[0:08] Very good everyone.
[0:10] [clears throat]
[0:12] >> Happy new year.
[0:15] >> Welcome to the Red Hook Town Lord
[0:18] meeting of Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
[0:22] Would you kindly join me in the pledge
[0:24] of allegiance, please?
[0:26] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[0:29] United States of America and to the
[0:32] republic for which it stands, one nation
[0:34] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:37] justice for all.
[0:42] » Thank you all very much. I hope that you
[0:44] had a happy and healthy, probably the
[0:49] most challenging part of that uh holiday
[0:52] season. And for the folks at home uh
[0:56] wanting to know what we'll be discussing
[0:58] uh this evening,
[1:01] we have two uh public hearings. Uh one
[1:04] is related to
[1:07] um or actually both are related to the
[1:10] rehab of the water district number one
[1:14] uh storage tank. And um we actually have
[1:18] a couple of our water board members with
[1:21] us this evening. Um and we'll start the
[1:24] evening off with that. We then will move
[1:27] on to our annual reorganization meeting
[1:31] uh rather resolution. We'll then um
[1:36] address two highway related uh matters.
[1:40] We approve the annual expenditures for
[1:43] capital uh improvements, road
[1:45] improvements. We have our highway
[1:47] superintendent here somewhere. I thought
[1:49] I saw her right. Teresa. Oh, there you
[1:51] are. Okay. Very good. Um and uh we'll
[1:55] then move on to a discussion and
[1:58] approval of a new EV cargo van for the
[2:02] highway department. Um we'll then take
[2:05] up those uh issues related to the
[2:08] storage tank. Um we have a resolution
[2:11] approving an amendment to the fire
[2:15] protection district agreement with the
[2:18] village of Tivoli. Um, if you've been
[2:20] following along on many of these issues
[2:23] in previous meetings, um, the village of
[2:27] Tivoli and the Tivoli Fire Department
[2:30] met with us, um, and said that they
[2:33] needed additional help. We had initially
[2:36] allocated $250,000
[2:39] towards the firehouse expansion project.
[2:42] They needed additional help. Um, we
[2:45] explained our time constraints with the
[2:47] ARPA funds that they needed to be
[2:49] expended this year. And so, uh, we put
[2:52] our heads together and came up with a
[2:54] plan to provide, um, additional capital
[2:58] line funding to, uh, double the support,
[3:01] first of all, $500,000,
[3:04] but to do it, uh, pay the debt
[3:07] associated with the borrowing that
[3:08] they're going to ensue. And this way uh
[3:11] both the the fire department village and
[3:14] [clears throat] also the town wouldn't
[3:16] be under the gun if you will uh with
[3:18] time constraints. So um it's our hope
[3:21] that uh we can be moving that forward
[3:23] because I know that they do want to go
[3:25] out uh to bid and that of course is a
[3:28] critical uh step that they need to take
[3:31] in order to know whether they're whether
[3:33] or not they're going to uh move forward
[3:36] with that project. Um we're going to
[3:40] discuss but uh not likely decide on um
[3:43] this year's health insurancey uh health
[3:46] insurance policy uh for the employees.
[3:49] Um we have a ministerial act um to do
[3:53] with assigning a delegate to uh the
[3:56] association of towns annual conference.
[3:59] um you uh see your representatives and
[4:02] by the way congratulations to our new
[4:04] Ken Miglorelli and Christine. [applause]
[4:13] We also didn't get a chance because of
[4:16] the meeting schedule to thank um our
[4:18] outgoing uh Julia Solomon and Christine
[4:21] Kaine for all of their work over the
[4:23] years and we'll be seeing and I'm sure
[4:25] hearing from both of them uh in the
[4:28] future. So thank you all to them. Uh but
[4:31] the point I was getting to uh is that we
[4:34] do um continuing education
[4:38] um each and every year uh whether it's
[4:41] remote courses or this annual conference
[4:44] where representatives from all the towns
[4:47] 900 plus in New York State uh convene
[4:52] and uh we get up to speed on what the
[4:55] latest and greatest and share our
[4:57] thoughts and ideas with each other. Um
[5:00] we have a couple of resolutions related
[5:03] to assessments and then uh we'll discuss
[5:06] correspondence as it relates to where we
[5:08] are on um engineering study and uh
[5:12] reducing speed limits townwide.
[5:16] With that being said, why don't we very
[5:19] quickly
[5:21] um go and do uh supervisor's report for
[5:26] this month. Uh folks, all I have is the
[5:28] cash portion as you know. Um we uh
[5:32] continue to acrewue
[5:34] um expenses throughout January. So
[5:37] you'll get this uh updated
[5:40] um later on in January. But from a cash
[5:43] position, we do this the first meeting
[5:45] of each month. Um I'll report to uh the
[5:48] folks. We started with an opening
[5:50] balance of 9,32,000.
[5:53] We had receipts of 3,971
[5:57] dispersements of 2,444,000
[6:01] with an ending balance of 10,828,000.
[6:07] I won't ask you to accept the
[6:08] supervisor's report because this is the
[6:10] only portion of it that we have uh for
[6:13] tonight. Um Diana, could we uh quickly
[6:16] do the clerk's report, please?
[6:21] » No. I didn't I didn't do a vote.
[6:24] >> Oh, okay.
[6:25] >> It's just the the brief portion of it.
[6:27] >> Oh, okay. Um, town clerk's report for
[6:30] the period of December 1st, 2025 to
[6:32] December 31st, 2025. Total local shares
[6:35] remitted remitted, $8,37,947.
[6:39] Amount paid to New York State
[6:41] Agriculture Markets for the spayneuter
[6:43] program, $36. Amount paid to New York
[6:45] State Department of Health for marriage
[6:46] licenses, $45. Amount paid to New York
[6:49] State controller for games of chance
[6:51] bell jar license $15. Amount paid to New
[6:54] York State Environmental Conservation
[6:55] for hunting and fishing licenses $68.3.
[6:59] Total state, county, and local revenues
[7:01] $8,543.50.
[7:05] And there are there vouchers or
[7:08] >> there are vouchers. I hereby certify
[7:11] vouchers numbered 3236
[7:13] 34236
[7:15] to 34386 totaling 77 757,1944
[7:23] processed in the month of December 2025
[7:25] are an accurate reporting of the
[7:27] abstracts approved for payment by the
[7:28] town board.
[7:30] >> Very good. Thank you very much Diana. Is
[7:32] there a motion to accept a parks report?
[7:35] >> I I have a few questions.
[7:36] >> Okay. So looking at this, so we're
[7:40] charging trailer park fees.
[7:43] >> Oh, it's um the the license is their
[7:46] licenses for a year. $15 a year to have
[7:49] a trailer park.
[7:51] It's like a license.
[7:53] >> Yeah.
[7:54] >> So we it looks like it's $75 a year to
[7:57] have a a trailer.
[8:01] >> Where? Oh, I'm sorry.
[8:03] >> There's five. online. There are that's
[8:07] only um there's actually
[8:09] um I think there's six parks, but we um
[8:14] we only we got paid I think we did one
[8:16] last month, too. Like in November, we
[8:18] had a payment for one.
[8:19] >> Can you just explain what that is?
[8:21] >> Yeah, I I think Diana just did. There
[8:23] are five trailer park fees. There's a
[8:26] $15 annual fee associated and there's
[8:28] five total of 75
[8:30] >> for for for
[8:32] a park
[8:33] >> a park of
[8:36] collective any amount of
[8:39] >> Yes. So so the like for instance the
[8:43] trailer park up on Mountain View
[8:46] um they pay $15 a year for a license to
[8:49] have the park
[8:50] >> and what and why do we charge trailer
[8:52] parks? That's a New York state.
[8:56] Comes from the state.
[9:01] » There's a state mandated fee for
[9:03] trailer.
[9:03] >> I believe it. I believe it's um I'd have
[9:06] to look that up, but it's definitely a
[9:08] mandated fee to have. It's $15.
[9:11] >> It's like a registration.
[9:13] >> Yeah. Every year annually. So,
[9:18] I just send out a quick letter and then
[9:20] send them a license with a seal on it
[9:22] once they pay the $15.
[9:27] » Um, yeah, it seems strange to me that
[9:30] we'd be that we would be allocating fees
[9:33] towards trailer parks.
[9:37] I'd like to understand more about that.
[9:39] >> I'll look into it and give it give you
[9:40] more information on it. And then the
[9:42] other the other thing that stuck out to
[9:44] me was the dog licensing fees.
[9:48] >> Yes.
[9:49] >> Um
[9:51] I mean obviously this is a minority of
[9:54] people that choose to participate
[9:57] in licensing their dogs, but we've got
[10:00] we've we've we've got pure breads or
[10:03] discounted fees. Like where where do
[10:06] these fees come from?
[10:07] >> Um so the fees are are set by New York
[10:10] State. Um, it's the law to license your
[10:13] dog. People should be licensing their
[10:15] dogs in town of Red Hook. Um, if we only
[10:19] have one purebred license or I think the
[10:22] purebred license was literally I think
[10:25] we have one in the whole that we have in
[10:27] our whole
[10:27] >> there's one that I think we've just done
[10:30] that. That's the one. Um, but usually if
[10:32] it's unneutered, the dogs um are $22 a
[10:36] year and for uh spay and neutered dogs
[10:39] it's $15 a year. And um New York State I
[10:43] think it's um 14 and then a dollar goes
[10:47] to New York State. So 14 for the town, a
[10:50] dollar for the state.
[10:53] It's gets split that way but by New York
[10:55] State.
[10:56] >> I I'd just like to understand where
[10:57] these where where these fees come from.
[10:59] um looking at the report and trying
[11:02] >> Oh, I can definitely I'll put something
[11:03] together for you.
[11:04] >> Thank you.
[11:06] >> Okay.
[11:09] Hearing no other questions. Um is there
[11:12] a motion to accept the corpse report?
[11:17] >> Thank you. Is there a second?
[11:19] >> Second.
[11:20] >> Thank [snorts] you, Jacob. All in favor?
[11:23] [clears throat]
[11:23] >> I
[11:26] >> Okay. Uh, a couple of quick
[11:28] announcements and then we'll get to our
[11:30] public hearing. Um,
[11:34] very good news. Uh, the town was, uh,
[11:38] awarded a grant that we applied for for,
[11:42] uh, central sewer. It was the
[11:44] intermunicipal grant. Um it's a program
[11:49] that the governor uh to her credit uh
[11:52] created um to uh help support uh sewer
[11:57] projects that uh involve more than one
[12:01] uh municipality.
[12:03] Um when we created the TND sewer
[12:06] district, the extension of which is um
[12:11] from town hall is TND all the way down
[12:15] to the parcel south of Hannifford.
[12:18] Um we told the the residents and
[12:22] property owners there that we would not
[12:25] uh move forward likely until we receive
[12:29] some grant funding. We applied for the
[12:33] full amount, 40% of the estimated
[12:36] project cost, and that's these
[12:38] businesses up and down Route 9 on both
[12:41] sides. Um, we've been uh notified that
[12:45] we're awarded uh 2.563
[12:50] million
[12:51] um towards what was estimated a couple
[12:54] of years ago as 6.5
[12:57] 6.6 million project. Um if you've been
[13:01] following along in previous meetings, we
[13:03] took some of our ARPA allocation
[13:07] uh 3 four years ago, we felt so strongly
[13:10] about um helping out the businesses up
[13:12] and down Route 9 that we allocated over
[13:16] a half a million dollars as well towards
[13:19] that.
[13:20] um together that adds up to nearly $3.1
[13:24] million towards again what was at the
[13:27] time estimated to be 6.56.6
[13:31] million. Uh obviously when when and if
[13:35] we decide [clears throat] to go out to
[13:36] bid that number uh could change. [cough]
[13:40] So at this point we've asked the village
[13:43] to take a look at um the demand um for
[13:48] expansion on their portion
[13:51] uh because the sewer plant which is
[13:54] modular in nature
[13:56] um
[13:58] to understand whether or not they could
[14:00] begin to uh design a system short of the
[14:05] full 300,000 gallons a day um in order
[14:09] to help us out and start on this process
[14:13] and uh try to get the construction done
[14:16] before uh the project costs um continue
[14:19] to go up.
[14:21] So, uh really good news there uh folks
[14:24] for uh 2026
[14:28] um events. So, it's a new year. We'll be
[14:31] having our usual seven or eight spring
[14:34] events here in the town. Uh we start off
[14:38] uh not this upcoming weekend but the
[14:41] following weekend with our quarterly Red
[14:44] Hook Repair Cafe um hosted uh as has
[14:48] been now for some time by the community
[14:51] center 10 to 1. There are lot lots of
[14:54] items that you uh can bring and lots of
[14:57] terrific uh volunteers to help uh repair
[15:01] these types of uh items that you have in
[15:05] your house. and other things
[15:08] 10 to 1. That's Saturday, January 24th.
[15:13] We thank everybody coming here. Um we I
[15:17] think we have a few folks from Barrytown
[15:19] here this evening. Um you and others may
[15:22] in particular be interested. Next
[15:24] Wednesday night, I've arranged for
[15:26] Duchess County DPW to come and make a
[15:30] presentation related to the bridge
[15:33] replacement project which will be in
[15:36] Anandale. That's just south of uh the
[15:40] triangle
[15:42] um on River Road and uh that's 6:30 here
[15:46] at town hall. You'll hear about um some
[15:48] of the thoughts um changes that they're
[15:52] proposing to make. I believe there's a
[15:54] three-foot sidewalk on the one side of
[15:56] the the bridge. They're talking about
[15:59] potentially having a 5-ft sidewalk um on
[16:02] both sides of the bridge there. But
[16:04] you'll find out more. It's here
[16:06] Wednesday night, January 21st at 6:30.
[16:12] And lastly, uh, everybody wants to
[16:14] survey you and Duchess County wants to
[16:16] survey you as it were, uh, as it
[16:19] pertains to transportation in, uh, the
[16:23] county. And it looks like you get a $25
[16:27] gift card if you do so. And here is the
[16:31] survey itself. You'll need to go online
[16:33] in order to do that.
[16:37] But as we are soliciting your thoughts
[16:39] and ideas townwide for the comprehensive
[16:42] plan, it would be great to also get your
[16:45] input as it relates to getting around
[16:48] the county. Um, and in particular,
[16:50] Northern Duchess.
[16:52] >> Where do you get that?
[16:54] >> It's online, Duchess County. Um you can
[16:58] Google moving duchess forward and this
[17:02] will be uh on our website and you can
[17:04] link directly there from our website.
[17:07] This is the hyperlink here.
[17:10] Moving duchess forward is the
[17:14] name of the effort. Okay. With that
[17:16] being said, thanks for your patience. Um
[17:19] we have our first public hearing and
[17:22] that is related uh to uh the increase
[17:26] and improvement of water district
[17:28] facilities for revenue water district
[17:31] number one. [clears throat] Diana, would
[17:32] you be kind enough to read the public
[17:34] hearing notice?
[17:35] >> Notice of public hearing on proposal for
[17:37] an increase and improvement of water
[17:38] district facilities for Red Hook Water
[17:40] District number one. Notice is hereby
[17:42] given that the town board of the town of
[17:44] Red Hook, Duchess County, will meet on
[17:47] the 13th day of January, 2026 at 7:35
[17:50] o'clock PM prevailing time for the
[17:53] purpose of conducting a public hearing
[17:54] upon a proposal by said town board to
[17:57] undertake proposed improvements to the
[17:58] facilities of the town of Red Hook Water
[18:00] District number one pursuant to section
[18:03] 202-B
[18:04] of the town law as here after described
[18:07] at which time and place said town board
[18:09] will meet to consider such proposition.
[18:11] ition and hear all persons interested in
[18:13] the subject thereof and concerning the
[18:15] same. The town board is considering a
[18:17] recommended work plan for improvements
[18:19] to to Red Hook Water District number one
[18:22] [clears throat] as described in the
[18:23] preliminary engineering report dated
[18:25] August 2022 as amended June 17, 2023 as
[18:30] further supplemented March 10th, 2025
[18:33] prepared by Tyenbond Engineering and
[18:36] Landscape Architecture PC including the
[18:39] rehabilitation of the existing standpipe
[18:41] at the Kelly Road Water Storage site and
[18:43] including original furnishings,
[18:45] equipment, machinery and apparatus
[18:47] required therefore the project at an
[18:50] estimated maximum cost of
[18:52] $1,6721,672,600
[18:59] a portion of such cost in the estimated
[19:01] amount of $400,000 is proposed to be
[19:03] paid from the water district's existing
[19:05] SW reserve fund and the remaining
[19:07] project cost is proposed to be financed
[19:09] pursuant to the local finance law. Such
[19:12] engineers preliminary report is on file
[19:15] in the town clerk's office for public
[19:16] inspection. The town board hasn't has
[19:19] determined that such project as
[19:20] described in the engineers report
[19:22] constitutes a type 2 action as defined
[19:25] under the state state environmental
[19:27] quality review regulations 6 NYCRR part
[19:31] 617 which has been determined under
[19:34] secret not to have a significant impact
[19:36] on the environment. All interested
[19:38] persons will be given an opportunity to
[19:40] be heard. All reasonable accommodations
[19:42] will be made for persons with
[19:43] disabilities. In such a case, please
[19:44] notify the town clerk in advance at the
[19:46] above address or by phone so that
[19:49] arrangements can be made by order of the
[19:51] town board of the town of Red Hook dated
[19:52] December 9th, 2025. Deanna Cochran, town
[19:55] clerk, town of Red Hook.
[19:57] >> Thank you, Deanna. And for folks before
[20:00] we open the public hearing, if you've
[20:01] been following, uh, this agenda item has
[20:05] been, uh, discussed now for actually a
[20:08] few years. The water board has been back
[20:10] and forth trying to analyze the pros and
[20:13] cons of either replacement or
[20:15] rehabilitation and has settled, that's
[20:18] my plan for this evening, has settled on
[20:22] uh, rehab uh, as the preferred option.
[20:26] uh under these circumstances, the cost
[20:28] of which is approximately
[20:31] um $1.7 million. They proposed to take
[20:35] $400,000 out of the reserves. Um they
[20:39] have also we have also made a request to
[20:42] our college to contribute towards um the
[20:45] system since they on rare occasions, but
[20:48] they do [clears throat] use it as a
[20:49] backup. And uh so that's sort of the 302
[20:54] version of it. I won't ask the water
[20:56] board to revisit it, but they are here
[20:59] to answer any question. So, with that
[21:02] being said, um may we uh entertain a
[21:06] motion to open the public hearing?
[21:08] >> So moved.
[21:09] >> Thank you, Christina. Second.
[21:11] >> Second.
[21:11] >> Thank you, Bill. All in favor?
[21:14] >> I.
[21:15] >> Would [clears throat] somebody like to
[21:17] uh speak on this matter?
[21:22] » Um I have a question. What is it that
[21:25] you're going to rehab on the water
[21:28] tower?
[21:29] >> It's the tank itself.
[21:31] >> The whole thing. But what are you going
[21:32] to do? Are you going to paint it?
[21:34] >> It's going to be It's going to be
[21:36] repainted. Exactly. Did Did you want to
[21:39] address that question? I know you have
[21:42] previously.
[21:44] >> Well,
[21:45] >> you don't have to stand up.
[21:46] >> That's right. Anyway, um like anything
[21:51] else that we own,
[21:53] equipment, whatever. It deteriorates.
[21:56] Okay. I was thinking about maybe it's
[22:00] like your automobile. Every once in a
[22:02] while, you have to either fix it up or
[22:05] replace it. And that's what we're going
[22:06] to do with this tank. We have to fix it
[22:08] up. It's really held up very, very well
[22:12] since 1989 when it went online. Um
[22:17] the paint um surfaces are still good,
[22:21] but
[22:23] uh if we don't repaint it soon,
[22:26] [snorts and clears throat]
[22:28] it'll become very very difficult. And
[22:30] you know, like anything else, the longer
[22:33] you let things go, the worse the
[22:35] problem. So we decided that
[22:40] given the likelihood
[22:43] of additional major expenses for the
[22:45] water district in the next 15 20 years
[22:49] that we preferred to go with the expense
[22:51] of rehabilitating this tank rather than
[22:54] replacing it. The cost of a new tank was
[22:58] uh
[22:59] over twice as much. It's just the decision that we recommendation that
[23:06] we came to that we're better off
[23:09] rehabilitating this tank
[23:11] with a loan with a cost ofund or a
[23:14] million6 or seven or whatever it's going
[23:16] to be versus probably a total cost of
[23:20] close to 4 million for a new tech. So
[23:23] that was our recommendation. And that is
[23:25] our recommendation and it's just
[23:27] something that has to be done sooner or
[23:30] later. So,
[23:31] >> do you paint the inside of the tank?
[23:33] >> Yes. Okay.
