Good evening one everyone. It's August
12th. Um I'm calling the uh on the
August 12th. Sorry, Mario throw me off.
I can't even get the first sentence out.
August 12th, 2026. Um I'm calling the
meeting to order at 6:34. Um we were
intending to start at 6 and had to wait
for quorum. So we are starting a bit
late. Um, first item is roll call
>> and trusty Bis is absent. Trusty
Boosezie.
>> Trusty Hall
>> and Mayor Foley.
>> Okay. And now I will make a motion to
enter attorney client session to discuss
collective bargaining negotiations and
employment history of a particular
individual. Second.
>> All in favor? I. So, we should be back
between 7 and 7:15.
» Good evening everyone. It is 7:38.
Um, we appreciate your patience as we
were in um an a session with our
attorney attorney client um guidance. At
7:36, I made a motion to exit exe
attorney client session and the deputy
mayor seconded. We all voted in favor to
exit. That is for the record.
Um we did open the public meeting
um before we went into executive session
and did roll call. So now we'll make a
motion to return to executive up to
public session at 7:38. Second.
>> All in favor?
fun, right? Aren't you so glad you came?
Okay. Um, so we have a few items of
business before our our usual business
before we have conversation with you.
We'll come back to you, but very
quickly, um, there are a couple of
things I'd like to draw out from the
department reports, but otherwise, I'd
like to, um, make a motion to accept
them as submitted. the department and
uh committee reports.
So sh I'll draw out those things and
then make that motion. Um on the highway
side paving on Kembell is happening next
Tuesday. Um we were able to use
across the county. So the town of Kent
and the county trucks are going to pave
that section on Tuesday. Hoping it
doesn't rain. been a challenge with that
spot because every time we get it
prepped to pave normal hopefully take us
time. Um I wanted to Matt, are you
comfortable with me officer in charge?
Are you may I read your um statement
from your
>> You can read it or I can read it however
you want to do it.
You know, sometimes things are hard and
sometimes things are really beautiful.
And we had a really beautiful thing
happen in the village over the last
couple of weeks. And um Officer Jackson
noted it in his monthly report. And I'd
like it the public to hear it. Every now
and then, we're reminded that the
greatest strength of our community isn't
found in a budget, a program, or a
government agency. It's found in the
people who call this village home. I
want to thank our residents, our
faithful communities, our police offic,
excuse me, our police officers, our
county and state partners who came
together this month to help a woman
facing homelessness. When resources were
limited, you stepped up with compassion.
You didn't ask whose responsibility it
was. You simply asked, "How can I help?"
You offered food, clothing,
transportation, temporary shelter, and
encouragement. What could have been a
story of someone falling through the
cracks became a story of hope. No one
person solved this problem. No single
organization had all the answers. It was
a true community effort. Helping one
person won't solve homelessness. But it
changes a life and it shows our
character. Simply put, it truly takes a
village. To everyone who played a role,
whether your contribution was large or
small, thank you. Your generosity,
kindness, and willingness to help a
complete stranger, reminded us all of
what makes this village such a special
place.
Little Jackson.
Um I wanted to note that the fire
company report um since we've been
having more in that flood season um the fire co fire company does not
provide routine water pumpout services.
If your basement is flooded with water,
don't call the fire company. The the
vehicle the apparatus is not made to
pump dirty water out of buildings. Um,
pumpout responses are limited to
situations involving an immediate threat
to life, a significant threat to
property, property, or other extreme
emergencies. For non-emergency water
removal, please contact a licensed water
mitigation company or restoration
company.
And those are the things I wanted to
pull out. Anyone else had anything they
wanted to make comment on from boards or
committees?
>> Reservoir level is that%
but um it's good.
Okay. Um
Smart Task Force I believe has some
items. Yeah.
>> Yeah. I um I'll give you all just kind
of a brief update on things of where
we're at. Um but we'll come to like the
preview um that you'll be hearing more
soon. So um we saw a number of grants
from our um NAERTA climate um community
program. One of them is about $16,000
that was going to be for the high street
EV chargers. Um we now have um EV
chargers that have been installed but
just not um connected to power that um
are down by the boat club. Uh those were
um free to us. Uh so we still had
$16,000 that we'll use and we are aiming
to put um EV chargers for the police
department and and the water department
to use um at the highway garage. So we
just need to get quotes. Um, but that's
our that's our aim for the $16,000 at
least. Um, so that will come to you all
the contract modification. And then we
have this $175,000 grant. Um, that is
still a challenge to kind of get the
logistics going, but ultimately it's for
solar and the EV um the police
department. Um, so expect to see all
those coming
um over the next few months. Um,
deadlines that were far away are now
coming closer. really do.
Um and then just the update, a little
bit of my update, a little bit uh kind
of smart task force, we're really moving
ahead with the flood grant.
>> Yeah. Um we have really great
consultants that are doing both
analytical piece of looking at what are
flood risks and what does it look like
in the future and what are the solutions
that we can have. And then we have
another um great organization that will
be doing a resident um uh webinar um and
kind of a training and we are thinking
of doing a survey uh through the climate
part task force to um collect um
information from residents about their
experiences uh and and issues that
they're seeing.
>> Thank you to you and Marjorie for all of
the hard work and Michelle getting time.
>> Yeah. Yeah, we have some reporting that
we're working on. Uh so yeah, so that's
I guess that's just like a little bit of
a lay of the land and I'd love to have
formal pieces to all stand.
» Anyone else have anything
one more update is that had a really
great meeting last week with um members
of the best from St. ies code
enforcement officer judge Jackson and
some members of the chamber um to
discuss events at Lake Mary's. So we
want
and raise money to support its buildings
but we also have to make sure that
there's required public safety and that
we're meeting building codes etc. So it
was a super productive session. Um the
best is drafting um an application
contract and they're going to run them
past OS Jackson and the code enforcement
office to make sure it touches on all of
the things that need to refer to the
village you know for this item for tents
permits etc etc. Um and I also like
Julian to have a look at that too comes
in to see what areas of overlap and I
feel confident that we can um I feel
confident that we can address some of
the
pedestrian and traffic issues that have
been happening around those events.
Okay. So, now we're moving into board
business,
our
chamber of commerce. So, if we could
start, I'm gonna I have some some
comments, but first just with
introductions because I I've met you
briefly. Yeah.
>> But go ahead. Hi, I'm Laura Bozie
trustee
mayor Tweeps Woods
trustee
>> one of our trusties
earlier we know
>> Gina Larson I'm the owner with my
husband here of Brian Monkey home
>> your windows are really happy it's nice
to have them in the the center of Main
Street
>> I enjoy the colors a We love our new
location.
>> Um, so the chamber recently sent a
letter asking questions and requesting
an update on the paid parking program.
Um, I first want to say thank you to all
of you who've um been communicating with
us for your collegiality and cooperative
tone. And I believe sorry I Kate Borhees
Ben Vorhees is also online um
representing the main street committee.
So, thank you all of you for being
collegial and being cooperative. It's so
much more productive for everyone when
we just talk things through and find
answers. So, we're grateful. Um, the
timing of your inquiries inquiries is
really great because we've got great
momentum following up on previous
inquiries and suggestions. Um, and I
just want to recognize that we can't
address all of your concerns at once,
but we are committed to working with you
through in a in a reasonable manner. Um,
I am committing to meet with you once a
month. Um, I think we proposed September
10th as the
and then we'll bring into those monthly
meetings trustees. Andrew has particular
strengths and data that I don't have.
Laura has particular strengths.
Everybody. So if there are times that it
makes sense to have another trustee with
us um or staff and one of the most um
well and then we bring we'll carry the
recommendations that come out of those
sessions to the full board for
discussion. Um so the goals for tonight
um this isn't a public hearing. This is
a conversation with the main street
committee. Um the board will decide if
we take comments. Um and I'd like us to
focus on the content of the letter. Um
there were seven topic areas. Um, some
of them are already working on and I'm
going to update you on those areas. Some
are going to need more consideration and
discussion before implementations.
Um, and just it's important to recognize
that this program sort of goes handin
glove with the residential parking
program on our side street. So just
being cognitive that when we tweak one
area, it has impacts on that program
too. So we we need to be thinking of how
they all fit together.
