The Village Board provides leadership and policy direction for the community with a focus on the long-term financial stability of the Village, identification of community priorities and development of an economic development program. The Board is responsible for hiring the Village Manager and appointing the Village Clerk and Village Treasurer as well as members of the Ethics Board.
The Village Board of Trustees meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm in the Bradley Assembly Room, 3rd Floor Village Hall. Meeting agendas are posted the Friday prior to the meeting.
This excludes November this year in which the Village Board only meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. And finally, March they will meet the 1st and 4th Tuesdays due to Local Election Day falling on the 3rd Tuesday.
Meet the Trustees
Mayor John Ramos
Mayor
After returning home, John became a part time Police Officer for the Town of Plattekill Police Dept. in Ulster County as well as a full time Police Officer for the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs at Castle Point. In March 1986, he accepted appointment to the New York State Police and was stationed at State Police Newburgh after he graduated the State Police Academy in September 1986.
In January 1989 John joined the New York Air National Guard at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh. Juggling two careers, John attained the Rank of Criminal Investigator, with the New York State Police in January 2000. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom several times. He ultimately retired from the New York State Police, in December 2008 with 22 years of State Police Service and retired from the Air National Guard in January 2010 as Senior Master Sergeant, E-8, First Sergeant, with a total of 26 years of military service. In July 2010, he went to work for the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and took an early retirement, retiring December 2017. He is currently working with the NYS Thruway Authority as an Assistant Traffic Supervisor.
John has been a Village of Walden resident since 2006. He served on the Village of Walden Planning Board from May 2014 until his appointment to the Board of Trustees in October 2015. He then successfully ran for election in 2016 and again in 2018 for 2 year terms. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Orange County Association of Towns, Villages, and Cities.
John is currently studying Organizational Management at Nyack College. When John is not enjoying time with his beautiful wife Catherine Lee Ramos, Esq. and his children Victoria 29, Gabrielle 22, Andrew 12, and Isabella 9, John can be found advocating for Veterans Rights, coaching his children’s Little League teams, and just being an all-around great guy.
Chris Batson
Trustee
Having lived all over the US and traveling for most his career, Chris was grateful to choose Walden as the place he and his family would call home in 2009. Chris has spent much of his professional career investigating financial crimes and losses for major companies worldwide and is currently the Director of Total Loss for Gap Inc, a position that he has held for 20 years. His corporate responsibilities include investigating financial losses while improving both systemic and procedural operating efficiencies to ensure maximum profitability in all operations across the globe. Chris has also held positions outside of corporate roles such as Co-Chairman of a task force created by the New Jersey State Attorney General’s office to combat organized crime and chairing a chapter of Certified Forensic Interrogators which led a multi-year focus group tasked with ensuring that interviews were fairly conducted in both civilian settings and law enforcement. Chris received his undergraduate degree from Indiana State University and holds a Master’s in Business Administration with a specialty in Strategic Leadership from the Amberton School of business.
Happily married since 2008, Chris has two daughters, both proud graduates of Walden Elementary. In his spare time Chris loves doing anything outdoors such as local kayaking and fishing, has a passion for strategy games, loves all things historical, and is an avid chess player.
Personally, I would love the opportunity to give back to my community and serve the Village of Walden and its people. Our time here has simply been wonderful for myself and my family. We are so thankful to part of a community with such great schools, local leadership, police, fire and all the wonderful things this village does and has to offer. It is my honor to work hard to continue to make Walden a place that we can all to be proud of.
Liz Kyle
Trustee
Liz Kyle was born in Queens Village, New York and moved to the Village of Walden at the age of 16. After high school, she joined the US Army Military Police Corp as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, deploying multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Liz served as the Noncommissioned officer in charge of police records, where she processed and maintained confidential case records, managed the daily police blotter, vehicle and weapon registration requirements for the military base, and trained soldiers on proper case procedure. Later in her military career, Liz became certified as both an Anti-Terrorism Officer and Crime and Criminal Intelligence Analyst. During her final military assignment, Liz served as the Non-commissioned officer in charge of human resources, managing and overseeing strength management, records management, promotions and evaluations, awards, training, legal and financial transactions and records for the installation Department of Emergency Services and Military Police Detachment.
