[2:37] to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

[2:42] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[2:47] for all. >> Please remain standing for a moment of

[2:50] silence for Bessie Kisio McGomery free library for many years. a

[2:56] lovely lady who's lived in the town off road. She'll be sorely missed.

[3:07] » Please be seated.

[3:14] Councilwoman, Council Michael

[3:18] » here. Good evening Miller. Supervisor Steve Russia.

[3:22] » Councilwoman Cheryl Melik >> here. Good evening. Councilman Mark Hoy

[3:26] » here, >> attorney for the town, William Frank,

[3:31] » confidential clerk to the supervisor, Lauren Rally,

[3:37] recreation director.

[3:42] [clears throat]

[3:45] » Okay, we had [laughter] a couple birthdays in August. Cindy Boss and Sher

[3:51] both got birthdays. Happy birthday. >> Thank you. Somebody had a big class of

[3:55] uni that I saw on Facebook. Um I don't I won't say how many years because it'll

[4:00] show too many until you're your age. So >> I surprised myself.

[4:07] » Baron Atkins is having his anniversary today. Is he still here?

[4:12] » I hope you're going out to a nice dinner after this.

[4:15] » We may. And Katie's at home. Uh it's her

[4:20] birthday today. her favorite dish. Chicken pomodoro.

[4:26] I won't say her either. She's

[4:32] » okay. Is there any public comment on agenda items first?

[4:38] Said you're non agenda, right? >> You going to say something?

[4:41] » Me? >> Yeah.

[4:42] » Well, actually this uh this L to agurism,

[4:47] » does that have to do with agriculture? Um, where is up with letter?

[4:53] » Number five all the way at the bottom by um

[4:56] » Yeah, it does. It's I mean that >> you basically know what I was going to

[5:00] talk about. So, you want me to wait till the end?

[5:03] » Yeah, cuz it's cuz your thing isn't on the agenda.

[5:05] » All right. >> Okay.

[5:06] » No. Correct. Yes. But just so you know, it is date night tonight for my bride

[5:11] night. [laughter] >> We can move it along a little bit.

[5:15] » Happy hour and rosemary. [laughter]

[5:20] and Markes. Nobody's signed up for agenda items. We'll try to brush it

[5:25] along soon. >> Anything under old business?

[5:30] » Okay. If nothing under old business, I'll entertain a motion to accept the

[5:34] August 5th, 2026 board meeting. >> I'll make that motion.

[5:40] » Second. All

[5:42] » in favor? I >> oppos

[6:04] a resolution authorizing the supervisor to sign transportation agreement with

[6:08] the county of Orange. I'll make that motion.

[6:20] » To update the resolution that was passed,

[6:23] » I was going to say it seems like we just did it. Yeah, it came a year already.

[6:28] » It needed to be up. >> Yes.

[6:33] » Do we need to cancel the last one? >> Somehow.

[6:38] » This supersedes the last one. Okay. >> Okay. All in favor?

[6:50] » All right. See a resolution authorizing release of the perform performance pond

[6:54] i logistics based on recommendation.

[7:11] I'll make that motion second.

[7:16] » Anybody

[7:21] discussion? All in favor? >> I

[7:26] Okay. D resolution to approve the grant management stipen. Everybody has the

[7:30] resolution. I'll entertain first motion. I'll make it.

[7:36] » Second. >> I'll second it.

[7:38] » Okay. I just wanted to say a few things about this before we discuss further.

[7:42] Um, we've discussed this in executive a couple times. It was revised and I think

[7:47] we should move forward with it. I think it's a very fair offering than what was

[7:51] originally submitted. Just a couple statistics. The town of Montgomery

[7:55] currently has eight funded grants totaling 3.7 million and 16 submitted

[8:00] grants totaling 17.8 million. And that's probably a record for the town in fan

[8:06] applications and funded grants. With the volume and dollar amount of

[8:12] grants the town has been awarded slashsubmitted through our grant writer,

[8:15] we are now in need of grant management. Grant management is necessary to ensure

[8:20] budget management, financial compliance, management of deadlines, and submission

[8:26] of reports. awarded grants that are not managed correctly to put the town at

[8:31] risk for losing the grant andor not being awarded future grants. There's a

[8:36] lot of reporting that goes and administration goes along with MWBE and

[8:40] all the other strict requirements of you know required for federal and state

[8:45] grants. A proposal has been made for the grant administration study. Two town

[8:50] employees currently Anna Fis and Katie Mcnite would handle the grant management

[8:56] and be paid the stipen for this additional work if three hours a week

[8:59] for Katie and 10 hours a week for Anna. Because Anna is writing these grants,

[9:05] she knows the ins and outs of them can seamlessly apply the knowledge and

[9:08] information into managing the grants once they are awarded. This is more

[9:12] efficient than her having to convey this information to a third party and it's

[9:16] all happening right here in house. Katie already handles all aspects of the

[9:21] town's finances, so her pay and cash flow awarded grants and the additional

[9:25] financial reporting required is more efficient than giving a third party

[9:29] financial access. The town already pays statements to various employees for

[9:34] additional work above and beyond their job descriptions.

[9:39] Yeah, we we have at least 11 town employees that get statements. I don't

[9:44] know if you knew that or not, but the only thing is this these grants would be

[9:48] fully reimbursed by the state. This new stipen is similar to the existing

[9:53] stipens, but okay, this is what it says right here, but different and that it

[9:56] will cost the town nothing. All the money comes from the grants themselves.

