TOWN OF WAPPINGER – Vincent “Vinny” Bettina, a longtime town councilman in the Town of Wappinger before becoming the town’s highway superintendent, passed away Tuesday morning. Town Supervisor Richard Thurston has ordered the town hall flag lowered to half-mast.
Bettina started his service to the town when he was elected to the town board in 1996 as councilman for the second ward.
According to a statement released by the town, Bettina played a role in the purchasing of Carnwath Farms Historic Site & Park for open space, advocated for veterans causes, and worked on bringing town water to the Chelsea hamlet.
He served on the board until 2015 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the role of superintendent of highways; he was later elected to later that year. Bettina worked to streamline services and highway projects until the end of his service in 2019.
Vincent Bettina also served his community as a member of the Board of Education of the Beacon City School Board, president of the New York State Builder’s Association, and many other organizations.
He was born and raised in the Chelsea hamlet and lived within the town on Osborne Hill Road.
He is survived by his fiancé Susan and his sister, Councilwoman Angela Bettina.
The town’s statement also said, “On behalf of Supervisor Richard L. Thurston, Senior Councilman William H. Beale, Councilman Christopher Phillips, Councilman Al Casella, Town Clerk Joseph P. Paoloni, Superintendent of Highways Michael J. Sheehan, Town Justice Carl Wolfson, Town Justice Heather Kitchen, County Legislator Joseph D. Cavaccini, County Legislator Lisa Paoloni, and all the officials and employees of the Town of Wappinger; we send our condolences to Councilwoman Angela Bettina, and the rest of the Bettina family during this time. Rest in peace Vinny. You will be missed.”