Um, and then I want to ask for some some
explanation of some of your concerns and
letter. There are things that we don't
understand will be helpful to have
feedback on so we know how to how to
address the questions going forward. Um,
so I hope that we'll we'll set action
items for moving forward. Um, I also
want to set the expectation that our
primary constituency is our residents.
Um, Main Street is one element of the
village and one element that has needs.
There are lots of elements that had have
needs. It is a very important element.
Um it's critical to our thriving economy
and our community. Um we're also village
fiduciaries. The paid parking brings in
about 5% of our general fund income,
which seems small, but it has impacts
broadly. Um that's our focus and that's
what's expected of us from residents and
taxpayers. And ultimately any code
changes, anything we discuss that
requires code changes and some things
will require tweaking the vehicle and
traffic um chapter that will all have to
go to public hearing. Um so there'll be
a chance for everyone to be engaged in
that in those at that time. So again um
we're not going to take any final
decisions tonight or solve all the
issues, but we're going to talk. Um so
first um what's in progress? Um over the
summer we had um an intern who did a a
photographic um
uh inventory catalog of all of the signs
in the lower village, all the signs on
Main Street. Um one of the things that
we feel pretty strongly about is Main
Street is cluttered and it's just visual
cacophony and it's hard to see the
things you need to.
She made recommendations for removal
needs. we need to come back as a board
and and approve the removal of some of
those signs. Some of the signs don't
lead to anything anymore. So, getting a
cleaner slate to work from. So, that is
in process and we'll be talking about
that probably in September. This is our
only meeting this month. Um,
we've been working on identifying and
establishing
specific residential parking area in the
lower village. that residential parking
area has existed since 2015, but there
was never it was never identified which
places are for residents only. So, we've
been having conversations with residents
and think we have narrowed down what
those streets should be. The board needs
to have that conversation. That's a code
change. Um
the way finding signs are in and do you
want to we have an example to show you?
Someone wants to
>> maybe
they're all wrapped up together,
>> but
keeper so as we go through the meeting,
you can look at them.
>> Alex said don't
just maybe just show it. I'm I'm
speaking on behalf of my designer did
not make these. Um but um he has a full
slack explained all
» at home.
>> They're primarily designed for
>> um walkers and then there are some that
are car direction.
>> I think the best thing is
that's going to be a long way off in the
background.
>> It's all right. I think you can get
these. There are there are two that are
already that you can see
>> and the whole the whole the whole plan
is is online so you can go back and get
it but they're here. Um we have we've
had hit a bit of a bump getting bids for
we want we want these to be really high
quality and for that that visual
identity to carry through the village.
Um, so we're we're stacking um sign
posts that are high quality and heavy
and it's taking us a little time to do
it, but there there it is in process and
they're coming and it will continue. We
got permission from Metro North um start
in the train station and proceed
throughout the village and be at the
village
>> and yes
» exactly
>> um
>> and then the last update to give you is
um on Park Mobile. So when the signs
that we have on Main Street are the
signs that we got for free when we first
had a contract with Parkable. They're
not ideal. It's what we could afford at
the time when when the parking
best effort to get it off the ground. We
knew it would need to be modified and
tweaked and we're in a good place
because Park Mobile Park mobile is
rebranding. Um, I've had an initial
conversation with Park Mobile about um
making our signs
uh reducing the number of them, making
them larger, making them cleaner um and
easier to read and easier to use. So, I
was hoping that for today I'd have some
of the mockups they've done, but I
haven't yet. I expect them soon. So,
we're working on lots of the things that
um chamber and individual merchants and
others have asked us to do. And it seems
like it might seem from your perspective
that we're not that we're not doing
those things, but it's only because it's
not visible on a on a daily basis for
you all. Those things are moving
forward.
So, um
that's where we are. Um, I I have some
thoughts about
what can be taken up in the short term
and what what need to be longer term
considerations, but given where we are
right now, we'd love to hear from you.
>> Yeah. Um, you know, we just want to say
thank you and we appreciate the open
dialogue here. We understand, you know,
the program is only two plus years new
or so and so there's absolutely going to
be an evolution in everything. So, we
just wanted to kind of uh restate the
things that the chamber is asking for
right now. Um, which is some of the
things that you've already addressed,
which is improving the parking signage.
I think we know that there are kind of
multiple signs going on. It gets
confusing for visitors to see what days
the parking is. And we hear that too as
like store owners too, them coming into
the shops like, "Did I have to pay? How
do I pay? Oh, you don't have to pay
today. You know,
>> and we experienced that at Village Hall,
too. We have the maps in the front door
and we, you know, we'll often open the
door and say, "You don't have to pay
today." So,
>> um, and then second is reducing the
parking fine. Um, right now the $75, we
took a survey and we have some paperwork
if you'd like us to share that with you.
I know we submitted it via email. Um,
but it just seems very out of line for
other municipalities in the area. So,
they're typically around $30, $40. $75
seems really excessive. Um, so we're
asking for that to be reduced and maybe
even consider having an incentive to
reduce the ticket if it's paid within 24
hours. We've seen um other towns like
Greenwich, Connecticut do that. It
reduces the paperwork for you having to
follow up if they have a quick easy way
to pay for that.
Um, one of the third things is just
enforcing the five-hour time spots. Um,
we know that
residents kind of taking up some of
those spots. Um, or people just kind of
like squatting there. Um, we're asking
that we more actively ticket those
areas. Um, and perhaps we can ask
villagers to utilize like driveways and
residential spots to leave those free
for people visiting the town. Um, there
are some 15minute spots on Main Street,
but we're asking if more could be added
um for quick pickups and just drop off.
Um, that's for both merchant and
villager um utilization.
Um, right now we also have a 4hour time
cap. We're asking for the to just remove
the time limit, which just doesn't seem
enough um for some of the visitors to
like come in, wait for a table for a
restaurant, to go shopping, to go enjoy
the waterfront for a while, have like
ice cream at mumoos and everything. So,
um I think that the same per hour meter
revenue is less hassle for people to
have to like move their car to a
different spot. Um I know you might have
heard different things in the past.
Yeah, that was one of the questions I
think Andrew and I have talked about and
perhaps you two have had to. So, this
the process of of getting to paid
parking is multi-year.
>> Yeah.
>> Um Emily [laughter] has seen all of it.
the pre-COVID initiative that that
finally got actually it's been talked
about for decades and it's finally been
[laughter] put put in place. Um
we have had a range of feedback from
different kinds of merchants, some being
food merchants, some being, you know,
places where folks want to go in and try
clothes on. We we have really mixed
feedback about about that. um and the
idea that a spot is um
it's it's it's a it's an item to be
consumed, right? It's a it's a
for some stores it makes sense to have
turnover. For other stores, it's
frustrating to have that turnover. And
we I feel like we have talked about this
back and forth. We're certainly open to
conversation, but it would be really
helpful to get a better sense of
where people are on that and what when
it is helpful and when it isn't. We It
is not a three-hour limit, it's a 4hour
limit. Um, and that was reached for a
number of reasons. One was turnover at
tables, but also uh discouraging people
from parking for the day and then not
having anybody else able to park on me.
I think we'd like to understand better
that fair.
>> Yeah.
And I mean
the the signitories on the letter
represent a variety of different
businesses on Main Street from sit down
restaurants to kind of quick shops to
longer, you know, clothing stores. And
so I mean I could understand if people
signed it because they they agreed with
you overall but maybe they had like you
know but but if but if you know if this
really does represent what everybody
felt like then
>> do you feel like it represents a good
it's a good swath of
>> if I may also say that evolution that
we're all talking about um has changed
for a lot of people um and that it's
something that isn't working for maybe
people who thought it was working Yeah.
>> Before. So, I think there is a a deep
consensus now that having the limit is
not beneficial.
>> I think Kate might want to chime in too.
Um I don't know if you want to unmute
her, but yeah, I think that's exactly it
is that beyond that people might have
thought four hours was enough, but it
really isn't.
>> Well, that was part of again it was part
of the experimentation. This is our best
guess. Let's see how it goes. And if the
feedback from Main Street is it's not
working,
>> one thing I know is that
>> Main Street is is always full on the
weekends. I mean, obviously January,
it's something different, but yeah,
>> even now in the spring and summer, it
has been full all day, all day long. Um,
and so that's a good thing.
>> Kate, did you have anything you wanted
to add on that?