[10:00] And I think that was it. And I will say that um I don't know if it says it in

[10:05] the resolution or not, but these would be paid quarterly

[10:09] um to each employee based on us getting our money from the state first. We get

[10:14] paid then then the stipens get paid and we review the stipens with our vouchers

[10:19] or our requirement bills. Um the you didn't have anything to add?

[10:27] » Yes, sir. >> Okay. Do you have anything to say? I

[10:29] know they do it in Kingston and big budgets big budget

[10:33] » where they where they're getting this many grants they have staff on they they

[10:39] hire staff internally to do it >> so it really is unique to uh

[10:46] municipalities that are awarded large grants

[10:51] » I know does a fantastic job

[10:57] » Kingston Newberg These are all areas where they have a

[11:01] whole they have a full grant staff department.

[11:05] » Well, now that Ann is doing our grants, we're doing fantastic.

[11:10] » Absolutely. >> Okay. Any further discussion?

[11:15] » Yes. I mean, that's been no secret that my big problem with this is I don't

[11:19] understand the multiplier effect. Um I'm just not in favor of that. I haven't

[11:24] been in favor of that. And also since a lot of this will be from my

[11:29] understanding being done on the time that the people are here,

[11:34] I just [clears throat] don't agree with the one and a half times the hourly rate

[11:39] of what they're getting while they're in doing it during their workday that

[11:46] they've already getting [clears throat] paid for. So I'm not going to be able to

[11:49] support it. I I also want to say something want to

[11:54] have a a question first. Is the other statements are an annual amount that

[11:59] gets approved every year when they do the budget. This is an hourly one. Is

[12:03] this going to get approved every year? >> Well, I mean if if they if they exceed

[12:09] 10 grants that they're administering be negotiated, it's going to be paid

[12:14] quarterly. That's the plan. So, but it also says in there that the

[12:19] hours 10 grants, but there's no specific hours.

[12:24] » I mean, it says to be to be determined by the workload.

[12:28] » No, it's right now this proposal, this resolution,

[12:31] » is that okay, right? >> Yeah. Go ahead.

[12:33] » Is for 10 hours a week for me and three for Katie and it's flat. It's not a

[12:38] multiplier. >> What the the rate?

[12:42] » Yeah. Well, that's not what the add agendum

[12:45] says. >> Well, it's it's set now for unless we

[12:50] get a workload that suddenly requires more people.

[12:53] » Well, it says right revisions made needed based on workload and number of

[12:57] grants awarded this proposal based on six to 10 10 grants and workload unknown

[13:03] estimated. >> Yeah, that's if there's more. So, we

[13:07] don't know what might be coming and if there are more grants, there will be

[13:12] more more. there will be a bigger need. >> But the multiplier effect is in there.

[13:16] You're getting one and a half times your salary.

[13:18] » Well, that's it's a different rate for a different job.

[13:23] » That's what it is. [clears throat] It doesn't

[13:25] » I don't think they're going to you're going to be administering more than 10

[13:27] rates, >> but I mean, sometimes you're going to be

[13:30] administering two, sometimes you're going to be administering seven or

[13:32] eight. That's why I like to keep it the same amount each quarter,

[13:36] » you know, based on and we will get the reimision. [clears throat]

[13:39] And we're also trying to work out a deal with the village of Montgomery that Anna

[13:43] does administers their grant from New York forward but does it on their own

[13:48] time. >> I I do have one more thing I want to

[13:52] add. So not that I don't agree with grant management. I do. my problem where

[13:57] I can't vote with this either. This is based on money, but there's no

[14:01] procedures written on how you're going to oversight this, who's going to

[14:06] approve it, how it's going to be tracked. There's just there's just

[14:10] nothing but a dollar amount here. So, I I can't approve this.

[14:14] » There will be reporting just like there is the grant writing.

[14:18] » If you want a quarterly report or or monthly report, we can do that and

[14:21] update each one. Certainly certainly ask Katie and do that. It's not going to be

[14:27] difficult to do it to us. >> Okay. If there's no further discussion,

[14:32] I'll call the question. All in favor? >> Okay.

[14:40] No. Deputy Supervisor Boss. >> No.

[14:44] » Councilman Mike. >> Yes.

[14:47] » Councilwoman Sherik. >> Yes. Councilman Michael.

[14:53] » No. And I'm Yes.

[14:59] » Thank you.

[15:06] » All right. Resolution accepting the ADA board donation by Benedict Park.

[15:12] Stephanie Harrian is here coming to the meeting. Is that you?

[15:15] » That's me. >> Are you going to tell us what that is or

[15:17] not? >> Sure. Absolutely.

[15:18] » Come on up. All right. >> Thank you,

[15:22] » Stephanie.

[15:25] Thank you for having me. >> Pass that down.

[15:33] » Uh, first of all, thank you so much for having me. Thank you, Karen. Thank you,

[15:36] Anna. Um, my name is Stephanie Harrian. I'm a local speech language pathologist.

