Local business owner and resident Greg Rinaldi is the newest member of the Minoa Village Board, after being appointed by Mayor Bill Brazill to a fill a vacant seat during the board’s April 4 meeting.

“I’m honored to have been appointed and take this very seriously,” said Rinaldi, who takes the seat vacated by Brazill after his recent election as mayor. “I will give it everything to prove that they [Minoa Village Board] made the right decision.”

Rinaldi is the owner of Superior Seal and Paving, and was a founder of the Trappers family of restaurants, which includes Trappers in East Syracuse, Trappers II in Minoa, Stingers in Manlius and The Wildcat in Camillus. He is also active in the community, and has been part of Meals on Wheels for the past 15 years, the ESM Youth Sports organization and serves as a director for the James Marshall Farms Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that helps people suffering from depression.

Rinaldi is a native of Fayetteville, but has lived in Minoa for the past four years with his son. This will be his first time holding a political position.

He has been appointed as village board liaison to the department of public works, building and grounds, village parks, ESM Youth Sports and the business community.

“I hope I can bring a different view to the board and make Minoa a great place to live,” Rinaldi said. “I have a lot to learn in the coming months.”

Brazill decided to run as mayor after the announcement of former mayor Richard Donovan to retire after 26 years on the village board, including 12 as mayor. From a total of 246 ballots at the March 15 village elections, Brazill received 235 total votes and ran unopposed. Trustees John Abbott and Eric Christensen were reelected as trustees at this election. At the April 4 meeting, trustee John Champagne was appointed to serve as the deputy mayor, a term of one year.

Brazill’s trustee seat term does not expire until March 2019, but Rinaldi will have to run in a special election in March 2018 if he chooses to keep his seat, and then again when the term expires in March 2019.

Brazill said he decided to appoint Rinaldi to fill his trustee seat because Rinaldi is already an involved figure in the community.

“I think Greg [Rinaldi] can bring a good outside perspective to the board,” Brazill said. “I look forward to working with him.”