Cloverdale Town Board votes new leadership

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 4:42 PM

By Paul Gable

After losing its president and vice president earlier this month and waiting on a Putnam County Republican Caucus to appoint replacements for Brandon Tancak and Brice Howell, both of whom resigned, the Cloverdale Town Board took the first step towards new leadership recently.

But, it didn't come easily.

Current members Greg Jay, Scott Stierwalt and Larry Fidler met in a special meeting on March 18 and the meeting began with Cloverdale Clerk-Treasurer asking for a nomination for president. That was met with minutes of silence before Fidler nominated Jay for the post. A second was called and was not immediately answered, prompting Jay to ask Cloverdale Town Attorney Richard Shagley if he could second the motion himself. Shagley advised he would prefer the second come from Steirwalt, however, the attorney noted Jay could give the second.

After a moment of thought, Jay gave the second and a vote was called for. Jay and Fidler voted in favor, while Stierwalt voted against the decision to make Jay the new board president.

Or so everyone thought.

Shagley reminded those in attendance that the board is a five person board and the vote needed to be unanimous among the three current members in order to pass. Shagley requested a recess to check the town's policy, and when the meeting resumed, it was determined the 2-1 vote was good and Jay was, indeed, the new town board president.

In his first order of business, Jay called for a nomination for vice president. Stierwalt nominated himself and there was no second to that motion. Fidler then nominated himself, which received a second from Jay. The motion for Fidler to become the vice president passed 2-1 with Stierwalt voting against the measure.