OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Samantha Kellogg is the town of Pomfret’s new clerk. Mike Lee is the town board’s newest member. Both were sworn in Jan. 2.

Samantha Kellogg was sworn in as the new Pomfret town clerk last week. Mike Lee also took the oath as a new town board member.

Lee won the November election, defeating Dave Bird. He replaces John Sedota on the board. Sedota lost an earlier re-election bid but got back on the town board after he was nominated to fill Brett Christy’s position after he resigned.

According to Deputy Town Supervisor Ann Eckman, Kellogg also joined village government in November, as a deputy clerk. The town clerk at the time, Alison Vento, subsequently resigned to take a newly created position — executive director of the county’s water districts.

Kellogg was then nominated to take over as the top clerk at a Jan. 2 reorganization meeting, and the town board approved it. She is filling out Vento’s term, which ends Dec. 31, with Eckman pointing out she will have to run for election in November to continue in office.

Robert Hanna has taken over as the new deputy town clerk.

In other notes from Pomfret Town Hall:

— The town board authorized a $81,710 payment to N Mathews of Westfield for their work on a new front wall for Pioneer Cemetery.

Workers have made decent progress despite battling wintry weather, with much of the wall in place. Town Supervisor Dan Pacos said he has received many compliments about the project, with people appreciating the municipality chose to put in a stone wall similar to the previous one, rather than a plain concrete retaining wall.

— The board approved two new streetlights for Martha’s Vineyard. Pacos said it should satisfy residents of the area who have been demanding additional lighting for a while.

— Robert Dando complained to the board a proposed rezoning does not include a provision for political signs. He said it would allow only four temporary signs per lawn and is silent about political signs.

Eckman suggested that political signs get exempted from the rezoning, and board members were receptive, but no formal action was taken.