The Town of Pawling is governed by the Town Board, consisiting of four part-time Councilpersons and the Town Supervisor. The responsibilities of the Town Board are siginificant.
The Town Board manages the day to day operations of the Town Goverment and is accountable for the health, safety and welfare of all of Pawling's citizens.
The Town Board adopts zoning and land use regulations. The members of the Town Board are responsible for adopting and amending the Town's comprehensive or master plan. This legislative body and executive branch of Town Goverment also performs administrative functions.
The Town Supervisor is the Chief Fiscal Officer of the Town and shares financial oversight responsibilities with the Town Board. The Town Board adopts a budget each year which includes funding for a vast array of Town services. The Town Board is responsible for auditing all fiscal operations of the Town.
The Town Supervisor is responsible to carry out decisions of the Board, administer the budget and disburse funds. The Town Supervisor represents the Town at various functions. The Supervisor is a member of the Town Board, presides at all Town Board meetings and votes on all matters before the Board. The Supervisor, like others members of the Town Board, does not have the power to veto legislation.
The Town has important Volunteer Boards, Committees and Task Forces. They each play a significant role in making recommendations to the Town Board, the decision making body.
The Zoning Board of Appeals has the responsibility of interpreting zoning laws and considering variance requests. The Planning Board considers site plans, subdivision proposals and special use permits.
Town Board members meet regularly twice a month on the first and third Wednesday of the month, beginning at 7:30p.m. Meetings are held in the Town Hall building located at 160 Charles Colman Blvd., Pawling, New York. From time to time, the Town Board meets prior to the business meeting for Executive Session and/or with the Town Attorney. These meetings are public noticed as required by law. The Board generally reconvenes by 7:30p.m. The Town Supervisor appoints Board members as liaisons to various Boards, Committees, Task Forces, Community Organizations and Town departments.
The Board Liaisons maintain communication in each area and as needed make recommendations for formal actions by the Town Board.
The 2008 Liaisons are:
Supervisor Coursen - Fire Department & Fire Department Task Force; Finance Department; Personnel (Human Resource) Department; Pawling Joint Sewer Commission; Planning & Zoning Boards and Departments; Pawling Central School District; Village of Pawling; Chamber of Commerce; Senior Citizens; MS4 Legal & Funding; Co-Chair Comprehensive Plan/Zoning Update Committee
Councilman Mayer (Deputy Supervisor) - Conservation Advisory Board; Code Enforcement/Building Department; Telecommunications; Town Historian; Justice Court; Transfer Station; Co-Chair Comprehensive Plan/Zoning Update Committee
Councilman Johnson - Constable Department; Dog Control; Golf Course Commission; Pawling Water Districts (1 &2); Recreation Department; Ambulance/Emergency Services; Co-Chair Ethics Update
Councilman Montemarano - Grants; Insurance; Joint Disaster Planning Committee (Pawling Stakeholders); Shore Haven Civic Association; Highway Department; Tax Collection Department; Co-Chair Lakeside/Town Facilities Planning
Councilman Watson - Assessor Department; Board of Assessment Review; Teen Center Advisory Board; Pawling Free Library; Whaley Lake Dam Committee; Information Technology; Cable TV; Buildings & Facilities Department (Maintenance); MS4 Technical; Co-Chair Lakeside/Town Facilities Planning; Co-Chair Ethics Update
| 
