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GLENVILLE — Michael Godlewski, the sole Democrat on the Glenville Town Board, announced he plans to resign next month after accepting a new job with the state’s Office of Court Administration.
Godlewski, whose term is set to expire in 2025, shared his intentions during the board’s May 17 meeting, saying the decision was made after a meeting with his soon-to-be supervisor. He is set to resign following the board’s June 21 meeting, a day before starting his new position as a court attorney referee.
“I have done an individual review and I’ve also sought additional opinions from my soon-to-be supervisor, and we’ve both reached the same conclusion that I am obligated to resign from the town council upon starting my new position,” Godlewski said.
Godlewski, who was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, is the second Glenville Town Board member to resign this year after taking on a new job. Gina Wierzbowski stepped down in January, following 12 years of service to the town.
Supervisor Chris Koetzle said last week that the board will appoint someone to fill Godlewski’s seat sometime this summer, but noted conversations surrounding the appointment have yet to take place because Godlewski’s resignation is still a month off.
“We don’t have anybody right now,” he said. “I know there’s been a bunch of folks expressing interest. We’ve been reaching out and talking to folks as well, but because we have this time, really, it hasn’t been something we’ve rushed to fill at this juncture.”
Whoever is appointed to fill the position for the rest of the year will have to run in a November special election to fill out the remaining two years of Godlewski’s terms, according to Koetzle.
With Godlewski stepping down, the town’s Republican stronghold will likely strengthen. Koetzle, Sid Ramotar and James Martin are all Republicans, and Amanda Gonzalez-Barone, who was appointed by the Republican majority to fill Wierzbowski seat, is not affiliated with any political party.
“My feelings are very mixed about this part of this,” Godlewski said. “I’m excited for the new opportunity in my professional career, my family’s excited for the new opportunity in my professional career, but I will deeply, deeply miss my service to the board and that’s all.”
He noted that more in-depth remarks about his time on the board will be made at his final meeting.
Koetzle said that he enjoyed working with Martin despite ideological differences.
“I know Mike and I come from different political affiliations, but I’ve always worked very well with Mike,” he said. “He was always a reasonable guy; someone you could talk to and I think we’re going to miss him.”
Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: [email protected] or by calling 518-395-3120.
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