>> I think you guys are nailing it. It's a
work in progress. Uh, we're feeling like
three hours isn't enough. People are
scrambling to get back to their cars and
they would have
>> four hours.
>> Never been three.
It's four.
>> Sorry. I Yeah, four. Um, it might say
three on the website. We should check.
>> Early iterations early iterations were
three with the opportunity to add a
four. And that that may be what you're
thinking of, but the signage is here
comes Kada too. The signage is all four
or should be all four.
>> Um, yeah. Yeah. So, it just seems like
some folks are are getting stuck
scrambling to get to their car and
they're not done shopping and enjoying
the village. And the consensus is that
if if they're here and they're enjoying
the village and they're shopping and
participating, then maybe we should just
let them stay. Um so looking further into that would be awesome.
>> I mean, from our perspective, it's the
>> someone's pay park. It's revenue
regardless of of who it is parking in
the spot.
So yeah, that's
>> carry on. Sorry to interrupt.
>> No. Um, our last point was something
you've already brought up is just that
open communication and being able to
meet with you monthly. You mentioned we
already have a date on the calendar and
everything.
We can really kind of iron out these
issues and come to, you know, a better
plan right now.
>> And Kate, did we are we solid on
September 10?
>> Um, I'm checking with Kada, but that
works for me. Um and I think having
these monthly meetings will yeah will be
super productive um a really good
opportunity for us to share what we know
and um try to improve things together.
>> Well maybe then um shifting and I I do
have want to give an opportunity for all
of you to ask questions too but laying
out parameters. Um it it seems like from
your letter there are a couple of things
that you can start we can start talking
about right away in September. Um and one is getting a sense of of
reporting and and data and what's
helpful. Um
we see us as the front, but we're not
the people who really make the village
work. Yeah. And I think sitting down
with the court clerk and the accountant
and the clerk to to figure out what it
is exactly you're looking for and how
closely we can get to providing it.
There's been a lot of evolution from the
court since this program began. we
having two new justices and a new court
clerk and she has been dragging the
institution um into current time and
sort of updating technology etc. So we
may have capabilities for reporting now
that we didn't have before. I don't know
that's something we need to talk to
Kelly about. Um so I would say that's one of the ones we can start
addressing right away. Officer in charge
Jackson um will be the the the most
valuable person to you in terms of
enforcement. Um, so he is here on
Fridays, so maybe we can schedule a a
Friday session or And then there's the
longer term considerations that have code implications. You've asked
about staff parking
um the underlying state enabling
legislation
allows for the distribution of permit to
people who live on the designated
street. Um and we have not yet found a
way that that is work can can be worked
around. Um we have identified several
areas where parking is usually an option
for um workers. The
sorry uh
parking yeah winter parking yeah
>> the boulevard um metro north and then of
course everything above the lights is
open parking. So, we don't have we don't
have a lack of parking in Cold Spring.
What we have a lack of is parking on
Main Street. It's finite and we can't
expand the number of spaces. If I could
chime in to to that
I because I if I could chime in. I think
our the original draft of our letter um
asked for staff parking and then we
worked really hard and talked to a lot
of merchants to truly understand why
like what it's being used for. And it
seems like what a lot of merchants
really are struggling with is getting
packages in and out of their shops. I
wonder if that was the case.
>> Yeah, it's I think that's the hardest
thing. Like if you have a flower
delivery or wine delivery or at times,
you know, one of your best customers is
coming in from Garrison, but they work
in the city during the week and it's a
Friday and shoot, they just can't get
that present that they need to get from
the general shop. And so a solution that
we've found, well, TBD, but that we'd
really like to look into is adding a
second 15inut parking spot to every
block. What's happening is a lot of
those 15-minute spots are getting taken
over by larger delivery trucks or just
are being utilized. And so there's been
so many times, me included, I was, you
know, running to get pizza for soccer to
bring back to Philipstown Park and
realized I couldn't find any 15-inute
spot and I need
>> I needed to get back and I I luckily I
live in the village. So I realized,
okay, I can actually just go and park in
my driveway on Fair Street. I am so
blessed. and then I can sprint and get
my pizza and then get out of here. But
that's that's an anomaly, right? We
can't assume that everyone has that
luxury. And so we're really hopeful that
these added 15 minute spots would help.
I think right now our shop Cold Spring
Ceramics is um towards St. Mary's right
up towards 90. And there seem to be
remaining spots most often available
paid metered spots there. And so
hopefully removing some of the spots
further south would still allow for
people to park a little bit fur further
north and still pay um and it wouldn't
be a detriment. I understand we'd have
to restripe and we'd have to do new
signage etc. Hopefully the signage can
go hand in hand with the signage work
you're doing and restriping maybe can
fold into the next round of paving that
would need to happen anyway. And so in
an ideal world it all comes together.
So, a couple of things. Um, it's also a
code change. Um, and
it's a reduction in the number of
spaces. There's the there's the
scenario, I agree with you, it's often
that Upper Main Street is open, but
there are the scenarios when we're at
capacity, right? We're not at October
right now. Um, in terms of deliveries,
the officer in charge has had and his
officers have had a number of
conversations with um, merchants who say
dropped off. They know they've got a
delivery coming. They need to get stuff
out of their own cars into shop. Let us
know. Call Villa Hall. Call the police
department and let us know and we'll
help you. We'll put out cones for you or
help traffic get around you as you're
unloading. um that that is not ever a
problem unless they're on obviously on a
call. The officers are very willing to
help with that. So that should be a
problem that comes that's off the table
and I don't know if it's that people
don't realize that they can call or if
they're nervous to call but that's
something that we're open to doing to
keep the traffic flowing. Is that
correct?
>> Yeah, we've done it before.
>> I love that idea. But 10 times a day, I
mean that would be such a distraction,
right? if 10 different shops have to
quickly run in, you know, a case of wine
or grab some flowers or quickly drop off
some ceramics or I don't I don't know
that you
>> want to solve all the problems and no
answer is going to solve
>> all the problems, but that's an option
available to you. Did you have something
you wanted to add there?
>> I was just going to say half of what
you're saying, Kate, is sort of dropping
off
>> and it says our internet is
>> Yeah, it's it's quick. It's it's
continuous and quick under 15 minute
deliveries,
um, pickups, customers coming in to
purchase something that they've they've,
you know, they know Main Street so well.
They live in the town of Philipstown to to collect, right? They're not the tourist who's sort of window
shopping and shopping, although they
like to do that, too. So, it's just
>> they can pay for parking coming in from
Garrison,
>> right? But when it's a quickif 15
minutes, I think, and there's not
parking close to their the shop, it's it
gets a little bit more complicated. And
so, it's providing for people who
currently are in Phillipstown and feel
like outsiders on their own main street
um to to enable those transactions to
happen, which definitely help merchants,
and then to also just help merchants
have access
to their, you know, the their storefront
when they need some deliveries. Bigger
deliveries. I love Gina even mentioned
when she was bringing in all her
furniture, you all put cones out for her
and she was able to easily access um her
store to get set up and that's awesome
and like we love love love that you can
do that. I just don't want to burden the
police department with 10 calls a day.
May I um Jackson is it do we know which
tickets
happen for someone overstaying a
15minute I guess I'm wondering how much
the 15minute parking spaces get um
abused and it does feel like I mean I
know that we have number of roving you
know parking enforcement but like they
have to be in a lot of places they're
not they're I'm sure that they're not
tracking all of the 15 minute all of the
time because then
So
>> yeah, I guess I'm I'm curious.
>> How do you check 15 minutes?
>> Yeah, like like how well how how well
people are following the
>> for every 15 minutes. So if you see a
car parked out there now, you're not
you're going to notice it in 15 minutes
whether it's there or not.
>> Yeah. But you have to be back there.
>> You don't know if it's already been
there for 15 minutes.
>> Well, I mean they could like
>> or if it's been there for a half hour.
>> No, you can't actually
that is state law.
another state.
>> If you observe the car there right now,
you have 15 minutes from when you
observe that car to go back.
>> No, I I understand. I guess
>> have already been there for 15 minutes
already.
>> No, I guess that's what I'm saying is
that it requires continual
>> tracking and so I was curious how much
>> how much we're taking there or how much
we have to sense or maybe you all have
the sense because you know your eyes are
like looking out on main street all the
time. do notice that people are just
like, well, there's no
>> 15 minutes on our side of the street.