[15:41] I'm a prior uh employee of Valley Central School District. I specialize in

[15:46] working with children with autism or other developmental disabilities,

[15:49] specifically those who are limited or non-speaking. In front of you, you'll

[15:53] see a proposal to install what's called a core communication board. If you flip

[15:58] through, there's like a very colorful picture at the end. That is called a

[16:02] core board. It is for kids that cannot speak. So, what they do is point to the

[16:07] pictures to communicate their wants and their needs. myself and another special

[16:11] education teacher who's a current um employee of value central um have

[16:15] started an LLC to increase inclusion and accessibility in the region and we have

[16:21] been installing this core board in different parks locally. So there's one

[16:25] in um Hasbro Park in News, one is being installed in Majestic Park in Gardener

[16:31] and we have another one going into Walk Hill. So this proposal we are able to

[16:35] get a um donation from Depws in Newberg. The sign is about5 $5 to $600

[16:42] um worth. So, it's really fancy, really beautiful, UV protected, meant to last 5

[16:47] to 10 years. And what we are proposing is that the town of Montgomery take over

[16:51] the installation and like the lumber and all of those little like nitty-gritty

[16:55] details. Um the really the purpose of it is for more families to feel seen, more

[17:01] kids to be able to readily communicate and engage with their community.

[17:06] » Thank you very much. >> Thank you. related to the herrogens from

[17:09] the village of McGomery or no? >> No, I'm from Long Island. [laughter]

[17:12] » You don't have a Long Island accent. >> I tried really hard not to

[17:18] » worked extremely difficult. Um, Manorbell.

[17:21] » Yeah. All the way far out east. >> Uh, if I may, Mr. supervisor. I do

[17:26] represent the village of Newalt and I was involved in the paperwork and so on

[17:31] for the Hazbrook Park installation and it's been just greatly received and they

[17:38] love it over there and it's really u it's a tremendous thing.

[17:42] » Thank you very much. I didn't know that. Thank you.

[17:44] » When [laughter] I saw this on the agenda, this was this was the resolution

[17:48] that I enjoyed writing the most. >> Oh, thank you. Oh, that really means a

[17:51] lot to me [laughter] >> for the children and everything and the

[17:54] parents. >> Yes.

[17:55] » It's it's just you can't even imagine how great it is, but how it makes the

[17:59] parents feel like the kids. So, I would strongly re recommend that.

[18:05] » Yeah, we've been really lucky. Um Brian uh my business partner Brian Majestic

[18:08] and I have gotten a lot of u media attention for it. So, features on

[18:12] Spectrum News and other local u media outlets. So, it's been really

[18:16] wellreceived um by the public, but also um the media outlets um and so many

[18:21] parents have come up to us and tell us how wonderful and beautiful it is to be

[18:25] seen um and for their families to be reflected. Um unfortunately, autism and

[18:31] this population specifically are often overlooked, especially in public um

[18:36] arenas. So that's Brian and I's mission is to really try to improve

[18:41] accessibility and inclusion in the greater um Hudson Valley region. So

[18:45] we're starting here. >> Is that the Majestic from Gardner?

[18:49] » Yes. >> All the all the Majestics Lane there.

[18:54] » Yeah. Um he lives on Forest Glenn. Um but he's like a fourth generation

[18:58] Majestic. So his family has been um there for quite some time.

[19:03] » Yeah. I delivered a lot of lumber up there.

[19:05] » Yeah. [laughter] the rules from Long Island, too, but he

[19:08] doesn't have the accent on. >> So, you say that you want us to like dig

[19:14] the holes >> essentially. Yeah. So, um

[19:16] » are you going to supply us with the frame?

[19:19] » Uh no. So, what we've done um in other um uh business other localities is that

[19:26] we supply the actual board and then the local DPW takes over the actual framing

[19:31] and the installation of that all. Um, so that is what we've done previously, but

[19:36] we're open. >> You have like a

[19:38] » a guy [laughter] >> a list of what you need for the framing

[19:42] or whatever. >> Uh, not on me, but that is something

[19:44] that I can definitely supply for you all.

[19:46] » Okay. >> Yeah.

[19:47] » Our guys are doing amazing jobs in the park. So,

[19:51] » piece of cake for them. >> We're going to put this up at the

[19:54] Benedict playground. >> So, right at the playground.

[19:57] » Yeah. I think we're going to, you know, get together and find a, you know, a

[20:01] logical, you know, the right place to to install it. Okay. And by we, I mean Sean

[20:05] and his guys. So [laughter] you can say that.

[20:09] » Yeah. I was able to go visit Benedict Park. I had never been there before.

[20:12] It's really lovely. Um, so all of the words on the core board are like

[20:16] specific to the park um and will be reflective. And I know there's obviously

[20:20] a large grant that's um happening or hopefully happening um to um overview

[20:25] the park and change it. So I really tried to focus on words that would stay

[20:28] static um that would be so reflective 5 10 years from now.

[20:32] » Well, so if you put another field in or another

[20:35] » Exactly. you can move it. Um it's uh very sturdy, really high quality and

[20:39] Depw signs in Newberg were so um generous and said that they would be

[20:43] able to donate um the sign and that's worth again $5 to $600. So it's not a

[20:47] not a cheap item. So they're really lovely. Okay.

[20:50] » Well, thank you very much. Deb is extremely benevolent.

[20:54] » Thank you. It's our absolute pleasure. Yeah. Are there any other questions?

[20:58] » No. >> Thank you.

[21:00] » I'll entertain a motion to accept the ADA core board donation.

[21:03] » I'll make that motion. >> Is there a second?

[21:06] » Mark is a second. All in favor? >> I

[21:09] » opposed. Thank you again. >> Thank you very much.

[21:12] » Would be a wonderful addition. >> Thank you.

[21:14] » Okay. A resolution approving the impact endowment fund. Um you all have the um

[21:20] description and everything rationale in the packet. We need um I'll entertain a

[21:26] motion to approve this first. >> I'll make that motion.

