BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

MASSENA - Former Massena Village Trustee Tim Ahlfeld will be mayor effective May 1.

Village trustees made the appointment Tuesday after Deputy Mayor Matt LeBire recommended him for the position.

Ahlfeld had previously served as a trustee for eight years and remains active and engaged with the village, according to LeBire.

LeBire said Ahlfeld was “hands on” and didn’t “fade away after leaving the board.”

LeBire said a total of five candidates sought to take over the mayoral position after village trustees issued a call for applicants.

He said five people responded and all had strengths. He said only three of the five submitted the materials requested by the village.

“One of them stood out to me with a significant amount of experience,” LeBire said before naming Ahlfeld.

Ahlfeld was approved unanimously by all trustees in attendance and he took the opportunity to offer his appreciation to the board.

He also expressed pride in the village Department of Public Works, police, fire department and town hall employees, who he said are true public servants that he looks forward to working with.

Ahlfeld chose not to seek reelection to his position as a village trustee in 2018.

The mayor's seat has been left vacant since former Mayor Tim Currier resigned the position to seek help following a drug arrest in December.

Deputy Mayor LeBire has been serving as interim mayor since that time.

The appointment will be good until the November election when village residents will have the opportunity to vote on a candidate to fill the position though the end of current term.