Olive board approves 2026 salaries, pay rules and slate of appointments
January 03, 2026 | Olive, Ulster County, New York
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The Town of Olive board approved its 2026 salary schedule, pay-rate changes and a slate of appointments at an organizational meeting on Jan. 2.
Supervisor Jim Safranco read a detailed schedule of elected and appointed salaries — including town board members at $9,959 each, the supervisor at $64,740, town justices at $15,339 each, town clerk/tax collector at $62,000 and the highway superintendent at $78,000 — and hourly rates for clerks, transfer-station staff and seasonal positions. "This has been a long journey for me," Safranco said after he was sworn in and before moving the salary schedule for approval.
Why it matters: The salary and pay-rate approvals set the town's personnel costs for the coming year and establish pay rules that supervisors and department heads will follow. The board approved the salary schedule by voice vote.
The board also approved union-negotiated highway pay rates for 2026 (examples read into the record included MEO mechanic $32.49/hr, HEO $31.47/hr, MEO $30.70/hr, labor $29.82/hr) and a stepped new-hire rate that pays full job rate after two years. Proposed police pay rates were presented for part-time officers ($33.21/hr) and part-time sergeants ($36.21/hr), as well as specified rates for officers without certain certifications; the board moved those rates as part of the personnel package.
On administrative authority and contracts, the board decided not to establish an in-house town attorney. Instead it approved engaging Dan Hefter and Nathan Nichols to provide legal services as needed, authorized the supervisor to retain additional attorneys or consultants up to $5,000 per month without prior board approval and appointed UHY Advisors Inc. as independent auditors for 2026 at $8,000. The board also appointed a labor consultant at $20,000 for the year and authorized a special prosecutor at $150 per hour.
Appointees confirmed included a deputy supervisor, clerk to the supervisor, bookkeeper and multiple clerical and justice-court staff, as well as liaison and committee assignments for planning, zoning, conservation and other advisory groups. The board set regular meeting dates and default locations for 2026 and approved department hours and transfer-station schedules.
What was said: After the oath of office, Clerk Kim Daly — newly sworn as town clerk — thanked staff and deputies for their support. Highway Superintendent Brian Burns, who the board also swore in, reflected on decades of town service and noted upcoming crew retirements.
Next steps: The board posted the approved salary schedule, committee rosters and meeting calendar and adjourned the organizational meeting. Any future changes to pay or appointments will require board action at a regular meeting.
Supervisor Jim Safranco read a detailed schedule of elected and appointed salaries — including town board members at $9,959 each, the supervisor at $64,740, town justices at $15,339 each, town clerk/tax collector at $62,000 and the highway superintendent at $78,000 — and hourly rates for clerks, transfer-station staff and seasonal positions. "This has been a long journey for me," Safranco said after he was sworn in and before moving the salary schedule for approval.
Why it matters: The salary and pay-rate approvals set the town's personnel costs for the coming year and establish pay rules that supervisors and department heads will follow. The board approved the salary schedule by voice vote.
The board also approved union-negotiated highway pay rates for 2026 (examples read into the record included MEO mechanic $32.49/hr, HEO $31.47/hr, MEO $30.70/hr, labor $29.82/hr) and a stepped new-hire rate that pays full job rate after two years. Proposed police pay rates were presented for part-time officers ($33.21/hr) and part-time sergeants ($36.21/hr), as well as specified rates for officers without certain certifications; the board moved those rates as part of the personnel package.
On administrative authority and contracts, the board decided not to establish an in-house town attorney. Instead it approved engaging Dan Hefter and Nathan Nichols to provide legal services as needed, authorized the supervisor to retain additional attorneys or consultants up to $5,000 per month without prior board approval and appointed UHY Advisors Inc. as independent auditors for 2026 at $8,000. The board also appointed a labor consultant at $20,000 for the year and authorized a special prosecutor at $150 per hour.
Appointees confirmed included a deputy supervisor, clerk to the supervisor, bookkeeper and multiple clerical and justice-court staff, as well as liaison and committee assignments for planning, zoning, conservation and other advisory groups. The board set regular meeting dates and default locations for 2026 and approved department hours and transfer-station schedules.
What was said: After the oath of office, Clerk Kim Daly — newly sworn as town clerk — thanked staff and deputies for their support. Highway Superintendent Brian Burns, who the board also swore in, reflected on decades of town service and noted upcoming crew retirements.
Next steps: The board posted the approved salary schedule, committee rosters and meeting calendar and adjourned the organizational meeting. Any future changes to pay or appointments will require board action at a regular meeting.
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