[21:30] » I'll second. >> Make second, Mark.

[21:33] » Sorry. >> And I think this is wonderful. I read it

[21:35] over just a little while ago and this is what they do in Central Park and New

[21:40] York City in a big way. And I talked to Jim Brooks, former commissioner of the

[21:44] county of Orange Park system, and he talked about doing it there. We never

[21:49] really took off. But, uh, this is, you know, it's going to save the town

[21:53] taxpayers money and do a lot of wonderful things. And whatever we you

[21:57] raise, you come back to us for approval to do in the park based on what you're

[22:01] going to suggest, of course. But that's the way it works, right? You don't just

[22:05] collect. >> Yeah. Adam, can you just give like a

[22:07] little overview of exactly what it is so people understand what

[22:10] » Yeah, please. Just so people understand what it is.

[22:14] So, this is a very specific situation where

[22:19] we can um we're creating a fund that is like an endowment in part, but what it

[22:25] does is it allows um the community foundation to house and raise money

[22:31] specifically for parks, youth, um arts, and um historical preservation within

[22:39] the Montgomery community. Uh it then allows for us to have this money um

[22:48] essentially create an interest fund uh that will go towards the upkeep of any

[22:54] new projects, specifically anything that's coming through grants. Um and so

[22:59] we can grow and we can create new um opportunities for the community and we

[23:06] can maintain them without increasing any kind of requirement from the taxpayers.

[23:12] So that's what this is doing and it is uh a way to allow kind of for

[23:18] fundraising uh do as >> we are not allowed to do as a

[23:22] municipality. Um so the >> the lawyer

[23:27] » the lawyer can answer that. Um so the community foundation essentially takes

[23:32] that over for us and they they direct it and um yes anything

[23:37] » and as the money sits it will build interest and and grow.

[23:40] » Exactly. >> Yep.

[23:42] » Has to get to 25 grand first. >> Correct. Yeah. So it gives us I I want

[23:48] to say 5 years to get to the 25 g base for it to start acrewing interest. Um I

[23:56] have some ideas on how to get there pretty quickly. So um but

[24:01] » once it does you start acrewing interest you don't have to wait the five years.

[24:07] » No. Exactly. So the minute it hits the $25,000 mark it instantly turns into an

[24:13] interest uh evolving account. Um and yeah, all of that goes towards

[24:21] specifically will be directed towards these kind of underfunded uh harder to

[24:27] find areas for funding within the community.

[24:32] » Any other questions? >> Yep.

[24:35] » Yeah, we have the first and the second >> further discussion.

[24:40] » Okay. All in favor? >> I

[24:42] » opposed. Car. Okay. Okay, next up we have an

[24:47] resolution awarding the wastewater RFQ contract to Lamont Engineering, the same

[24:52] outfit, engineering outfit that's doing Lake View Park, the Lake View Park

[24:55] improvements. So, I'll entertain a motion. Mark and I were part of the

[24:59] interviews on the on the short list and I think we made the right choice. I I'll

[25:04] note for the record just so the public knows there were four submissions

[25:10] proposals and they were vetted through supervisor Councilman Ho and a couple of

[25:15] others. there was a scoring system utilized and the highest amount of

[25:20] points went to the uh to the line uh in a uh in this scoring system. So it was

[25:26] done quite properly and Jim Carr was there and that's that's his forte and as

[25:32] well as Bill Dunn and was Shan Sean was there as well too

[25:39] » and Lamont actually weren't they involved with the highway garage?

[25:42] » They built Yeah. So they >> they didn't build it. the answer here

[25:49] » which is the same function motion.

[25:53] » We didn't get one. >> We didn't get a motion yet. Okay. Who

[25:56] wants to make the motion? >> I'll make

[25:58] » Go ahead. >> I'll second it.

[26:00] » Sherry second discussion. >> All in favor? We're moving right along.

[26:04] I wish we didn't have to waste a year, you know. No comment.

[26:09] » Okay. >> Better left alone.

[26:12] » Yeah. ancient history, right? Okay.

[26:17] Resolution. I don't want to be nasty. >> Water over the dam.

[26:22] » Waste water. >> Waste water over the dam.

[26:24] » No, I was called nasty. >> Some people

[26:30] could have a sewer joke in >> there.

[26:34] A resolution to approve additional architectural programming services for

[26:37] 110 Bracken Road 30 Scots Corners not to exceed 30

[26:43] $15,000 with 15,300.

[26:48] » Yes, we'll make that motion.

[26:51] » Can we get a second? >> I'll second it.

[26:54] » Discussion. All in favor?

[26:58] » Opposed? Carried. >> Okay. Resolution.

[27:01] » Are we getting close to Blueprint time. >> Yeah.

[27:04] » Yeah, we're getting close. >> We're close.

[27:07] » Okay. Resolution to approve the MEP design proposal for the HVAC

[27:11] improvements at 110 Road. Motion. >> Sure.

[27:16] » I'll make that motion. >> And the amount is where is it? 15.

[27:21] » It was 14,800. >> 14,800.

[27:24] » So, what what let's get the second first.

[27:27] » I'll second it. This is this is our system here in this building is pretty

[27:31] much shot, right? Both compressors are gone. What do you call it? The

[27:36] motherboard. >> That's what I've been calling.

[27:39] » Yeah, you've been calling the motherboard. We're limping along. And

[27:42] Matt Blake is very good at this. And it's kind of an emergency situation. You

[27:46] know, we can't afford to be out of heat in two months.

