FALLSBURG — The town has a new deputy supervisor, Justin Picciotti, who was appointed by Fallsburg Town Supervisor Michael Bensimon after asking the previous deputy supervisor, Nathan Steingart, to step down. According to Bensimon, the decision was made due to differences in how the town should be managed.

“My previous Deputy Supervisor [Nathan Steingart] and I had a difference of opinion between how things have been done for nearly two decades compared to how I believe town business should be conducted,” Bensimon said at the September 18 town board meeting.

Although Picciotti is not an elected official, New York State Town Law states, “Any person, including a town officer, official, or employee, may be appointed deputy supervisor, provided that the person appointed possesses the same qualifications as an elective town officer.”

New York State Town Law says in appointing deputy supervisors, positions that remain unfilled for five days, the town supervisor must appoint someone within that time. After those five days, the town board has the authority to make the appointment. However, this motion was not brought up at any town board meeting, 

Picciotti ran in 2023 for District 8 Legislature and lost to former Fallsburg judge Amanda Ward. 

Picciotti told the Democrat, “I am excited for any opportunity to support my community. I am ready to serve in whatever capacity the supervisor sees fit and hope to be of service to the people of Fallsburg.”

As Picciotti was not elected, he does not have voting rights when stepping into the supervisor’s position if Bensimon is unable to conduct a town board meeting. 

Bensimon mentioned that he offered the position to Fallsburg Councilmember Miranda Behan, but she turned it down. However, Behan told the Democrat that she was never formally asked to be deputy supervisor. Instead, she heard about the offer from fellow Councilmember Sean Wall-Carty. After receiving a phone call and considering it, she decided to decline the position.

Steingart told the Democrat that he would continue serving as a councilmember. “I’m still going to put in the same time, and I’m going to do the same work,” he said.

Steingart, who served under former Fallsburg Supervisor Steven Vegliante for many years, added, “Out of everyone on the board, I have the most experience as a council member. Unfortunately, he [Bensimon] doesn’t see the value in that.”