[23:34] >> So,
[23:36] uh we'll have to drain the tank and they
[23:39] clean up the interior of the tank and uh
[23:43] you know clean up all rust spots and
[23:45] little damages and then re put primers
[23:49] on. Anyway, they repaint it. And while
[23:51] they do that, um, and probably before
[23:55] they they paint, we'll inspect to make
[23:57] sure that the tank is properly cleaned
[24:00] and ready for paint. And then we'll
[24:03] inspect again once or twice during the
[24:05] painting process. So, um, we hope for
[24:09] good weather because that's important
[24:11] and that's the way we plan to go.
[24:16] >> Okay.
[24:17] Other questions or comments?
[24:19] >> Rich Rinders,
[24:21] >> Red Hook on the tank. I get it. The
[24:24] money you're saying 1.7 million now
[24:28] uh versus 4 million.
[24:31] So, if you possibly get 8 5 8 10 years
[24:35] out of this refurbished tank with what
[24:36] you're calling paint.
[24:38] I'm not sure when you say paint, what
[24:40] you mean by paint.
[24:42] However,
[24:44] in 10 years, what would the cost be
[24:47] then? 15 million. Would it be better off
[24:50] today to pay the 4 million, put a new
[24:53] tank in for something that's already
[24:55] approximately 30 years old, right? Or
[24:58] you said 1989
[25:00] 89 it went online. Yeah.
[25:02] >> Okay. So,
[25:04] >> thing is,
[25:06] >> so what I'm saying is moneywise,
[25:10] pay now. put a new tank in now because
[25:13] 10 years down the road you might be at
[25:15] 12 million for this tank the way our
[25:17] economy is going. I mean that's
[25:19] something to think about. I don't know
[25:20] if it's been tossed around. It's just a
[25:21] suggestion. That's all it is.
[25:23] >> And while I'm on it, when you say paint,
[25:26] what is this paint?
[25:27] >> It's a coating.
[25:28] >> I know it's a coating, but
[25:29] >> a real high-end coating that we
[25:31] >> So obviously since ' 89 it's worn off
[25:34] and is that getting to our water system?
[25:36] This so-called paint?
[25:37] >> No. So since 1989, we haven't had to
[25:41] code it at all, which is, you know, so
[25:43] when they tell us 10 years for a
[25:44] coating.
[25:45] >> Yeah.
[25:46] >> You know, it took we're 30 years and
[25:49] change and and we haven't had to code
[25:51] it. Um, so we've actually typically a
[25:55] good coating is 15 years you can get out
[25:57] of a really good coating.
[25:58] [clears throat]
[25:59] >> So that's what we're hope hoping for.
[26:00] That's what we pushed. We
[26:02] >> we were back and forth for about four
[26:04] years on this decision whether to get
[26:05] >> No, I understand that's a big decision.
[26:07] I get it. I'm just I'm just putting it
[26:08] out there. Costwise now versus 10 years
[26:10] down the road, what will the cost be? If
[26:13] it was 4 million today is going to be 12
[26:14] million 10 years down the road. That's all that's all I'm putting out
[26:17] there.
[26:18] >> It's true. Uh what we're thinking of is
[26:22] not just this loan paying off this loan,
[26:25] but we have a 60 70 year old system.
[26:29] Water manes don't last forever. We're
[26:32] going to have to be replacing repairing
[26:33] and then replacing water manes. Uh we're
[26:36] having some well work done soon. I hope
[26:40] one of the wells has uh the output has
[26:43] deteriorated significantly. So we're
[26:45] going to try to rehab it. If that works,
[26:48] fine. Otherwise, they can drill a new
[26:50] well and whatever. So these extra
[26:53] expenses coming along, we just wanted to
[26:55] keep our current, you know.
[26:57] >> I understand.
[26:57] >> Yeah, that's all.
[26:58] >> I was just putting it out there in a
[26:59] different way so that
[27:00] >> I agree.
[27:01] >> It could be tossed around in the salad
[27:02] that we're up here. Very
[27:06] good. Um, any anyone else uh for the
[27:09] public hearing? Any comments or
[27:11] question?
[27:12] >> Yeah.
[27:12] >> Do we have a public hearing? I mean, are
[27:14] we can we talk about something else?
[27:16] Just like this.
[27:18] >> This is a public hearing on this matter
[27:20] >> and then you'll have
[27:21] >> we'll have public comments later. Okay.
[27:23] >> All right. Good.
[27:24] >> I mean, Robert, I don't know how you
[27:25] want to conduct the meeting. I have
[27:27] questions that are I I think are
[27:29] relevant to what the public is saying. I
[27:31] don't know how you want to conduct your
[27:33] meeting, but like
[27:34] >> we're here. We're here to hear from the
[27:36] public. It's a public hearing
[27:37] [clears throat] on this matter. The
[27:39] agenda item is related to the water tank
[27:44] rehab.
[27:45] >> How long will the bond be for?
[27:48] >> The bond will be for 15 years. She's
[27:51] sitting up there.
[27:54] >> The ber that's the maximum that we can
[27:56] borrow for this length of term for this
[28:00] type of project.
[28:01] >> And and you need to borrow for this even
[28:03] though the town has lots of money.
[28:05] >> This is only funded by the users. Just
[28:08] um again uh folks um and I realize not
[28:12] everybody's been here for all these
[28:13] other meetings. This is a water district
[28:16] cost. The only folks that pay for this
[28:19] are the users, the ones it's it's
[28:22] referred to as a special benefit
[28:24] assessment district, which means that
[28:26] there is a benefit that occurs to those
[28:29] who get to use the water and they're the
[28:32] ones who pay for the cost. It's it's not
[28:35] the town life who pay for this
[28:37] additional.
[28:38] >> But but I think that related to the
[28:40] questions that I've heard and I've
[28:42] listened to the previous discussions on
[28:45] this topic. So there was an analysis in 2017
[28:51] and in 2022.
[28:53] >> Mhm.
[28:53] >> So what I would like to understand is
[28:56] what was the decision was made after
[28:59] both of those reviews as to why it
[29:02] wasn't maintained at those periods.
[29:07] Well,
[29:10] first of all, there was no immediate
[29:13] need in at those times. Um, we uh looked
[29:20] ahead and knew we're going to do have to
[29:22] refurbish or replace sometime in the
[29:24] future, but there was no real target
[29:26] time. And I we reached a point last
[29:30] year. Wow. I think I think we reached a
[29:33] point where we realize that we really
[29:35] have to rehabilitate now or forget about
[29:38] it because if we let it go, the
[29:42] repainting, the rehab is just going to
[29:44] be too difficult and probably not as uh
[29:49] longlasting. So we chose to go with the
[29:53] rehab now and uh try to uh avoid the uh
[30:00] accumulation of multiple large debts for
[30:03] the other work that's going to have to
[30:04] be done. And when you look at a rehab
[30:08] versus a replacement,
[30:11] um there's there's um there's there's
[30:16] first costs, there's second cost, and
[30:18] there's third costs that that are
[30:21] evaluated, right? So
[30:24] >> So [snorts] your your your second cost
[30:26] are your maintenance, and your third
[30:28] costs are your replacement. And so was
[30:31] it looked at as to like where that
[30:35] crossed over into where it it it crossed
[30:39] over into validating.
[30:42] We looked out about 40 years. Okay. And
[30:48] in that 40 years, we would have to rehab
[30:51] probably twice and be ready for another
[30:54] rehab. At that time with the the cost of
[30:58] a new tank appeared to be better than
[31:02] the cost of the multiple rehabs.
[31:09] » Okay. Um
[31:10] >> so then why
[31:11] >> we we'll have a sorry [clears throat]
[31:13] >> Carrie did you have a question?
[31:15] >> You just said the cost of the new one
[31:16] would be more cost effective
[31:19] >> if you look out 40 years and that's just
[31:21] a guess you know.
[31:22] >> Okay. So that a new tank in 40 years
[31:24] would be [clears throat] a better deal
[31:26] than a couple of rehabs. You just said
[31:28] that, but yet we were going to go for a
[31:30] rehab, right? That
[31:32] >> we're concern we were concerned.
[31:36] >> Yeah, we were at a bare minimum of a
[31:37] 40-year payback, on a system. And we
[31:43] know we're going to have additional
[31:44] >> have other costs of if we if we were to
[31:47] spend the money now on on on a new tank.
[31:50] We would have no money to do any other
[31:52] repairs in the system. So we'd be very
[31:54] vulnerable in our water district. So
[31:57] that was part of why we
[31:58] >> Okay. And so so the so the new tank
[32:00] eaked out two rehabs,
[32:04] but it gives you it's more cash friendly
[32:08] now to do a rehab.
[32:10] >> Yes, it definitely is.
[32:13] And it's better loan repayments for all
[32:16] of us.
[32:17] >> Got it.
[32:17] >> Okay.
[32:18] >> Yeah. So, even though if you had the
[32:21] money, you'd get a new tank right now
[32:24] because the 40-year payback is better.
[32:28] >> Not necessarily.
[32:29] >> Oh, I thought you [snorts] just said
[32:31] that.
[32:32] >> I'm not sure. You know, it's
[32:33] >> Oh, you did say that, but you're not
[32:36] sure. Okay. I was just I heard that
[32:38] said,
[32:39] >> so
[32:39] >> scary. One thing you didn't that hasn't
[32:42] been said here is that the [snorts]
[32:44] mains it cost about a million dollars
[32:47] right now for a mile to replace a main.
[32:50] >> 80 [clears throat] years is about as far
[32:53] as you can go.
[32:54] >> He he explained that there.
[32:55] >> Yeah. But we're going to have those are coming.
[32:57] >> I get it.
[32:58] >> And so you need to have asyn said you
[33:00] need to have that the cash ability to
[33:02] replace. don't have the cash then. But
[33:07] you know, you did say that a 40-year
[33:10] payback was better with a new tank, but
[33:13] because of these other expenses, you
[33:16] don't have the cash on hand to do it,
[33:18] >> even though it would be better to do.
[33:20] >> Well,
[33:21] that's our guess.
[33:22] >> The 40 year the 40-year payback we're
[33:25] talking about is like a worst case
[33:26] scenario. means we have to paint it
[33:27] every 10 years and we've already gone 40
[33:31] years for 30 something years without
[33:32] painting it one time. So we may not
[33:34] paint it again for 30 years. It might
[33:37] really be a 100 years.
[33:39] >> Everyone's guessing
[33:40] >> exactly
[33:42] >> when you decide on your car deal.
[33:46] My car is 21 years old.
[33:47] >> You just don't know.
[33:49] >> Anyway, that's the way it is. We we made
[33:51] our recommendation. We thought we were
[33:53] making the the best recommendation.
[33:55] [snorts]
[33:55] >> Yeah. Yeah. Who knows?
[33:57] >> Uh, another question, Emily.
[33:59] >> Um, how many people does, uh, does the
[34:02] border district serve? Uh, is it village
[34:04] of Red Hook or Red Hook?
[34:06] >> The town of Red Hook. It's basically the
[34:08] old Lynden Acres and College Park
[34:10] subdivisions. That's is that's it.
[34:12] >> So, how many residents?
[34:15] >> How many residents?
[34:17] >> 488 connections and five of those are to
[34:19] the town park.
[34:22] >> Yeah. So, 500 connections. Two people,
[34:25] three people per home per guest. Okay.
[34:28] >> And can you explain the connection to
[34:30] Bart?
[34:31] >> Oh, that's um
[34:35] when we uh built the tank, this current
[34:39] tank, Bart College was in trouble with
[34:41] water. They had uh inadequate supply.
[34:45] They had no storage.
[34:47] And they suggested that they would
[34:49] contribute half the cost of this new of
[34:52] a new tank.
[34:55] given that we could connect to them and
[34:56] they would use that storage tank as they
[35:00] needed it. And for the first
[35:04] 20 years,
[35:06] >> they uh they did use our water a lot in
[35:09] 2000 I think 2016. [clears throat] They
[35:12] redid their water supply. Okay. So since
[35:16] then they use us on an emergency basis
[35:19] rather than on a regular basis. But they contributed because they needed the
[35:25] additional water, the storage and the
[35:28] water. [cough]
[35:29] >> And so is [snorts] somebody currently
[35:31] negotiating with Bard about their
[35:33] contribution to this?
[35:36] >> Somebody say your table here.
[35:41] >> An ask has been made of Bart College.
[35:43] they are going to uh take that up at
[35:46] their uh meeting at later in the month
[35:49] um to get approval for a contribution.
[35:52] We hope that they would consider
[35:54] something substantive
[35:57] at least 25%. Now granted they barely
[36:00] use the the water but still as a backup
[36:03] that's important [clears throat] thing
[36:04] to that
[36:05] >> and I understand the village is also is
[36:07] also a backup. There's portion of the
[36:09] village or part of the village that's
[36:12] connected with this water supply.
[36:14] >> Yes.
[36:14] >> Did you want to talk about the
[36:16] interconnect?
[36:16] >> The village and the town water district
[36:18] have a connection [clears throat]
[36:20] on Willowbrook
[36:22] U Lane just north of the village.
[36:25] Um the problem is that our storage tank
[36:30] the the height is not high enough to
[36:34] provide adequate pressure for the
[36:36] village. The village can provide water
[36:39] to us, but it doesn't work. It should
[36:42] have, but it wasn't adequately planned,
[36:44] I guess. So, we cannot
[36:48] >> provide the village with water unless we
[36:50] pump. We'd have to install pumps.
[36:54] » Okay.
[36:55] >> Go.
[36:55] >> Any more questions related? Again, once
[36:58] to the rehabbing of the tank.
[37:00] >> Hey, [clears throat] I got one question.
[37:02] >> Yeah. Um, by no means am I a water
[37:04] expert, paint expert, or a steel expert.
[37:08] I know you've had divers in there,
[37:09] you've done assessments from the
[37:10] exterior. Um, the question I have, do
[37:13] you feel that the company or, you know,
[37:15] the outfit that's going to be addressing
[37:17] this situation? Uh,
[37:20] let me say this. Sometimes you get into
[37:21] things, it's more advanced than what you
[37:24] anticipated. Is there a a point where
[37:26] they'll be honest with you and say, "You
[37:28] know what? Maybe we can't rehab this
[37:30] tower because we got into it and it's
[37:32] too far."
[37:33] >> What do you think, Evelyn Glenn?
[37:36] >> I don't think we're going to have a
[37:37] problem with it.
[37:38] >> I don't think so either.
[37:39] >> It's hard to know.
[37:40] >> The tank has been inspected every 5
[37:42] years. Okay. Interior and exterior. And
[37:46] the most recent inspection
[37:48] showed that we're in pretty good shape.
[37:50] There was very little damage inside the
[37:53] tank. So, it's it's relatively clean in
[37:56] terms of redoing it, repainting it.
[37:58] >> Typically, they would have to do like
[38:00] you've even got pretty extreme pitting.
[38:02] We'd have to do a resurfacing on it
[38:04] before we would do a coating, which they
[38:06] plan to do some of that. Um, but there
[38:09] isn't an extreme amount of pitting in
[38:11] this case.
[38:12] >> We're in good shape.
[38:13] >> Worst, even if it gets past pitting, you
[38:16] can still weld in new new steel plates.
[38:18] But we're we're not in a situation where
[38:20] we need any of that.
[38:22] At least that's what the last divers
[38:24] report showed.
[38:27] >> The the last two or three, you know, the
[38:30] last report was
[38:32] >> barely worse. You know, didn't show much
[38:35] additional deterioration from the
[38:37] previous one. We're in good shape.
[38:40] >> Lisa,
[38:41] >> what is the anticipated assessment rate
[38:44] for users in the district with or with and without a bar contribution?
[38:49] We we haven't run the analysis and again
[38:52] I want to remind folks what we are
[38:55] entertaining tonight is the
[38:57] authorization
[38:59] um to approve going out to bid and the
[39:03] financing. So every bond resolution
[39:06] you'll see uh in any municipality your
[39:09] resolution has to state the total cost
[39:11] for the project maximum and the total
[39:15] maximum borrowing. And so, uh, when and
[39:19] if we're we're discussing Tiboli
[39:22] Firehouse, uh, again tonight, and we're
[39:24] also talking about water storage tank.
[39:26] When and if you go out to bid, you get
[39:28] those bids, then you really truly
[39:30] understand what that cost is and you
[39:33] contract with that entity to deliver
[39:35] that service or that construction
[39:37] project for that price. Um, the water
[39:40] board has recommended that we once we
[39:43] understand the difference uh between
[39:47] um what we will have from both our
[39:50] college and the $400,000 coming out of
[39:53] the reserves because the water uh
[39:55] district has approved reserves that we
[39:58] look at a combination of raising rates
[40:02] and um an assessment so that it's not a
[40:05] large hit but it's also not a large
[40:08] increase to the water rates.
[40:09] >> And who's talking to Bard College? Like
[40:11] what does that look like? Um the request
[40:14] has I've made a request to Bard College
[40:16] to make a contribution. We have an
[40:18] agreement by the [clears throat] way
[40:19] with Bard College to provide water. So
[40:22] we're not happy with the contribution.
[40:24] We don't necessarily have to continue to
[40:27] serve uh Bard College as a backup
[40:29] source. Um we've had no issue. They
[40:32] don't seem to have a problem with making
[40:33] a contribution. Let's see what that is.
[40:35] >> But we don't we don't at this date we
[40:37] don't know what that looks like.
[40:38] >> We don't at this date know what that
[40:40] looks like. That's correct. The good
[40:42] thing is they really need us. Okay? They
[40:45] don't need us often, but when they need
[40:48] us, they need us. And for example, last
[40:50] January, they were hooked into our
[40:52] system for 3 or 4 weeks using us
[40:56] full-time. Luckily, their student
[40:58] population was low at that time. But
[41:00] they do need us. Okay?
[41:03] They have fire protection for one thing.
[41:06] you know when if they need fire
[41:08] protection they don't have adequate
[41:11] storage to provide water they need us so
[41:15] they will contribute
[41:20] » okay um folks if there are no other
[41:23] comments at this time I'd like to make a
[41:25] motion to close the public hearing
[41:27] >> I'd like to continue the public hearing
[41:29] if we don't know what Bard is
[41:30] contributing
[41:33] >> okay well uh with or without the
[41:35] contribution We do need to uh move
[41:38] forward with the project. We have um
[41:41] some time uh time issues. Uh hey, do you
[41:44] want to address that because we need the
[41:46] project conducted you've advised?
[41:49] >> We really need to get going. We want to
[41:51] submit put out a request for proposals
[41:53] [clears throat]
[41:54] soon, early this year. We'd like to get
[41:58] the painting the project done
[42:01] in the summer, early summer, not late
[42:03] summer.
[42:05] Um, weather is a concern. Okay. So, the
[42:08] sooner we get it done, the better
[42:10] [clears throat] and we'll just do what
[42:13] we can.
[42:14] >> Well, I I strongly recommend that we we
[42:17] go for the new tank. For what I've done
[42:19] for a living for the last 40 years, I
[42:21] suggest a new tank. If the town fishes
[42:23] for some more money, go for the new tank
[42:25] because what you're doing is a great
[42:28] idea, but it's a short-term fix. Vote
[42:31] for the new tank. That's my suggestion.
[42:34] >> [clears throat]
[42:34] >> We've been we've agreed with that
[42:37] >> anyway. Okay.
[42:39] >> Um can you can you uh speak to just the
[42:42] timing of
[42:44] >> because we've got several steps that we
[42:46] have to have when
[42:47] >> So try to do this this year
[42:49] >> with or without Bard. We need we need
[42:51] the water tank, right? We people who
[42:53] live there,
[42:55] >> Bard doesn't want to do it. We still we
[42:57] still have to have drinking water and
[42:59] take showers whether Bard wants to
[43:01] contribute or not. So, the bar thing I
[43:04] understand is important to us all from a
[43:06] cost savings standpoint, but we still
[43:07] need the water. Um, that's that's one
[43:10] thing. Um, as far as the timing goes, we
[43:13] still have to, you know, we get an
[43:14] agreement here. We still have to get bid
[43:16] documents put together for this, get a
[43:18] bid bid out on the street. Takes a month
[43:21] to bid. We would be lucky to get this
[43:23] out by uh, you know, the June time frame
[43:27] to try and get them into construction.
[43:30] Um, you ideally you don't want to paint
[43:33] when it's super humid. So, you sort of
[43:35] want to try to get in there before the
[43:37] humid season or after the humid season.
[43:40] So, either way, we're we're sort of, you
[43:43] know, running up against it
[43:46] to to get out to bid and move forward
[43:49] with the project.
[43:51] I I understand wanting to know all the details, costs, and so on and so
[43:56] forth, but we're not going to know until
[43:58] we go out to bed. And I don't want to um
[44:02] the inspection seems to suggest that the
[44:05] tank's in good shape. But I don't think
[44:08] we should lose a year, which is really
[44:11] what it would mean if we delay um to
[44:15] wait to find out what a contribution is,
[44:17] which is
[44:18] >> What do you mean a year? But how do we
[44:20] wait a year? We meet every two weeks.