[27:49] » We've been limping along with the air conditioner. It hasn't been really hot,

[27:53] but it's been a problem, but it's it's pretty bad. So, and then we're going to

[27:56] have to go to bid right away and it could cost us75 to $100,000.

[28:03] But it's it's serious. I talked to Matt and he in the right outside that door

[28:07] last week and he he and his man were started got a jump on it and looking

[28:11] through the system and he said the mitsubishi system like we have here has

[28:16] improved quite a bit over the last few years and it's a two-pipe system rather

[28:21] than three pipe. So he said you may as well stay with a two pipe system

[28:24] otherwise it could be a lot more expensive. So I mean he's the expert on

[28:29] this. >> I think that's the way to go. But

[28:32] » and then he'll help you write the RFP or >> Well, we're going to we'll go to bid and

[28:38] he'll I'm sure he'll help us with that. Hopefully it won't be much more of a

[28:42] cost, but I would think so transfers. So but we have to do it and

[28:48] our hands are tied.

[28:56] U discussion and further >> the only as I noted in an email

[29:01] yesterday to the board and interest of full disclosure I have done previously

[29:06] done work for Mr. Blake and Blake Engineering but I informed him that

[29:11] someone would be representing the town. I reviewed his contract and we made

[29:15] changes to the contract. Yeah, he came highly recommended and we might be able

[29:19] to we might have to take out a BAN on this a ban or we can maybe roll it into

[29:24] the bond if we get the bond done in time for this building and in Scottsboro. So,

[29:28] we'll have to see how that goes. But, okay. All in favor?

[29:33] » I opposed. Carried. Okay. Um resolution to approve the quarter 2 budget

[29:39] transfers.

[29:43] » I'll make that motion. a second >> discussion.

[29:47] » I guess my I guess you call 80 tomorrow or something. I guess concerned that

[29:51] we're taking some money out of the cemetery, so hopefully we got enough in

[29:54] there. >> Yeah, we had a goodiz bill for Walkill

[29:57] in there, too. We're still under the budget like we did for them last year,

[30:01] but it's just it's getting closer. >> Okay. Um Sydney.

[30:08] » Okay. All in favor? >> I opposed. Carry. Motion to approve fee

[30:13] and alcohol waiver for Coldham Fire Department picnic.

[30:16] » I'll make that motion with >> pleasure. All in favor?

[30:20] » I opposed. Carried. Okay. Discussion of Agra tourism chapel project. Um,

[30:27] » so the the fees were in that motion. Correct.

[30:33] » Not going to charge them. >> Correct.

[30:37] » For good reason. >> Yes.

[30:39] » Yeah. >> Okay. Ross Lingovitz to discuss the

[30:42] chapter.

[30:50] » Uh good evening. For the record, Ross Wendy Litz with Engineering and

[30:53] Surveying Properties. Um here on behalf of John John and Marlene Wood. Uh John

[30:59] and Marlene brought the Carson farm um down on Kaiser Town Road um right before

[31:06] uh just right before the town line. And uh

[31:11] this is the Karsten house um that they still live in. And then John and Marlene

[31:17] bought that house and have renovated that and have um cleaned up the farm

[31:22] significantly over the last 5 years. Um what they are looking to accomplish is

[31:29] to build a small building about 1500 square ft under your right to farm law

[31:34] that was passed a few years ago. This uh building is is falls under your

[31:39] guidelines as a farm assembly building and it falls under the town board

[31:43] approval because of the very limited use that is being proposed

[31:49] um for this building. John and Marlene have had this vision of a an area where

[31:55] they can have ceremonies. They call it a chapel. Um they've had um christenings

[32:01] on their property for their family. And they found it uh extremely difficult um

[32:06] to find a venue when you're not specifically involved with any one

[32:11] specific religious organization. So, they wanted to create something that's

[32:14] kind of spiritual um that uses the agricultural backdrop of the farm. Um if

[32:21] you've been by it's been it's it's really in great shape. They've cleaned

[32:24] up all the tree lines and the ponds and and everything on the property.

[32:30] Um it'd be 1500 square ft. Um it would be primarily, you know, Friday,

[32:36] Saturday, Sunday, one event per day. You know, they're looking at christenings,

[32:40] wedding ceremonies. um things of that nature, you know,

[32:44] celebration of life. There there's no uh specific event. There's no parties here.

[32:50] There's no music. There's no um it's really just for that specific

[32:57] um event to happen. Event that ceremon ceremony to

[33:01] » resolution not to exceed 52 events per year.

[33:04] » Correct. So, your right to farm law has very specific restrictions if we want to

[33:10] qualify um for the limited uh use that we're

[33:15] looking for and for the the expedited approval. So, we're allowed up to 52

[33:21] events per year and uh only one event per day. Um we can have up to 300

[33:27] people. This building would be limited to about 75 80 people tops. It's only

[33:32] 1500 square feet. 75 to 150 is or less than 75, right?

[33:38] » Yeah, less than 75. >> So that comes to this board. If it's

[33:40] more than 7 75 to 150 goes to the planning board without a a major site

[33:45] plan approval and then >> I think it was over 300

[33:48] » a major, but I I was confused because I think it said more than 52 in the right

[33:52] to farm rule and then it said 52 in the resolution or vice versa.

[33:56] » So we're we're proposing 50 52 or less, right? a maximum of 52, which is what

[34:03] the code um indicates is permissible and one per day under the right to farm.

