New Castle Honors Katz for Decade of Service at Farewell Reception

Outgoing New Castle Supervisor Lisa Katz was honored last week for her 10 years in elected office during a farewell reception week that drew words of praise from her Town Board colleagues and community members.

Katz is leaving office at the end of the month after serving eight years as councilwoman and the past two years leading the town. When she decided to run for Town Board in 2013 on a ticket with Robert Greenstein and Adam Brodsky, public service appealed to her but didn’t know how much she would become immersed in the community.

“It changed who I am, and I will always have my law firm, but I will not stop with public service because I feel it’s so important that if you care about something make sure to use your voice and make a difference, and I want to teach that to our kids,” Katz said.

Among those who attended the ceremony to recognize Katz were former President Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hilary Clinton, both town residents. President Clinton said that New Castle is a better place for Katz having served during the past decade. They each stressed how important public service is to the community.

“I think Lisa was a workhorse in the best sense,” Clinton said. “She worked hard, she made it look easier than it was and she really did a great job, and I’m grateful, and we need more of that from both parties and all spectrums.”

During her time of service, Katz and her fellow board members that she served with have tackled downtown infrastructure improvements, increased road paving, faced an assortment of zoning and development issues and helped open Chappaqua Crossing.

Supervisor-elect Victoria Tipp said through some difficult decisions and issues, Katz has served with dedication and determination and was pleased to have worked alongside Katz for the past two years.

“We’ve all seen you navigate so many challenges placed before you with resilience and determination,” Tipp said. “You have the capacity to stand so strong when the going gets tough and your energy and your enthusiasm really shine through in all that you do. So I think that’s a real inspiration to us and move forward with.”

The board member who has served with the longest is Councilman Jeremy Saland, who has first elected eight years ago. Despite some sharp disagreements with her, Katz’s heart, passion and drive was always in the right place, he said.

Saland also noted her efforts to make the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center into a destination entertainment venue and her foresight, energy and vision to make it into a place the community and the region could look forward to visiting.

“I’m grateful for our time that we spent together working for the town, you will be missed, you have been an asset and I’m confident that your voice is not gone,” Saland said.

Resident Warren Gottlieb lauded Katz for always treating everyone with kindness and respect, even when others strongly disagreed with her.

“But I never for one second doubted that she was serving for the right reasons, and that her undivided loyalty was with the people of New Castle,” Gottlieb said. “She demonstrated this time and time again and that undivided loyalty freed her up. She wasn’t restrained by partisan politics.”

Katz said that she will continue to find ways to serve the community that she loves.

“If anything, I feel like I’m its biggest cheerleader and I will always be the cheerleader for this town,” she said.