[44:22] >> We do meet every two weeks, but if we
[44:24] don't have an answer until February and
[44:26] we lose the bidding process,
[44:28] >> that was why I asked the question was
[44:29] who who is so BART is a big for for me
[44:32] looking at this and looking at the the
[44:34] financials, Bart is a big piece of it
[44:37] and that's an unknown
[44:39] >> and so before I'm ready to take a vote
[44:41] on this, I would like to know what that
[44:44] looks like and I think that that's part
[44:46] of the public process. So, I I don't I
[44:50] don't feel comfortable closing the
[44:52] public hearing until we know what BR is
[44:54] contributing.
[44:56] >> How come we don't know how much Bard is
[44:58] contributing already?
[44:59] >> Because BART has not met with their
[45:01] board and made the request and done the
[45:04] appropriation. I will I would please let
[45:07] me finish answer your question.
[45:10] >> The decision to move forward happened
[45:13] only a few months ago. Bard appropriates
[45:16] its money on a on a different calendar
[45:19] year than we do. So, it's not in the
[45:21] budget because they haven't been asked
[45:23] for a contribution yet because the water
[45:25] board was still determining how it
[45:28] wanted to proceed.
[45:29] >> So, how do so, how do we find a solution
[45:31] to making sure that this is I mean that
[45:35] the the points that were made were were valid. I mean, you you can only
[45:39] tank in certain uh months of the year.
[45:43] So there's if if it needs to be fixed
[45:45] this calendar year, there's a time clock
[45:47] that we're in we're in January and we
[45:50] meet twice twice a month. So I don't I
[45:53] don't see a rush in in coming to a
[45:56] decision. I see a rush in getting
[45:58] information so that we have completeness
[46:01] and we can make a decision as soon as
[46:03] possible.
[46:05] >> So a question I would ask is like like
[46:08] BR is clearly a a part of this. How do we get that done?
[46:14] Well, I I you know, I don't have an
[46:16] answer for you because I don't know how
[46:19] BART works and appropriates their
[46:21] monies. All I know is that we have an
[46:24] agreement with BART that will have to be
[46:27] renegotiated and [clears throat] it will
[46:29] be B for to service them with water and
[46:31] it'll be based on upon what type of
[46:34] contribution they make as they did
[46:37] historically.
[46:38] Um
[46:41] >> what happened? Excuse me, please. I
[46:44] think that was answered. Um, they made a
[46:46] capital contribution
[46:48] 39 years ago when the tank was built of
[46:51] 50%.
[46:54] >> How much percent? I just didn't hear
[46:55] you, Robert, cuz you never talk into
[46:57] your mic. No,
[47:00] >> I think Hank uh reiterated as he has in
[47:04] previous meetings that Bart College
[47:06] contributed 50% of the capital cost of
[47:09] construction because back then they were
[47:12] using the water a lot and that was part
[47:14] of the agreement is that they would pay
[47:17] for half of the cost of this storage
[47:19] tank. Um, they've been asked to
[47:22] contribute $400,000
[47:24] towards this rehabilitation
[47:27] of the tank and they will have to meet
[47:31] with their board and appropriate those
[47:33] monies and figure out how they're going
[47:35] to do it because they've already done
[47:37] conducted their budget for the year. So,
[47:41] they will need to figure out how to make
[47:43] whatever contribution they feel is
[47:45] appropriate. they could alternative
[47:48] alternatively just upgrade their
[47:50] facilities and not need to rely on us as
[47:53] a backup. It has been a mutually
[47:56] beneficial arrangement from what I'm
[47:58] told by the water department because we
[48:01] do receive a revenue based upon uh usage
[48:05] from bar
[48:06] >> and I to me that sounds beautiful but
[48:08] critical path would be understanding
[48:10] what bar's contributing before we close
[48:12] a public hearing and allocate funds
[48:14] towards those that are taxpayer funded.
[48:19] >> Okay, I understand that balance. That's
[48:21] a difficult uh balance to to uh make but
[48:27] I also don't want to wait. I think we
[48:29] also heard about waiting. So, so my
[48:31] question to you, Robert, is is who is communicating with Bard and how did we bring that to
[48:39] >> I think I've answered that that the
[48:42] request has been made at Bard and I made
[48:44] the request came out of my office
[48:47] $400,000 or 25% contribution and BART
[48:51] has said that they are meeting with
[48:53] their board to discuss um what
[48:56] contribution and it may not happen for
[48:58] weeks. we may not have here for a couple
[49:01] of months. I mean, I don't know the
[49:03] answer to um when we would hear back
[49:07] from Barn because I'm not uh privy to
[49:12] those things. I do know what the water
[49:14] department
[49:16] >> it sounds like that we that we need to
[49:18] repair a relationship with Bard if we
[49:19] don't if this is this is critical and
[49:22] that they're they're part of this this
[49:27] water tank
[49:30] >> and if if that's critical to them then we need to establish a relationship
[49:36] with them that that offers a solution
[49:39] >> we have in a time frame that works for our con constituents.
[49:44] >> Okay, Christina, we have a very good
[49:46] relationship with Barb College. They've
[49:48] offered to make a contribution and they
[49:50] need to go through the proper process
[49:52] like we do to allocate and so um that is
[49:56] what they are doing. We'll hear back
[49:58] from them. We've heard from the water
[50:00] department. Regardless of what that
[50:01] amount of contribution is, we need to
[50:04] move forward. Again, the resolutions in
[50:06] front of us have maximum numbers. They
[50:08] don't have minimum numbers associated
[50:10] with it. And so we're hearing that
[50:13] there's a timing issue. I don't want to
[50:15] lose a year. As we've heard from other
[50:17] people in the audience, as time marches
[50:20] on, sometimes the costs march on. We
[50:22] have spent four years. Uh the water
[50:26] board has and we have in public meetings
[50:29] discussing this. And so I understand I
[50:32] too would prefer to have that number. I
[50:34] can assure you, but I don't want the
[50:37] people of the water district to have to
[50:39] wait. um and pay more in an ensuing year
[50:44] because we didn't have a contribution
[50:47] figure. We also don't have the the
[50:50] actual amount once we go out to bid, but
[50:53] yet here we are looking at and hopefully
[50:56] entertaining resolutions to move forward
[50:58] because we need to maintain the the
[51:00] tank. So
[51:02] >> I do want I do want to make sure we get
[51:05] all the public comments. Linda, please.
[51:07] You have a barred employee right sitting
[51:09] on the board. So why doesn't he become
[51:11] the spokesperson?
[51:13] >> He's there every single day working.
[51:15] >> Yeah.
[51:15] >> Um if there's a matter involving my
[51:17] employer, I would recuse myself from
[51:18] that matter.
[51:19] >> Oh, okay.
[51:20] >> Yeah.
[51:20] >> Um and then we're going to take a couple more comments and then we're
[51:24] going to entertain. Go ahead. So, um I
[51:27] mean say we we you say, "Okay, let's
[51:30] move forward with bids." And then say
[51:33] you find out that Bard says, "You know
[51:35] what? We're going to we don't want to do
[51:37] 400,000." And the bids come in more. Is
[51:40] there another public comment hearing
[51:43] before you vote to move ahead with this?
[51:46] >> This is only an authorization to allow
[51:48] us to possibly move forward so that we
[51:51] can develop the bids. go we can develop
[51:53] the specs go out the bid if we don't
[51:56] like the bids or we don't like where the
[51:58] money stands or if it exceeds the
[52:01] authorization and we have put those two
[52:03] figures that I've told you we do in
[52:06] every resolution then we can just reject
[52:09] them and we can go back and and do it
[52:11] again. Okay.
[52:12] >> Okay. So
[52:14] >> but you didn't answer my question. My
[52:16] question is once all of this
[52:19] information, how much Bard is paying,
[52:21] blah blah blah, will there be another
[52:24] period for the public to say, "Hey, we
[52:27] like this or we don't like this." Is
[52:29] there another like we could close this
[52:32] public comment period as long as there's
[52:35] another one when the facts come in. So,
[52:38] would there be will there be
[52:39] >> there? Yes, there will be because there
[52:41] are uh other um uh stages along the way
[52:45] where we have to award and so you can
[52:48] come back and say I don't think you
[52:50] should be awarding because you don't
[52:51] have enough funding the implications of
[52:53] awarding. I don't think you should move
[52:55] forward. I think you should go and you
[52:57] should do a new tank. You can say all of
[53:00] those things but until we take these
[53:02] steps we can't get
[53:05] >> one of those key data points. which I
[53:08] want to be assured that there is another
[53:12] period down the road before money is
[53:14] allocated in which [clears throat] the
[53:16] public can comment when there's more
[53:18] information that will happen. Yeah.
[53:20] >> No, I think that's a great point and
[53:21] that so so we understand what the total
[53:24] cost is because we've had consulting
[53:26] engineers estimate what the total cost
[53:29] of the situation is and the unknown is
[53:32] how much Bard is contributing which
[53:34] could be significant. So the question is
[53:36] should the should the public comment
[53:38] period be be closed
[53:42] and and Robert I'm looking at you for
[53:44] affirmation like should the public
[53:46] comment be closed while this is while
[53:50] this is an open item
[53:51] >> and I think everyone is trying to
[53:53] understand what the what the metrics are
[53:54] of what that looks like. So
[53:56] >> So I I do think if you're asking me a
[53:59] question I do think it's important that
[54:02] we move forward. We're hearing from our
[54:03] waterboard that we move forward in part
[54:06] because we need to get perhaps the most
[54:09] important number which is going out to
[54:12] bid [clears throat]
[54:12] how much is somebody or a firm willing
[54:15] to conduct the work for. We can't answer
[54:18] your net question until we have the
[54:21] gross question.
[54:22] >> And what would be the benefit of closing
[54:24] the public hearing tonight
[54:26] >> is that we don't we will not be
[54:28] authorizing them to go ahead and move
[54:30] forward. And so there'll be a delay. We
[54:33] don't know how long that delay will be.
[54:35] We don't know when we're going to hear
[54:36] back from Bart. We
[54:38] >> So they can't authorize until
[54:40] >> So we can't we can't move forward and
[54:42] get the information
[54:43] >> and and but but on the contrary, if we
[54:45] do close the public hearing tonight,
[54:47] then we restrict ourselves to
[54:50] >> we don't restrict ourselves to anything
[54:52] because we don't have to accept
[54:54] >> we don't have a time frame in which
[54:55] we're supposed to act.
[55:00] we don't close the public
[55:02] >> if if we close a public hearing tonight
[55:04] are are does that start a time clock in
[55:06] which the matter has to be closed
[55:09] >> uh you know it's I can only speak for
[55:12] myself it's my desire that we not only
[55:14] close the public hearing but we start to
[55:17] move forward with this project so we can
[55:19] get the information and then we can take
[55:21] a look once the
[55:22] >> No that's that's not my question my
[55:24] question is my question my question is
[55:26] if you if we If we choose to close the
[55:29] public hearing tonight without knowing
[55:30] what Bard is going to contribute, does
[55:33] that or does that not start a time clock
[55:36] in which the [clears throat] matter has
[55:37] to be closed?
[55:39] >> No, it does not. It's not like a zoning.
[55:41] matter.
[55:43] >> It's unlimited.
[55:44] >> Yeah, it's not.
[55:47] >> Good question.
[55:48] >> Okay. Um, anything else in the public
[55:50] hearing before?
[55:51] >> One quick question. Will you be getting
[55:53] estimates for a new tank and the
[55:55] refurbishing? We have already done that
[55:57] and I'm sorry I apologize. I know you're
[55:59] all asking uh these questions. Again, I
[56:02] just want to remind you this has been on
[56:04] the agenda for nearly four years. We
[56:06] have had broad discussions
[56:10] putting this out.
[56:12] >> Are you putting it out to bid for both?
[56:14] >> And we are not putting it out to both.
[56:17] >> We have had estimates. Uh did you want
[56:19] to address uh
[56:21] >> let me just let me just mention yeah
[56:23] >> um I bond put together an estimate
[56:28] >> cost for both approaches rehabbing and
[56:32] replacing.
[56:33] >> Yes.
[56:33] >> So we've had those numbers. Okay.
[56:35] >> Yes.
[56:36] >> Numbers for replacing just as good as
[56:38] the numbers for rehab. They're best
[56:40] guess educated guesses.
[56:43] >> So we've had numbers
[56:46] >> and sir. Yes. I I reviewed them, but but
[56:48] part of part of my issue is that if Bart
[56:50] isn't involved, then the tank would be
[56:53] smaller, then the circumstances would be
[56:55] different, then the engineering would
[56:57] shift. So, it's it's all kind of kind of
[57:00] one movement.
[57:02] >> That That's true. It's all tied
[57:03] together.
[57:04] >> The tank height is kind of determined by
[57:08] a pressure zone in the district that's
[57:10] outside of Bard. So, the height of the
[57:12] tank wouldn't matter. I suppose you
[57:15] could make an a narrower tank.
[57:18] >> Yes.
[57:18] >> Of some sort, but
[57:19] >> yes, our original plans back in the
[57:22] 1980s were to have a tank the height of
[57:26] the current tanks but smaller in
[57:27] diameter. We could still do that if Bard
[57:30] did not join us. But that would that
[57:35] >> we estimated that tank too and it was
[57:36] still more quite a bit more money than
[57:40] uh paying the tank. I think Robert is correct that uh this is an
[57:46] authorization to proceed to the next
[57:49] step and if the next step is not
[57:51] appropriate we just have to change our
[57:54] plans we would have to
[57:57] decide probably to use this tank and run
[58:01] it into the ground and then replace it
[58:04] because the longer we wait the less
[58:06] feasible is the rehab approach.
[58:10] So, we want to proceed step by step and
[58:12] um I think that's where we are.
[58:15] >> Emily, uh
[58:16] >> I just have a question. you you've been
[58:18] saying and you've repeated it that you
[58:20] have worked on this project for four
[58:22] years and it sounds like Robert you just
[58:26] contacted Fars last week and asked for
[58:28] 400,000 like have they have that's the
[58:32] feeling I'm getting anyway because you
[58:34] it sounds like you sent a letter you're
[58:35] like hey they already finished their
[58:38] fiscal year so we're kind of hoping on
[58:40] Hail Mary here for 400k
[58:43] um I I'm it's I'm surprised that they
[58:46] wouldn't have said we are going to
[58:47] pledge x amount towards this project,
[58:50] especially if it's something that you
[58:52] all have been very concerned with for
[58:54] four years. Like has bar been contacted
[58:59] about this within the last four years or
[59:02] is it just been recently that they are
[59:05] on the
[59:07] >> I haven't had a specific plan. Okay. We
[59:10] knew we were going to have to do
[59:11] something but we hadn't really decided.
[59:15] We hadn't made a solid recommendation to
[59:18] the town board. They hadn't decided. It
[59:20] was last year that we decided we it's
[59:22] time to go and then it was time to talk
[59:24] to fire.
[59:25] >> So, it's been a little about a year that
[59:28] B has known that we need
[59:31] >> it's been it's more than that. As I
[59:34] said, um the water department only a few
[59:37] months ago um decided which approach
[59:40] that they thought would be better given
[59:43] and I think you all know this in Tivoli
[59:46] anticipation of other infrastructure
[59:50] expenses coming down the pike. They're
[59:52] looking to incorporate their thinking uh
[59:56] with that distribution system that may
[59:59] need substantial [clears throat]
[1:00:01] uh repairs. But I I mean I'm trying but
[1:00:03] to Emily's point, I'm trying to
[1:00:05] understand why we're looking at
[1:00:06] four-year-old engineering and trying to
[1:00:08] make a decision before a meeting in two
[1:00:10] weeks and close a public hearing. Like
[1:00:12] let's My suggestion would be leave the
[1:00:14] public hearing open. Let's negotiate
[1:00:16] with Bard. Let's get all the information
[1:00:18] and then we'll make a decision in
[1:00:19] appropriate manner.
[1:00:22] Um, I'm just thinking that people don't
[1:00:25] understand the process of the bidding
[1:00:27] process and needing to have an
[1:00:28] authorization to go out to bids to
[1:00:31] understand how much money you have to
[1:00:33] spend. You have to know how much money
[1:00:34] you have to spend in order to ask for
[1:00:36] money.
[1:00:38] >> So,
[1:00:38] >> I think people don't quite understand
[1:00:40] that this is only an authorization to go
[1:00:43] out for bids.
[1:00:45] >> That's it. It's not to do the project.
[1:00:47] >> And it can be changed later. Yes, I can
[1:00:49] all change later.
[1:00:51] >> Yes, he's trying to pressure
[1:00:52] authorization.
[1:00:53] >> Authorization.
[1:00:54] >> This does not Yes. We have no We have no
[1:00:56] ability to move forward with rehabbing
[1:00:59] the tank until we take these steps. And
[1:01:02] I think we've heard from the water
[1:01:03] department. We need to take these steps
[1:01:06] regardless of whether Bard contributes a
[1:01:08] dollar or a million dollars. We need to
[1:01:10] go ahead and do that. how that affects
[1:01:12] the contract moving forward with BARD to
[1:01:15] provide water to them in a backup uh
[1:01:18] situation or not. Um obviously there'll
[1:01:21] be impact uh on on that. So there's not
[1:01:25] a contract uh renewal in front of us um
[1:01:29] to understand uh what the implication on
[1:01:32] their uh per gallon fees are. So, with
[1:01:36] that being said, if there are no other
[1:01:39] comments, I would like to make a motion
[1:01:41] to close the public hearing
[1:01:43] understanding your concerns about it.
[1:01:45] Christina, thank you for your
[1:01:46] contribution
[1:01:48] uh to that. Um, but also understanding
[1:01:50] the time constraints and the desire of
[1:01:52] the water department and that we have
[1:01:54] been discussing these alternatives for
[1:01:58] uh quite some time.
[1:02:00] [snorts] So, who would like to make a
[1:02:01] motion to close the public hearing?
[1:02:04] Bill.
[1:02:05] >> Okay.
[1:02:07] >> I will second that motion. Is there
[1:02:09] further discussion?
[1:02:11] >> My vote is nay.
[1:02:12] >> Okay. All in favor? There's a nay. Jacob
[1:02:15] >> I.
[1:02:15] >> Myself.
[1:02:16] >> Jacob must concluse himself. He already
[1:02:17] said that earlier.
[1:02:18] >> Please.
[1:02:20] >> This is not a bar. This is not a bar
[1:02:22] related matter. Please don't interrupt.
[1:02:25] I generally I'm going to ask you to
[1:02:28] please not interrupt. we don't interrupt
[1:02:29] the meeting with Bill.
[1:02:32] >> Your vote.
[1:02:35] >> Thank you very much.
[1:02:36] >> Okay. Uh we have and I apologize for
[1:02:39] those of you waiting for the village of
[1:02:42] uh Tivoli, the amendment to the
[1:02:44] contract. Um Diana, would you be kind
[1:02:46] enough to read that public hearing
[1:02:48] notice?
[1:02:52] » Notice of public hearing. Town of Red
[1:02:53] Hook. Please take notice that a
[1:02:55] concurrent public hearing will be held
[1:02:56] by the town board of the town of Red
[1:02:58] Hook on January 13th, 2026 at 7:40 p.m.
[1:03:01] local time at the town hall, 7340 South
[1:03:03] Broadway, Red Hook, New York to hear all
[1:03:06] interested persons regarding a proposed
[1:03:07] amendment to fire protection district
[1:03:09] fire service agreement between the town
[1:03:11] of Red Hook and the village of Tivoli
[1:03:13] for 2025 and 2026. Such agreement
[1:03:16] relates to the existing Red Hook Fire
[1:03:18] Protection District embracing the
[1:03:20] territory outside the villages of Red
[1:03:22] Hook and Tivoli. All interested persons
[1:03:24] will be given an opportunity to be
[1:03:25] heard. All reasonable accommodations
[1:03:27] will be made for persons with
[1:03:28] disabilities. In such a case, please
[1:03:30] notify the town clerk. Please take
[1:03:32] notice, further notice that copies of
[1:03:33] said proposed agreement are available
[1:03:35] for review at the town hall, Red Hook,
[1:03:37] New York. By order, the town board of
[1:03:39] the town of Red Hook dated December 9th,
[1:03:41] 2025. Deanna Cochran, town clerk, town
[1:03:43] of Red Hook.
[1:03:44] >> Very good. And the uh what the amendment
[1:03:48] is is to change the capital line of the
[1:03:51] Tivoli uh uh fire service agreement with
[1:03:55] the town um to 60,748.
[1:04:00] I'll get to that in a moment.
[1:04:07] Um we did in the budget initially have
[1:04:09] this as the tent in the tentative
[1:04:11] budget. We then, if you recall, uh,
[1:04:14] Jacob and Bill who were here, we then
[1:04:17] changed it to 53,000 and and put the,
[1:04:22] uh, additional 7,000 in the operations
[1:04:26] line because we assumed given the time
[1:04:29] frame that the village would not be
[1:04:32] going out to do borrowing until probably
[1:04:35] second quarter of 2026.
[1:04:38] Um, so that you would only have approval
[1:04:41] of debt associated with the half million
[1:04:43] dollars starting on on or about April.
[1:04:46] And it it looks like you're tracking at
[1:04:48] the very least April and maybe even late
[1:04:51] later for for your borrowing. You you
[1:04:53] have not yet gone out to to do bids yet.