[34:09] Otherwise, we got to go to the planning board if we want to do more than that.

[34:12] Um it also talks about maximum of um 300 people. We're talking 75 people tops. Um

[34:23] there'd be a little gazebo. People could go take pictures if they'd like to. Um

[34:28] John's been reached out to local architects to grow on dehan um to come

[34:32] up with a concept. He has like researched different um chapels kind of

[34:38] throughout the northeast um and has looked at stained glass

[34:42] windows and pews and all these kind of things that to try to come up with

[34:46] something that very historically um historical context for the northeast.

[34:52] Um we'd walk the site. Um, I think it's a beautiful spot overlooking the pond.

[34:57] Uh, you'll enter in off of Kaiser Town. It'll be a long u driveway in. There's a

[35:02] stone wall on one side with tree lines. Uh, you'll be able to see the chapel off

[35:07] in the distance as you pull into the property. Provided a loop road so that

[35:11] you could drop off directly in front. You have elderly relatives, something

[35:15] like that, you want to be able to do that with your handicap parking. Um,

[35:20] there will have to be by code uh bathrooms. So, there'll be a well and

[35:24] septic provided um for the use of the building.

[35:29] » Um >> the question came up about tax break and

[35:32] I talked to John Wood last weekend. He said they're not looking for a tax

[35:36] » no no tax break. This is really an agricultural accessory use of the

[35:40] agricultural property which is what your right right to farm law is talking

[35:43] about. >> How you bringing the juice in?

[35:46] » How you bring the juice in? Power. >> Uh we talked about that. Um, it would

[35:51] probably come in along this road here, uh, underground. We'd like to prefer.

[35:56] Yeah.

[36:00] » Any other any questions? >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion.

[36:06] » Any

[36:09] obtain a motion to approve or does this is just discussion? We're not taking

[36:12] action. >> Discussion. Yeah.

[36:17] » How many parking spaces? Uh we're we're providing uh 20

[36:26] » based on the size of the building and you're having you know three per car.

[36:32] » Is there anything? >> Yes.

[36:34] » I think we need to have a resolution. >> Okay. So

[36:40] everyone's game. >> Okay. Is everybody okay with that? Well,

[36:45] » how do thear how do the parking spaces work per capacity? Is that in that?

[36:51] » Typically, it's one per three seats. >> It is. Okay.

[36:53] » Yep. For an assembly space like that. >> Okay. Will can draw draw up a resolution

[36:58] for the next meeting. We'll have to put conditions in there.

[37:01] » Okay. I didn't hear what you said. So, just to follow up on this question,

[37:05] » one parking >> one spot for three people

[37:07] » for three seats. Yeah. In the building. Yeah.

[37:10] » Assembly is typically that. >> How many? There's 20. So we have 20

[37:14] parking spots. >> 20 parking.

[37:16] » Yep. We can have less or more. John's not We just tried to do what we thought

[37:20] was right and not overdo it. I mean, we This is really just an accessory small

[37:25] facility that's complimentary. We don't want to have a big parking lot out there

[37:29] if we don't something we can't charge um a legal fee or or engineering fees for

[37:34] this. Yeah. >> Well,

[37:38] » because that cultural >> talk to I mean I like the idea of that.

[37:45] » Well, quite honestly, it's not it's not going

[37:48] to take me that much time to put an approval resolution together. You just

[37:53] have to make sure that everything in the in the proposal meets the agurism law as

[37:59] it's written and that it fits into all the categories.

[38:07] Yeah. And we went through those categories well and you'll find them

[38:10] under note six um with the corresponding letter for the code. So

[38:19] » really

[38:24] » is that okay with the board? Do you a motion for that?

[38:27] » No. >> Okay. All right. Does anybody have a

[38:30] problem with Will doing that with Jim and Ross?

[38:34] the next meeting. >> Well, that's that's what I mean. Yeah.

[38:38] » Hello. Does anybody have a problem with >> No. And then we can adjust it to the law

[38:42] as we have. >> Okay.

[38:44] » All right. >> Thank you very much.

[38:45] » Move ahead. >> Okay. One more thing.

[38:50] » Yes. >> Pleasure.

[38:58] Real estate candidate. Like everyone else, I also work for

[39:02] Ross.

[39:05] I'll prepare a resolution to the board to look at issue.

[39:10] » Okay. >> I got it.

[39:15] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[39:16] » Thanks, Ross. Okay. Um, audit abstract number 15, payrolls number 16 and 17,

[39:22] vouchers number 26-01358-2601519,

[39:29] excuse me. Payroll total $524,380.30. 30 voucher detail total $952,5302

[39:39] total amount 1.4 million76 $910.32

[39:44] motion to approve. >> I'll make that motion.

[39:46] » Can we get a second? >> I'll second it. All

[39:49] » in favor? >> I

[39:52] » opposed. Car. Okay. Um, open public comment. You're up first, Sid.

[39:59] » See, we moving along here. This is this meeting won't be 2 hours 46 miles.

[40:02] » Just listening to the Carson farm. I was just thinking all the hay bales over the

[40:06] years that I used to throw over there. >> Maybe you get in John Maren's good

[40:10] graces. You and Karen never had a renew. >> If you get in John's and Marlene's good

[40:15] graces, if this goes forward, maybe you and Karen can renew

[40:18] » you and Karen can renew your vows out of this chapel if it goes [laughter]

[40:21] forward. We probably give you a good price.

