Diane Valden is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Copake Town Board has appointed Lynn C. Hotaling as the town’s sole assessor. Hotaling will serve a full six-year term, beginning October 1. She was previously appointed to a one-year term following the resignation of embattled former assessor J. Craig Surprise in January 2018. Speaking in support of Hotaling, board member Jeanne Mettler said she attended Grievance Day last year and found a long line of residents contesting their assessments. This year, she said two people came to grieve. “I think this is a good appointment,” Mettler said. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.