Town looks to Greenwood Lake to fill Rabbitt's seat

WARWICK-The Town Board is considering among eight candidates to fill the vacancy on the board left by Annie Rabbitt's election to the state Assembly. Eleven people inquired about the vacancy, but the board narrowed the field based on geographic considerations. Because Rabbitt was from the Greenwood Lake area of town, the new council member will most likely be from that area as well. Supervisor Michael Sweeton said the eight are Laura Bullinger, Mary Commerford, Floyd D'Angelo, Peter Romano, Barbara Moore, Don Fonte, Cedric Glaspen and Richard McKenna. Sweeton said he has interviewed each of the candidates. The board likes to have a geographic balance when considering its members, he added. Councilman Jim Gerstner is from the Village of Warwick, Leonard DeBuck is a resident of Pine Island, and Mickey Shuback is from the Florida area. The board was considering making the appointment at last night's meeting. Meanwhile, the Town Board has filled a vacancy on the Planning Board by appointing Russell Kowal, a Pine Island farmer and lifelong resident of the town. "Russell is a good businessman, he has good common sense," said Sweeton. Kowal had to resign his position on the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Town Board then appointed Charles Todd to fill Kowal's place.