Allen Robinson to serve as interim supervisor

Long-time Zoning Board of Appeals official Allen Robinson recently stepped into the role of Town of Clarendon Supervisor.

Following the January 31 resignation of former Supervisor Michael Bove, Robinson, who was appointed to take his place, said he plans to continue with the many projects Clarendon was involved in prior to Bove's leaving.

"I'm just looking at helping make a smooth transition from Mike's leadership to whoever will be taking over after the next election," Robinson said. "We have a lot of projects in the works that he started and I want to help keep going."

Robinson had been on the town's Zoning Board of Appeals for more than 15 years. He was appointed to the town board in January 2000 to fill a spot left vacant after the death of Robert Knapp, Sr.

As far as Robinson's plans for running for the supervisor position in the November 2001 election, he wasn't certain what his decision would be.

"I think this type of position needs a full-time person on board," he said. "I have a full-time job at Delphi Automotive, so right now I am not really looking to run in November.

Robinson's immediate goals are to keep new water transmission line and Water District 6 projects moving forward.

"The biggest thing for Clarendon right now is the transmission line," he said.

The line, which will be coming from Monroe County Water Authority through the town of Sweden to Clarendon, will bring a two-fold benefit for the town's residents, he said.

"We will have an alternate water source and residents will see a savings of about $2 per 1,000 gallons on water from what we are paying now," he said. "It will bring the price more in line so more people can afford it."

Bove, who had been on the board for seven years and one month, tendered his resignation in order to pursue other interests.

"I work full-time at the Democrat and Chronicle and am going back to school to become a paramedic," Bove said.

An Emergency Medical Technician with the Clarendon ambulance squad for the past five years, Bove said his classes at Monroe Community College were beginning to interfere with his effective leadership in the town.

"I felt it was better to just step down," he said. "My classes were beginning to conflict with town board meeting nights and it wasn't fair to the people who elected me to not give it (the supervisor position) 100 percent."

During his board tenure Bove said he was glad to have played a part in "modernizing" Clarendon. Those modernizations include installation of computers, a Web site and a fax machine.

"Obviously bringing in public water for the residents has been a major benefit for the town," he said.

"I think I have managed to accomplish pretty much what I set out to accomplish when I was elected," Bove said. "Of course, there are always more things you wish you could have done - there is always something more to shoot for."

Bove said he will miss public life but will most likely be so busy with his studies over the next 18 months that he won't really have too much time to think about it. He wishes his successor the best of luck and indicated he would be available to act as an advisor if necessary.