Former Councilman Thomas George was appointed Monday by the Newstead Town Board as engineering consultant on the joint public works complex that the town is building with the Village of Akron.

George, a board member since 1992, did not seek re-election last fall. He has been chairman of the Shared Facilities Committee, helping shepherd the $3.5 million complex to fruition. Construction contracts are expected to be put out for bid this month. George will be paid $9,103 a year until the project is complete, which is expected to be this year.

Former Councilman Harold Finger, who also did not seek re-election in November, was appointed to the Zoning Board. A councilman since 2001, Finger was on the Akron Zoning Board for 16 years. His term expires Dec. 31, 2012. He succeeds Scott Zitka, who had resigned from the board.

The Town Board conducted routine business during a short reorganizational meeting. Supervisor David Cummings appointed Councilwoman Cheryl Esposito deputy supervisor.

Attending their first official meeting after being sworn in New Year’s Day were Councilmen Richard Baran and James Mayrose. The board’s political makeup is three Democrats, Baran, Esposito and Justin Rooney; one Conservative, Cummings; and one Republican, Mayrose. The Democrats picked up one seat last fall. Previously the board had two Democrats, two Republicans and one Conservative.

Cummings, the lone Conservative supervisor in Erie County, was re-elected unopposed in November. He also ran on the Democratic and Working Families lines.

At a work session after the reorganizational meeting, the board agreed to invite Beverly Richards to a future work session to explain her request to carry a pistol — for which she has a permit — while performing her duties as deputy dog control officer. She was reappointed to that post Monday.

Esposito said Richards wants to carry a pistol primarily for protection. “She is often out late at night,“ she said, urging the board to hear Richards’ reasons for the request.