So, it's a different it's the it's the
opposite side of the street. So, it
makes it that problem compounds
>> with small deliveries because there's
nothing um I can't speak for everybody.
I know for me it's police parking, two
spots maybe, and then all yellow
striping. So, I have several tickets
>> unloading with things in my hands. I've
just said put the ticket on top of the
bot
>> and that has definitely happened. So I
mean it's a problem you know we'll
there's lots of different ways I think
that um we can get through this
evolution because restriping and all of
that work we know that that's sort of
down the line. Um, one thing that I
found, um, was that there are some of
the metered systems that instead of, um,
you know, if they don't have space for a
merchant parking lot, which some
municipalities do, um, they can load
from the backends, and I know that we
can do it through our system because I I
checked, they can load credits for
people. So, you could like put in a code
and still just be in a normal parking
spot. And you know, if each person is
each business or something like that was
allotted a certain amount for
themselves, then they could park in an
actual spot and then hopefully quickly
unload rather than, you know,
throw them in, right? And then the same
problem would happen like if you wanted
to put out poems and people were parked
there and they like fill there. I mean,
if all of these problems have more
problems, right? So, I don't know. there
might be some piecing together as this
evolves that we can you know think of in
certain ways especially during certain
times of year right
>> um and we know our busy season is May to
October
so
>> definitely expanding
>> yeah and it's definitely and it is
expanding for sure like you know during the Christmas season um fe
February March I it like I mean that's I
see it fall off
>> chaos season is September, October,
November, but the the visitation is
expanding through the year. Did you were
you you sounded like you were hopping
in?
>> Uh no, I'm freezing. Oh, sorry. That was
me just like my
>> scattering. Thank you. Um what I was uh
thinking about was the
Have you identified spots 15 minute
spots or proposed 15 minute spots? I
don't think we've gotten to that level.
Uh Kate, I don't know if you have
anything.
>> I I didn't. We're happy to. I think I
provided you all with a diagram to help
the high street conversation. So, if
that format is useful, we can follow
that format. I I was just curious in
your since it's one of your
asks if the if you had identified spots
or if there were
any I guess what I'm trying to get at is
you know the one of the things about the
parking for everyone is that you know
when you want to park you want to park
right in front of where you're going
right and so that's often pretty
difficult on Main Street or even on the
side streets where I live where I want
to park in front of my house and
sometimes I'm not able and I have a
permit, right? So
I there has to be some sort of we have
to be realistic about that. Um at the
same time I do think that you know
wanting to hop in and get your bottle of
wine or your pizza, whatever, like it
would be more convenient to be able to
just park and be able to do that. I
totally agree. I just wonder like we all
we know we're working with a finite
amount of spaces. So if there's
something that's been identified that we
don't see that would be helpful.
Otherwise we're all looking as far as I
know the same Main Street.
>> Absolutely. Yeah, we can get you a
diagram. I think we're asking for two. I
know we're asking for two per block and
we're assuming the second spot is
opposite the first. So on either side of
each block and the specifics of that
location, I think we can be
differential. If shop owners can get
onto the side of their block on their
block, it makes it much easier to load
and unload our own packages and probably
for our clients as well. But I can Yeah,
I'm happy to do a draft diagram for your
review
>> because we also have to obviously
consider
revenue. Well, revenue, but also
pedestrian movement.
A lot of cutouts are weird because
streets are weird. They're not the
normal size. I mean, we just have a lot
of kind of
>> a lot of variables happening
simultaneously. It's not just like, you
know, nicely
>> carb. It's not a suburb.
>> And tell give you a history of how the
15minute spots landed where they did.
This may help you and for how we were
thinking about it. And and I want to
make clear that all of this we had
multiple public hearings. We had
multiple, you know, public meetings and public hearings. Um some of these
things you're not going to know until
the program gets going, but there was
extensive conversation about this at the
time. The 15minute spots we purposely
put
near crosswalks to expand the
sightelines for cars to see walkers and
walkers to see cars. Um, we also
in in putting it next to that there's so
there's the crosswalk, then there's a
state mandated 20 ft on either side of
the sidewalk, then a 15-minute spot that
also conveniently is about the size of a
truck because truck deliveries are it's you're thinking about getting the
stuff out of the truck. We're thinking
about what happens when when the truck
is parked and traffic needs to be
moving. So there, you know, there there
are multiple sides to this. And it did
create long the 15-inute spots did
create long locations where trucks can
pull in and out more easily. Is it
perfect? No. But it's provided more
options. Um, trucks are always going to
be a problem because we live in an age
where everything is delivered. The
Amazon is, you know, it's not just the Asendico trucks, it's the Amazon
trucks, right? And that's all through
the village. And we are a village that
was not built in anticipation of the
kind of commerce and lifestyle that we
live now. So, it's we it's challenge to
make
the reality on the ground that
everyone's wants and need. So, I'll say
I'm I'm open to the conversation.
I don't know that I don't know that we
can do it, but I'm I'm open to you
proposing things certainly.
>> Can I ask a question on a different
topic or do we want to keep
>> I think we talked about that point.
Okay,
>> exactly. Um
>> I'm curious on the improved signage
since you hear a lot from visitors. Is
it do you hear about both Main Street
and side streets or particularly one or
the other? We'll make a distinction.
>> I would say it's it's everything. I
mean, people don't know how to get where
they're going.
Um,
>> the way Yeah. Yeah. And so I'll often
like go out and walk out on the street
and say bathrooms down there,
mountains over there, boundaries over
there. Like I'll say just follow this
road around and take a
>> like
I I see but this seems weird. Or they'll
start to walk down the residential road
to go to Foundry and they're like, I
came back because I thought that wasn't
right.
>> Yeah, it's right. Just keep going that
way. Um yeah, parking.
>> Sorry, I I should have made that.
>> No, are you asking if people ask about
parking?
>> When people say that the parking signs
are not clear about whether they should
be paying for it on Main Street, are
they also saying are you hearing the
same thing about the residential
restrictions on the weekends or is it
more you're hearing about Main Street
issues?
>> I would say both. I don't know what it
is on your block. It could be different.
Yeah,
>> I think my personal experience has been
mostly the main street that they're
asking about.
>> That's one of the things we
>> I'm on a corner.
>> Yeah, I'm on a corner. It's a little
different. Yeah.
>> Yeah. True.
>> That's one of the things that we think
about is that, you know, we have
parking, residential parking on the
ends. Some folks have given feedback
that it would be helpful to have more
residential parking signs in the middle.
Some people hate that idea. We're not
going to make everybody happy. Um, but
making it clear that the whole length of
Church Street is residential parking.
>> Yeah, I can I I have very strong
feelings on this particular topic
because it seems it is curious. Um,
people
I mean I I watch people look at a sign
and park anyway.
>> Yeah. Um and for that I say enjoy your
ticket. Um
I have also seen people kind of wonder
well
>> the arrows sort of facing like sort of
awkwardly so does this count as like not
kind of clear
>> if that includes that. So I mean I think
there is room definitely room for us to work on that. it it's just you know
figuring out
how to make it so that it's more clear
but at the end of the day I do think
that there are a fair amount of people
who just decide
well you know I'll take my chances which
>> the other thing to realize is we can put
up all sorts of signs we can't make
people read them
>> so the the block the block from Kemble
down to fair. I can't remember how many
signs we counted. 26
parking signs.
Park mobile and online apps are used
everywhere now. Like think about where
do you go that you don't pay for parking
in dense areas.
We can't we can put signs there. We
can't make people read them, right? So
people are going to get people are going
to get tickets because they either don't
see or they choose not.
And that's just how it is. And it's
going to upset people to get a ticket. I
think we can have conversations about
there there are several of us who are
open to the conversation about reducing
um the ticket price for sure. Um it for
one I mean this the staff the court
clerk would be delighted to not have to
argue with people about have you know
deal with people who are upset about a
$75 ticket. Marjorie spends a good deal
of her time arguing. Not arguing but
listening to people. We listen. We just
listen
>> um to people who care very loudly about
their ticket at the door.
>> Um so
we have to just the reality. We have to
run some numbers and you know see can we do it? What's the right amount
and when do we do it? And for us from a
budgeting perspective it would be far
better to do on the budget cycle. And I
thank you for recognizing that in your
letter. We go into budget season in
February. But know that there is we are
open to those conversations.