[40:26] [laughter]

[40:28] » She wasn't looking. Good for you. >> Oh, lordy.

[40:33] [laughter] >> Yeah.

[40:36] I have two items. Am I stuck with three minutes or is that the other five

[40:41] minutes here? >> I get five. Okay. I'll probably go in

[40:43] the future, but you're good for >> um

[40:46] I'm going to start with our village um

[40:53] village of Montgomery tractor parade this year.

[40:57] Uh, is this Saturday? >> We won't count this toward your speaking

[41:00] time. >> Okay,

[41:02] » I appreciate that. >> I'll look at that.

[41:04] » Um, parade goes off at 12:00 noon sharp.

[41:09] Um, as we ask that there's no throwing a candy or political signs or advertising

[41:15] cuz it's as in other years. Now, this year the parade route's going to change

[41:20] a little bit. It's going to start on Railroad Avenue like usual and hopefully

[41:24] we'll be able to use the parking lot yet. Um if that changes, we'll let

[41:30] everybody know when they get there if we have to park across the street over to

[41:35] skips. But um we're going to go down railroad, make a right on Senior Street,

[41:41] and then make another right on Walkill Avenue, then a left on Charles Street,

[41:47] then a right on Union, which is Route 211, then a right on Clinton Street, and

[41:52] then left on Walkill over to Skips. That keeps us

[41:56] » That's a lot shorter then, right? >> It's a little bit, not too much. Uh, I

[42:02] drove my truck around. I'm maybe a couple ten of a mile shorter. Skip will

[42:07] still be happy. It's make more turns, but so, but that's

[42:14] the weather has changed to where it's supposed to be nice for the weekend. So,

[42:19] uh, we can be happy with that. We have yet to have a bad weekend for the

[42:24] tractor parade. >> How many years will this be?

[42:27] Karen >> um I'm going to say roughly 15.

[42:31] » Yeah, right around 15 years. So, it's always been good. Um now, my next thing

[42:39] is on uh agriculture. Orange County Land Trust came across my

[42:46] uh Facebook a few weeks ago. The New York State Department of Agon Markets is

[42:52] celebrating 30 years of its farmland protection implementation grants program

[42:58] this year. In recognition of their w milestone, New York State Department of

[43:04] Agen Markets will highlight 30 success stories from across the street. The

[43:09] state through the end of this year. Orange County's own Belleville Farms

[43:15] which is in Warwick is among those that are going to be featured in this series.

[43:20] Um we have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven parcels

[43:26] in town of Montgomery that are on farmland preservation.

[43:32] I just want to go over the the ladies down in the office downstairs

[43:38] were very helpful. They gave me about 800 pages of reading material for all

[43:43] the uh conservative conservation easements, but

[43:47] I'm shorten it up to 3 minutes now. The purpose of this conservation easement

[43:53] was to preserve the productive agriculture lands and natural resources

[43:58] associated with the properties for the benefit of the public and of future

[44:03] generations. and to asssure that the properties will

[44:08] be retained forever in its predominantly a scenic historic and open space

[44:14] condition. No mining, drilling or extracting of

[44:19] oil, gas, gravel or minerals on or under the property shall be permitted that

[44:25] causes disruption of the surface of the property that adversely affects the

[44:30] agricultural production or the preservation of scenic views. nor

[44:35] subdivide for any and all residential, commercial or industrial purposes or any

[44:42] activities which are not incidental to agg or open space.

[44:49] The common desire is to conserve these resources in order

[44:54] to prevent the use or development of the property for any purpose or in any

[44:59] manner which would conflict with the maintenance of these resource values or

[45:03] impair the in or impair or interfere with the

[45:09] conservation values of the properties. potential uses of the properties are

[45:14] limited and that the granter, the heirs, successors and assigns shall only be

[45:21] entitled to use, lease, maintain or improve the property for agg and or open

[45:27] space use. The owner of the property conveys the

[45:31] right to preserve and protect conservation values of these properties

[45:35] in perpetuity. That's like buying a cemetery plot forever.

[45:40] It's not just from one owner to the next. I know um

[45:46] these farms that are in the in town of Montgomery that are in the farmland are

[45:50] the Hudson farm which was on Albany it's on Albany Post Road.

[45:55] Uh the Zilster Farm on Albany Poston and Hill Avenue, Hookster Farm on Searsville

[46:01] Road, the Menendez farm which is on Walkill Road in Walden, Hawkins on River

[46:08] Road, the Brock Farm on River Road, and the Miller Farm which is on Beaver Dam

[46:14] and Rockerfeller Lane. >> Deerfield.

[46:19] » Deerfield, too. >> Well, ours Harrison Brock bought our

[46:23] farm. >> No, Deerfield. airfield. I'm sure I

[46:26] don't know how I missed that one. I have to talk to the girls downstairs.

[46:30] » I missed. >> Okay. [laughter]

[46:32] » Where's 52? Backs up to Angry Orchard. Is that

[46:39] the one we just did? >> No. No, that's

[46:42] » Backs up to Angry Orchard. >> Oh, okay.

[46:45] » I got you. >> County Land Trust Protected.

[46:47] » Yes. You were on the board, Regin. I think my father Well, you were on the

[46:51] board with my father-in-law, Glenn, at the time, too. Phil and

[46:56] the the farmers were all paid with our tax money to

[47:02] keep this as always agriculture. And not for nothing, folks. You look around all

[47:08] these pictures here, all these farms. I mean, you'd hate to see you lose that.

