Niskayuna appoints new historian; process questioned

The town of Niskayuna on Friday announced the appointment of Denis P. Brennan as town historian.

The news comes with controversy — Town Board member John Della Ratta says the board was not involved in the selection process. He believes the board should have been.

Brennan has taught American history at Union College for the past 15 years.

“Niskayuna is lucky to have a town historian of Dr. Brennan’s caliber,” said Supervisor Yasmine Syed in a press release, adding that Brennan stood out among the small group of candidates.

“While we have always had qualified, dedicated individuals step forward to serve as town historian,” Syed added, “it is an honor for the town to engage the services of a professional historian in the post.”

Brennan will replace the retired Don Cazer. The position pays $500 annually; the historian also receives a $500 budget for expenses.

When the town in June asked for applications to fill the position, Della Ratta expressed concerns that the appointment could involve politics. He asked that the appointment process be “open and inclusive” and that the board be included in the proceedings.

At the time, Syed said the board would have input. “They will be involved in every step of the process,” she said.

Under state law — New York State Arts and Cultural Affairs law — a town’s supervisor makes the appointment for historian. Law passed by the state Legislature in 1919 specifies that each municipality must appoint a historian.

Della Ratta on Friday afternoon said he and other members of the Town Board – all four are Democrats, and Syed is the lone Republican — were not consulted during the process.

“There was nothing until I received a letter from the supervisor saying she had appointed Mr. Brennan,” Della Ratta said. “We have nothing against Mr. Brennan, we just had no input in his appointment.

“I was very surprised to get that letter in mailbox,” Della Ratta added. “I was hopeful for … a spirit of cooperation.”

Della Ratta also said that in the past the historian appointment was made after consultation with the board.

“It came out of my committee [Economic Development, Historic Preservation and Environmental Conservation] and the supervisor and the Town Board members all agreed to it and then they passed a resolution to that effect,” Della Ratta said. “There’s not going to be any resolution to this. She just simply appointed him.”

Syed said board members were invited to participate in interview sessions and received emails about the process. In addition to Brennan, three other town residents were interested in the position.

“They [board members] were notified of the days and times of all the meetings that took place,” Syed said.

“They were invited to attend if they wanted to and they were also encouraged to set up their own interviews with these people,” Syed also said.

Syed said she did not know Brennan’s political affiliation.

“That was not anything we were going to take into consideration,” she said.

Contact Gazette reporter Jeff Wilkin at 518-395-3124 or at [email protected].