>> Um, and I would like to work with you on
>> we Kate and I had a discussion today on
email about what comparables are. And I
think maybe this is a good point for you
to hop in and about what we were
thinking as we saw the number saw the
locations and numbers
>> um in terms of the materials
>> and comparability. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Um, first off, I mean, I
appreciate a hearty dialogue, too, and
I'm open to the to the conversation. Um,
I think a lot of things on this, I think
they fall into I'm getting to your
question, right? Right. Fall into sort
of I don't want to be repeating myself,
but different categories of things we
can move with and create some momentum
around immediately, other things that
are more budget cycle dependent, and
other things that I feel need um deeper
exploration. I'm kind of wary um about
taking too many making too many
decisions without a further exploration.
And so
that that have been suggested like the
parking fines for instance. Yes, I think
generally there's there's a there's a
an emerging consensus that that's
something that can be addressed, but I
don't think you can look at that in
isolation. You can't break out the
parking fines from all of the other
jurisdictions that you could look at
where there are so many other different
variables that come into play in terms
of some have free parking and that and
the fines whilst you may say start are
lower than the $75 say up in Beacon.
They have free parking but the fines are
for if you overstay the 4hour limit.
not a five hour limit. So if
you overstay that 4hour limit first
offense is $50. The second is 100. The
third is 200.
>> Meaning you that license plate.
>> Yeah. So
>> if you look at it from that point of
view, the fines in beacon are actually
higher than here because if you
overstayed three times here, it' be $75.
3 time 75 is less than $450, $350,
right? So I think that and other
questions need a lot more exploration
amongst all of us before we sort of come
to some
conclusions or conclusory actions around
what may need to shift or change. Um
>> and I also think for me sort of
contextualizing it within
the operation of the village um the
village's annual budget is $4 million.
When I be before I was a board member, I
love going to Rybeck because parking is
free. I was, you know, fan of free
parking. I like that concept. But
looking at the reality of the village's
finances, an annual budget of $4
million, lots of needs that it has to
meet and the parking fees from the the
non- taxpaying portion of the budget,
say 2 million, it's it's 10% of that
budget. So that's that's meaningful
numbers in terms of the way the village
operates. So for me that's all
>> that you're talking about the you're
talking about the
>> the paid parking revenue. Yeah. So
that's um
>> that's important to us. And so that
needs to be balanced against the needs
that you clearly have and what to
represent. And I also feel that um
well I hit one little note here. um you
know there needs there's got to be a
deeper dive into some of the dynamics
that are being um talked about in terms
of it's not
understand what that looks like and I I
know you hear it from people and that's
aggravating and and challenging to deal
with but how many people is that and how
does it actually how's that reflective
actually in
revenues from month to month or how
actually does
impact your business. I think in the
June 2024
letter that you included you you you'd
cited something about, you know,
a a Zoom call that Jesse was on, right?
And you said um
>> easy and important metrics to gather
would include monitoring monthly sales
revenue growth or decline, average
transaction total, and total number of
transactions per month. So I I would in
these conversations that we may be able
to have amongst ourselves, I'd like that
to be part of the conversation too. So
that when when when
the main street committee says that it's
not beneficial to us, that it's actually
borne out in terms of oh there was a dip
here or the rise here. But again that may not necessarily always be
attributable solely to the structure of
parking, right? So we so we got to look
at it.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Having you recognize that is
a giant step forward because in previous
iterations and when when I mean when
change happens nobody likes it it's
difficult but there was a lot of initial
sort of shock factor that parking is you
know my sales are down 34% and it's your
parking is it you know it's like we
we're dealing with tariffs we're dealing
with
a different war then but there's so and
consumer confidence is down. Yes. You
can't pin
also people's business plan. How how
often are you open and are you open at
times that people can get to you? Um for
a lot of a lot of businesses don't open
not a lot of several businesses don't
open almost at all. Like they're only
open on Saturday. So our parking is
maybe not as much an issue as your
business plan. So I think Andrew raises
that and it's it's not an accusation.
It's just saying you can't look at any
of these things in isolation. It's a
system that works together.
>> I mean I think also as part of that
conversation too is you could have to
look at things like the enforcement
window we have paid parking on three
days of the week 24 hours total. other
towns, Ryan Beck, uh, Pipsy, I think
they have and and Beacon too, you might
site lower fines,
have um, parking regulations in force,
if not throughout the week, if not
throughout the whole seven days a week,
certainly 5 days a week. So, that's a
very different picture in terms of the
collections they're making from that
particular structure versus the village,
which I think is, you know,
Maybe it's it's it's it's
um fines are an outlier, but the village
is also an outlier in terms of its its
size, the amount of available parking
and its popularity, I think, too. So,
>> yeah. And I think we probably could
monitor, you know, some of the social
chatter and, you know, I do think
anecdotal like evidence is like, you
know, valid here when we hear like I got
a $75 ticket. I'm never coming back to
Cold Spring, you know, or I'm never
coming back on the weekend and
everything. And I think that's what a
lot of merchants here have heard from.
>> Do you ever hear why they got the $75
ticket?
>> I mean, maybe it's I'm sure it's like
overstaying, you know, and but sometimes
you lose track of time when you're
having a good time, too. So $75 just
seems very punitive.
>> I do. Yeah, there's so so many layers of
this and I think all of the talking
points we could dig into at length. Um,
you know, overstaying is certainly one
and members have talked about a grace
period which other towns sometimes have.
So, if you get to your car 5 minutes
late, you don't have that ticket. Um,
misreading signs is another that's being
addressed. Um, and we do have data. I
mean, Kada is an example, poor George,
of a shop that's open seven days a week
and she has data and she's been down the
last year. There shops like mine on
upper Maine. We're only open four days a
week if I'm doing my
>> your your um your connection is sort of
dropping every
>> hour internet connection.
>> We just got a notice on the screen that
our internet connection internet
connection is unstable.
>> I'll speak a bit more slowly because I
do think some of these points that are
coming up. I would I would hate for
there to be a misconception that the the
you know if a shop were only to have a
better business model then that would
change the revenue streams. I do know
that a lot of shops that aren't open
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are not open
because they cannot afford to pay people
to sit in the shop that is not shopped
and so we make those decisions based on
what's possible. I also know that people
coming in from Garrison have stopped
coming in as much because of the parking
setup that they have sort of been felt
and this is coming you know from a few
people but one who I'm sure you all know
quite well who's elderly and is a stable
of this community. Um they feel
unwelcome. They don't come to lunch like
they used to because they feel
unwelcome. And so
>> they know that they have other places
they can park.
>> I I think it's it's the spirit. I think
it's this sorry I just I think it's the
spirit that's off. So if we assume that
someone isn't just being you know
willing themselves not to read a sign or
thinking that they can just park for
however long and not get a ticket. And
we can honestly think these people are
good people who are happy to shop
whether they're part of the community or
visiting and they've messed up. and
that's the person getting a $75 punitive
ticket and it feels so bad. And then
they look at the comparisons in other
towns and they see that it's anomalous
and then we understand that part of it
not driven by metrics that align us with
other towns but rather than by financial
need for the village. It becomes really
complicated to explain it to them. It's
as if I were to have a babysitter come
to my house and the going rate around
here is $16 to $20 an hour. It's harsh.
And I were to say, you know what? I'm
only going to pay you 10 because right
now that's all I can afford. I'm so
sorry. It just it doesn't it doesn't
work. You know, it doesn't work. And so
I think we need to find a way for the
number to be something that people can
anticipate is realistic and align to
other villages.
>> Can I clarify a point you've made?
>> Sure.
>> What where I thought you started is not
where you ended.
I thought you were describing anxiety
about paying for parking, but it sounds
like what you mean is anxiety about the
ticket. Well, I think for some it's
both, but certainly the $75 ticket is
punitive and and no matter, you know,
how Yeah. who you are and what your
intention is, it's it's um something
that I do think regardless of the income
that it provides for the village needs
to be separated out and that metric
shouldn't be a variable in making that
decision.
>> Shouldn't be what? A variable in
determining the rate of the parking fee
should not be the village's bottom line.
» Sorry, go ahead.