[1:04:57] Um, from what I understand, but you're
[1:04:59] waiting, from what I understand, you're
[1:05:01] waiting for us.
[1:05:02] >> Yes. to change this contract so that
[1:05:05] your uh funders, your other funders um
[1:05:09] can see our commitment um in order to do
[1:05:12] that. And so
[1:05:15] I will get there. I know I will get
[1:05:17] there.
[1:05:28] Okay. Um, at this time, and I'll get it
[1:05:30] up on the screen, I'd like to make a
[1:05:32] motion that we open uh that public
[1:05:35] hearing to make the amendment. We also
[1:05:38] would have to then approve a budget
[1:05:40] adjustment to take that 7,000 and put it
[1:05:43] back in the capital line so that their
[1:05:45] funding partners can see that we are
[1:05:47] committing at that level uh ongoing. And
[1:05:50] then if for some reason you don't move
[1:05:52] forward with the project, you would
[1:05:54] still have the $60,000 in there. there's
[1:05:57] no shortage from what I understand of
[1:05:59] capital needs for the village civically
[1:06:02] fire department equipment and so on and
[1:06:04] so forth. Um moving forward you'll be
[1:06:07] able to use it for that for for 2026.
[1:06:10] It's a reimburseable amount folks. Um
[1:06:13] just so you know.
[1:06:16] Okay. Um and there it is. And I
[1:06:19] apologize. Motion to open the public
[1:06:20] hearing. Is there a second?
[1:06:22] >> Second.
[1:06:23] >> All in favor? Hi.
[1:06:25] >> All right. Thank you very much. Okay.
[1:06:28] Um, who would like to speak on this
[1:06:30] matter?
[1:06:33] >> Yeah, I would just go I'll go to the
[1:06:35] mic. Okay. Go to the mic.
[1:06:36] >> Bill, if you'd be kind enough to come to
[1:06:38] the mic and just state your name,
[1:06:39] please.
[1:06:43] » Bill Schilling, Deputy [snorts] Mayor
[1:06:45] Tiboli. And uh this
[1:06:48] is a very important piece of Tibble's
[1:06:51] ability to get a [clears throat] new
[1:06:52] firehouse and to serve the uh the town
[1:06:56] and the village. So uh it's very
[1:06:58] important that you guys are able to move
[1:07:00] this forward and I want to thank you on
[1:07:02] behalf of the village. Thank you very
[1:07:04] much.
[1:07:04] >> Thank you. I appreciate it. And uh as I
[1:07:09] say to the fire departments each year,
[1:07:11] this is the easy part. It's not always
[1:07:14] easy finding the money, but it's the
[1:07:16] easy part because you all answer the
[1:07:18] calls at 2:00 in the morning
[1:07:21] when most of us are asleep
[1:07:23] and doing
[1:07:25] what is really an incredible service for
[1:07:28] this community. Um, without local
[1:07:31] volunteer fire departments, the finances
[1:07:34] of your small municipality would look
[1:07:37] very different. So to all of you who
[1:07:40] serve, for all of you that help um in
[1:07:43] these efforts, [cough] getting grants,
[1:07:46] for um supporting the fire departments
[1:07:50] in any way. Thank you.
[1:07:53] Okay.
[1:07:55] Anyone else want to speak about it? I
[1:07:57] think you'll all join me and Oh, Sarah,
[1:07:59] thank you.
[1:08:01] >> Hey, Sarah [clears throat] Bowden. I'm
[1:08:03] also a village trustee in Tivoli. Um,
[1:08:06] and I want to thank you for um, bringing
[1:08:08] this matter before your board. Um, you
[1:08:12] know, you've you've said before, uh,
[1:08:14] that you, you know, it sounded like you
[1:08:16] didn't really want to go over some of
[1:08:17] the details of the previous project. But
[1:08:18] the thing about public meetings that is
[1:08:20] both a, you know, a tiresome thing, but
[1:08:23] also a really important thing is that
[1:08:25] because we serve the public and the
[1:08:26] public doesn't always come to every
[1:08:28] meeting or watch every meeting on
[1:08:29] campus, sometimes you have to go over
[1:08:30] some pretty obvious things. So, I'm just
[1:08:33] going to state for the record a couple
[1:08:34] things. So, um, I want to say the mayor
[1:08:37] would have been here, but she had to be
[1:08:38] away on family travel. Um,
[1:08:40] [clears throat] so I'm bringing, you
[1:08:41] know, Emily's, uh, thanks as well as
[1:08:44] mine and the rest of the boards. Um, and
[1:08:46] I want to say, you know, the thing about
[1:08:48] Tibble's fire department that's special
[1:08:51] is that our department is a is a
[1:08:53] municipal, it's a village fire
[1:08:55] department, which means that it's very
[1:08:57] closely entwined with the village um,
[1:08:59] government. um compared to the Red Hook
[1:09:01] Fire Company which is a private company.
[1:09:03] It's a different contract process. Um
[1:09:06] because of that it means that a lot of
[1:09:08] our fire company is supported or one
[1:09:12] might think it was supported because
[1:09:13] it's a Tiboli fire company by the
[1:09:15] village of Tivoli. But our our fire
[1:09:18] department and maybe some of you will
[1:09:20] speak to this I don't know is very it's small but mighty, right? And it's
[1:09:23] actually not very small. It's one of the
[1:09:25] largest and most vibrant in the area. Um
[1:09:28] and so it makes a lot of sense that the
[1:09:31] town is going to support through a
[1:09:33] contract um um you know as you've as
[1:09:36] you've laid out here not just our
[1:09:38] expansion but also just the the fire
[1:09:40] service in general that's provided
[1:09:42] because it's provided way beyond the
[1:09:44] borders of the village of Tivi. So, I
[1:09:46] just want to point those things out
[1:09:47] because I think it's important to state
[1:09:48] it for the record. [snorts] And um I
[1:09:50] just want to say thank you to all the
[1:09:52] Tibet fire uh department volunteers that
[1:09:54] are here tonight and who aren't here
[1:09:56] tonight. Um and to Mark for his Mark
[1:09:58] Hildenbrand for his um leadership. U
[1:10:01] Thank you.
[1:10:02] >> Thank you, sir
[1:10:06] comments to this public hearing.
[1:10:12] Okay, very good. Um, at this time I
[1:10:16] would like to entertain a motion to
[1:10:19] close this public hearing.
[1:10:22] In fact, I'll make the motion. Is there
[1:10:24] a second?
[1:10:25] >> Second.
[1:10:26] >> Thank you, Bill. Any further discussion?
[1:10:28] If not, all in favor?
[1:10:30] >> I Thank you very much. Okay.
[1:10:34] >> Um, and I imagine we'll be back next
[1:10:36] year talking about the operating budget
[1:10:39] line because there's probably some needs
[1:10:42] there as well.
[1:10:43] Um, and probably talking about the RER
[1:10:46] Fire Department and their capital needs
[1:10:48] because there will be some needs there
[1:10:50] as well.
[1:10:53] Okay. Uh, very good. Why don't we
[1:11:04] do we think we can uh take the water
[1:11:07] board action? Can we do that? Jump
[1:11:10] around the agenda a little bit, folks.
[1:11:12] Is that something we can let Hank go
[1:11:14] home at a reasonable hour? Would that be
[1:11:16] all right? Jump back to public comments
[1:11:19] after that.
[1:11:20] >> Sure.
[1:11:21] >> Is that okay?
[1:11:24] >> Okay. So, I would like to go ahead and
[1:11:28] uh go to agenda item number four.
[1:11:44] Okay,
[1:11:48] » this is a resolution. What number would
[1:11:51] that be on?
[1:11:55] » Number one.
[1:11:58] >> True.
[1:12:01] >> Capt.
[1:12:03] Um, approving.
[1:12:05] Sorry. Um
[1:12:13] the first resolution related to this
[1:12:18] is resolution order after public hearing
[1:12:21] approving the water facilities
[1:12:23] improvement project for the water
[1:12:25] district number one pursuant to section
[1:12:28] 202B of the town law. Whereas the town
[1:12:31] board of the town of Red Hook,
[1:12:34] the county of Duchess on behalf of the
[1:12:36] water district requested that TB and and
[1:12:40] TMB engineering
[1:12:42] duly licensed in the state of New York
[1:12:44] prepare report. The report um dates back
[1:12:49] uh to 2022 and updated in 2023.
[1:12:54] There was a tank in inspection in 2024
[1:12:58] and a sediment removal project in 2024.
[1:13:02] And a further report update was made in
[1:13:04] March of 2025 describing the rehab
[1:13:07] project and providing an opinion of
[1:13:09] probable cost which is uh deemed to be
[1:13:13] approximately 1,672,600.
[1:13:18] Um the engineer uh completed such report
[1:13:21] and filed the same with the town board
[1:13:23] and the town board thereafter adopted an
[1:13:26] order describing in general the terms
[1:13:28] [snorts] of the proposed improvement of
[1:13:30] facilities specifying the estimated
[1:13:33] total cost thereof and stating that the
[1:13:36] town board would meet to hear all
[1:13:37] persons which we have today. Um, under
[1:13:41] seeker, we've deemed it a type two
[1:13:43] action
[1:13:47] and
[1:13:49] the town board and the town have
[1:13:51] complied in every respect with all
[1:13:53] applicable federal, state, and local
[1:13:54] laws under seeker comprising article 8
[1:13:57] of the environmental conservation law.
[1:14:00] Now therefore be resolved by the town
[1:14:02] board of the town of Red Hook on the
[1:14:04] basis of the information given at such
[1:14:07] hearing. It is hereby determined that it
[1:14:09] is in the public interest to improve the
[1:14:11] facilities of the district as here and
[1:14:13] above described and referred to at the
[1:14:15] estimated total cost of $1.672
[1:14:18] million.
[1:14:20] It is hereby ordered that the facilities
[1:14:22] of the district shall be so improved.
[1:14:26] Definite plans, specifications, and a
[1:14:28] careful estimate of the expense of the
[1:14:30] improvement are hereby directed to be
[1:14:32] prepared, and the attorneys for the town
[1:14:35] are hereby directed to assist in the
[1:14:37] preparation of a proposed contract and
[1:14:39] to submit the same to this town board
[1:14:42] for examination and approval.
[1:14:44] This resolution shall take place
[1:14:48] immediately.
[1:14:51] Um, who would like to move this
[1:14:53] resolution? Well, as the leaison to the
[1:14:55] water board, I would
[1:14:57] >> Okay, very good. Bill, um, who would
[1:14:59] like to second that?
[1:15:00] >> Well, could we talk about it for a
[1:15:02] second? So, just to
[1:15:04] >> just to understand what what the
[1:15:06] mechanics of what we're doing here,
[1:15:07] >> Christina, if I may, just and you you'll
[1:15:10] get this with the newly elected train.
[1:15:12] Um, it's a motion and then a second and
[1:15:14] then there's discussion in between the
[1:15:16] second and the and the vote.
[1:15:18] >> Okay.
[1:15:18] >> Thank you.
[1:15:19] >> No worries. Um,
[1:15:22] is there a second?
[1:15:25] >> Second.
[1:15:25] >> Thank you, [clears throat] Jacob. Okay.
[1:15:28] Um, now, uh, further discussion on the
[1:15:31] matter, Christina.
[1:15:33] >> So, so um, so this is a a 1.7,
[1:15:39] um,
[1:15:40] contract. We have 400,000
[1:15:45] and we're looking for a $1.3 million
[1:15:48] loan.
[1:15:51] I want to make sure that I I'm
[1:15:53] understanding correctly.
[1:15:55] >> That's that's uh in rough terms.
[1:15:57] >> In rough terms correctly.
[1:15:58] >> Correctly. Yes.
[1:15:59] >> And then and then do we have do we have
[1:16:02] reserves if it's more than 1.7?
[1:16:05] >> The $400,000 is moved from the reserves
[1:16:09] and has been allocated and was uh so at
[1:16:12] a previous meeting um just a couple of
[1:16:15] meetings ago. we appropriated uh those
[1:16:18] monies from the reserves. So that's how
[1:16:20] it gets down to $1.3 million.
[1:16:24] Um
[1:16:26] yeah, and so [snorts] once we develop
[1:16:28] the specs, we go out to bid, we get the
[1:16:31] amount of the project that um we will
[1:16:34] contract. At that point, we we should
[1:16:36] know hopefully from Bard College what
[1:16:38] their contribution is. But as far as
[1:16:41] assessing the water district, the budget
[1:16:45] has already been determined whether it's
[1:16:48] the fire district or the water district
[1:16:50] or the townwide taxes
[1:16:52] or a town uh village uh tax uh portion
[1:16:57] as well that has already been determined
[1:16:59] for 2026.
[1:17:01] So when uh the finances are finalized on
[1:17:05] this project and a determination is made on how much will
[1:17:12] be an assessment versus how much will be
[1:17:14] recouped by the increase in the water
[1:17:16] rates that will be done for 2027.
[1:17:21] When you borrow in a particular year you
[1:17:24] don't actually make payments whether
[1:17:26] it's a bond anticipation note or a bond
[1:17:29] on the same year that you borrow. It's
[1:17:31] very different than when you get a
[1:17:32] mortgage for your house and you do that
[1:17:34] in in a month. [clears throat] You
[1:17:36] borrow, it's a 12 month bond
[1:17:38] anticipation note or a multi-year bond,
[1:17:42] serial bonds, and you pay the following
[1:17:44] year. So, we will know all the numbers.
[1:17:46] >> Well, I I no that I mean to me that's
[1:17:48] understood. I actually do this every
[1:17:50] day. So, this is the engineers probable
[1:17:52] cost. So, their total came out at 1.2
[1:17:57] 1.207.
[1:17:58] they added a a 20% contingency which is
[1:18:02] reasonable for construction costs. So
[1:18:05] that came out at at 1.449
[1:18:10] and [snorts] then on top of that we had
[1:18:13] we have soft costs engineering costs
[1:18:16] >> and that's getting us to 1.7.
[1:18:18] >> That's correct.
[1:18:30] Yeah. [snorts]
[1:18:32] >> Any anything more? Any others? Any
[1:18:35] additional discussion? Okay.
[1:18:38] >> If not, I would like to uh have a roll
[1:18:42] call on the vote, please. Um, all in
[1:18:45] favor? Kenny.
[1:18:46] >> I.
[1:18:47] >> William.
[1:18:47] >> Hi.
[1:18:47] >> Myself. I.
[1:18:48] >> Jacob.
[1:18:49] >> Hi.
[1:18:49] >> Christina. Thank you very much.
[1:18:52] >> Uh we have the uh followup uh resolution
[1:18:56] to that
[1:19:03] which would be resolution number two
[1:19:08] authorizing the increase
[1:19:11] and improvement of water district
[1:19:13] facilities for water district number one
[1:19:15] at an estimated maximum cost 1.672 672
[1:19:18] million with the uh a borrowing uh
[1:19:22] aggregate principal amount not to exceed
[1:19:24] 1.272,600
[1:19:29] and um this is the bond authorization
[1:19:33] resolution. Who would like to move this
[1:19:37] number two of 2026
[1:19:40] >> as the lead to the water district? I
[1:19:42] will move this to you.
[1:19:44] >> Okay. And I'd be happy to second it. And
[1:19:46] I want to thank you all on the water
[1:19:47] board for the folks at home. Um we have
[1:19:50] a lot of dedicated volunteers and a lot
[1:19:52] of committees and they really make
[1:19:55] things happen for this community. We are
[1:19:57] very fortunate. We have a lot of people
[1:19:59] with a lot of expertise on our water
[1:20:02] board. I think it's really unusual their
[1:20:04] background. if you knew what they did um
[1:20:08] for a living and their their history and
[1:20:10] their expertise, you really benefit from that even when it's a difficult
[1:20:15] weighing of the rehab versus replace. Um
[1:20:20] and if anybody has that crystal ball,
[1:20:22] please let us know. We'd like to borrow
[1:20:24] it. Um
[1:20:27] all right,
[1:20:29] we have a motion and a second. Is there
[1:20:32] any uh discussion further discussion on
[1:20:35] that resolution number two? If not, it's
[1:20:37] a bond resolution like that. A roll
[1:20:39] call. Uh all in favor of Kenny
[1:20:42] >> I.
[1:20:43] >> William.
[1:20:44] >> Myself. I Jacob.
[1:20:46] >> Hi.
[1:20:46] >> Christina.
[1:20:47] >> I.
[1:20:47] >> Thank you very much.
[1:20:50] Okay. And thank you all. Is Tiffy still
[1:20:54] here that they were?
[1:20:55] >> Yeah, we're all here.
[1:20:56] >> You're welcome. The bill is left.
[1:21:02] » Okay. Well, look, can we quickly do that
[1:21:04] so that the fire department I already
[1:21:06] heard a little bit of something there.
[1:21:08] Um, can we do that quickly and let's get
[1:21:11] to public comments. I also don't want
[1:21:12] the public to have to wait um much
[1:21:14] longer, but we do have resolution
[1:21:17] number can we call it three on the fire
[1:21:20] department, please? And folks, I want to
[1:21:22] just um ask you to please, you'll notice
[1:21:26] in your packet there is that $7,000.
[1:21:29] Now, that needs to move back from
[1:21:31] operating to capital
[1:21:33] um so that we can show their funding
[1:21:37] partners that the capital line is
[1:21:39] 60,748.
[1:21:41] Could I ask you to please entertain that
[1:21:44] uh budget approval, please?
[1:21:47] >> Are you making a motion?
[1:21:48] >> I'm making a motion, please. Is there a
[1:21:50] second? Second.
[1:21:51] >> Thank you, Jacob. Um, any
[1:21:53] [clears throat] discussion? If not, all
[1:21:55] in favor?
[1:21:56] >> I thank you very much. Okay. Resolution
[1:22:00] number three, approving amendment number
[1:22:02] one to the town of Redook Fire
[1:22:05] Protection District Fire Service
[1:22:06] Agreement between the town of Red and
[1:22:09] the V Village village of Tivoli for 2025
[1:22:11] and 2026.
[1:22:14] Whereas proposed terms of an amendment
[1:22:16] entitled Town of Red Fire Protection
[1:22:18] District amendment number one to the
[1:22:20] fire service agreement. We do two-year
[1:22:22] fire agreements by the way. We contract
[1:22:25] for fire services the town. Um this is
[1:22:28] the second year 2026.
[1:22:31] Um the town of Red Hook Fire Protection
[1:22:33] District amendment one to the fire
[1:22:36] service agreement village of Tivoli. A
[1:22:38] public hearing has been duly called and
[1:22:40] held this evening. The amendment between
[1:22:42] the town of Reik and the village of
[1:22:44] Tivoli regarding the fire ser service
[1:22:46] agreement for 2025 and six for fire
[1:22:49] protection is hereby approved. That's
[1:22:52] what the resolution says.
[1:22:57] Can I move this one? Would you mind?
[1:23:03] Is there a second? Who would like to to
[1:23:05] second this? Anybody who's had the need
[1:23:08] of the Tivoli Fire Department in the
[1:23:10] last 5 [clears throat] years, would he
[1:23:13] or she like to solot?
[1:23:17] [clears throat]
[1:23:18] >> Okay.
[1:23:20] >> I think you'll find a lot of us have had
[1:23:24] the need of one fire department or
[1:23:26] another in this community. and you don't
[1:23:29] know, you will find out who these
[1:23:31] dedicated volunteers are when you do
[1:23:34] have a situation and they are there for
[1:23:37] you uh day in and day out leaving their
[1:23:42] jobs in order to come to do their
[1:23:44] volunteer.
[1:23:46] With that being said and with uh endless
[1:23:49] gratitude
[1:23:51] a vote, I think there's a motion.
[1:23:52] There's a second by Kenny. Thank you,
[1:23:54] Kenny. Any further discussion? If not,
[1:23:57] all in favor? William,
[1:23:58] >> hi
[1:23:59] >> Jacob.
[1:24:00] >> Hi.
[1:24:01] >> Three of us eyes. Yes. Christina,
[1:24:04] >> Robert, and Kenny, thank you very much.
[1:24:06] And thank you all.
[1:24:09] >> You fingers crossed.
[1:24:12] >> Fingers crossed. We'll be doing the
[1:24:13] paper next month.
[1:24:15] >> Yeah, next month. We'll see what that
[1:24:16] comes in and you'll let us know. Yep.
[1:24:19] >> You keep us informed. Okay. Thank you
[1:24:20] very much again. That's the easiest
[1:24:23] part.
[1:24:23] >> Thanks for getting us out of here.
[1:24:24] >> All right.
[1:24:26] Thanks guys.
[1:24:28] Water department. Thank you.
[1:24:30] >> All right. We have a very patient
[1:24:33] highway superintendent.
[1:24:36] >> But we do need to do what?
[1:24:39] >> We need to do public comments though. Um
[1:24:41] Teresa, if you can hang in, you'll be
[1:24:43] next.
[1:24:45] >> I know.
[1:24:48] >> It's a loose loose. Uh folks, um we have
[1:24:52] 15 minutes for public comment tonight.
