ELDRED, NY — As the snow fell on January 2, Highland officials gathered to organize for the new year.

Topping the agenda was Justice Anthony LaRuffa’s administration of oaths of office for re-elected Councilman Scott Hallock, Highway Superintendent Tom Ebers and newly elected Councilman Jeff Haas.

Haas replaces Amanda Scully, who did not seek re-election last fall. Haas was named to chair the board’s Youth and Park Development sub-committee, as a member of the board’s buildings committee.

The board approved a budgeted officials compensation and wage scale that pays the supervisor $20,000, four board members $5,853.76 each, town clerk $29,561.28, highway superintendent $45,020.35; two town justices $11,746.82 each, sole assessor $31,507.70; and the attorney for the town $18,025.00.

A highway worker’s contract scale wage from $20.42 to $22.75 was approved.

Contracts with the Yulan and Highland Lake fire departments, the American Legion Ambulance Service and the Sunshine Hall Library were confirmed.

Seventeen incumbents, including five constables, were reappointed to 22 part-time town positions. There were no changes in new appointments among those serving in various unpaid positions.

Other designations included The River Reporter and The Sullivan County Democrat as official newspapers and Thunder Country 102 and WSUL as official radio stations

The town’s scheduling for 2014 includes town board meetings in work sessions as needed on the first Tuesday of the month, and regular meetings on the second Tuesday, both at 7 p.m. at the town hall.

The planning board, chaired by Barry Hafkin, meets at the hall on the first Wednesday at 7 p.m. and the zoning board of appeals, chaired by Larry Fishman, meets (as needed) on the third Thursday, at 7:30 p.m.