Finding a replacement for Oyster Bay Town Historian Dorothy Horton McGee, who passed away recently, will be quite a job. Ms. McGee wore many hats in the town historic organizations. Besides being the town historian, she served as chairperson of the Oyster Bay Landmarks Commission and the Bi-Centennial Commission, recently renamed the Town Historical Commission. Ms. McGee was recently assigned the title of "Honorary Lifetime Chairman" in recognition of her outstanding and lasting contributions to the Town of Oyster Bay.

The town has some decisions to make in reference to Ms. McGee's position as Oyster Bay Town Historian. Ms. McGee did not take a salary per se, but a stipend of $1,500. When she was originally appointed she didn't want to accept a salary but it was decided to give the position a stipend, to set a precedent, that it would be a salaried position in the future. At the Oct. 21 meeting at town hall, Supervisor John Venditto said he thought Ms. McGee donated that stipend to charity.

The position of historian is a two-year appointment which is made by the current supervisor. Ms. McGee was appointed by Republicans as well as Supervisor Lew Yevoli, a Democrat.

When Town Supervisor John Venditto was asked what he planned to do about the position, he said he would wait until the elections were over before appointing the next town historian. The question of the salary will have to be decided for the part-time position. Mr. Venditto said "Finding someone who would devote the time and energy she did to the job, is next to impossible."

The town provides an office for the town historian at town hall, on the third floor where public information and the supervisor's office is located.

Ms. McGee was appointed chairperson of the Oyster Bay Landmarks Preservation Commission in November 1990, another position the supervisor will appoint after the election. She was appointed to the commission in 1974 and was the second chairperson, after Robert MacKay, director of the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, who served from 1974 to 1990.