​I am so honored by your votes re-electing me as Town Clerk. Thank you for coming out to vote, and thank you for your trust. I will continue to work for every one in our town, to advance transparency and accessibility goals with compassion and diligence. Your support continually inspires me.
         Congratulations to my fellow candidates on ROW A who also won, including new Councilmember Griff Liewa, returning Councilmember Deb Dougherty, Supt. Mike Boms, Hwy Sup Mike Shultis and to Town Justice Tracy Kellogg.
          Thank you to the Democratic Committee, to the volunteers who helped get the word out, to our neighborhood fiends and donors who fund our communication efforts, I am deeply appreciative to each and every one of you.

​ Sworn in on January 1st after a Special Election, I am grateful for the honor to serve all of the Hurley community.  While continuing personal and friendly in-house service,  I've also .. 

• Provided stability and direction to the Clerk’s Office
• Improved response time, notices, monthly and minutes reporting
• Streamlined tax payment processing
• Updated recordkeeping protocols
• Organized files to improve transparency and accessibility
• Started accepting credit cards
• Worked on revenue and savings initiatives 
• Improved staff training
• Extended hours and after-hour appointments​

in.Back in June, I remarked in 3-things-im-working-on-1.html that #1 Additional service and payment options could be helpful."  I'm happy to fulfill this goal. After spending a bit of time researching options to do this, we can now accept credit cards in the office for Building Permits at a fee to the payer of 2.65%.  This provider charges a minimum fee of $3.00, so it's best for paying fees in excess of $75.  This is the same provider we use for paying taxes online. Checks and exact change are always welcome at Town Hall.   
At the Transfer Station, however, residents can only use a pre-paid coupon, and credit/debit cards and checks for amounts exceeding $10. The town has been absorbing the fees for those transactions since implementation several years ago. The costs are paid by all taxpayers and they keep rising With the direction of the Town Supervisor, we identified a different provider that doesn't charge a minimum fee, but will simply add a flat 4% to all transactions - we're still researching to find the best deal. Switching  will minimize the burden on the town budget and be a reasonable fee to payers. I expect that a new system will be in place before year end.  Cash will continue to be accepted at the Town Clerk's office. 

It was such great weather and a lovely day to be at the Town Park on Saturday, Sept. 13th.  Deputy Clerk Jeffrey Mann joined me there. We collected newsletter sign-ups, I did glitter tattoos for numerous residents and Jeff handled an assortment of giveaways. 

Kristen Schara with our Greenhouse Gas Activity on Hurley Day. 
I was usually doing Glitter Tats at the adjacent table and created
most of the graphics. 

​Over the past few months I have been in contact with several Democrats and participated in a few strategy meetings. I learned that a discussion with Congressman Pat Ryan following the passage of that 2025 Omnibus Legislation resulted in an effort to pass Resolutions throughout the County opposing some of its significant harmful effects. Following the passage of a like resolution in the Village and then Town of New Patlz, I followed suit and proposed to Supervisor Mike Boms that this go on the Agenda. He readily agreed.  RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE HARMFUL IMPACTS OF THE “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” was adopted by the Hurley Town Board on 9/9/25! The Resolution is part of the minutes.