Two Quit Hurley Building Department- by Maya Schubert/Kingston Wire
The Town of Hurley Building Department is in the grips of a staffing shortage in the wake of several recent resignations. Building Inspector Tom Tryon and Zoning Enforcement Officer Eric Kitchen have both left the department for higher paying positions elsewhere in the county, according to the town.
The resignations appeared to be sudden: a source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Kingston Wire that they had an appointment at the department set for Monday morning. "When we showed up they shrugged and informed us he’d packed up and left a few hours earlier."
Following the departures, the town procured the part-time services of a Marbletown officer to fill in at the building department, which has already suffered a shortage due to another employee’s extended medical leave.
“The Hurley Building Department is in a period of transition, and the town asks for patience from the public,” the town said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Town Councilman Mike Boms, Tryon was offered a position as building inspector in the New Paltz building department. A Rosendale resident and a father of one with a second on the way, Boms said Tryon felt the location and salary of the position better fit his needs.
“This is for a better advancement for himself,” Boms said.
Tryon was only the building inspector for 10 months in Hurley. Kitchen, a former longtime Ulster Town Board member and the City of Kingston’s current code enforcement, is now running for a seat in the Ulster County Legislature and declined to comment as to his reasons for departure.
The town has published job postings for both positions.
In other town news, Hurley will be hosting the 2023 Tomorrow Peoples Pow Wow at the town park at 1035 Dug Hill Road Saturday, Sept. 30-Sunday, Oct. 1. Hosted by the Ramapough Culture and Land Foundation, the Pow Wow will feature food, arts, crafts, and entertainment from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.