Maura Rosner reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Athens held a joint meeting between officials from both the town and the village to discuss the fate of the Athens Community Center, and only one town official turned out. Athens Town Supervisor Michael Pirrone was the lone town official at the Aug. 17 meeting. Before the meeting, town board members Shannon Spinner, Mary Brandow, Anthony Paluch, and Michael Ragaini sent emails to Pirrone asking that bookkeeper Don Pierro attend the meeting to be at the executive session portion. Pirrone ignored those emails, and attended the meeting. “The village board was disappointed, as was the public,” Pirrone said Friday. “We think of the village and town of Athens working together as one town, one unit.” Town board members were emailed copies of the transcript from the meeting. “I also sent the 2007 and 2020 Athens Comprehensive Plan,” Pirrone said. “There was no response or reaction from board members.” Town board members refused to comment on their absences. Town Councilperson Michael Ragaini said, “Ask the supervisor why I did not attend.” Athens Village officials were not happy. “The village board was pleased to have the town supervisor, however we felt it would have been a lot richer if the board members did attend,” Athens Village Trustee Joshua Lipsman said. “Twenty to 25 members of the public came, which is larger than usual. Clearly, the public is interested in the cooperation of the village and town boards.” Athens town officials, and members of the public, can attend a second joint meeting on the issue at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.