Town of Brighton

The town government of Brighton is composed of the Town Board, the Highway Department, and other officials, some elected and some appointed.

Town Board

The board consists of five individuals, the Supervisor and four Members of Council. All are elected by the voters registered in the town. The term of the Supervisor is two years and the term of a Council Member is four years. In the absence of the Supervisor the Deputy Supervisor will act in the capacity of the Supervisor.

The Council Member elections are staggered at two-year intervals, i.e., two of the four are elected in each odd-numbered year, together with the Supervisor.

It is a common misconception that a town supervisor is the sole executive authority in a town, e.g., he or she is a sort of “president” or “chief executive officer.” In reality, it is the town board, acting together, that controls the business matters of the town and is therefore the executive authority. Decisions are made by majority rule, consisting of at least three of the five members of the board. The statutory difference between the supervisor and the members of council is that the supervisor is 1) also the chief financial officer of the town, and 2) required to preside at meetings of the town board. In addition, the supervisor is usually regarded as the valid contractual signatory representing the town board and inevitably serves as the focus of communications to and from the town government.

The Highway Department

The Highway Department is a very important part of our town government. The department is managed by the Highway Superintendent, an elected official, and reporting to the superintendent are three employees. The department maintains the approximately 21 miles of town roads in Brighton, and in addition contractually assists Franklin County with the maintenance of some of the county roads in the town.

The Highway Superintendent is elected every two years.

Town Clerk

The Town Clerk is the custodian of the town records. The clerk provides a written record of town board meetings and provides notice to other government agencies and to the public of town business. The clerk issues licenses for which the town has jurisdiction, such as dog licenses.

The Town Clerk is elected every four years.

Town Justice

A town justice has jurisdiction in civil matters, small claims, eviction proceedings, civil hearings, and suppression hearings. A town justice also has jurisdiction in criminal matters up to pretrial felony hearings (violations and misdemeanors). Laws dealt with include, but are not limited to, Penal, Vehicle and Traffic, Parks and Recreation, Environmental Conservation, Public Health, Navigational, Agricultural and Market, and Local laws.

The Town Justice is elected every four years.

Tax Collector

The tax collector is charged with the duty of collecting the total amount of taxes levied on each parcel of property listed on the town’s tax roll. This involves annual collections of approximately $1.6 million from owners of approximately one thousand parcels. The Tax Collector is elected every four years.

Code Enforcement Officer

The Code Enforcement Officer administers and enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

The Code Enforcement Officer is appointed by the Town Board.

Assessor

This job of the Assessor is to place valuations on real property for property tax purposes and to maintain the town assessment roll.

The Assessor is appointed by the Town Board.

Dog Control Officer

The Dog Control Officer resolves issues concerning dogs, such as stray dogs and noisy dogs.

The Dog Control Officer is appointed by the Town Board.

Recreation Attendant

The Recreation Attendant supervises the operation of the Town Park in Gabriels.

The Recreation Attendant is appointed by the Town Board.

Bookkeeper

The Bookkeeper maintains the financial records of the town and otherwise supports the supervisor in his/her responsibilities as the chief financial officer of the town.

The Bookkeeper is appointed by the supervisor.

Town Hall Custodian

This position involves the performance of many tasks necessary to keep the town hall a safe and desirable place to work and meet.

The Hall Custodian is appointed by the town board.

Board of Assessment Review

The Board of Assessment Review guarantees taxpayer rights by hearing real property assessment complaints (grievances) and arriving at fair and impartial determinations regarding those complaints.

The Board consists of five members, appointed to 5-year terms by the Town Board.

Deputies

The Town Supervisor and the Highway Superintendent are authorized to appoint deputies to act in their stead in the event of absence or temporary incapacitation.