Hochul appoints Town Board member to Berne

BERNE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Melanie laCour will be the newest board member in the Town of Berne when she’s sworn in. She has been living in the area for six years and is ready to get the local government up to speed.

“It’s not great to have the Town paralyzed and not able to make a decision so that’s why I’m really excited to come in and be able to provide the opportunity to move forward,” said laCour. “There can be progress. There can be discussion.”

Three members resigned back in August, leaving the Town Board without a quorum and unable to vote. The Town will finally be able to pass resolutions with laCour on the board. This includes the 2025 budget.

But her appointment is news to fellow Board members. In an email to NEWS10’s Anthony Krolikowski, Deputy Supervisor Thomas Doolin wrote,

As of Sunday, January 19, 2025 in regard to Governor Hochul appointing an individual to fill a vacancy at the Town of Berne board there has been no communication either written or verbal to any current town representatives.

The appointment comes close to a week after the Town sued Governor Hochul, claiming her office ignored repeated requests to fill the three empty seats since last August. Doolin adds that laCour’s name was mentioned over the last four months but nothing was officially communicated to Town representatives.

laCour will be the only Democrat on the board. “I am looking forward to working together. I did not do this on a partisan level. I want to see the Town succeed and so I’m coming into it with an open mind. I am aware of the history of there being partisan issues. That’s not where I’m coming from.”

Ken Guarino, a resident of Berne, said even with the long wait, laCour was the right pick. “I'm glad she [Governor Hochul] did it. It took way too long. Regardless of what side of the aisle you're on, it took way too long. The town has to move forward.”

As Town Hall is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, laCour will be sworn in later this week.