SOUTHEAST- It was two years ago that Brewster High School graduate and local businessman Nick Durante announced his intention to become Southeast supervisor, succeeding Tony Hay.
After winning his election, Durante, who was employed for 30 years as a lineman for Verizon, decided to step down admitting he was “not a politician.”
Durante said the “stress levels in politics were too great, adding: “Politics is not what it used to be.”
Now that Durante has resigned, the Southeast Town Board Friday appointed former Putnam Legislator Joseph Castellano to the chief executive’s post of the county’s second largest town.
Castellano served on the legislature for 12 years, two of those as chairman, admitting: “I really liked the job. When Nick stepped down and after discussing the position with my family, I decided to seek the supervisor’s position working with an outstanding town board to create great things for Southeast and Putnam County.”
Over the years Southeast has been at the forefront of commercial growth countywide. Castellano believes the reasons for its successes have been two fold: “Location; location; location. We are at the crossroads of two major highways resulting in business being able to flourish. The Route 6 corridor headed towards Connecticut is another boon for the township. Besides, several positive decisions were made over the years by former administrations. I hope to continue with those decisions going forward.”
Castellano retired Friday as Program Coordinator of the Legal Division at the Westchester County Clerk’s Office in White Plains following a 30 year career.
He smiled when saying: “I now look forward to my 2.5 mile commute each day instead of 30 miles.”
One of Castellano’s major priorities is to work closely with the Village of Brewster: “The village is a potential gem and is the center of our community. I am looking forward to working with the village government on a regular basis.”
An issue that has been bantered about for years centers on the Garden Street School in Brewster. In recent months, discussion focused on the village taking over the former educational center and converting it into a village-town hall complex.
Castellano called the proposal a “work in progress. We are not the lead agency, however, if I can help to move that along, it will be a spectacular idea.”
Castellano must seek re-election in November to conclude former Supervisor Durante’s term and if he decides to seek a full term, he must run again in November, 2027.
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