NEWBURGH – When Newburgh hires a city manager, the city charge mandates that an individual has 120 days in which to move into the city. In the case of Todd Venning, six months after that deadline of September 20, 2021, he is still living in Wappinger, and in January of this year, the city council granted him a one-year extension to move.
The resolution that approved the extension says it will give him time to secure “suitable housing” to establish residency. It chalked up the delay to COVID-19.
Mayor Torrance Harvey said the housing market is tough.
“Whether you are looking for rental apartments or whether you are looking for purchasing, the City of Newburgh available apartments are minimal at this point and it’s very expensive. They are coming at a pretty penny.”
When Venning, who earns $200,000 a year, was asked by email where he lives now, he ignored the question and his current hometown was learned only after Mid-Hudson News filed a freedom of information request.
