OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured standing from left to right: Board member Phil Leone, Supervisor Priscilla Penfold, Town Clerk Rebecca Yacklon, and Board member Bob Price. Pictured seated from left to right: Supervisor-elect Shari Miller and Deputy Supervisor Jean Crane.

After two years of lighthearted and playful meetings between Board members and the public, Priscilla Penfold is set to retire from the role of Supervisor of the Town of Dunkirk. Penfold recently conducted her final meeting as Supervisor, and received praise from her fellow Board members, but also from the residents of the Town.

Jean Crane, Deputy Supervisor, spoke to all of Penfold’s accomplishments as Supervisor in the past two years. Crane called it “an honor and a pleasure” to serve alongside Penfold on the Town Board.

In Penfold’s time as Supervisor, the Town Board has approved three solar projects and two budgets; updated the employee handbook and the zoning book; handled labor relations and negotiations with police protection and highway department contracts; made progress on the Shorewood Water Project and its required easements; obtained a grant for sewer line improvements; and conducted the town-wide lead pipe inventory. The Town Board also governed short-term rental properties under a local law, and navigated a payback to Chadwick Bay Intermunicipal Water Works (CBI).

“That is quite a list of accomplishments,” Crane said.

Additionally, Penfold began holding Town Hall meetings to facilitate conversation between the Board and residents of the Town. The dialogue between the Board and its residents was evident, not only at Town Hall meetings, but also in regular meetings through public comments.

The Town Board also regularly engaged in lengthy and often playful conversations during the time for Board member comments. Whether it was scolding looks and gestures from Penfold to Board member Phil Leone; summarizing guidance from Attorney Jeff Passafaro bluntly upon making motions; joking with residents during their open comments; or even the candy and/or cookies passed out at meetings, the Town of Dunkirk conducted meetings in its own unique way under Penfold’s leadership.

Penfold took over the role of Supervisor two years ago, in January 2024, as Juan Pagan chose to retire rather than run for office again. Pagan stepped up to fill the shoes of Dick Purol, who suddenly passed away. After Pagan finished out the term as Supervisor, he stepped away and Penfold, the only candidate to run for the position of Supervisor, stepped into the role.

“The job of the Town Supervisor is not an easy task. It takes time, dedication, patience, integrity, and when nobody else wanted to run, you stepped up to the plate,” Crane said.

Now, it is Penfold’s turn to pass the torch and enjoy retirement, just as Pagan did before her. Like Penfold, another sitting member of the Town Board, Shari Miller, stepped up to take on the Supervisor position. Miller was elected in November after running unopposed, and assumes the role of Supervisor in January.

Each member of the Town Board thanked Penfold for her service to the Town. Several residents were also in attendance at the recent meeting, as is customary at the Town of Dunkirk’s regular meetings. Sue Hazelton, Pete Miller, and Jay Warren all spoke and expressed gratitude for Penfold’s service to the Town.

“The time you’ve put into this has been exceptional,” Warren said. “Congratulations, and good luck on your retirement.”

Penfold always said the Town of Dunkirk took a team to govern, and frequently praised the efforts of her fellow Board members and Town Clerk Rebecca Yacklon. Her final meeting was no different.

“It took a team, and our Town had a team here,” Penfold said. She later thanked the residents for their support and input, as well.

Penfold is a former Town Justice, just like her husband, Chris Penfold, the current Town Justice. She brought a gavel with her to every meeting to call the meeting to order, and to adjourn the meeting at its conclusion. Penfold held back tears as Crane said, “Tonight, as you raise your gavel for the last time, on behalf of the Town of Dunkirk, we thank you for your leadership, your commitment, and we wish you all the best in your retirement.”