The Ghent Town Board on January 19, 2023 appointed Dan Barufaldi and Lynda Nielsen to the open council seats. Below is a brief bio of each new Board member. Welcome Dan and Lynda.
Dan Barufaldi has been a Ghent resident with his beloved wife, Catherine, since 2013. His professional experience has included careers in health care marketing and operations, operations and administration in the financial sector, as well as founding and operating three small businesses. He retired from his professional career in 2015. Together, Dan and Catherine have been rental housing providers for over 20 years. Major volunteering activity has included work with The American Cancer Society of Rockland County, Meals on Wheels of Columbia County, Our Community Cares of Columbia County, The Mighty Masketeers of Columbia County, and AngelRide, an annual bicycle ride across Connecticut, which has raised over $6 million in support of The Whole in the Wall Gang Camp for kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Dan has served as a member of the Ghent Planning Board since 2017, until his appointment to the Ghent Town Board in January of 2023. Dan is an avid motorcyclist, enjoying long distance travel as well as riding racetracks all over the US.
Lynda Nielsen grew up in Columbia County, met her husband Michael, and settled in his childhood home in Ghent over 30 years ago. While raising her two children Lynda, has worked at Columbia Memorial Health in the Finance Department where she advanced her career and is now the Accounting Manager. She has been active in the community as a Girl Scout Troop leader, booster club member, and Sunday school teacher at The Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack. She is excited to further serve the community as a Councilwoman for the Town of Ghent. Lynda’s strong accounting background and interpersonal skills will position her to help ensure the town is fiscally responsible and sustainable.