OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Cassadaga Mayor Rudy Abersold is relieved to have a new Village Clerk and Deputy Clerk onboard.

CASSADAGA — The village has found a new clerk, with a new deputy clerk at her side.

Sue Penhollow will be the new village clerk of Cassadaga. She has several decades of experience in working with insurance, which Mayor Rudy Abersold feels prepares her for the role because of her office skills and people skills.

Tammie Wichlacz will be the deputy clerk. Wichlacz also serves the Village as Beach Director. Wichlacz is a former Town Clerk in Arkwright. “She brings a plethora of clerk’s experience to the village,” Abersold said. “She is going to be a tremendous asset.”

Abersold made hiring a new Village Clerk a priority for the village since taking over as mayor in January. Abersold directed residents to contact him directly with their needs while the Clerk’s Office was vacated. Filling both the Village Clerk and Deputy Clerk roles is now a weight off his shoulders.

“It has already given me relief,” Abersold said.

The Village Clerk’s role was vacated by the resignation of Annette McChesney due to the increasing duties of the role since she began several years ago. McChesney resigned to allow for the Village to find a candidate with the time to devote to the role. The duties of the Clerk’s Office were reevaluated and defined by the new Village administration following McChesney’s resignation.

The Deputy Clerk’s role was vacant since the organizational meeting after the new administration took office. Roxanne Astry, the former longtime Village Clerk, served as Deputy Clerk for the past few years until the new administration elected not to reappoint her to the role.

Temporarily, the Village Clerk’s hours were adjusted to 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to allow for the new Clerk and Deputy Clerk to learn and conduct business without interruptions. Residents can also make a special appointment by calling the Clerk’s Office at (716) 595-3007.

Abersold commended Doeren Mayhew for its “exceptional” service in recent weeks as the village prepares for its budget presentation. Doeren Mayhew has aided the village with its finances in the absence of a Village Clerk in recent weeks.

“That’s one of the best things we did, turn our financial responsibilities over to them. Every time I call them, I get a prompt response,” Abersold said.

During the month of February, the Cassadaga Fire Department responded to 27 total calls, including 19 Emergency Medical Services calls, two fires, and two motor vehicle accidents. The department provided mutual aid 14 times and only received mutual aid once.

The Village Board also recently reappointed Todd Anderson to the Planning Board.

The next meeting of the Cassadaga Village Board is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m., including the annual budget hearing.