>> Um
I I'm glad that after a little while
into the program, we changed the the
parking rate. I think that that was the
right thing to do and I think that that
was the best that we could do
recognizing that we had like financially
we did have to do a paid parking
program. I think that was like very
explicit of a goal of the program, but
it was the best that we could do to kind
of meet the the visitors where they were
at in terms of of paying. So, I think
that that was right and and I I hope
that we can do things to make people
feel welcome, but I think we are, you
know, there's still going to be like a
paid still going to be paid parking on
Main Street. I don't think anybody's
suggesting that it's not
>> the village is also a business.
>> Yeah.
>> Right.
>> We are also businesses.
>> We all have to think in those ways and
we have considered all of those things
that you've said. I don't and have never
been under the illusion that
>> this equals that. There are lots of
components for anything to be successful
and you just have to keep adapting as we
are like as we're all trying to do. I do
hope that you all will consider though
that feeling because this is something
that we hear over and over and over. It
feels unwelcome. Yeah.
>> And it does. $75 feels unwelcome.
>> Certificate price feels like we don't
want you here. And it sends that message
and just consider it like it's not you.
It's not not against anything like we're
all trying to come up with a solution
together to make what's best for
everybody. We're considering all of
these things. We don't think that you
don't consider them. We know that you
guys consider them. We know that you're
working so hard to find so many
solutions and you know there's not
solutions, there's trade-offs, right?
That's
>> Yeah, you're right. There trade-offs.
>> So, we have to keep considering those things together and $75. Um, one
really comparative place is Camzen,
Maine, and I actually spoke um with
people from from there in in their um
village hall today. And they experience
sort of what we experience
that they have, you know, their normal
5,000 residents, which is more than our
village of 2,000, but it's very close.
>> And they triple. They go to 16,000 or
more. They're not even sure how many
more during, you know, especially during
the summer months. So they have their
parking program. You know, you start in what would be like our little
village. That's the most expensive to
park and then it slowly gets a little
bit lower. But their parking is the
same. They have that, hey, your first
ticket is $25. Pay it within this amount
of time. If you don't, it's 50. It's 75.
And then it becomes, hey, maybe you
didn't know, you didn't read that sign,
right? You weren't paying attention. you
any of those things. Um, but you have
the chance to make it right and here it
is like do it, get it done, and let's,
you know, let's let's move on. Um, and I
think it's a really wonderful model. I
do, and I think it's worth exploring and
taking on those numbers and really
seeing what we can do with that because
the result is people saying that they're
never coming back. And a lot of these
people are local people and they just
don't come in. I hear it all day long. I
don't come in on the weekend at all. I'm
not even, you know, they totally bypass
us. And it's important for us to be
strong.
>> I am super open to the idea. Uh we I
want to make clear that our code
an increased amount. It's it's by right
>> 30 days, 60 days, 90 days. So the ticket
is first 75 and then I and I may not
have this exactly right, but then Oh,
you have it in
>> uh 75 100 125,
>> but it's over a longer period. I'm
intrigued by what you're putting forward
the idea of pay it faster
>> for less. um
>> don't come to court, don't but also
street, right?
>> But also, let's also recognize that it
it's not a system that anyone likes. But
we do currently have a system that says
if you feel that you are unjustly fined,
you come to the come to the the justice
and you make your argument and they have
discretion. We set the limits, then they
decide. And if you're convincing, you
might get your ticket reduced by the
justice. So, there is a system in place.
I don't I don't want to make it sound
like it's I just want to make sure we're
clear that it's not all or nothing.
There is a system in place and some of
the things that you're suggesting may
really help.
>> Yeah, I absolutely understand all those
things. We're just saying that starting
point of 75. And I also want to just
note all of those things that you said
before that, you know, tariffs, you
know, this long list. Yeah. has
compounded. We we are feeling that and
then we're feeling this on top of it.
Plus, we just came out of CO like and
we're still just came out of CO for some
of us. Some of us are newer and you know
other other circumstances, but
>> some of us will never come out of that
trauma.
>> Never some of us are just feeling it
now. I mean, there's there's so many
things to consider, but I also want to
um I economics just in general, a lot of
people can't afford almost anything now.
And what if you made that mistake? you
came and you brought your your, you
know, your family to Main Street and you
got that ticket that you really can't
afford and maybe you just wanted to
stroll for the day, you know, whatever
it is with your family and then you get
that $75 ticket. Is that person able to,
you know, even come back to fight it?
You still have to have the means to do
all of these things. And we want to be a
place that is for everyone, right? We
don't want it to just be investors that
are coming in and taking over our
village. We want it to be the families,
the people that are, you know,
supporting little league and all the
other things. And a $75 ticket, period,
as your first ticket does tell anybody
that we don't want you here. And I just
hope it's considered.
>> Can I can I ask a question
example?
>> Um,
how do they how do people know that
that's the system? Because as the mayor
noted here, if you get a ticket,
>> I assume this is the case for most
places where you would get a ticket, but
there is a a means to address it and,
you know, quote unquote fight it.
>> Appeal.
Thank you. I want to say fight
appeal.
>> Um,
>> no fighting or try not to fight.
[laughter] Talk about it in a productive
way.
>> Problem solved.
>> Problems. [laughter]
Um, and so I guess what I wonder is I'm
sure there's people who make mistakes.
I'm not, you know, earlier when I was
asking, you know, this person who says
that they get a $75 ticket and they're
like I I'm sure there's people who make
mistakes. I'm not arguing that I I'm not
questioning the goodness of people's
hearts or minds when they come here. I I
don't have time for that. But
what I wonder is
um
how does Maine tell not Maine but that
>> how do people there know that they can
>> print on the ticket probably
>> okay so I mean I well that would be kind
of an interesting thing right so you get
a ticket if it's not printed on our
tickets then maybe that's something
regardless of what the end price is
going to be
>> that they know that there is a means to
address it if they feel that it was, you
know, they messed up and they don't, you
know, they're very reasonable here. You
just go online and you do it. You don't
have to physically come back to
>> But people are paying those tickets is
what I'm saying. So the numbers that
they're seeing and they have it all. I
mean, they're really really comparable
to us. Um, the numbers that they're
seeing is that those people are just
paying for it whether they want they
think it was wrong or not. They're just
paying it because they would rather not
pay the gas that they're paying to get
back to to do whatever it is.
>> And you think it's because it's
>> a lower and you're incentivized because
it because you know that the next day it
will go up.
>> So you're like, "Oh, I'm just going to
do this.
>> I'm not going to fight it another day to
go fight this."
>> No. I mean, I think that's very
interesting. I just wondered how that
was articulated. how people know that
and they don't know that there's an
opportunity here when they get a ticket
to
>> I think people do know I I
>> they do it does it says right on the
ticket I mean I don't have I don't have
one in front of us right now but it does
say on the ticket to dis how how to
dispute there's a QR code
>> the I think we've al we've got a giant
agenda after this and I very much
appreciated the conversation we could go
on all night so I think we found a lot
of common ground you feel like we've
found a lot of common ground or some
common ground anyway I think we found a
lot of common ground,
right?
>> Okay. So, Kate and Kada,
um, let me know about the 10th. Um, and
we'll take it from there.
>> Okay, that sounds great.
>> Um, okay. Yep. Yep. That's another
point. Never mind. All good. All good. I
appreciate you coming in person. I
appreciate you coming in person and
hanging out for the whole conversation
to have a conversation.
>> [laughter]
>> have a really good night.
>> Thank you.
guys.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay.
>> Um
so Parsonage Street um we know that
there is there is failed storm storm
infrastructure. Good night. Good night.
on uh Parsonage Street. The property
lines on Personage Street are a little
wacky and we have a lot of uh private
homes
uh roof roof drainage drainage draining
into our storm drain. So, we need to
figure out where the property lines are.
Um
there it has been bid out by Han. Good
night, Matt. Thank you. Thank you for
staying.
>> Thank you.
>> It's bid out by Han. Um
the although it is the longest. Are you
trying to say something to me?
>> No.
>> Okay.
I'm trying to find out where we are
though.
>> The cheapest the cheapest is the
cheapest by a lot. By 8,000 bucks. Is
that right? Yeah. Not 7,000 bucks. Um
the longer time frame, but much less. Um
Matt did ask to be on Rowan's schedule
for surveying um pending the board
approving the acceptance of that
discussion.
This is uh sorry I should say that it is
for the benefit of the public. It is um
the first step toward repairs on
necessary repairs on Parson Street. You
got it. Yes.
discussion.
Like to make a motion.
