Board of Trustees
Tom Gulbransen
Mayor
Commissioner of Fire & Safety; Lighthouse Preservation
Project Manager
Tom has served the Village since 2007 as Trustee or Mayor, Environmental Committee Chair, Public Safety liaison, and Project Manager for the Lighthouse Preservation and Revetment Repairs. He and Suzanne have been active in Crane Neck since moving here with two children in the 1990s. As a lifelong resident of coastal communities, Tom appreciates the balance of land development and protection of the environment we live in. Professionally, Tom is a Data Scientist at Battelle Memorial Institute and Sustainability Officer at SWFTLabs.com. Tom is a firematic officer and EMT in the Setauket Fire Department, and Chairperson of the Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality.
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William Schaefer
Deputy Mayor
Commissioner of Village Hall Operations, Communications
& Website
Bill Schaefer has been a resident of Old Field for 25 years and previously served as Acting Village Justice and a member of the Board of Trustees. He was elected to his current position in March 2022 and became Deputy Mayor in November 2023. Bill graduated from the Washington College of Law, American University and previously served as a clerk to a federal judge, a Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney, and an Assistant United States Attorney for the Department of Justice prosecuting Asian, Russian, and Italian organized crime cases. He currently teaches criminal justice and political science courses at Hofstra University which leaves him time to add to the 128 countries he has visited in his lifetime.
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Rebecca VanDerBogart
Commissioner of Buildings, Lighthouse Preservation
Chairperson
Rebecca Van Der Bogart is the village trustee in charge of municipal buildings. In addition, she has primary responsibility in overseeing the Lighthouse renovation project. In the summer of 1997, Rebecca and her wife Hayley purchased their home in Old Field and side-by-side they’ve spent the last 25 years researching and restoring their 150-year-old farmhouse and barn. Rebecca received her undergraduate degree in Business from Stony Brook University. She has worked in the design-built industry for 29 years, most currently as a Global Account Manager for Miller Knoll. She was one of the founding members of the Friends of Flax Pond, Rebecca is committed to protecting the environment, and balancing responsible stewardship with education, enjoyment, and access. She loves to swim and Paddle board with Hayley and her two poodles.
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Morgan Morrison
Commissioner of Roads, Roadside Trees, and Parks
Morgan Morrison was born and raised in the Village of Old Field. As a life-long resident of 42 years, he is deeply rooted in this community and has a strong desire to see its unique character maintained for all to enjoy. Morgan is a lover of nature and an avid beekeeper. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Stony Brook University and currently works in Horticulture. His interests include gardening, photography and cycling.
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Robert Chase
Commissioner of Code Enforcement
Robert has lived in the village since 2017 and grew up in the Three Village area. He enjoys living on Conscience Bay with access to boating and recreational activities. He retired from the Suffolk County Police Department after 30 years of Service as a Detective assigned to the Major Case, Homicide and General Service Sections. Robert received his undergraduate degree in Public Administration in 1985 and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Analysis in 1987 from S.U.N.Y at Stony Brook. He is committed to the preservation of the lighthouse and a responsible balanced stewardship that protects the community’s character while supporting the future of the village.
The Board of Trustees enacts all Village ordinances and regulations, passes and implements the annual budget, authorizes the disbursement of Village funds, oversees the operations of Village government, conducts hearings on specific matters, and confirms the Mayor’s appointments of residents to the Village Boards and Committees. All appointees to these Boards and Committees serve without compensation.
The structure, composition, and operations of Village government is governed by New York State Law and the Village of Old Field Code. Complete information concerning relevant state laws may be secured from The New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials at www.nycom.org.
Notices for all meetings and hearings (whose time and location are subject to change) as well as other matters which by law requires public notice are posted in the newspaper of record for the Village of Old Field, The Village Times, at Village Hall, on notice boards throughout the Village, and on this website under Village Meetings.
Mitchell Birzon
Village Justice
The Honorable Mitchell Birzon has served as village justice going for four years. He and his wife Kathryn have been residents of Old Field for over 20 years and raised their sons here in the village. Justice Birzon is the founding father of a healthcare litigation law firm located in Smithtown. He also serves and has served as a member of various charitable boards and has been appointed by the Bar Association as a member of the Grievance Committee and as Chair of the Health and Hospital Law Committee. When not engaged in the practice of law, he can be found sailing, golfing, skiing, and otherwise trying to keep up with his five young grandchildren.
Tara Higgins
Associate Village Justice
James D’Angelo
Village Prosecutor
Anthony Guardino
Village Attorney
Position Vacant
Brian McCaffrey
CEHA Administrator
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