[1:24:55] We still have uh a few items to get to.
[1:24:57] Is there somebody who would like to
[1:24:59] [snorts] speak for public comment?
[1:25:01] >> Okay. Roxan, if you'd be kind enough to
[1:25:03] just say your name for the record,
[1:25:05] please. As always.
[1:25:07] >> Roxan Fischer from Barrytown, New York.
[1:25:11] First, I want to extend a warm welcome
[1:25:14] to our new council members, Christina
[1:25:16] and Ken. You both ran on platforms
[1:25:20] opposing the use of eminent domain
[1:25:22] against the Red Hook Boat Club,
[1:25:25] emphasizing the need for greater
[1:25:27] transparency and genuine dialogue to the
[1:25:31] community. Your election reflects the
[1:25:34] clear voice of the voters on this issue
[1:25:37] and many of us are hopeful that your
[1:25:40] presence on the board will bring fresh
[1:25:42] perspective, accountability, and a
[1:25:45] commitment to listening to residents.
[1:25:48] Second, I want to inform everyone here
[1:25:51] in the room and those watching on Zoom
[1:25:54] that on January 6th, 2026,
[1:25:58] I filed a third supplemental submission
[1:26:02] to my ongoing complaint with the New
[1:26:05] York State Controllers Office regarding
[1:26:07] fiscal concerns in the town's eminent
[1:26:10] domain proceedings against the boat club
[1:26:13] property.
[1:26:14] This update highlights expenditures
[1:26:18] approaching a4 billion dollars with no
[1:26:21] results, improper use of the B fund to
[1:26:25] shift the tax burden, and the complete
[1:26:27] absence of any funding details for the
[1:26:31] 1.25 million plus project which should
[1:26:35] have incur been included in the 2026
[1:26:39] budget. The controllers's office is
[1:26:41] already reviewing this matter and costs
[1:26:44] continue to rise amid a growing docket
[1:26:47] of pending litigation.
[1:26:50] Finally, a reminder to the board. The
[1:26:53] original eminent domain resolution
[1:26:56] passed on a 3-2 vote. Any member who
[1:26:59] voted yes can still move to resin that
[1:27:03] vote. Doing so would immediately halt
[1:27:06] this extremely expensive process and end
[1:27:09] the wasteful drain on taxpayer money.
[1:27:13] that could be better spent on true
[1:27:16] community priorities. I hope the board
[1:27:19] will choose fiscal responsibility and
[1:27:22] the unity of the community moving
[1:27:25] forward. Thank you for your time.
[1:27:27] >> Thank you.
[1:27:28] Roxan.
[1:27:30] Yeah, it might do
[1:27:32] toward a new water tank 100%.
[1:27:34] >> Yeah.
[1:27:34] >> Hi, Carrie Kitner, Merrytown, New York.
[1:27:37] Um, I also want to welcome Kenny and
[1:27:41] Christina and
[1:27:43] uh the main thing I wanted to say was
[1:27:45] that it was so nice to actually have a
[1:27:47] conversation. Um, I got a a email from
[1:27:51] Christopher Man about that meeting next
[1:27:54] Wednesday and it was like, "Oh, you can
[1:27:57] come and ask questions and people will
[1:28:00] give you answers." And I'm going to just
[1:28:03] say it every time I come to these
[1:28:04] meetings, I say, "Can we please have a
[1:28:06] forum about the boat club?" Okay? like we would love to have that same
[1:28:12] kind of questions and answers
[1:28:15] um for a topic that's like been roing in
[1:28:19] this community. So that's my request.
[1:28:23] Maybe our two new members could push
[1:28:25] towards having a forum. We had a public
[1:28:28] comment period in which supposedly we
[1:28:32] were listened to, but uh what we said
[1:28:35] didn't seem to move any of the board
[1:28:37] members. Well, none of two of them
[1:28:41] silently said no, but it was silently.
[1:28:44] And I just really appreciate if
[1:28:48] Christina is speaking up tonight because
[1:28:51] um you know, I think these water guys
[1:28:53] know what they're doing, but it's really
[1:28:55] nice to be able to ask questions and
[1:28:56] really understand what's happening. As a
[1:28:58] citizen, I I really like to understand.
[1:29:02] Um, and in that on that note,
[1:29:05] um, you closed the public comment period
[1:29:09] on the water tank thing and then there
[1:29:13] were two motions and the first motion
[1:29:15] seemed to be to move forward with
[1:29:16] bidding, but the second motion seemed to
[1:29:19] be to approve the bond as long as it
[1:29:23] didn't go over this certain amount. So,
[1:29:27] I had asked earlier if the bids came in
[1:29:30] whether there would be another public
[1:29:32] comment period, but it sounds like if
[1:29:34] the bids come in
[1:29:36] below this maximum amount, then you're
[1:29:39] just moving ahead with that. That's a
[1:29:41] question and I'd really like an answer
[1:29:43] right now on that.
[1:29:45] >> Okay, Cara, we need to get Don't answer
[1:29:48] questions. I'm going to give you an
[1:29:49] answer.
[1:29:50] Just like
[1:29:52] we told the folks in the newly created
[1:29:55] TND sewer district that we would not
[1:29:57] move forward until we got some grant
[1:29:59] funding, we have told you that we will
[1:30:02] not move forward with the water tank
[1:30:05] till we get those other two key
[1:30:08] questions. What what is the acceptable
[1:30:10] bit and what if any contribution will be
[1:30:13] coming from Mark Holl? So, but we had to
[1:30:16] do a bond resolution
[1:30:20] for the TND sewer district a couple of
[1:30:22] years ago in order to move forward so
[1:30:25] that we could apply for grants and so on
[1:30:27] and so forth. So we have those grants
[1:30:30] because we approve the authorization and
[1:30:32] again I think somebody in the audience
[1:30:34] said it well until you get authorization
[1:30:37] to begin the process you can't ever
[1:30:40] >> but wasn't that the first resolution was
[1:30:42] to authorize to begin the process. The
[1:30:44] second thing of approving the bond,
[1:30:47] >> we do have to approve. We would never go
[1:30:50] ahead and expend substantial funds to
[1:30:54] develop specs if we
[1:30:57] >> Okay. So, it's not the full amount of
[1:30:59] the money that you're approving. It's
[1:31:01] the amount of money to find out how much
[1:31:04] it's
[1:31:05] >> and Carrie and my objection to closing
[1:31:07] the public hearing was that it it's not
[1:31:08] that I disagree that the total amount is
[1:31:11] going to be what it is. I just think
[1:31:12] that there needs to be public input and
[1:31:15] how do we get to that place? It's going
[1:31:18] to cost what it costs and my my personal
[1:31:21] opinion is I I do agree with the total
[1:31:24] number,
[1:31:25] >> but we're in a negotiation with the
[1:31:28] village and
[1:31:31] >> with Bard and so who's going to pay for
[1:31:33] this? And I think that the public is
[1:31:35] part of that process. And that was my
[1:31:37] objection to closing the public hearing,
[1:31:39] right? Not to agreeing to the to the
[1:31:41] final amount of of what that looks like.
[1:31:44] >> And as long as there'll be more public
[1:31:46] comment, no matter what the bids come in
[1:31:49] at, then I'm going to just go sit down
[1:31:52] >> and and hope that we can have a forum
[1:31:56] that questions are answered on this
[1:32:00] really divisive topic of the book club.
[1:32:02] So putting another
[1:32:04] >> any anybody else like to make public
[1:32:06] comments. We have about eight more
[1:32:08] minutes for public comments.
[1:32:09] >> I'm going to be very quick. Susan
[1:32:12] Quasha, Darytown, New York. And I just
[1:32:15] want to say that this is 2026 now. And
[1:32:19] I'm really hoping that you will all
[1:32:23] follow good governance, which means
[1:32:26] being clear about things, understanding
[1:32:28] them, letting the public understand
[1:32:30] them, and that there is less
[1:32:33] divisiveness and more bringing everybody
[1:32:36] together. That's what good governance
[1:32:38] is.
[1:32:39] >> Thank you, sir.
[1:32:40] >> Thank you.
[1:32:42] >> We have time for another another speaker
[1:32:44] or two.
[1:32:45] >> Lisa Polo, town of Red Hook. Uh, Robert
[1:32:48] McKeon continues to assert without
[1:32:51] evidence that the eminent domain action
[1:32:53] has widespread support and Jacob, you
[1:32:55] concurred with that on July 15th and
[1:32:58] also stated that the opposition would be
[1:33:00] a short-term discomfort. Almost a
[1:33:02] quarter of a million dollars has been
[1:33:04] spent through October. That's not a mere
[1:33:06] discomfort. We don't yet have the
[1:33:08] invoices for November and December in
[1:33:10] which there were continued court
[1:33:12] hearings in an attempt to circumvent the
[1:33:14] court ruling with new zoning laws. In
[1:33:16] December, we received the letter from
[1:33:18] the supervisor warning of fiscal
[1:33:20] challenges on the horizon. And tonight's
[1:33:22] board packet includes the amendment for
[1:33:24] the Tiboly fire service agreement
[1:33:26] discussion on rising health care costs
[1:33:28] and the notification that the town's
[1:33:30] grant application for the Red Hook Trail
[1:33:32] Link was not selected for funding. Um,
[1:33:35] and yesterday the Daily Catch reported
[1:33:36] on the Red Hook Fire Chief and the
[1:33:39] financial challenges facing the
[1:33:40] department. If you were to open those
[1:33:42] window shades in the back, you'd see
[1:33:44] across the street the graphic showing
[1:33:46] the amount spent so far. An amount that
[1:33:48] could have been used for any of those
[1:33:50] real needs that I mentioned, not wants.
[1:33:54] But the closed shades are symbolic
[1:33:56] because like your eyes and ears, if you
[1:33:58] don't open them, you don't have to face
[1:34:00] the truth. The fees will acrew at a
[1:34:03] similar pace this year. And for those
[1:34:05] interested, go online and search for Red
[1:34:07] Hook Boat Club versus Town of Red Hook
[1:34:09] and find the link to PACE monitor. That
[1:34:12] provides a publicly available summary of
[1:34:15] the most recent federal court
[1:34:16] proceedings. And you'll see that there
[1:34:18] are motions, depositions, discovery, and
[1:34:20] conferences scheduled through July of
[1:34:23] 2026. At minimum, seven more months of
[1:34:27] unnecessary wasteful spending. What will
[1:34:29] the total be by then? This level of
[1:34:32] discomfort far exceeds short-term. Ken
[1:34:35] and Christina, involve yourselves in the
[1:34:38] planning and conversations with the
[1:34:39] attorneys. Don't allow one person to
[1:34:41] call the shots and make binding,
[1:34:43] expensive decisions. Ask the questions
[1:34:45] we cannot get answered. Request and
[1:34:48] review the legal proceedings to learn
[1:34:49] what has been proposed and what has been
[1:34:51] declined. And I think you'll learn a
[1:34:53] great deal. Each January presents an
[1:34:56] opportunity to reflect, recalibrate, and
[1:34:58] if necessary, redirect. We began that
[1:35:01] process with the swearing in of two new
[1:35:03] board members. Bill and Jacob, you both
[1:35:05] have an opportunity to rewrite your part
[1:35:08] in what is arguably the most unpopular
[1:35:11] and now most fiscally wasteful decision
[1:35:14] ever made by three people but impacting
[1:35:17] so many. Either of you can move to resin
[1:35:20] the eminent domain action and if you do,
[1:35:21] you will have the votes to pass it.
[1:35:24] Every additional dollar spent on legal
[1:35:26] fees is now your choice to prolong this
[1:35:29] mess. So, please re-evaluate and
[1:35:31] redirect the taxpayer dollars to the
[1:35:34] more critical issues that have come up
[1:35:36] tonight. And it's time for you to open
[1:35:38] the shades and confront the truth.
[1:35:44] [applause]
[1:35:50] We'll take one more speaker, Linda
[1:35:51] Stoddard.
[1:35:52] >> Linda Stoddard.
[1:35:53] >> Thank you, Linda.
[1:35:54] >> I Robert, I just have a question about
[1:35:57] um
[1:35:58] >> Linda, we Yeah. Go ahead. Make your
[1:36:00] remarks. We have to get to our agenda
[1:36:02] items tonight. [cough]
[1:36:05] >> Don't let her speak.
[1:36:06] >> Yeah. Um I'm wondering when you do reorg
[1:36:10] are you going to be um redistributing or
[1:36:16] reassigning liaison
[1:36:19] because there are five board members and
[1:36:21] right now there is a great imbalance
[1:36:25] um on the liaison
[1:36:27] and a majority of the liaison of the
[1:36:30] committees is you and it should be
[1:36:32] distributed equally amongst the board.
[1:36:35] So, I was just wondering if that's going
[1:36:36] to be done in New York.
[1:36:38] >> Thank you, Linda. Yes, that's all all of
[1:36:41] the ones that were previously Christine
[1:36:44] or Julia have been whited out so that we
[1:36:47] >> Okay. But even with them, you are still
[1:36:50] the liaison for more than anybody else.
[1:36:53] >> Thank you for your your thoughts on
[1:36:56] that.
[1:36:56] >> And that's not the way it's supposed to
[1:36:57] be.
[1:37:00] >> Okay. Uh, anybody else? If not, okay.
[1:37:03] Uh, we're going to move on to our next
[1:37:06] item.
[1:37:06] >> I do think we should open a window
[1:37:08] shades. It's actually been bothering me
[1:37:09] cuz it's like
[1:37:12] >> traffic moving forward and distractions.
[1:37:18] » We need to we need to get on with our
[1:37:19] meeting. All right. Um, let's please go
[1:37:22] to the highway uh department issues. Uh,
[1:37:25] Teresa has been very patient not only
[1:37:27] this meeting but the previous meetings.
[1:37:30] Um
[1:37:32] >> there we are.
[1:37:41] » Number item number three.
[1:37:48] » Oh yeah.
[1:37:52] I'm going to start marking the stage.
[1:37:57] 33.
[1:38:01] » Yeah.
[1:38:03] >> All right. Uh folks, so we have the 284
[1:38:06] agreement. Um for the folks at home,
[1:38:09] each year uh or previous to the year,
[1:38:13] the highway superintendent proposes
[1:38:16] roads for capital improvements, which
[1:38:19] are to be repaved. what material is
[1:38:22] going to be used, whether or not it's
[1:38:24] asphalt or whether or not um it's chip
[1:38:28] sealed. Um you should know
[1:38:32] um that the roads that are proposed for
[1:38:36] this year 2026
[1:38:39] are Starbar for paving, Bosper,
[1:38:45] and uh Chipsilio for uh the Tivoli area.
[1:38:50] Stony Brook Road, Middle Road down here,
[1:38:54] Sankst Stack and Kid Lane,
[1:38:57] and the chip ceiling is to preserve the
[1:38:59] roads to get uh longevity out of them. And so the
[1:39:06] budget uh this conforms with what we
[1:39:09] have budgeted for 2026. Estimated cost
[1:39:12] for Starbucks and Vosberg is 320,000.
[1:39:16] Um for the chip ceiling project
[1:39:20] um
[1:39:22] 2026 budget is $90,000.
[1:39:32] There's currently a balance of 82,000 in
[1:39:35] the 25 chips fund which will roll over
[1:39:38] to the calendar year. We don't find out
[1:39:41] um funding until the state's budget is
[1:39:45] passed. Most of the funding that goes
[1:39:47] towards these capital improvements comes
[1:39:49] from the state. Okay. Um, any questions
[1:39:54] on which roads, the amounts,
[1:39:57] uh, anything or
[1:40:01] >> I don't have any issues with it. I don't
[1:40:03] have any issues with it. It as long as
[1:40:05] it confirmed conforms with the budget.
[1:40:07] I'm I'm interested though in in how in
[1:40:11] terms of like what like what that
[1:40:13] overall plan looks like. Um I'm sure you have metrics and how you figure um
[1:40:21] and so the first thing to understand is
[1:40:24] this agreement. It's a living document.
[1:40:27] So um we are asked to designate which
[1:40:32] roads based on our observations before
[1:40:35] the winter um we would like to pave. Uh
[1:40:40] many things can change in between. So
[1:40:42] once we sign this 284 agreement, if we
[1:40:45] find that there are roads that need more
[1:40:48] attention or if something, [cough]
[1:40:50] you know, catastrophic happens,
[1:40:52] >> and what time of year, like what time of
[1:40:54] year do you do you [snorts] look at it
[1:40:56] versus
[1:40:57] >> So we look at it all year and we keep a
[1:40:59] record of how old the roads are, when
[1:41:02] they were last paved. Um there's two
[1:41:04] parts to this. The resurfacing is the
[1:41:07] major expenditure and then the uh um
[1:41:11] chip seal is the maintenance part of it.
[1:41:14] So you want to chip seal your good roads
[1:41:16] within 5 years of paving to keep them
[1:41:19] good. It extends the life past the
[1:41:21] average 15 years. If you do it every so
[1:41:23] often, it's a lot less expensive. And
[1:41:26] then you take the bulk of the um ship's
[1:41:29] money and put it into major repair. So,
[1:41:34] this is kind of a guess
[1:41:36] >> because we don't know what roads will
[1:41:39] look like after what type of winter we
[1:41:41] may have. There may be a flooding issue
[1:41:45] and one of the roads gets blown apart.
[1:41:48] So, we come back and say, "Okay, we
[1:41:52] can't spend the money on this road
[1:41:53] because we have to spend on that road."
[1:41:55] It's an amendment to this document. It
[1:41:57] comes back to the town board. We put the
[1:41:59] reasons in there and then we ask for the
[1:42:01] expenditure again. Same point, the state
[1:42:04] doesn't pass its budget till April. So,
[1:42:08] we don't know until we go out to bid for
[1:42:10] these roads and the state passes its
[1:42:12] budget if it's all going to fit. So, we
[1:42:15] may have to dial back or we may get more
[1:42:18] money from the state if we go up and
[1:42:20] lobby for it and then we can add. So,
[1:42:23] it's a living document. It's sort of
[1:42:25] this is what we plan on doing. If
[1:42:27] everything works out, this is what we
[1:42:29] will do. Um, but if it doesn't, we'll
[1:42:31] let you know ahead of time and it has to
[1:42:33] come to a town board meeting again.
[1:42:36] >> Thank you.
[1:42:37] >> Seems to be a recurring theme about we
[1:42:39] have estimates we need to authorize to
[1:42:43] move forward. We then finalize the
[1:42:45] amounts and then we can go ahead with
[1:42:48] >> we'll go out to big for the contracts
[1:42:50] and bring them back to the board for
[1:42:52] approval.
[1:42:52] >> Yeah.
[1:42:54] >> Right. I'm And so there's no sort of
[1:42:56] like master document of all town roads
[1:42:59] and you're grading them a through
[1:43:01] whatever.
[1:43:02] >> Well, we we do, but anything can change
[1:43:05] at any time.
[1:43:06] >> Sure. And the winner the winner comes
[1:43:08] through and then it's all it's all
[1:43:10] changes.
[1:43:10] >> You just never know. Yeah,
[1:43:11] >> you never know. But we have um each road
[1:43:15] is uh supposed to have a 15-year life
[1:43:18] before resurfacing.
[1:43:20] um we don't have the budget to do that
[1:43:23] on a regular basis. So we choose the
[1:43:25] best roads that we think the worst roads
[1:43:29] that we think will benefit
[1:43:31] >> highly traveled roads over lower
[1:43:33] traveled roads. It's all [snorts] kind
[1:43:35] of put all the information in and see
[1:43:37] what comes out at the end. So this is
[1:43:39] what we propose for this year. Um and
[1:43:42] again it can change depending on funding
[1:43:44] and road conditions after the winter.
[1:43:47] >> Thank you. I I appreciate the
[1:43:48] explanation. You're welcome.
[1:43:51] >> Thanks, Teresa. Any uh further
[1:43:53] questions, the board members?
[1:43:55] Okay. Um I'd like to make a motion. Um
[1:44:04] to approve the 2026 284 agreement for
[1:44:07] highway expenditures.
[1:44:10] >> So moved.
[1:44:13] >> Well, I have the two copies.
[1:44:14] >> Yeah. Um,
[1:44:17] >> Christina, would you be the second to
[1:44:19] that motion?
[1:44:20] >> Okay.
[1:44:21] >> Uh, any further discussion? If not, all
[1:44:24] in favor?
[1:44:26] >> Thank you very much.
[1:44:28] >> Okay.
[1:44:29] >> So, Diana has the copies and they're
[1:44:32] signed at the meeting and then at the
[1:44:33] end I'll sign them.
[1:44:38] » Thanks. We'll we'll tackle that. Um,
[1:44:40] next up is the electric van. Um the
[1:44:44] highway department has requested a
[1:44:46] replacement of the how old van 20
[1:44:50] 40 22 years something like that two
[1:44:54] decade old van right Teresa um
[1:44:58] >> they had it written in the document it's
[1:45:00] pretty old
[1:45:01] >> yeah
[1:45:02] um
[1:45:04] we are uh it's it's been
[1:45:07] >> it's a 2008 van
[1:45:09] >> 2008 okay so almost two decades old um
[1:45:12] it's a cargo van to move equipment when
[1:45:15] they go and do uh work on the roads. Um
[1:45:18] it has been the desire of uh at least
[1:45:21] the previous board for all vehicles when
[1:45:25] possible to be electric for both
[1:45:27] environmental and for uh financial
[1:45:30] sustainability.
