FISHKILL – At the November 15 meeting of the town board, Fishkill Supervisor Ozzy Albra, a Democrat, offered an olive branch of sorts to the Republicans after a highly contentious election season in the town. Albra says Republicans and Democrats began discussions about “peace and unity” following a campaign season that saw a Republican Fishkill councilman get arrested for stealing campaign signs erected by Albra and the Democrats.
Albra has proposed naming the Fishkill Recreation Center in honor of former Town Supervisor Joan Pagones, a Republican.
“Even though Pagones is from the opposite party,” Albra told Mid-Hudson News, “she should be recognized for all the good work she did in over 20 years of service to the town.” When asked about his immediate predecessor, Bob LaColla, he indicated he is working on that as well. He declined the suggestion to dedicate the complex as the “Pagones-LaColla Recreation Facility. “In essence, we need to do some reflection to move forward in a positive direction,” the re-elected supervisor stressed.
Republican Councilman Brian Wrye, who was just elected to serve a full term on the board, supports the plan. “This campaign was the most divisive we have had in the Town of Fishkill,” he said, noting that the negativity was at an all-time high. “I understand that Joan was very controversial, and we know many reasons why.” Fellow Republican Bob LaColla previously indicated he was successful in defeating Pagones due to fiscal mismanagement during her tenure. Wrye is hoping that gestures like dedicating a building will at least start a dialogue between the party members on both sides. “If we are going to come together and remember that we are a town made up of neighborhoods and not individual political action committees, then we have to start somewhere. If that means putting a plaque on a wall and naming a building after someone, then let’s do it.”
LaColla, known for being fiscally…
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