The Village of Newark Valley will hold a special emergency meeting at 6:00PM in the Noble Room, on Tuesday December 16, 2025, to discuss the hiring of a vendor related to the DPW Barn Fire.

Community Update: DPW Barn Fire

We would like to provide an update regarding Friday’s fire at the Village Department of Public Works barn. First and foremost, we are incredibly thankful to report that not one was injured as a result of this incident.

The Village water system is fully operational, and at this time, we do not anticipate any service interruptions related to the fire. Regular Village services, including garbage collection, remain on schedule, and we do not expect any disruptions to those services. The DPW Barn has been secured to ensure public safety and prevent unauthorized access.

Village officials have been in regular contact with our insurance carrier and are actively working through the necessary steps as part of the recovery process.

We would like to once again extend our sincere thanks to the Newark Valley Fire Department and the many agencies who assisted during Friday’s event, including the Berkshire Fire Department, Owego Fire Department, Campville Fire Department, West Corners Fire Department, Union Fire Department, Maine Fire Department, and Maine EMS. We are also deeply appreciative to the Newark Valley Fire Department Auxiliary, Reeves and Sons and Zeb Patterson for their support and assistance on Friday.

Additionally, we would like to thank the Town of Newark Valley, the Town of Newark Valley Highway Department and the Newark Valley School District for working collaboratively with us as we navigate through this process.

To help the prevent spread of misinformation, comments on this post have been turned off. We are grateful for the overwhelming support shown by our community and the Village will continue to provide verified updates as more information becomes available.

At the December 9, 2025, board meeting Mayor James Tornatore, after over twenty-one years of dedicated leadership gave his letter of retirement to the Clerk Treasurer to read.  The letter was read as follows:

“Dear Newark Valley Village Residents,

For over twenty-one years I have gratefully served as your Village Mayor. Last October our family and friends celebrated the completion of my eightieth journey around the sun. After the party, our more immediate family suggested to me that someone else deserves an opportunity to lead this fine, wonderful, unique Village that Carrie and I call home. Effective upon the Clerk/Treasurer reading this document; I am retiring as your Newark Valley Village Mayor.

Working closely with all of our previous and current Staff and Trustees; and YOU OUR RESIDENTS has been some of the finer times of my life.

Kind Regards,

Jim Tornatore”

Upon former Mayor Tornatore’s retirement the board discussed and voted to have Deputy Mayor Joseph Mooney fill the Mayoral position for the remaining months of the term that expires in April 2026. The vacancy of Deputy Mayor has yet to be filled. The vacant Trustee position was filled by the appointment of William Foster for the remaining months of the term, also through April 2026.

The Village congratulates Mayor Mooney on his new interim position and welcomes William Foster as our newest interim trustee. We wanted to say thank you Jim for your many years of dedication and service to the Village and its residents.  

The Village office will be closed Thursday and Friday to celebrate Thanksgiving. Recycling pick-up has also been pushed back a day, so pickup will be Saturday. We hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!