Former supervisor back to work at town hall

TOWN OF WAPPINGER – After leaving the town supervisor’s position in 2015, Barbara Gutzler said she would never return to town hall.  That pledge has been discarded as Gutzler has returned to serve as the confidential secretary to Town Supervisor Dick Thurston. Gutzler now sits just outside of her old office and has been smiling since her return this week.

“When I left in 2015 I swore I wouldn’t come back but Dick Thurston, for whom I have a tremendous amount of respect – he’s been an excellent supervisor, needed a confidential secretary to see him through the end of the year,” Gutzler said. “I jokingly told him that if he couldn’t find anyone, to call me – and he did,” as she explained her return to town hall.

Gutzler, who served as a Dutchess County legislator before being elected as town supervisor in 2011, says she is happy in her new role.  “The greatest reward is just being able to talk to people again, to residents, to help them resolve a problem, and if I can’t do anything here at the secretary’s desk, I can always take the message and have the supervisor call them back.”

“I am pleased that Ms. Gutzler has accepted this position. She brings a wealth of knowledge to town hall, having served Wappinger as town supervisor from 2011 through 2015. She is familiar with town issues, procedures, neighborhoods, and the day-to-day operations of the Town of Wappinger,” said Thurston.

Gutzler, who will be working from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday until December 31, 2023, said her return has been received in a mostly positive manner.  Not known for being concerned about the opinions held by her political enemies, including certain members of the current town board, she described the reception as one that has been “85 percent very positive,” by town employees.