[1:45:32] Um there's uh very little maintenance on
[1:45:36] electric vehicles
[1:45:38] and we have the infrastructure here
[1:45:41] because of all the work that we've done
[1:45:43] and the grant funding we've received. We
[1:45:46] also have on our highway department, we
[1:45:48] have a solar system that produces more
[1:45:51] electricity than the highway department
[1:45:54] uses. And so we're able to have this van
[1:45:57] plugged in um and uh excess energy can
[1:46:01] be allocated towards the charging
[1:46:04] stations for these purposes. So there's
[1:46:06] savings associated with that. Um Teresa
[1:46:10] has looked into different makes and
[1:46:11] models and come up with the
[1:46:13] recommendation for um the Dodge Ram
[1:46:17] truck uh or EV cargo van that's
[1:46:20] recommended here. Um and we've worked
[1:46:23] together on identifying that there is uh
[1:46:26] still some funding. We could at least
[1:46:28] get about 10% um grant funding for the
[1:46:32] purchase of the van.
[1:46:35] So what you have is a resolution that
[1:46:37] includes um sort of the gross amount of
[1:46:40] $78,000.
[1:46:41] Um
[1:46:43] we would hope to receive at least the
[1:46:45] $7,500 rebate for the acquisition then.
[1:46:49] So, what would the what would it cost
[1:46:51] for the same van and and gas?
[1:46:54] >> Um
[1:46:58] 58,000
[1:47:00] but no rebate.
[1:47:01] >> 58,000 but no rebate. And so we're at
[1:47:04] Sorry, the number was
[1:47:06] >> So we're about 70 with the rebate.
[1:47:09] >> 70 with a
[1:47:10] >> with a rebate. Yeah. And then
[1:47:12] [clears throat] you have to do the
[1:47:13] savings versus the electric which is in
[1:47:16] theory free because it's it's being
[1:47:18] remote and metered from the highway
[1:47:20] garage and the maintenance. Um and
[1:47:24] there's also um our policy of when we
[1:47:29] can to continue our electrification.
[1:47:39] Any further questions?
[1:47:43] >> The uh the current ban, how many miles a
[1:47:46] year do you put on that?
[1:47:47] >> I don't know off the top of my head,
[1:47:49] Ken.
[1:47:54] » But I can tell you what we use it for.
[1:47:56] >> Oh, okay.
[1:47:56] >> Um, we use it for sign installation. So,
[1:48:00] it has like a um uh equipment inside and
[1:48:03] all the nuts and bolts and it can carry
[1:48:05] the signs and the poles. And we also use
[1:48:07] it for carrying stuff that has to be
[1:48:09] undercover because the rest of our
[1:48:12] equipment is pickup trucks that are open
[1:48:14] to the weather. So, if we have to go
[1:48:16] pick up parts or something, we can use
[1:48:17] the van. Um, if you have to drop off a
[1:48:21] vehicle like one of the big uh dump
[1:48:24] trucks up to Hudson or or anywhere else,
[1:48:27] Albany, uh, the van can follow and then
[1:48:30] take a person back.
[1:48:32] >> So, it's like a multi-purpose um,
[1:48:34] vehicle. It's very handy,
[1:48:35] >> right? But it sits idle quite a bit, it
[1:48:38] sounds like.
[1:48:39] >> Well, I guess if you look at it that
[1:48:41] way, a lot of them sit idle quite a bit.
[1:48:43] It just depends on what you're doing,
[1:48:45] right, at that particular time.
[1:48:47] But uh
[1:48:49] >> well my concern is there's been some
[1:48:51] issues with electric vehicles. So if it
[1:48:54] was something that was really we really
[1:48:56] dependent on you know and obviously we
[1:48:59] are but it's not going to
[1:49:01] >> No it's not an emergency response
[1:49:02] vehicle
[1:49:03] >> right
[1:49:04] >> and with this particular vehicle um we
[1:49:06] have to go out to bid.
[1:49:08] >> So so far I've seen 2025s. I haven't
[1:49:12] seen 2026s to build yet. But if there's
[1:49:15] going to be any issues, the manufacturer
[1:49:17] will let us know.
[1:49:18] >> Right. Okay.
[1:49:19] >> So, um this is the first step in the
[1:49:22] process just like the other items. We
[1:49:26] have to follow a protocol set by New
[1:49:28] York State in order to go out for a mini
[1:49:30] bid. So, this bid will go all over the
[1:49:32] state and if people have them, they'll
[1:49:35] give us a price and if they don't,
[1:49:37] they'll let us know why. So, again,
[1:49:39] we'll come back with the bid results and
[1:49:41] say, "Do you want to buy this or not?
[1:49:44] So, it's just we have to get approval to
[1:49:46] go forward in order to use the state bid
[1:49:49] system.
[1:49:50] >> Right.
[1:49:52] Thank you.
[1:49:54] >> Thank you, Teresa. Anything else you'd
[1:49:56] like us to know before we entertain
[1:49:59] motion to approve that resolution?
[1:50:01] >> Nope.
[1:50:02] >> Okay.
[1:50:04] Uh this is now resolution four. here.
[1:50:08] >> Five.
[1:50:12] » Authorizing procurement of bids for EV
[1:50:14] cargo van for the highway department
[1:50:17] purposes. Whereas the town of Red Hook
[1:50:19] and this also has been discussed in
[1:50:21] previous meetings. Just for the folks at
[1:50:23] home, uh has recommended the purchase of
[1:50:26] a utility van for highway department
[1:50:28] purposes. Uh the town board requested
[1:50:30] the consideration of an electric vehicle
[1:50:32] in accordance with the town's purchasing
[1:50:34] and procurement policy which was updated
[1:50:37] to reflect our desire to uh OE
[1:50:42] um uh investigate
[1:50:44] um environmentally friendly uh products.
[1:50:47] Um whereas the highway superintendent
[1:50:49] has identified a type of vehicle with
[1:50:51] the specs determined to be necessary for
[1:50:55] the department's use being a Dodge Ram
[1:50:57] ProMaster electric cargo van the
[1:51:00] equipment available through New York
[1:51:02] State OS state contract number 231 166
[1:51:07] to be acquired through the mini bid
[1:51:09] procedure in accordance with the terms
[1:51:11] and conditions of such contra uh
[1:51:14] contract and our purchasing
[1:51:17] policy. Highway superintendent is hereby
[1:51:20] authorized to proceed with procurement
[1:51:23] of bids for the equipment in accordance
[1:51:26] with the contract terms and conditions
[1:51:28] with an estimated cost not to exceed
[1:51:31] 78,000. The town supervisor and town's
[1:51:34] other officers are hereby authorized and
[1:51:37] directed for a name to do all acts and
[1:51:41] things necessary in convenient in
[1:51:43] furtherance of this resolution. Number
[1:51:47] five, who might be a liaison to the
[1:51:50] highway department? Who would want to
[1:51:52] move that?
[1:51:53] >> So moved.
[1:51:54] >> Thanks, Jac.
[1:51:56] Uh, is there a second?
[1:52:00] Electric. May I second that resolution?
[1:52:04] Further uh discussion?
[1:52:06] >> Thank you, Teresa.
[1:52:08] >> Thank you.
[1:52:10] >> Very good. All in favor? Hi,
[1:52:13] >> Christina Kenny.
[1:52:15] >> I Bill.
[1:52:16] >> Hi.
[1:52:16] >> Thank you very much. Okay, that was
[1:52:19] number five. Resolution number five.
[1:52:22] Agenda item number three
[1:52:25] um gun water district. Uh we did fire
[1:52:28] district. Let's go to the first item on
[1:52:31] the agenda which is the resolution
[1:52:36] [clears throat]
[1:52:37] organizing resolution.
[1:52:47] Don't look at the screen. You'll get
[1:52:48] dizzy.
[1:52:51] » The annual reward.
[1:52:54] There we go. Um, we do this annually
[1:52:58] where we state where when our meetings
[1:53:01] are. This will serve as the public
[1:53:03] notice for all our town board meetings
[1:53:06] by the way um for 2026. any changes then
[1:53:10] nor uh necessitate a change in the uh
[1:53:14] public meeting notice
[1:53:17] be it resolve the town board of the town
[1:53:19] of Breok as follows meeting dates
[1:53:21] regular meetings of the board will take
[1:53:23] place throughout the year 2026 and the
[1:53:26] following days in each month 7:30 at
[1:53:29] town hall second Tuesday and fourth
[1:53:31] Wednesday it has been such for many
[1:53:33] years now additional special meetings
[1:53:35] may be scheduled and announced by
[1:53:37] posting the announce announcement at
[1:53:39] town hall as required by chapter 22 of
[1:53:42] the vote with notification to the press
[1:53:45] as required by public officers law.
[1:53:48] Number two, the official newspaper of
[1:53:50] the town for 2026 shall be the Gypsy
[1:53:53] Journal depositories. Uh these are the
[1:53:57] banks that um we have uh funds with.
[1:54:03] In addition, the town is a member of a
[1:54:06] of New York class pursuant to New York
[1:54:08] class mean cooperation agreement amended
[1:54:11] and restated. That's where we have our
[1:54:14] funds that we are not using immediately.
[1:54:17] If you think of it in terms of a money
[1:54:19] market fund where we get um better
[1:54:22] interest and uh keeping it in the bank.
[1:54:25] Um this is a cooperative of many
[1:54:28] municipalities.
[1:54:31] The following officers are authorized to
[1:54:33] maintain a pettic cash to conduct um
[1:54:36] day-to-day business. The following
[1:54:38] amounts not to exceed $500 per officer
[1:54:42] or $1,000 for the receiver.
[1:54:45] Salaries, the salaries uh below are the
[1:54:48] salaries that were adopted uh the budget
[1:54:50] for 2026.
[1:54:53] mileage reimbursement rate for town
[1:54:56] business uh the IRS rate of 72
[1:55:00] cents per mile who incur official
[1:55:03] mileage when they are obligated to drive
[1:55:05] their own vehicles on town business or
[1:55:07] when a town vehicle is not available
[1:55:12] and then as a reimbursement undertaking
[1:55:14] the town board of the town of hereby
[1:55:17] authorized the execution of a blanket
[1:55:19] bond in lie of individual undertaking
[1:55:22] pursuant to section 112 of the public
[1:55:25] officers law for the purpose of covering
[1:55:27] all officers and employees who collect
[1:55:29] money including in the list of these
[1:55:32] positions here in town hall.
[1:55:37] The town board hereby authorized the
[1:55:40] following to sign bank checks for all
[1:55:42] town business. That would be the town
[1:55:44] supervisor in his absence or her
[1:55:46] absence, deputy supervisor William
[1:55:49] Hamill. And three, in the absence of the
[1:55:52] supervisor and deputy supervisor, any of
[1:55:54] the town board members, Christina
[1:55:56] Duchar, Ken Migerelli, or Jacob Taup,
[1:56:00] the annual financial report, the town
[1:56:02] board of the town of Red Hook, hereby
[1:56:04] authorizes and directs the supervisor to
[1:56:06] submit to the town clerk within 60 days
[1:56:09] after the closing of the fiscal year or
[1:56:12] such later date as may be required for
[1:56:15] such filing with the state controller, a
[1:56:17] copy of the supervisor's report to the
[1:56:19] state controller and the town clerk
[1:56:21] shall cause a summary of such report to
[1:56:24] be published within 10 days of that
[1:56:26] filing in the official newspaper
[1:56:29] procurement. Um, and that's uh uh for
[1:56:32] Penny and for Christina. Uh, we'll, if
[1:56:35] you have not had a chance, we'll send
[1:56:37] along to you. Um, those various policies
[1:56:40] you'll want to review them um in the
[1:56:43] future should we decide to u make any
[1:56:46] changes to them. Procurement investment
[1:56:48] policy, ethics policy. I know that the
[1:56:52] ethics board I think is looking to do
[1:56:55] another training session. Is that right?
[1:56:57] >> Yeah. There will be um we're working to
[1:56:58] schedule an inperson training next
[1:57:01] Friday here in Pon Hall for all town
[1:57:03] employees and
[1:57:04] >> next Friday
[1:57:05] >> and then not this upcoming but next the
[1:57:08] 23rd
[1:57:08] >> 23rd
[1:57:09] >> um and then there will be an a second
[1:57:11] one that'll be held virtually the
[1:57:13] following Tuesday in the evening for
[1:57:15] those who can't attend the first Friday.
[1:57:17] >> I have a number of comments. I thought
[1:57:18] we were we had to get through it and
[1:57:19] then make a motion before we discuss it
[1:57:22] but apparently that's not true.
[1:57:23] >> Sure. Okay. before we we can get through
[1:57:26] it. Did you want to make
[1:57:27] >> Well, so I mean I mean if we're going to
[1:57:29] talk about it, let's let's talk about it
[1:57:31] as we're as we're going because I think
[1:57:32] it's I think it's more relevant.
[1:57:34] >> I think I think we're finished. Did you
[1:57:36] have comments?
[1:57:36] >> I I do. So So the the meetings the 7:30
[1:57:41] meeting time and the and the Tuesday and
[1:57:43] the fourth Wednesday. Um I I would
[1:57:46] propose an earlier meeting time and a
[1:57:49] consistent day. I think that's very
[1:57:50] confusing for the public and um honestly
[1:57:55] for ourselves to to have have that kind
[1:57:58] of a schedule. So I I would propose we
[1:58:00] meet at at 6:00 instead of 7:30.
[1:58:05] >> Okay. Um uh my understanding these times
[1:58:10] are predate uh boy they predate not only
[1:58:14] my being town supervisor but when I was
[1:58:17] on the town board way back in 2009
[1:58:21] my understanding was the times were set
[1:58:24] so that uh folks could have dinner with
[1:58:27] their family and come here and the uh
[1:58:31] choice of having two separate days. My
[1:58:34] understanding, Christina, was that if
[1:58:36] you chose, say, a Tuesday and a
[1:58:38] Wednesday, that if somebody had a
[1:58:40] standing Tuesday thing that um they
[1:58:44] could at least come to one meeting a
[1:58:45] month, they could come on the Wednesday
[1:58:47] or vice versa. That was the rationale.
[1:58:49] I'm not saying that has to continue that
[1:58:51] way, but
[1:58:51] >> I mean, I'm I'm putting it out there as
[1:58:53] a as a um as a discussion item. I think
[1:58:58] that I think that it's rather late and I
[1:59:00] think that that historically there's
[1:59:03] been there's been a lot of interest and
[1:59:05] that's a positive thing for for the
[1:59:08] board. Um and um you know I think I
[1:59:12] think families are flexible and there's
[1:59:15] 7:30 is is rather late in the evening as
[1:59:20] a start time. Um, so I I I we've I've
[1:59:25] had this discussion on other other
[1:59:27] committees that we've been on that
[1:59:29] historically have met later in the
[1:59:30] evening and the consensus has been to
[1:59:34] move it earlier and and that's I've seen
[1:59:36] that overall to be a positive change.
[1:59:40] >> Okay. Um,
[1:59:42] anyone else?
[1:59:43] >> Yeah, I like to agree with that.
[1:59:45] [laughter]
[1:59:45] >> Okay.
[1:59:47] >> Uh,
[1:59:48] yeah, I go to bed kind of early. I wake
[1:59:51] up early uh and I do and I mentioned
[1:59:54] this to you Robert um I'm on a two three
[1:59:58] four other committees and the t this
[2:00:02] Tuesday is the uh committee which I've
[2:00:05] been on down in New York City for green
[2:00:07] market
[2:00:08] so it is a conflict uh especially with what's going on with green market I
[2:00:13] need to be involved in that committee so
[2:00:16] it would be nice if they were the second
[2:00:18] and fourth Wednesday
[2:00:21] Uh that would be good for me and I
[2:00:23] understand. I don't know what I'm going
[2:00:25] to do if if I can't and uh the I would
[2:00:30] like to see the meetings earlier also.
[2:00:32] Uh
[2:00:33] >> but I think if he would be earlier on
[2:00:36] Tuesday, that'd be worse for you, not
[2:00:38] better.
[2:00:38] >> Is that right?
[2:00:39] >> Y' worse for me.
[2:00:40] >> But then I only uh uh the those meetings
[2:00:44] go exactly three hours. They don't go
[2:00:47] over. So, um,
[2:00:49] >> when do they start?
[2:00:50] >> Six.
[2:00:51] >> So, I would only be able to sit in on it
[2:00:54] for an hour and a half.
[2:00:55] >> Okay.
[2:00:56] >> So, is there you're saying Wednesday
[2:01:00] would be a conflict for other people?
[2:01:02] >> Well, second Wednesday here town hall is
[2:01:04] taken up by both the ZBA. We would have
[2:01:07] to if we were to move to Wednesday, we'd
[2:01:08] have to move the ZBA out of there.
[2:01:11] Second Wednesday, that's this room. And
[2:01:13] then the CAC takes the conference room.
[2:01:16] So, it wouldn't just be us having to
[2:01:18] change our schedule to accommodate that.
[2:01:21] It [clears throat] would we would have
[2:01:22] to move other boards and then
[2:01:24] >> we, you know, we don't have the ability
[2:01:26] tonight certainly to know that
[2:01:28] >> whether or not they could or would want
[2:01:30] to
[2:01:31] >> change early, one late, one late. Um,
[2:01:36] Jacob, I'm sorry you started to say
[2:01:39] Tuesdays, um, Thursdays, I have a
[2:01:41] commitment earlier in the evening that I
[2:01:43] wouldn't be able to get here until after
[2:01:45] like 7:30 is about the earliest we can
[2:01:47] get over here.
[2:01:47] >> So you can't do earlier if it's Tuesdays
[2:01:50] and Thursdays.
[2:01:51] >> We can't do a second Wednesday right now
[2:01:54] because of ZBA um and CAC here.
[2:01:58] >> Well, I think that's an overall
[2:01:59] discussion. I think there's there's a flexibility amongst amongst
[2:02:03] many committees. I mean, when other
[2:02:05] committees I've been on, we've talked
[2:02:06] about it. And it's not to say that there
[2:02:09] maybe this is something that can't be
[2:02:10] resolved right now, but we should we should we should have an open
[2:02:16] discussion. And 7:30 is very late. Um
[2:02:20] >> and and you know, we've had we've had
[2:02:22] meetings that have gone on until until
[2:02:25] midnight, and that certainly affects
[2:02:26] people.
[2:02:27] >> Um and that's that's really not an
[2:02:29] accessible time
[2:02:31] >> um for the public in general. So
[2:02:33] >> yeah,
[2:02:34] >> um
[2:02:34] >> we've also had many meetings that were
[2:02:36] over in an hour, but I hear your point
[2:02:38] that it does we we run that risk when we
[2:02:41] start a meeting that if we want to
[2:02:43] accommodate or get all the work
[2:02:46] conducted that evening. We did stop one
[2:02:48] meeting. It was the first time in my 10
[2:02:50] years we stopped a meeting before we
[2:02:52] finished all the all the work. And maybe
[2:02:54] that's what we need to consider if we
[2:02:56] are stuck um meeting at 7:30.
[2:02:58] >> And I also think the switching of the
[2:03:00] days is confusing. I think that it's
[2:03:03] that, you know,
[2:03:05] town board is is is a a commit, you
[2:03:08] know, an entity that that should take
[2:03:11] precedent and and consistency of meeting
[2:03:14] on the same time, the same one day a
[2:03:17] week at an earlier time um would be what
[2:03:21] I would press for. Yeah, I hear you
[2:03:25] ZBA switch on uh
[2:03:27] >> Well, I'll not I we we'll need to
[2:03:30] approach the ZBA if that's what but I I
[2:03:32] do uh I do think we need to give it some
[2:03:35] consideration. Uh Christine and Kenny.
[2:03:37] >> Okay. Um I think we do um
[2:03:41] uh and and I do agree we're not going to
[2:03:42] solve it tonight, right? Um, so we'll take a look uh at this and see
[2:03:47] what uh what options exist and look at
[2:03:51] the pros and cons of of switching one
[2:03:55] or time or or or what have you. We have
[2:03:58] to all look in our schedules because we
[2:04:00] all have different hats that we wear
[2:04:03] >> um in addition to to these roles. So I
[2:04:06] appreciate that and maybe we can um try
[2:04:09] to get our calendars together and see
[2:04:11] what the holes are. maybe start with
[2:04:13] what you absolutely can't do and then
[2:04:15] we'll work from there and see how the
[2:04:18] puzzle comes together. We will have to
[2:04:21] at least for now stick with what we've
[2:04:23] got um so that we can have our meeting
[2:04:26] uh on January 28. That would be the
[2:04:30] fourth meeting if you want to make a you
[2:04:32] know subsequently we can make amendments
[2:04:35] to the meeting schedule but we do need
[2:04:37] to publish
[2:04:38] >> on the notice. Okay.
