Supervisor Allan Hoy joined the Town of Clarkson in 1993 and has been dedicated to low taxes, helping to maintain a reduced or flat town tax rate, and has been steadfast in his sensible approach to growth and development. Hoy was an integral person on many “firsts” in Clarkson, including being a key member of the Joint Municipal Committee on Fire Protection, which led to the first Fire Station in the Town of Clarkson. He authored the town’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan and the Emergency Operating Plan and Standard Procedure. He has served on the Sweden/Clarkson Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, Community Activity Center Committee that led to the establishment of the Sweden-Clarkson Community Center; Monroe County Fire Advisory Board Commissioner, Brockport-Clarkson-Sweden Joint Recreation, Clarkson Planning Board, Monroe County Planning Council, and member of the Clarkson water study that led to the sale of the water department to Monroe County Water Authority leading to a cut in water bills by 25%. He has been a lifelong community volunteer and advocate.
Supervisor Filipowicz says there is no doubt Clarkson will miss Pat and Al and their collective wisdom and commitment, but that their December 31 “retirement” is well earned and deserved.
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