Liz returned to Walden after her retirement from the military, where she discovered her passion for art – specifically painting, mixed media, and graphic design. She returned to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Orange with a degree in Visual Communication – Graphic Design. She currently works in finance and is also a freelance graphic designer. Liz is married to her best friend, Kevin, a lifelong village of Walden resident, and she takes pride in calling this village home. She’s grateful that her children are being raised in such a caring, tight-knit community. When she’s not working, Liz is a volunteer crisis counselor for the Crisis Text Line, an advocate for veterans, mental health, and suicide awareness, and a volunteer/donor for organizations including Charity Water, Wounded Warrior Project, St. Baldrick’s, and St. Jude’s. She’s also an artist and writer, currently working on her first book. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, painting, reading, playing shuffleboard and golf with her husband, and tackling home improvement projects.
Ralph Garrison Jr.
Trustee
Ralph Garrison Jr is a fourth-generation lifelong resident of the Village of Walden. He is a proud graduate of Valley Central High School in 2007. Ralph joined the United States Army in 2006 and accomplished 15 years of honorable service, including two combat tours to Afghanistan and other various countries. In April 2012 Ralph started working for Hunter Insurance Services where he is now the personal lines manager.
Ralph has been happily married to his wife Emma since 2013. He spends his free time with his four wonder children Laila, Aurora, Aspen and Maxson, cheering them on and coaching them in various hobbies and sports. Ralph is an avid sports fan and still plays as much as possible with his longtime friends and family. You can catch him on various baseball fields and golf courses throughout the spring and summer.
Being a long time resident Ralph has always wanted to give back to the place he calls home and hopes to continue to build on what the Village of Walden has to offer.
Becky Pearson
Trustee
Becky has called Walden home for over 64 years. She and Mike have been married for 44 years and have two sons, two beautiful Daughter-in-Laws and three awesome grandchildren. She has a Physical Therapy Assisting Degree and worked in that field until she had her children. Becky has since had a long-lasting career as a manager/buyer/decorator at Millspaugh Furniture. A rewarding job that has been a service to many.
In 2005, dissatisfied with the direction of the Village board, she was elected Walden’s Mayor for two terms. During her tenure, some of her accomplishments were: helping secure funding to finalize the Walden Rail trail and worked with Walden Rotary to build the bandstand at Wooster’s Grove which is used every year for Community Council’s summer “Music in the Grove“ series. Arbor day was instituted 17 years ago and is still a successful educational tool for the local elementary school which has made Walden a Tree city that opens up funding for our village. As Mayor she helped secure the property from the state which is now the home of Veterans Memorial Park and where Walden Community Council holds the annual Flag Day and Veterans Day ceremonies for the past 14 years.
Becky has given back to her community by sitting on the Walden Zoning board for the past 10 years, seven of them being the chairperson. She has been a long-time member of the Walden Historical Society, where her grandmother was a founding member. She is also a long-standing member of Walden Community Council, a volunteer organization that among many things, helps beautify the village and raises money to give scholarships to high school seniors who have given back to their communities.
In her free time, she loves to garden even though she does not have her parents’ green thumbs. She volunteers where needed. Hiking is a passion. Becky loves to hunt for antiques but her most favorite treasures are her Grandchildren, twins – Nick and Sam and their cousin Theodore. They are the apple of her eye.
Kristie Hall
Trustee
With my grandparents moving to the Village of Walden in the 1960’s, I am a third-generation resident.
I grew up in the village playing baseball and softball at Bradley field, basketball at the elementary school, attending Girls Scouts at the cabin and my weekends at the teen center.
I graduated from Valley Central High School in 1998 and shortly after that I joined the staff at Paul Congelosi Sales, Inc. and have been employed there for the last 23 years.
As a single mom, starting over, I lived in the village as a renter for a few years. In 2015, I purchased my home. A home my son has grown up in, a home with neighbors who watch out for each other and who care.
In my free time, I like to volunteer and give back to my community.
In 2006, I joined the Orange Hose Ladies Auxiliary in the Walden Fire Department. In 2010 I transferred over to the rank of Firefighter. Since then, I have held various positions including Recording Secretary and Lieutenant with my current rank of Captain.
Over the last 16 years, I have co- organized fundraisers that have raised over $600,000 in our community for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, as well as other various charities.
Bill Taylor
Trustee