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The Dutchess County Board of Elections Web site had the election results updated as of Dec. 5, and shows Staley leading with 1,180 votes to Segarra's 1,177.
After the election, the race was contested by both sides due to the closeness of the votes and to examine the validity of several unopened ballots.
According to Dutchess County Board of Elections Democratic Commissioner Frances A. Knapp, the two sides went to the Dutchess County Supreme Court last week and the outcome of the local court's decision is now being appealed at the State Appellate Court in Brooklyn by the Democrats.
"More and more in the last couple of years the races have been a lot closer because the voter registration is evening up in most towns and we're not primarily a Republican county anymore," said Knapp.
Knapp says the issue in Rhinebeck could possibly go into next year unresolved, depending on how long it takes the appellate court to schedule a date and make a decision.
In the event that the race ends in a tie, Knapp says, there would be a vacancy and the town board would vote to appoint someone to fill the spot until next year's election when the public would vote on who will replace the appointed board member.
David Sears, the lawyer representing Segarra, says the matter is being appealed because of a question of the validity of a number of ballots, including paper, absentee, military and affidavit ballots.
Sears says that the appellate division usually moves very quickly on election issues.
Segarra says she wants to see every valid ballot opened and counted as they were meant to be.
"We just want to see every vote counted and make sure that whoever won the popular vote is there to represent the people that voted them in," said Segarra.
Staley echoed Segarra's statements, saying that he too wishes to see all of the votes opened.
"I would like to see all of the votes opened and I want the town to be able to get back to business as usual," said Staley. "If Monique wins, then I wish her the best of luck, but right now I say let's just open up the ballets, let nature take its course, and we can all finally have some closure to the issue."
Ultimately, the winner will swing the majority of the town board next year to his or her party's control.
As is stands now, the next year's town board will consist of Supervisor-elect Thomas Traudt, a Republican, Councilman-elect Bruce Washburn, also a Republican, current Democratic board members Dod Crane and Ellen Silverstein, and either the Republican Staley or the Democrat Segarra.
At press time, the Appellate Court had yet to put the matter on the calendar and it is unknown if the appeal will be heard after Jan. 1.
The final meeting of the year for the current Rhinebeck Town Board will take place Dec. 27 at 6:45 p.m. in town hall.
