The Milan Town Board advanced its $4.06 million preliminary budget for 2027 without changes at its Oct. 19 meeting, prompting the town historian to resign over a proposed 75% reduction in her salary.
The budget calls for $4,062,996 in spending across the general, highway, and fire budgets, a 1.85% increase from 2026.
It includes an approximately $30,000 increase in costs associated with the assessor’s office, as well as salary increases for several elected officials and town employees, including those working in the highway, planning, and zoning enforcement departments.
The proposed salary for the town historian, however, would fall from $6,000 in 2026 to $1,500 in 2027, a 75% reduction that prompted Town Historian Victoria Lo Brutto to resign effective immediately.
Town Clerk Ingrid Kulick read Lo Brutto’s resignation letter at the meeting, in which she said it was “disheartening to know that the town board chose to devalue the position of the town historian.”
The board scheduled a public hearing on the preliminary budget for 6:55 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, followed by a hearing on the 2027 fire district budget, which calls for $456,089 in appropriations.
Kulick also announced the resignation of Planning Board member Hannah Diamond, who is moving out of Milan.
During a workshop session, board members discussed potential security improvements at Town Hall, which also serves as a community center where residents can host events.
Supervisor Bill Jeffway said he values the building’s role as a community gathering place but expressed concern about its accessibility.
“I think the big problem is that the entire building is accessible,” Jeffway said. “Any door gives you access to the entire building.”
Town Board member Clint Bond raised concerns about the lack of supervision during community events.
“When people are here, there’s nobody designated to supervise them or to protect and represent the building while they’re here,” Bond said. “So it’s a great trust thing, but it is also a vulnerability.”
Jeffway suggested installing doors to divide the building into three sections: the courtroom, the offices, and the community room in the basement. Board members agreed to contact security companies to explore other options before making a decision.
In other business, the board approved spending $8,000 to test roofing materials at the cell tower building on Woody Row Road. Jeffway said a core sample would help determine whether the roof contains asbestos.
The board also approved transferring $20,000 from contractual building improvements to refuse collection and disposal to pay for brush clearing.
Additionally, the board approved adding an option to the town’s dog license form allowing residents to make voluntary donations to the Town of Pine Plains dog shelter.
A December amendment to New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law requires municipalities to direct voluntary contributions collected through dog licensing to the organization with which they contract for animal shelter services. Milan currently contracts with Pine Plains for those services.
Well, Milan – You have done it again! Victoria LoBrotto has done so much for our town in historic designations. Milan, who has spent so much money in making Milan “SCENIC” with their conservation brochures has all these ideas but does not follow up on them. Mrs. LoBrotto did her job and did it well. Why in the world wouldn’t the Town recognize the importance of the actual history that they have. So now what will happen? Do you think it is easy to document actual historic buildings within the town and what they meant to the forming of Milan. No, they would rather get rid of the historic hamlets such as they have done with “Jackson Corners”. Just look at what the corner of Dutchess Cty. Rtes 50 & 56 look like. Here is one of the oldest homes built as a stage coach Inn by a Revolutionary War Vet named “Hugh Rea” who was a captain in the 10th NorthEast Regiment. The property and area had a post office, blacksmith shop, distillery, general store and so much more! It was a place to wait for the train. A real community. However, now it seems as though there are no enforcements of zoning or anything else. It’s just sad! Tells you about where this town is going in the future. No respect for history.