[2:04:40] >> So there's that. Anything else on this?
[2:04:42] Uh
[2:04:42] >> I I did have another comment on item
[2:04:44] number five was confusing to me. Um so
[2:04:47] the the salaries that were laid out for
[2:04:51] um for town board. Uh
[2:04:54] is this all inclusive?
[2:04:57] Because reviewing the budget, there were
[2:04:58] other line items that seem to be
[2:05:00] allocated to certain members.
[2:05:02] >> These are for these positions and that's
[2:05:05] the way that the resolution must read
[2:05:07] the position. Um yes there are other
[2:05:11] budgetary lines but the these are the
[2:05:13] ones that need to be um put in the uh
[2:05:17] >> what do you mean what do you mean this
[2:05:18] is the way it must read doesn't you
[2:05:20] explain
[2:05:21] >> you need to state the salary for the
[2:05:22] supervisor role you need to state the
[2:05:25] salary for the town uh council member
[2:05:28] role you need to state the salary for
[2:05:30] the town clerk role and the town
[2:05:32] justices these are um
[2:05:36] >> and you're not able to so there there's
[2:05:38] other there's other um supplementary
[2:05:41] roles that
[2:05:41] >> this is elected officials.
[2:05:44] >> Yeah, I'm trying to give you I'm trying
[2:05:47] to give you the answer that to your
[2:05:48] question. You need to state the salary
[2:05:53] figure for the elected officials. These
[2:05:55] are are the elected official lines.
[2:05:57] Okay. So if there's if the supervisor is
[2:06:01] also the budget uh officer as statutoily
[2:06:05] he or she is unless they declare someone
[2:06:09] else to be that role that is not
[2:06:11] included because that is not the elected
[2:06:14] official salary. But wouldn't it be
[2:06:16] clear wouldn't it be clear to state in there even if even if those roles
[2:06:20] weren't assigned like what
[2:06:21] >> there are other other supplementary
[2:06:26] um salaries that are
[2:06:28] >> no applied to no
[2:06:30] >> certain people within these roles.
[2:06:32] >> No no Christina it is the following
[2:06:34] salaries for elected officials. That's
[2:06:38] it. So it must read that one. Okay,
[2:06:45] the budget spells out all the various
[2:06:48] lines.
[2:06:53] » Okay, so that's the reorg resolution.
[2:06:56] It's number are we lucky? Number seven,
[2:07:00] >> six. We're at six.
[2:07:04] >> And then we can get to the liaison
[2:07:06] roles.
[2:07:08] um
[2:07:11] try to tackle some of those tonight. So,
[2:07:14] a resolution number six, it's relating
[2:07:17] to annual reor.
[2:07:20] Who would like to move that?
[2:07:24] >> So, moved.
[2:07:24] >> Thank you, Jacob. Is there a second?
[2:07:27] >> A second. Thank you, William. Uh any
[2:07:30] further discussion? If not,
[2:07:33] >> sorry.
[2:07:34] >> Annual reorg. So, so I I need to
[2:07:36] understand what we're voting on in this.
[2:07:38] The what we just reviewed, we had a
[2:07:40] number of revisions to it.
[2:07:44] >> I'm sorry. What?
[2:07:45] >> I don't think we have any revisions.
[2:07:46] >> What were the revisions to it?
[2:07:50] » We're just voting on this resolution
[2:07:52] >> on on this resolution. So we're saying
[2:07:54] that the meeting dates are are set
[2:07:58] understood for the next meeting but we discussed that that might be
[2:08:04] like what what would be the mechanism of revising that if if we chose that in
[2:08:10] the future amendment
[2:08:12] >> yes we would need to create a new
[2:08:13] resolution to set the town board
[2:08:17] meetings for a new date and time we
[2:08:20] would then need to publish that we have
[2:08:24] to publish all our meetings.
[2:08:28] This is the mechanism for publishing
[2:08:32] them to say as of now they are still
[2:08:35] second Tuesday and fourth Wednesday.
[2:08:36] >> So would we be able to say that they're
[2:08:38] second
[2:08:40] uh Tuesday and fourth Wednesday for the
[2:08:42] next for for January and then and then
[2:08:47] we'll revisit this for February and
[2:08:50] beyond.
[2:08:53] Um, I'm not sure that that would be
[2:08:56] prudent of us to do that because we can
[2:08:59] make the change right now.
[2:09:03] Once we approve this, we don't have to
[2:09:07] republish each and every meeting.
[2:09:11] If we go to make a change, then we will
[2:09:14] do a new publishing.
[2:09:17] If we go ahead and say it's only good
[2:09:20] for January, then we're looking at
[2:09:22] additional costs and time and
[2:09:24] expenditure to do the republishing of
[2:09:27] the notices. We are also um
[2:09:31] not laying out the meeting schedule for
[2:09:35] um you know a significant period of time
[2:09:37] and right now I don't hear that we have
[2:09:39] any consensus on any changes yet. So
[2:09:42] >> well can that's fair. Can we can we
[2:09:44] agree that we'll discuss it at the at
[2:09:45] the next meeting and we'll we'll commit
[2:09:48] to to
[2:09:49] >> sure
[2:09:50] >> potentially reorganizing with other
[2:09:52] >> other um committees and boards.
[2:09:54] >> Sure.
[2:09:58] >> Okay.
[2:10:01] >> All right. So, uh seeing no changes.
[2:10:04] Sorry, Kenny. Did you want to say
[2:10:05] >> No, I just voted I. That's [laughter]
[2:10:10] » I is good. Um, so we have a motion, a
[2:10:14] second. We have an I at this end.
[2:10:16] Williams an I. I'm an I. Jacob's an I.
[2:10:19] Christina
[2:10:20] >> I.
[2:10:22] >> Um, very good. Why don't we
[2:10:27] jumping around a lot tonight? I
[2:10:29] apologize.
[2:10:35] » We have to go.
[2:10:36] >> Let's do uh
[2:10:40] Sorry.
[2:10:41] amount on the registar to appoint so
[2:10:45] that I can submit that
[2:10:47] >> uh
[2:10:48] what
[2:10:49] >> registar as a register I need to be
[2:10:51] appointed
[2:10:53] >> I I think you're still a hold over
[2:10:55] though
[2:10:56] >> yeah you still are the registar
[2:10:59] I'm sorry I don't I I didn't we weren't
[2:11:01] going to make any specific appointments
[2:11:03] >> yeah but you signed it I just want to
[2:11:04] get that to the county and get that to
[2:11:06] the city
[2:11:07] >> okay um park has been register register
[2:11:12] of vital statistics.
[2:11:16] >> This time I'd like to make a motion that
[2:11:18] for 2026
[2:11:20] that we appoint and continue
[2:11:24] uh our town clerk Diana Cochran has the
[2:11:27] register
[2:11:29] finals.
[2:11:30] >> Second that.
[2:11:32] >> Thank you.
[2:11:33] >> Any discussion? If not, all in favor? I
[2:11:38] >> I
[2:11:38] >> Thank you. Okay.
[2:11:40] >> Thanks.
[2:11:40] >> All right. Uh
[2:11:45] let's go to
[2:11:48] number eight. Jumping around. I
[2:11:51] apologize. Um just assigning the
[2:11:53] delegate to the Association of Towns
[2:11:56] meeting.
[2:11:57] >> What What happened to the um town board
[2:12:00] appointments?
[2:12:01] >> Yeah, we're going to get to that.
[2:12:03] >> Okay.
[2:12:03] >> We're going to get to that. That that
[2:12:05] maybe be just a longer conversation. We
[2:12:07] want to get to a couple of items. Um,
[2:12:14] » somebody's trying to pair their phone to
[2:12:16] the TV.
[2:12:20] » Yeah, let's not do that.
[2:12:23] >> Okay,
[2:12:25] we would
[2:12:28] um All right.
[2:12:34] » Okay.
[2:12:36] I think I mentioned there's an annual
[2:12:37] conference that happens every February.
[2:12:40] There are
[2:12:42] uh votes that are conducted at the
[2:12:44] Association of Towns. There are over 900
[2:12:46] towns in New York State. I think it's
[2:12:49] Red
[2:12:51] House. I believe it's Red House that is
[2:12:54] the smallest town in
[2:12:57] state of New York. [clears throat]
[2:12:59] Something like 3740 people. I believe I
[2:13:02] have that right. And then you have towns
[2:13:03] like Brook Haven which are several
[2:13:05] hundred thousand. They all convene and
[2:13:08] they have policy uh positions. They do a
[2:13:12] fair amount of lobbying on our behalf,
[2:13:14] the Association of Towns. They also have
[2:13:17] some uh recommendations for changes to
[2:13:20] their bylaws that they would like us to
[2:13:22] look at. Um, we're looking for no action
[2:13:26] tonight
[2:13:28] or discussion on the policy
[2:13:31] positions, but they are here. Many of
[2:13:34] them are either repeat
[2:13:38] um asks of Albany or [snorts] related to
[2:13:41] previous asks. Uh, oftentimes they are
[2:13:45] funding related.
[2:13:48] So for the new board members, if you
[2:13:50] would kindly take a look between now and
[2:13:52] our next meeting,
[2:13:54] >> I'd be happy to volunteer to go in
[2:13:55] February.
[2:13:57] >> Okay. Well, thank you. I appreciate
[2:13:59] that. If you'd like to go um to do the
[2:14:02] training, that's great. Um typically the
[2:14:06] supervisor is the one who does the
[2:14:08] voting on behalf of the town. Um, I do
[2:14:12] intend to be there in order to uh do
[2:14:14] that and to convey um any thoughts at
[2:14:18] the annual meeting on behalf of the town
[2:14:20] board.
[2:14:22] So, you can look at the registration
[2:14:24] information, Christina, and we can take
[2:14:27] a look at the budget and make some uh
[2:14:31] budget adjustments to accommodate
[2:14:34] u you to go get that training.
[2:14:36] >> Sounds great.
[2:14:41] Okay. Um, that's it. So, we
[2:14:43] [clears throat] just need a motion uh to
[2:14:46] designate
[2:14:48] and I'll offer myself up as I have
[2:14:50] previously
[2:14:53] as the uh person to conduct the voting
[2:14:58] on behalf of the town.
[2:15:02] Who would like to make that motion to
[2:15:05] designate the town supervisor? Bill,
[2:15:07] you've been down there.
[2:15:09] >> Yep, I'll do it. It's a ministerial
[2:15:11] process.
[2:15:12] >> Okay. So, you're making the motion to
[2:15:14] designate me. Okay.
[2:15:16] >> And would you be available in my absence
[2:15:19] then?
[2:15:19] >> Not for this meeting.
[2:15:20] >> Okay.
[2:15:22] >> Who else would be available?
[2:15:24] >> I'm available in your absence.
[2:15:26] >> Great. Great. Excellent.
[2:15:27] >> Okay. Um,
[2:15:30] >> good training.
[2:15:31] >> So, that's a motion to appoint the town
[2:15:34] supervisor as the designate and we'll uh
[2:15:37] say Christina as
[2:15:40] the alter.
[2:15:41] >> The alter.
[2:15:43] >> Very good. Bill's made the motion. Is
[2:15:46] there a second?
[2:15:47] >> Second.
[2:15:48] >> Thank you, Jacob. Any further
[2:15:50] discussion? If not, all in favor?
[2:15:52] Christina? I
[2:15:57] » All right.
[2:16:01] health insurance policy options. Not
[2:16:03] looking for action tonight, but I'm just
[2:16:06] continuing this because we do need to
[2:16:08] pick a policy
[2:16:14] uh preferably at our next meeting
[2:16:15] because
[2:16:18] enrollment starts in February, the plan
[2:16:20] year is March. What's different this
[2:16:23] year uh although they did try to come
[2:16:25] into the
[2:16:27] uh in the area is United Healthc Care is
[2:16:30] making um progressive proposals to
[2:16:35] provide um health insurance. This is
[2:16:37] sort of the menu of various options.
[2:16:40] >> Can you can you just clarify who this
[2:16:42] applies to? This is this is
[2:16:45] >> to whom in our
[2:16:46] >> Yeah. Anybody who is eligible for health
[2:16:50] care, any full-time workers,
[2:16:53] >> would the health care come under a union
[2:16:55] negotiation
[2:16:56] um
[2:16:58] thing because the guys have health care
[2:17:00] through the union and it has to be a a
[2:17:03] comparable product? Does the union have
[2:17:07] to get involved with this? I I have the
[2:17:09] understanding that it has to be
[2:17:10] negotiated before it can be changed and
[2:17:13] you're operating on a really short
[2:17:15] window. Um there is there are comparable
[2:17:20] plans here for us to look at and so
[2:17:22] that's what we're taking a look at is
[2:17:24] what are the options. We haven't made
[2:17:26] any decisions.
[2:17:27] >> But does the union have to take a look
[2:17:29] at what the plans are in order to
[2:17:30] determine that they're comparable.
[2:17:33] >> Um the union can look at whatever plans.
[2:17:37] We haven't even proposed any plans yet.
[2:17:41] >> Well, we have the base plan right now.
[2:17:43] So you're proposing that you may be
[2:17:45] changing the plan
[2:17:47] >> and if you do propose to change that I
[2:17:51] had understood that the union had to be
[2:17:53] involved in order to make sure that it
[2:17:55] was a comparable plan for the guys. the union is always welcome to be
[2:18:00] involved um in in the determination of
[2:18:04] the plan, but the town board needs to go
[2:18:07] ahead and assign
[2:18:09] um a healthcare
[2:18:12] plan for 2026.
[2:18:14] >> So, you can assign health care plan
[2:18:16] before taking the options to the union
[2:18:20] that you want to do.
[2:18:22] >> We haven't chosen any options yet. We're
[2:18:24] not at that point very soon. Right. I
[2:18:27] understand. But we have a healthcare
[2:18:29] plan. You're proposing perhaps a
[2:18:32] different plan. It should be reviewed by
[2:18:35] the union in order to make sure
[2:18:37] >> that we haven't reached that point,
[2:18:40] Teresa. You're making assumptions. We
[2:18:42] haven't reached that point where we're
[2:18:43] even contemplating other plans.
[2:18:46] >> Okay. I just want to make sure that if
[2:18:49] there's a proposed change
[2:18:52] for the level of funding or the um
[2:18:55] amount that they're going to pay um that
[2:18:58] the union be brought in before you make
[2:19:02] that decision to compare the plans and
[2:19:05] make sure that it um meets with what the
[2:19:08] contract says.
[2:19:09] >> Yes,
[2:19:11] it will meet what the contract says. We
[2:19:15] will make sure of that.
[2:19:18] But will you make sure that the union
[2:19:19] will be able to review it before you
[2:19:21] change it?
[2:19:22] >> We we we will send to the union what we
[2:19:25] are contemplating if we make a change.
[2:19:27] Yes.
[2:19:27] >> What what what's the time frame that
[2:19:29] we're looking at?
[2:19:30] >> Well, March 1st
[2:19:31] >> ideally. Yes. March 1st. They need to be
[2:19:33] enrolled and enrollment period actually
[2:19:36] starts. The coverage is March 1st.
[2:19:39] Enrollment period starts beginning of
[2:19:42] February. So tonight, what I was hoping
[2:19:45] is we could narrow down three plans,
[2:19:49] four plans, and then we can take a look
[2:19:51] at them, including our existing one, try
[2:19:54] to get more information, share with the
[2:19:56] union, understand because if we are able
[2:19:59] to find a comparable plan that does save
[2:20:02] the taxpayer money, but gives the same
[2:20:04] type of coverage to the employees that also could be in a benefit to the
[2:20:09] employees because they pay into that
[2:20:11] plan as Well,
[2:20:12] >> has this been shared with the union yet?
[2:20:14] >> Not yet. This is there are hundreds of
[2:20:17] This is what our our healthcare uh uh
[2:20:20] broker provides us with is sort of a a
[2:20:23] sampling for this Hudson Valley region,
[2:20:26] what's available, knowing that the type
[2:20:29] of coverage um that we're interested in
[2:20:32] having for our employees and trying to
[2:20:34] keep the same level of coverage for
[2:20:37] them. And each of the various uh
[2:20:41] companies offer, you know, their version
[2:20:44] of that type of coverage. We're looking
[2:20:46] at silver plans and bronze plans. Um but
[2:20:49] we're looking at, you know, uh ideally
[2:20:52] we want the same type of coverage where
[2:20:54] they get 100% coverage on just about
[2:20:57] everything. Um what what's different
[2:21:00] about each uh plan is often times what
[2:21:04] the deductible amounts are. There's a
[2:21:07] slight difference. Like for example,
[2:21:10] we'll go to the first page here.
[2:21:14] If you notice our existing plan, which
[2:21:16] is the MVP
[2:21:19] silver 8, and then the next column is
[2:21:22] what our plan would be [clears throat]
[2:21:24] if we were to stick with it. Um the
[2:21:26] premium increase is just under 16. It's
[2:21:30] rounded up to 16. I think it's 15.8%.
[2:21:33] We pay for 100%
[2:21:36] of uh the HRA. So when we think in terms
[2:21:40] of the deductibles and um any payment
[2:21:44] that the employee would make know that
[2:21:46] we pay as the town 100% of that um up
[2:21:52] until those uh limits. So right now the
[2:21:56] employees pay a percentage of the um
[2:22:00] premium.
[2:22:01] >> That's correct. They pay 21% for 2025.
[2:22:05] >> As part of the contract they would pay
[2:22:06] 22%.
[2:22:08] >> So any savings that we could derive from
[2:22:11] a comparable plan that gave them
[2:22:13] comparable coverage could also extend to
[2:22:17] them if we were to um want to entertain
[2:22:21] changing of the plans. So everything
[2:22:24] that we're looking at, are there plans
[2:22:25] on here that that aren't comparable to
[2:22:27] what the union employees are currently
[2:22:30] getting?
[2:22:30] >> Yes, there are some that I don't believe
[2:22:32] are comparable.
[2:22:33] >> So So why are we even looking at this
[2:22:35] before we eliminate Obviously, we're
[2:22:36] going to pick a plan that that is
[2:22:38] comparable. We have a union,
[2:22:40] >> right? Exactly. That's what what we're
[2:22:44] going to do tonight is isolate all of
[2:22:47] those out that we shouldn't consider and
[2:22:50] see what's left. But but that but that's
[2:22:52] like a that's like a like like the
[2:22:54] insurance agent could have done that for
[2:22:56] and and presented four plans that seems like a waste of time to me.
[2:23:01] >> So I just wanted to clarify
[2:23:04] um before you go into the deeper
[2:23:06] discussion is that the plan that they
[2:23:09] have now they pay 21% and it will be 22%
[2:23:14] of um the premium. They don't pay any of
[2:23:18] the deductible and they don't have
[2:23:20] co-pays.
[2:23:22] So, they have a fixed amount out of
[2:23:25] their paycheck that they can count on
[2:23:27] each pay period and it stays that way. A
[2:23:31] lot of times when you go to um a lower
[2:23:35] premium, which they may benefit from
[2:23:38] bi-weekly, it may not benefit them in
[2:23:42] the long run because with a lower
[2:23:44] premium, you often have to then pay an
[2:23:46] out-of pocket deductible. So the town
[2:23:49] takes care of the high deductible 100%.
[2:23:53] But the employees pay 21 now 22%
[2:23:57] and if the plan changes
[2:24:00] where they have to pay then a co-ay
[2:24:03] also takes more money out of their
[2:24:05] pocket. One of our guys who has had his
[2:24:09] raise and the um higher uh percentage
[2:24:14] his net this coming year is $154.
[2:24:20] So any change that affects
[2:24:23] beyond what they're paying will then
[2:24:26] affect their bottom line. So my question
[2:24:29] would be why wouldn't since we have a
[2:24:32] union, why wouldn't we forward this
[2:24:34] document to the union the second we
[2:24:37] receive it have and and receive the
[2:24:40] feedback and then narrow it down and then take a
[2:24:45] vote.
[2:24:46] >> Okay. We're not going to take a vote um
[2:24:48] tonight. And again, we can narrow it
[2:24:52] down. There's no reason to present the
[2:24:54] union with a menu template of all these
[2:24:57] choices when we can clearly look at a
[2:25:00] whole bunch of these and know that
[2:25:01] they're not comparable. And so all we're
[2:25:04] doing tonight is just trying to narrow
[2:25:06] it down and then we can forward the
[2:25:09] three or four that are even uh looking
[2:25:12] at and get questions from the broker.
[2:25:15] And so let's do that exercise if we
[2:25:17] could tonight and you'll understand why
[2:25:19] it's valuable first step so we can get
[2:25:21] to where we can assign. So hearing about
[2:25:25] the coverage and the 100%. You can take
[2:25:28] a look on the first page here. There's a
[2:25:31] whole bunch of silver three which used
[2:25:34] to be something we did here. The second
[2:25:36] one here has a whole bunch of co-pays.
