Credit: Murphy Birdsall
After serving two four-year terms on the Pine Plains Town Board, Sarah Jones, along with co-member Don Bartles, will vacate her seat at the end of 2023. When asked why she’s leaving, Jones responded, “I’m 80. It’s time for younger people to come in.”
Jones appreciates having had the opportunity to be involved; growing up in Ohio, in a political family, she learned the value of community participation. Regarding the benefits of being a board member, Jones said, “If you have a seat at the table, you have a much larger voice. You’re listened to.” Jones and Bartles will attend their final board meeting on Dec. 21.
She worked with three town supervisors during her term, Brian Coons, Darrah Cloud, and Brian Walsh, and Jones said she found a good culture on the board, “I have really enjoyed that the town board has not been political, has tried very hard to get consensus.” The board welcomes public comment at meetings, and members can be approached independently by residents with issues that are then brought to the board, she noted.
She credits Gregg Pulver with bringing her into town government. Supervisor at that time, Pulver appointed her an alternate on the planning board, as Jones had demonstrated interest by attending town board meetings, and speaking up on issues that concerned her.
The town board’s main function is overseeing the town budget, making sure that money is being spent in a responsible way. During Jones’ term, the town purchased two buildings on North Main Street to make room for a new town hall. The completion of that project, and developing the town business center, including a central sewer system, are a few of the current items that Jones believes could benefit from monies now available through grants. She added that research, and repeated applications for grants is often necessary to obtain public funds.
Credit: Murphy Birdsall
Though Jones has had her house on Bean River Road for 50 years, she lived in Pine Plains part time until moving here full time in 2000. When running for election in 2015, she was aware of the difficulty of being elected as a “transplant,” as she identifies those who are not born and bred in town.
A former trial lawyer and public defender in New York City, Jones has coached the Mock Trial team at Stissing Mountain High School for a couple of decades, and she attributes her winning her first town board election to that involvement. She got to know the families of the students; their parents and some of the team members themselves went on to vote in town. “I wouldn’t have been elected if I hadn’t done that,” she believes.