[47:12] So, you need to stay diligent and keep up the good work. Thank you very much.

[47:19] » I'll just say, sir, we are and we can't talk about litigation. understood.

[47:23] » But Mark and I were out there last week and uh

[47:27] » you know, we're moving forward. It's taking a long time to get resolved, but

[47:30] it it will happen because >> it's just um not just that. I I had it

[47:35] in my head before to talk about it cuz it's 30 years ago. A lot of folks have

[47:39] forgotten about it. >> I mean, you you had Glenn's

[47:43] documentation and you you threw it away, right?

[47:47] » Yeah. I had all of his paperwork, but Yeah. And another good one that was done

[47:52] through the planning board and cluster is the 12 farm. Doc Kelly buying that

[47:57] that side of the road there. That's a that's a beautiful thing.

[48:00] » Yes, absolutely. I mean, most of these farms are very wellkept. Uh the Menedz

[48:07] farm, they're having open house on the farm this fall. Do you know when that

[48:11] is? >> 26th.

[48:12] » The 26th of this month. I mean, it's an open house. They've done a beautiful job

[48:17] over there taking care of it. Melissa uh Melissa I think it is. Yes. But yeah,

[48:23] » she's still doing the dairy farming, right?

[48:25] » Yeah, >> she's still she's the only one left

[48:27] doing the >> Yes, she's she's running the farm. So,

[48:30] yep. Milk and cows and uh they have some beef animals and whatnot there, too. So,

[48:36] but uh >> Well, thank you for that. And I remember

[48:38] when I was in the legislature, Montgomery was the second in Orange

[48:42] County with the most working farms and also the most PDRs like [snorts] this.

[48:47] » Yes. I mean, we're we're down >> is number one, but

[48:50] » we don't Yeah. I mean, farms, we have a bunch of them yet, but dairy farms,

[48:55] we're down to about a handful >> in Montgomery area. We're down to two in

[49:00] Montgomery. Okay, Mark. Thank you. >> I hate to say it, but yeah.

[49:04] » But, uh, now one one other thing while I'm thinking of it, uh, the 911, uh,

[49:11] there's a memorial every year at the, uh,

[49:15] » Arborita. >> Arburum. Yeah. Yeah, our burrito and

[49:19] Karen and I have gone to that just about every year we're able and it's if you

[49:23] haven't planned on going to a memorial service, that is one to definitely go

[49:27] to. >> That's the best attended in the county.

[49:31] So, >> I haven't been in a couple years with

[49:33] Thank you, Sid. >> All right. Thank you.

[49:34] » Okay, we got you out of here pretty quick, right?

[49:36] » Super dinner time. State [laughter]

[49:46] Farms and Marxist conservation is going to be

[49:49] » Oh, yeah. You should know that one. Sid. That's That's where roots are.

[49:55] » Over at >> Sycamore Farms.

[49:57] » Yes. >> Right. Sycamore Farms did the uh

[50:02] conservation easement and we worked through a market. Yes. Elevator and we

[50:07] went through the whole process property. The money was possessed you

[50:12] know through a markets and then as you know right on that farm right on

[50:18] 21. >> Yes.

[50:25] » Yeah. Karen's parents live very close by there 21.

[50:29] » Wasn't one of this wasn't one of somebody from that farm on TV from

[50:32] somewhere down in the city recently? >> Oh, um

[50:38] Kevin Kevin Smith there. He did a thing down here. They had a big thing. They

[50:43] used to grow special tomatoes, potatoes that the old women down in the New York

[50:48] City would go nut. They pay $5 for a tomato down. Well, Smitty and Smitty and

[50:54] Happy

[51:00] was one of the first people and I own Billy me down once.

[51:09] » Thank you again, Sid. Okay, final uh speaker, Mark Belchesky. You're

[51:15] good. You wave. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay.

[51:18] » You yielding your time? >> He's yielding. [laughter]

[51:22] You're speechless. It's hard to believe you're speechless.

[51:27] » You did it all last night. >> Okay. Anything else? We need to our

[51:31] quick executive on the lease, right? >> On town matter.

[51:34] » Yep. >> Okay. Anything?

[51:36] » Okay. I'll entertain a motion to go in executive session under

[51:41] potential litigation. >> I'll make that motion.

[51:44] » Pending litigation.

[51:48] » Yes. and also a um >> health department of concern. Okay,

[51:53] » got it. >> Okay. Um Sherry makes it.

[51:56] » Y second. >> All in favor?

[52:01] » This will be possibly a vote when we come out on the tax.

[52:08] and

[52:15] we need to talk.

[52:19] Was it worth the tax?

[1:10:43] Yeah, you can. >> Okay. I will entertain a motion uh for

[1:10:48] the proposed settlement and tax certiary matter of town McGomery and Hudson River

[1:10:53] Housing Incorporated and Neighborhood Gardens LLC motion number 111-5-16.

[1:11:00] Motion to approve that settlement >> pursuant pursuant to the recommendation

[1:11:04] of our special tax certari council >> and our assessor

[1:11:08] » and our assessor. >> Okay, Mark, you made a motion.

[1:11:10] » Yes. >> Cindy second. All in favor?

[1:11:14] » I opposed. Carry. >> Okay. Motion to adjurnn.

[1:11:18] » I'll make that motion. >> Second.

[1:11:21] » All in favor? >> I

Town Board Meeting. September 2, 2026.

Transcript