Why Will a Goat Attend Greenburgh's Next Town Meeting?

In addition to the regular politicos, residents and gadflies, Greenburgh's Thursday-night town board meeting will have livestock in attendance.

More specifically, a goat. But why?

"During the days of early town government, the town clerk kept a record of lost animals—a major concern to residents at that time," explained town supervisor Paul Feiner. "The clerk would also inform residents of animals that were recovered."

And Thursday's meeting will pay homage to this early task—the forum marks the town's 225th anniversary.

"Our town was formally created and chartered on March 7, 1788," Feiner said. "Members of the town board will dress in colonial outfits [Thursday] evening."

Greenburgh's anniversary fete will be held at 177 Hillside Avenue and begin at 6:30 p.m. Also on the agenda is a reenactment of an 18th-century meeting—complete with a town crier—and refreshments provided by local eateries.

Get there early since the goat, who will be a loaner from the Greenburgh Nature Center, will only be at town hall until 8 p.m., "since it has to go to sleep," said Feiner.

"Two-hundred-twenty-five years ago the big issue in the town was not the Tappan Zee Bridge crossing but goats!" he added.