>> I make a motion to accept the
engineers's recommendation
to accept the bid of row and landing
PLLC for surveying services for the past
improvement project for $4,000 with an
anticipated time frame of six weeks.
Second. All in favor? I thought I
holding our spot quickly. It's going to
be
um next we are closing out the
transition of the
court clerk from the former clerk to the
current clerk. Um, and Justice
Hilbert, I wrote Costello, Justice
Hilbert has let us know that he will not
belabor all the issues that have had
getting to the court where it needs to
be, but frankly
don't know how, this is what I was
speaking to earlier. I don't know how
the court is operating with such
antiquated systems. The transition has
been a complete overhaul. So, our ask is
that um consultant Kathy Costello be
paid for 23.5 hours that she worked in
June and she be allocated an additional
eight hours to finalize training. Court
is prepared to have that taken from our
budget. Um Cathy's guidance is more
important than anything else the court
need at this time. So, the June, which
is $50 an hour, the June amount is
roughly 1,175
and the eight remaining hours is 400.
Discussion
Hearing
none. Would someone like to make the
motion? I make
>> I make a motion to authorize the mayor
to approve payment consulting Cath
Gastello for 23 and a half hours worked
in June and budget for an additional
eight hours finalized just court clerk
training at a rate of $50 per hour.
>> All in favor?
Okay, next I I will probably rely on
Marjorie and Andrew a bit. I want to
thank Andrew for taking the time to to
dig in. It was
you were we were close to the edge
there, but you took the time to dig in
and ask good questions. Um so the cost
of all of our liabilities,
our liability insurance is included
um in this bid. We have a new layer of
insurance which is cyber security. Um
>> it's renewal.
>> I'm sorry. Renewal I was thinking it was
new. Thank you. Renewal that is through
travelers. Um so that number is included
in the final here. The total amount of
$132,553.14
which is due in two component two parts
two payments. Um, I just want to point
out that we have nearly $19 million in
assets that we need to protect between
our buildings and our equipment,
our people. Um, so we are this is not a
small operation.
>> Um, discussion. Andrew, do you have any
comments to make from you?
There there are a few questions that I
went over with with the um the
underwriters and um or the brokers and
um they answered them all
satisfactorily. Um the one
the yearto-year difference is an
increase in premium of about $6,000.
That's primarily
and that's um
as Margie the clerk pointed out is
partly due to um a rerate an increase um
rerating the value of the buildings. um
the 60 cent increase I believe
>> also you know this is a liability
general liability insurance and the cost
of replacing anything as any homeowner
knows right now the cost of construction
has gone up astronomically so it's cost
of materials
>> and just uh increased value of home so
it's inflation plus increased cost of of
material 6%
>> and that being said the overall price
has gone up $6,000 So I think that's a
pretty pretty fair um price to pay
>> from year to year for the year policy.
That's right. And you know cyber
security too that you know overall
that's included in the big chunk and
cyber security went up pretty
significantly you know you know $800 you
know but
>> um that's our risks are higher for
everyone and so cost of insurance is
>> and that's what I was thinking about
when I said new I was focusing on
the recent issues that that we are
focusing on it's a it's a part of it's a reality on our everyday day life to
protect our everyday operations to
protect records and protect functions
and
>> frankly it's costs time also
>> and lots of time
>> it's lots of time so yeah so
>> we paid in two pieces pay 50% and
another 50%
>> do we have a starting resolution number
» didn't write it down and I promised I
would I'm sorry I think it's 34 but
please let me back. So, sorry I'm
getting glared at.
[laughter]
» You [clears throat] don't know what my
day was like.
>> Today, don't worry about it. Should
Would you like us to work with 34? How
would you like us to handle it?
>> I I think you should put it in
>> as 34.
>> No, I think you should say tentatively
34.
>> I will renumber them.
>> I'm sorry. Don't look at Mar.
» Okay. So, would someone like to move
tentative resolution tentative
resolution 34?
>> 34. Is that what you said?
>> I think 34.
>> I could be wrong. We have to read it for
the record.
>> Yes, we do.
>> Okay.
Resolution number tentatively 34-2026
village of Cold Spring Board of Trustees
approving the renewal of general
ability insurance. The following
resolution was offered by myself for
adoption in second 5B
by the mayor to whereas the village of
Cold Springs general liability insurance
policies are due to renew on August 1st,
2026. And whereas the village has
received a renewal proposal from the New
York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal
in the amount of $128,200
and 200 128,21.14
has received a cyber security liability
renewal proposal from travelers in the
amount of $4,352.
And whereas the total premium of the
package of insurance renewals is
$132,553.14
the period of August 1st 2026 through
August 1st 2027.
Now therefore, it is hereby resolved that
the village of Cold Spring renews the
general liability insurance policy
through the New York Municipal Insurance
Reciprocal and be further resolved that
the village clerk treasurer is
authorized and instructed to execute the
plans documents on behalf of the village
of Cold Spring. On a roll call. Can I
make a slight amendment to the
resolution that the village of Cold
Spring renews the general liability
insurance policy through New York
municipal insurance reciprocal and
travelers.
We're purchasing our cyber insurance. So
>> there is a paragraph that the second
paragraph and has received
>> renewal proposal
>> a renewal proposal for travelers in the
amount of 4,000. Is that not
>> I think it's just in the resolved
section.
>> Oh, in the resolve part section.
>> Okay. And I got it. Got it.
>> Is that amendable to the mover?
» I I am the second and I am amendable.
That so um it's a roll call vote.
>> May I ask a question for understand this
is do we pay twice a year?
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
And we pay there's another invoice that
just came in today that wasn't in the
packet or travel. We pay travelers
directly. So that's $4,300.
>> That's paid off$52 and that's separate.
So that's
>> two times that.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. So it's a roll call.
>> Trusty Bis is absent.
Trusty Boosezie.
Trusty Hall.
>> Yes. Trusty Woods.
>> Hi.
>> And Mayor Foley.
>> Hi.
>> Resolution is adopted. 4001.
» And the next item, I am delighted that
the tree advisory board. There were four
um resignations starting with Tony and
then three others. Um people who have
served a really long time and deserve
some some time off from that volunteer
position. and we've had really excellent
candidates. So, um the acting the
interim chair Taro Ayataka has
recommended Jane Demick um and Kathy
Carnival to sit on the tree advisory
board discussion
and then this new this newly excuse me
this newly constituted group will make a
recommendation for chair and we appoint
the chair.
Can we collapse this into a single?
>> Do we know the term end date?
>> Oh, yes. There's two different
>> Oh, you're right. There two different
terms. That's why. Okay. So, I make a
motion to accept the recommendation of
interim tree advisory board chair
Ayataka to appoint village resident Jane
Demick to a seat on the board for a term
ending 12 2026.
>> Second.
>> Okay. And I make a motion to accept the
recommendation of interim tree advisory
board chair Tero Ayataka. He's really
insistent on the interim part is interim there
>> to appoint village resident Katherryn
Carnival to sit on the board for a term
ending 12 2027.
>> All in favor?
>> I
just for the record it's 121 20.
>> It's the day it's the day that the
village legal year starts the day of our
reorg.
Okay. Um,
sad lady,
we have four proposed to accept the
resignation of Abigail McKini. Um,
Abigail did a fantastic job while she
was here. We knew that we wouldn't have
her forever, that she would go off and
do other fantastic things. She was
headed back to grad school. Um, so just
give you a bit of this. We're concerned
that this is we're going into a time
there are a number of large applications
coming in. It's been quiet for a while
now. We have a few large applications
coming in. So, while we um search for a
permanent replacement, the former board
secretary Karen Herbert is amendable to
coming in and helping us through that
busy time. So between the coverage of
Marjorie and
Delana and Karen, we'll we'll get we'll
get through somehow, but we need this to
turn around quickly because it is a
that's a big chunk of the daily work.
>> So
>> and and a lot of night work. Marjorie,
you know, now doing us. She did zoning
board last night. Next week she's got
planning. Yeah.
>> Too much for one person if you want.
creativity. [laughter]
» Abigail,
>> uh, I make a motion to, uh, accept the
resignation of village of Cold Spring,
Abigail Henny from her position as
secretary to the signing board effective
Friday, August the 7th, 2026, and
authorize the advertise advertisement advertisement of the open
position.
Second, all in favor? Hi.
