Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Catskill Village Board selected a new village president at its reorganizational meeting, April14. Peter Grasse III, a Republican, was picked by board members to succeed Vincent Seeley. Grasse was elected in March to a second term on the board. Seeley resigned January 8 after a four-month absence related to a new business venture. Catskill village presidents are appointed by the village board and are not directly elected by voters. Village Vice President Joseph Kozloski had served as acting president following Seeley's departure. In remarks April 14, Grasse said he did not expect to take on the leadership role when he first ran for office. “I just wanted to get in there and make a difference,” he said. Grasse said he enjoys being a part of village government. “I enjoy listening to the concerns of residents and I like to think everything out before I make a decision. Trying to make the right decision all the time is key,” he said. Grasse’s priority list includes getting the village’s finances in order, maintaining the parks and making sure everything is looking its best so everyone can enjoy the summer. The village has some major infrastructure projects coming up, including a new water main for Main Street and a settling pond for the water treatment plant; as well as some new development coming to the village, such as Taco Bell, WellNow and more. “I’m excited to get to work,” Grasse said. Kozloski will continue to serve as vice president. A special election will be held at a later date to fill Seeley’s unexpired term, Grasse said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.