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BROADALBIN — Broadalbin’s town supervisor has stepped down after less than two years in the position.
Bruce Van Genderen resigned as supervisor due to health-related reasons, according to a recent resignation letter obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request.
“I will be available for a reasonable amount of time to give any assistance necessary for the transition at no cost to the town,” Van Genderen wrote.
The letter was sent on March 27 and received on April 5. He officially resigned on March 31.
Early last week the Town Board named Doug Kissinger as the new supervisor. He had been serving as deputy supervisor. By law, his appointed term is set to expire by year’s end.
Kissinger hasn’t immediately responded to a request for comment.
Van Genderen has been staying in Florida since January. His early April return plans were delayed roughly a month due to doctor appointments.
The 81-year-old former Gloversville finance commissioner served in office for less than two years following Sheila Perry’s exit from town leadership. While defeated by Perry in 2017, he handily defeated Sean M. Focht four years later for the Republican line and sailed to the supervisor’s post in the general election.
His four-year term was set to expire in 2025.
“Since I have been in Florida some issues have arisen which, although not life threatening at this time, have caused me to reevaluate my life’s plan,” Van Genderen wrote.
Kissinger will take Broadalbin’s seat on the Fulton County Board of Supervisors. At the time of Van Genderen’s resignation, he was sitting on the county board’s Public Works and Human Services committees.
“When he was in the meetings, he’d pick up on things in a hurry, a very conservative type of guy,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott Horton, who was surprised by the news. “He was fun to work with. I enjoyed having him on the Board of Supervisors. I think it’s unfortunate that he feels as though he has to resign.”
Van Genderen’s letter was submitted to Fulton County Administrator Jon Stead.
The departure comes amid a municipal leadership shift around the western half of the Great Sacandaga Lake.
Last month, Steven Murray was elected the village of Broadalbin’s first new village mayor since 2017. Longtime Mayfield Town Supervisor Richard Argotsinger is expected to retire by year’s end.
During Argotsinger’s tenure, day-pass availability for Mayfield Town Beach opened up, a change from its permit-only system. Argotsinger is personally against operating the beach, but considers the site an “amenity to the townspeople.”
“Operating a beach on the Great Sacandaga Lake is a losing proposition,” Argotsinger said. “You’re never going to even come close to your expenses and there’s always something wrong.”
Broadalbin Beach closed during the end of Perry’s tenure, due to stringent COVID-19 requirements, and shuttered for good during Van Genderen’s first year in office when the town decided against entering into a new user agreement with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The state agency has proposed planting over the site, a vision which has faced continuous public backlash since the winter. DEC will hold a public information session on the matter at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Broadalbin-Perth High School.
Tyler A. McNeil can be reached at 518-395-3047 or [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook at Tyler A. McNeil, Daily Gazette or Twitter @TylerAMcNeil.
Categories: -News-, Fulton Montgomery Schoharie, News