» Um, and just the secretary to the zoning
board that is her that is the title
under civil service.
>> Um, okay. The moment that you have been
waiting for.
>> Yeah.
>> Event coordinator.
We have before us the
proposal from the chamber to host the
Halloween parade between the hours of 4
and 7:30 on October 24th.
Um,
a bit of conversation about this post
meeting the other day.
Um, the the chamber has traditionally
gathered on St. Mary's lawn but not
asked. Um, and I
>> pretty sure I told them they had.
>> So that's what I was making sure that
they did. And I don't know when St.
Mary's will be ready with their
applications, but I know that this is on
the St. Mary's radar.
This may evolve as St. Mary's evolves
its practices. So we what we are being
asked to approve tonight is not what is
on the lawn, but the actual parade,
which we have budgeted for in terms of
public safety discussion.
Okay, I'd like to make a motion. I make
a motion to approve Cole Spring Chamber
of Commerce application to host the
annual Halloween parade between the
hours of 4 and 7:30,
October 24th, 2026.
» You want to read the rest or is that
part? Well, I guess
yeah from St. Mary's bond route 9D and
Main Street to stand second. All in
favor?
>> I saw Halloween items in the store this
weekend.
>> Please let us have the rest of our
summer.
>> Okay. Um,
next is an approval. So, this this is
the annual Church Street block party,
which is super fun.
They always do it on the Sunday of Labor
Day weekend. Block the whole block. I
did have Lilian and I both had
conversations with the officer in charge
about some of his concerns about the
event. Um the the challenge in the last
couple of years has not been people
coming onto the street. It's people
driving their cars on residents on
Church Street driving their cars on the
street. So what he has asked for two
things. He's put used cones in the past.
This year he's going to use barriers.
Um and he asks
Lillian through you that the um the
organizers on Church Street
create a documentation. You mean a P
door to door something so that everybody
knows when the street is closed that's
closed for you park ahead of time out.
>> Email was sent to Joe Jody. You've
already done it. um asking her to do
that and also asking her to reach out to
the residents of Main Street who parked
in that back parking lot behind the old
CE.
>> Yeah.
>> Um because I know through experience
with the fire company
>> that they sometimes get forgotten about.
>> Okay, great.
>> So Jody has not responded back to me,
but you know.
>> Well, so so permission granted pending
confirmation of communication would be
my proposal.
Um,
so, uh, I make a motion to approve the
request submitted by Jody Curly Egan on
behalf of the residents of Church Street
to close Church Street on Sunday,
September 6th, 2026, 12:00 noon through
the evening hours for the neighborhood's
annual block party pending confirmation
of communication regarding
parking for Church Street residents
themselves and Main Street residents who
park at Church.
>> Second. All in favor?
And another thing. Okay,
next. Um,
Mary Malakus painted our tunnel the
first time in June 2023. Actually, it
was July 2023 during the storm that she
was finishing. She painted it once as a
donation. She repaired it after the um
after the floods as a donation. She has
now repainted it a third time post the
construction to repair the tunnel and
she's a working artist. We need to pay
her. Um so she she has build us for her
time. The project is complete. It looks
fantastic. $3,600.
Um and this will come as out of the
general village improvement fund.
Welcome.
Good. Someone like to make a motion?
I make a motion. No, go ahead. Uh, we
approve the payment to artist Mary
Molakis for the pedestrian tunnel mural
repairs of $3,600.
>> Second. All in favor?
>> I I
Okay,
now on to the schedule. So, I tried to
make this simple. There are a couple of
typos that we caught after it went out
to you, but from our discussion in our
last meeting,
um Michelle was on vacation that week,
so there were a couple of there were
some things that she caught. So, um Oh,
you know what I didn't bring? I printed
out the resolution from John and I
didn't bring it. Do you have it? You
have it? Put it in.
>> You can make a motion. Okay.
>> It is 35. I didck the number. So the
last one was definitely 34 and list 35.
>> So just to talk you through what's
changed since the last time. Um
everything that's highlighted in bright
yellow are changes. Um Ann pulled up
genealogy research. Um we did do some
research on the motor vehicle incident
and accident report with the DMV. So $25
is um for that. We made the correction
on the off streetet parking waiver. It
now says 1,000 per space.
Somehow I missed the transcription of
pools, hot tubs, and spas. I don't know
how that happened, but now it's in
buildings, standing board reviews. Um
Michelle, and I agree with her, thought
we should clarify that HDRB is escro fee
for public hearings only.
Um,
and her recommendation in looking at
these escros was that
as costs have increased per hour of
attorney time, $1,000 isn't enough for
most applications. Um, so she
recommended that we bump to 2500.
Um, where we have left it low,
where I am proposing that it is left low
is under tree advisory board. Um, it's
very rare that babies give a little
turning. There have been um there have
been one
>> What page are you?
>> I'm on page four. I'm sorry that I'm not
I'm just blathering on. I've looked at
this things.
>> Yeah.
>> Um the tree advisory board used the
village attorney once last year for a
take down application where there was uh
friction between neighbors. So, it's not
as often and it was a a quick
consultation. So my proposal is 500 for
their escrow when needed on a case- by
case basis.
Um
they'll also helped clean up some
language related to water and waste.
Remember we were talking about
there being people who refuse meters
versus people who have meters that can't
be accessed to read and need a manual
read.
Um so her recommended language was
quarterly manual read accessible meter
and it shouldn't should just say just one rate not in village out the
village
that needs to be modified and then
quarterly penalty for inaccessible
slashoutdated
and on those like some of them are
literally built behind walls
etc. there w there is an opportunity for
people to expose them again. Um though
her recommendation was that as an
incentive we note that
um there will be a prorated correction
once they corre once they fix the the
accessibility.
>> How far back does the go?
It would be that year.
» It's not like it's one year.
>> Oh, no. Just like when you when you buy
a house and you close out.
>> Oh, this is But okay, go ahead. Maybe.
So, so this charge we have to go and do
a manual read at this house because
either they have intentionally or they
bought a house that somebody blocked
access to the yeah
>> to the meter. So, uh we this is a this
to incentivize people to move forward
and get them accessible to us. We charge
a fee for our guys to to go to those
houses and do a manual read. Her
suggestion is that is that in that year
just like as you when you buy a house
you prorrate your quarter what you owe
the buyer and the seller make an
exchange of of money. Her suggestion was
that happened for that year
in a in a prorating transaction. Sounds
like it needs to say for that year
fiscal year.
I think I read it as as for however many
years they've been paying the quarterly
penalty. That is not what's intended.
So, let's fix that language.
» Um, usage per rated for that for current
fiscal year.
» Okay, that's that's Yep. Thank you. Good
catch. That makes more sense.
modifications in water, waste water.
That's it. We do I have started an
inquiry with um John first and and will
Angelo about how what changes we need to
make in the code to set appropriately
set um
font performance fonts and
calculation that's not determined by the
crew chief all by himself.
>> So that is that will be we'll return to
that.
>> So
the resolution then would be as amended
in session.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Uh resolution number had anything right?
>> Um resolution number 35 2026 updating
and amending the fee schedule. The
following resolution was offered by
Trusty Bozy for adoption and seconded by
second
>> trusty Woods. Uh whereas the village of
Cold Spring previously adopted a fee
schedule for the village whereas the
village of Cold Spring fee schedule does
support the fees associated with various
village services and fines and
connection with enforcement actions. And
whereas the board of trustees announced
a meeting on July 22nd, 2026 to present
a draft of the updated P village P
schedule. Whereas the updated and
amended village of Colbury PE schedule
um here directly A as amended in
session.
Um and is hereby resolved that the
village of culturing fee schedule uh
attached as exhibit A is adopted and the
fees and fines listed therein are
effective the date of this resolution.
>> Second all in favor
» trusty Bis is absent and trusty Boozie
>> hi Paul.
>> Hi
>> Trusty Woods. Hi.
» Thank you.
>> The fee schedule is officially adopted
by vote of course
final version tomorrow.
>> Uh no Monday. Okay. Um bills. Who's got
the bills?
I can go grab the
>> number
on the agenda with the correct amount.
>> Who's saying it?
>> I don't mean go get
>> I make a motion to approve bill badge
number 8576
now to 221,26.36.
Second favor.
>> I anything notable on that batch?
>> Insurance
motion to adjurnn.
>> All in favor?
>> I
thank you everybody.