[2:25:39] This is not something that we would deem
[2:25:41] to be comparable
[2:25:43] um to the kind of coverage that
[2:25:46] employees currently have. The same is
[2:25:48] true with the next column which is uh
[2:25:51] exchange certified silver. You see the
[2:25:54] co-pays, some of them are insignificant,
[2:25:56] some of them are significant. That would
[2:25:59] not be comparable to what the employees
[2:26:02] have. um HDHP, Silver 3, HSA, and again
[2:26:07] I'm sticking with MVP for a time. Um you
[2:26:12] see they have in many cases small
[2:26:14] co-pays, but then you look at inpatient,
[2:26:17] there's a $500 co-pay after uh the
[2:26:21] deductible is exhausted. It's a real
[2:26:24] question whether or not that be
[2:26:26] comparable coverage. Then you go to this
[2:26:29] next one, the bronze six. Okay. So, this
[2:26:33] has very similar, if not um even better
[2:26:37] coverage than the uh silver 8. The
[2:26:42] tradeoff, however, is the annual
[2:26:44] deductible limits, which are higher.
[2:26:46] Again, remember that the town is paying
[2:26:49] for
[2:26:50] um those deductibles. It's 100%.
[2:26:54] So, on the one hand, the coverage is
[2:26:57] terrific. It's 100% all down the line
[2:27:00] here. You see, I don't know if you can
[2:27:01] see my cursor for the folks in the
[2:27:04] audience.
[2:27:06] The premium is less.
[2:27:08] >> There's another big issue though is that
[2:27:12] the coverage between carriers has been
[2:27:15] very volatile. I personally experienced
[2:27:18] this with with um with my firm that we
[2:27:22] were on a premium plan, it just got
[2:27:26] cancelled by
[2:27:29] major carrier locally which is like
[2:27:33] the conglomerate that does everything.
[2:27:35] So like it's it's it's hard to say even
[2:27:39] between like MVP and United and CDPHP
[2:27:43] like what
[2:27:45] I I don't feel like this is a decision
[2:27:47] that we that we should make. I mean the chart is already narrowed down. It's
[2:27:50] only three pages and the people that are
[2:27:53] on these plans are already know what
[2:27:56] their comps are and who their doctors
[2:27:58] are. [clears throat]
[2:27:59] >> Yeah. That's a big thing too is that um
[2:28:02] the their MVP is very local.
[2:28:05] So I I hear that United Healthc Care is
[2:28:08] not taking on um like Optum and
[2:28:12] different places. So they may have to
[2:28:14] travel further to and change their
[2:28:16] doctors and go through you know
[2:28:19] reenrollment with other health care
[2:28:22] facilities and at this point um I don't
[2:28:25] see that as being fair especially since
[2:28:28] now they are going to pay another
[2:28:29] percent. Okay, Teresa, I'm sorry to
[2:28:31] interrupt you, but we need to get
[2:28:33] through to do do our work. You know, I
[2:28:35] appreciate these contributions, but
[2:28:37] we're talking about MVP plans now. And
[2:28:39] so, I I'm trying to get the board to
[2:28:42] focus on the plans that are comparable
[2:28:45] so that we can ask more questions so
[2:28:48] that we can make a more educated
[2:28:50] decision. I understand the concern.
[2:28:52] >> I'm just giving the background and
[2:28:54] knowledge for the bulk of the people who
[2:28:58] use these plants. I appreciate that. But
[2:29:00] right now, we are talking about an MVP
[2:29:03] plan. So, there'll be no change in the
[2:29:05] network and who they could um go to see.
[2:29:08] It's just a change between this MVP plan
[2:29:13] versus that MVP plan. And if that's
[2:29:15] something that we want to get more
[2:29:17] questions about and would there be a
[2:29:19] benefit not only to the town, the
[2:29:21] taxpayer, but also to the employees. The
[2:29:24] premium on this brown bronze six, okay,
[2:29:28] is a 7% increase. Where they make it up,
[2:29:32] and they always do find a way to get it,
[2:29:34] is in the higher deductible. So, if we
[2:29:36] were to try to project what the
[2:29:38] utilization is, right? And here, um,
[2:29:42] they always run for us 100% [snorts] or
[2:29:46] 60%.
[2:29:47] Okay? If we were to use a more typical
[2:29:50] 60% utilization that we would end up
[2:29:53] with a 6% increase and then we'd want to
[2:29:57] understand what if any changes or
[2:30:00] differences in the coverage between
[2:30:02] these two plans because the basics that
[2:30:06] are put on this menu plate look like
[2:30:08] it's just as good if not better coverage
[2:30:11] for them. So, we could ask of our our
[2:30:16] health uh broker to compare and contrast
[2:30:20] these two and to dive deeper into it.
[2:30:23] >> Well, if we're if we originally said
[2:30:24] we're trying to narrow it down to four,
[2:30:26] why don't we just give them the p this page that has all of the MVPs
[2:30:30] compared to the current
[2:30:31] >> because there may and get union there
[2:30:33] may be other options. It's important for
[2:30:36] us to understand the pros and cons also
[2:30:39] of different characters. My point is I
[2:30:41] don't think we can understand the pros
[2:30:42] and cons because I think it's dependent
[2:30:43] on the families that are involved and
[2:30:45] who their doctors are. So e like either
[2:30:47] give them all three pages or or if we're
[2:30:51] going to narrow it down to four are we
[2:30:54] saying we're narrowing it down to four
[2:30:55] MVPs or we're narrowing it down to four
[2:30:58] of different choices.
[2:31:01] What I'm saying is that if we could
[2:31:02] narrow down to a handful
[2:31:05] instead of the three pages worth and
[2:31:07] then we can inquire from our health
[2:31:09] insurance brokers to contrast the plans
[2:31:13] including our existing plan. Then we
[2:31:16] could have a better idea. Some of this
[2:31:18] we can do ourselves. We can simply look
[2:31:20] at the ones that have these larger
[2:31:22] co-pays and we can throw them out,
[2:31:25] narrow it down. We can make a better
[2:31:27] educated decision. We could ask about
[2:31:31] the other providers including United
[2:31:34] Healthcare, CDPHP. We used to be with
[2:31:37] CDPHP
[2:31:38] and contrast
[2:31:40] um what's what's available right now on
[2:31:43] page one unless anyone else sees uh
[2:31:48] another option. I don't think that we
[2:31:50] should explore any other option except
[2:31:53] for our existing one and this bronze 6
[2:31:57] HSA and uh because it does give the
[2:32:01] level of coverage that they have. The
[2:32:04] risk is that if there were to be 100%
[2:32:06] utilization, it could conceivably be
[2:32:10] perhaps a little bit more expensive, but
[2:32:13] it's rare that the entire covered
[2:32:16] employee pool uses 100% of the HR.
[2:32:22] That make sense?
[2:32:28] Okay, that's the first page. So maybe we
[2:32:30] could ask for a verb to contrast bronze
[2:32:34] six with silver eight. [clears throat]
[2:32:35] Okay.
[2:32:37] Agree. Yes.
[2:32:39] >> I I I don't agree. I don't I don't I
[2:32:41] don't feel like I have enough
[2:32:42] information to to make this decision and I feel like it's only three pages. I think I would rather get feedback from
[2:32:49] the employees that are using this rather
[2:32:51] than narrow it down for them.
[2:32:54] >> Okay, we can do that, too.
[2:32:58] All right. On the second page, we have a
[2:33:00] United Healthcare, their silver choice
[2:33:03] uh option has lower uh deductibles,
[2:33:07] 8% increase, but there are um some
[2:33:12] co-pays. Some are low. Don't that
[2:33:14] doesn't look like comparable to me. The
[2:33:17] next column, HD, HP, EPO,
[2:33:25] a little higher on the deductibles.
[2:33:33] coverage looks somewhat comparable.
[2:33:37] Uh the specialist visit
[2:33:41] need some clarification on that.
[2:33:49] » I mean that's a good point. These are
[2:33:50] also summaries.
[2:33:51] >> Yeah. These are not like all the
[2:33:53] details. So, so in a particular family,
[2:33:56] if you have a certain need and you need
[2:33:59] to research it and come back with
[2:34:00] feedback, it's like this is a small
[2:34:02] community. This is like
[2:34:06] >> Well, that's what I'm saying. If we can
[2:34:07] narrow it down, we can get greater
[2:34:09] details and we can
[2:34:10] >> it's already narrowed down. It's only
[2:34:11] three pages,
[2:34:13] >> but we don't want the employees to have
[2:34:15] to go through 20 options. we can trim it
[2:34:17] down to the things we know that are
[2:34:18] comparable and then ask for more
[2:34:20] information then present.
[2:34:22] >> I mean in my opinion in my opinion the
[2:34:24] chart is very is is is presented in a
[2:34:26] very reasonable way. It's understood
[2:34:28] what the current plan is and what the
[2:34:30] other options are and it would be good
[2:34:31] to get feedback and then make a decision
[2:34:34] knowing the feedback of who it's
[2:34:36] affecting.
[2:34:37] >> Okay. So why don't we do both of those
[2:34:39] things then we can send this entire
[2:34:41] thing to the employees and to the union
[2:34:44] to get their feedback and perhaps we can
[2:34:46] narrow down for our own thinking and get
[2:34:48] from our health insurance broker um some
[2:34:52] more specifics. You know what I think
[2:34:54] would be reasonable to your point,
[2:34:56] Robert, is to say to to have a an an
[2:34:59] intro when you send this to say, "Here
[2:35:02] is our opinion that this looks like the
[2:35:06] same coverage that you're getting, but
[2:35:08] here are the options that are available.
[2:35:13] What do you think?"
[2:35:15] Okay.
[2:35:17] Um, so on United Healthcare, the uh one
[2:35:22] the only one that I see that looks
[2:35:25] comparable would be the silver
[2:35:29] EP3Z, but we'd want to get more
[2:35:31] information from our healthcare broker.
[2:35:35] Um, I did discuss with her. She
[2:35:38] mentioned that United Health Care is
[2:35:40] making an aggressive play for the region
[2:35:44] and is coming in with um some really
[2:35:47] good rates. Um but yes, we would want to
[2:35:51] understand who covers United Healthcare
[2:35:53] before we were going to go ahead and
[2:35:56] make that switch. Okay.
[2:35:59] So, uh, on this page, um, others there
[2:36:04] are smaller co-pays,
[2:36:08] but it doesn't look comparable to me.
[2:36:10] So, so far, unless you all disagree, the
[2:36:15] only ones that I see worthy of further
[2:36:17] explanation uh exploration of the bronze
[2:36:20] six and the
[2:36:25] uh silver choice open access
[2:36:29] we'd want to get more information on or
[2:36:32] comparable. And then on our third page
[2:36:37] would be the CDPHP which was the one we
[2:36:40] did have previously
[2:36:44] 100% coverage.
[2:36:47] >> So are we agreeing that we could send
[2:36:49] this these three pages and highlight
[2:36:51] those plans that you just mentioned and
[2:36:53] say
[2:36:54] >> well I don't think we're finished going
[2:36:56] over them yet Christine
[2:36:58] >> that's fine but I want to agree on what
[2:37:00] we're doing. Okay, let's get through
[2:37:02] this and then we'll agree on what we're
[2:37:04] doing. Okay. Um, this will be the third
[2:37:07] one.
[2:37:08] >> Oh, shoot.
[2:37:11] Is the CDPH
[2:37:13] plan
[2:37:15] EPO,
[2:37:17] right? 100% coverage,
[2:37:20] higher annual deductible. So, but there
[2:37:25] I'm not sure there's a lot of savings to
[2:37:27] be had.
[2:37:35] But these things, Robert, these things
[2:37:37] are these are summaries and these depend
[2:37:39] on like you got to really go through the
[2:37:41] details of what's of what's covered. It
[2:37:44] it's very complicated and and and it
[2:37:46] can't be simplified in a chart. And I
[2:37:48] think that our best move is to highlight
[2:37:51] a few of them and say this is this is
[2:37:53] our best assessment based on the summary
[2:37:55] that we're looking at.
[2:37:56] >> Christina, I think you've made that
[2:37:58] point.
[2:37:59] I I I think you've already made that
[2:38:01] point and and we can entertain that to
[2:38:04] send it and highlight the three. I think
[2:38:06] I've reiterated that that would be
[2:38:08] advisable. If we want to send all all of
[2:38:11] the plans to them to look at even though
[2:38:14] many of them aren't comparable coverage,
[2:38:16] we can do that. But I think we need to
[2:38:18] narrow down for our benefit what we want
[2:38:21] to get additional information on because
[2:38:23] I don't want to get additional
[2:38:25] information on you know whatever this is
[2:38:28] 20 different plans or 15 different
[2:38:30] plans. It's too much wasted time. I
[2:38:33] don't need to know the details of a plan
[2:38:35] that doesn't provide them the
[2:38:36] appropriate coverage.
[2:38:39] So with that being said, can we uh is do
[2:38:44] those three make sense for further
[2:38:46] exploration or compare our existing?
[2:38:50] >> So you're saying so you're saying the
[2:38:51] silvery so the existing is the
[2:38:53] highlighted blue which is which you're
[2:38:55] saying next to that the renewal plan cuz
[2:38:58] the current plan doesn't exist anymore.
[2:39:00] The the one that's highlighted in blue.
[2:39:02] So we're saying the comparable renewal
[2:39:04] plan is the one to the directly to the
[2:39:08] right of that.
[2:39:09] >> That is the existing plan. Each year you
[2:39:13] find that there are changes like the
[2:39:15] deductible amount has gone up um as it
[2:39:18] often does each year. That is the same
[2:39:21] plan.
[2:39:22] >> The most comparable plan, but it's not
[2:39:24] the same plan.
[2:39:27] That is
[2:39:28] >> it has the same name silver eight but
[2:39:30] it's not it's not the same
[2:39:32] >> right.
[2:39:33] >> So you're saying you're saying
[2:39:34] >> this year's iteration
[2:39:35] >> this year's silver eight.
[2:39:36] >> Yes.
[2:39:37] >> You said this year's bronze six and what
[2:39:40] was the third one?
[2:39:42] >> Uh the bronze 6 and then the only one
[2:39:47] with United Healthcare that looked
[2:39:50] somewhat comparable
[2:39:54] >> is the EP3Z.
[2:39:57] Silver.
[2:39:59] >> Uh,
[2:40:01] sorry.
[2:40:04] >> No. Was the silver choice open access?
[2:40:07] >> Yeah.
[2:40:07] >> Also highlighted dark flow.
[2:40:09] >> It's EP3Z,
[2:40:11] >> right?
[2:40:11] >> Open access. And and and why that one
[2:40:14] versus versus the uh the other United?
[2:40:19] >> It's the only one that's comparable that
[2:40:20] has the coverage after deduction.
[2:40:21] >> It has the 100%
[2:40:23] >> after.
[2:40:24] >> Got it. Okay. Right,
[2:40:26] >> that makes sense.
[2:40:27] >> Okay, so we would do um that one, that
[2:40:32] one, and then the last one would be the
[2:40:34] CDPHP one. Also highlighted blue. I
[2:40:38] imagine that's why they highlighted that
[2:40:40] dark photos. They wanted to highlight
[2:40:42] for us that these look
[2:40:46] comparable.
[2:40:47] >> So you're So you're So primarily what
[2:40:50] you're after is 100% after deductible
[2:40:52] because the town covers the deductible.
[2:40:54] >> That's right. So we would like to
[2:40:56] provide them with that important cover,
[2:40:59] take away some of the surprises.
[2:41:04] They would know and
[2:41:06] >> I I I think that makes sense. I I I
[2:41:08] still would present them with the whole
[2:41:10] chart because I I think it's important.
[2:41:12] >> I think we can do that.
[2:41:18] » Okay.
[2:41:20] Um, any others that we should ask for
[2:41:23] more drill down on?
[2:41:27] » No, I don't think so.
[2:41:29] >> Okay. So, I'd like to make a motion that
[2:41:30] we go ahead and uh ask of our insurance
[2:41:34] broker to contrast those four plans to
[2:41:36] pass on the uh uh menu that they
[2:41:41] initially provided to both uh the union
[2:41:44] and the employees to take a look at. And
[2:41:47] then once we get the information on the
[2:41:49] contract back from our uh health
[2:41:52] insurance brokers that we could also
[2:41:55] then provide that to both the union and
[2:41:57] the employees so they can take a look at
[2:42:00] and then we should be prepared on our
[2:42:02] January 28th meeting. you know, if we
[2:42:05] can to make a decision. Um, we'll
[2:42:07] receive that input on which plan, maybe
[2:42:11] we could run some
[2:42:14] scenarios so that, uh, folks can get a
[2:42:17] sense of what the implications are
[2:42:18] because I think as Teresa alluded to, we
[2:42:22] want to make sure that they're not just
[2:42:23] running in place, um, when they get an
[2:42:26] increase in their salary. Um and then
[2:42:30] the health insurance increase eats most
[2:42:33] if not all of that up. Um that said that
[2:42:38] um certain employees that have overtime
[2:42:41] in 2025 and and uh ongoing
[2:42:45] um have benefited from that uh provision
[2:42:49] in the tax code that does not tax uh
[2:42:53] over time. So, um there is thankfully um
[2:42:58] that to help offset
[2:43:01] as well.
[2:43:03] >> Okay. Um sound like the plan.
[2:43:06] >> Yes.
[2:43:07] >> Okay.
[2:43:10] >> Yep. [cough and clears throat]
[2:43:12] >> All right. Let's go on.
[2:43:14] >> You made a motion.
[2:43:15] >> Well, I I made a motion. Yeah. Let's go
[2:43:18] ahead and move to do so.
[2:43:21] >> But we're not actually It's not actually
[2:43:22] a motion. We're We're not deciding
[2:43:24] anything. We're just We're just
[2:43:26] >> sort of being clear with the public that
[2:43:27] we're doing.
[2:43:29] That's all.
[2:43:30] >> Sure. Okay.
[2:43:32] >> Should we do an all in favor of that?
[2:43:36] >> All in favor?
[2:43:38] >> I
[2:43:41] thank you. Um
[2:43:48] got a couple of article seven
[2:43:50] resolutions.
[2:43:53] Um let's go back to annual reorgarch. So
[2:43:56] tonight what I would hope we could
[2:43:58] accomplish is to assign
[2:44:02] um the le liaison roles [clears throat]
[2:44:07] uh for the various board members to
[2:44:14] the departments of the committees.
[2:44:18] And then the next step is for
[2:44:22] uh that liaison to reach out to the
[2:44:24] committee chairs and ask them to reach
[2:44:27] out to their members to see who's
[2:44:30] interested in staying on um in the
[2:44:33] committee and then we can publish once
[2:44:35] we get those findings we can publish the
[2:44:37] vacancies and then people can send their
[2:44:40] email of interest to the town clerk's
[2:44:43] office and uh typically what happens is
[2:44:47] an interested an individual meets then
[2:44:50] with the chairperson of that committee
[2:44:52] and they discuss what you know what the
[2:44:55] committees are like and whether they're
[2:44:56] interested and we get a recommendation
[2:44:59] from the chair of that uh board or
[2:45:03] committee to include them um as a member
[2:45:07] >> I'm going to just interrupt for a moment
[2:45:09] I'm going to be leaving Thank you
[2:45:11] everyone I left two copies of the 284
[2:45:14] agreement with Deanna
[2:45:15] >> and if you sign tonight then I'll come
[2:45:18] into the office tomorrow and get it and
[2:45:20] sign it and do what we need to do with
[2:45:22] the copies. But thank you very much
[2:45:25] >> Teresa.
[2:45:26] >> Okay. Um
[2:45:33] so town board appointments. This is a
[2:45:36] draft dated on the 9th. Um this draft
[2:45:40] includes the previous council members um
[2:45:44] emergency interim successors. Uh
[2:45:47] typically the supervisor, highway
[2:45:49] superintendent. [clears throat] Um and
[2:45:51] then it was three uh town board members.
[2:45:56] Uh Bill as deputy supervisor be
[2:45:59] appropriate that you be there. Jacob,
[2:46:01] anybody else want to be an emergency
[2:46:04] inter room successor?
[2:46:08] So, you know, Kenny.
[2:46:10] >> Yeah.
[2:46:13] >> Okay. So, let's uh put Kenny in that
[2:46:16] space if that works.
[2:46:19] All right.
[2:46:21] Um
[2:46:24] All right. The date we have for Cheryl has been reappointed probably
[2:46:29] should reflect 2031
[2:46:34] on this draft.
[2:46:36] >> Yeah. Got it. Okay. Um, animal control,
[2:46:39] dog control officer. We had Patricia
[2:46:41] who's our dog control officer. Now we
[2:46:44] had two in that role. We now have one.
[2:46:47] That's a change from previously.
[2:46:49] [clears throat]
[2:46:50] Um, the supervisor's appointment. So,
[2:46:52] there are appointments that only count
[2:46:54] clerks make and appointments that only
[2:46:56] supervisors make. Um,
[2:47:00] the deputy supervisor is Bill Hamill. It
[2:47:02] says budget officer and myself, but it's
[2:47:05] not really appointment. I don't appoint
[2:47:07] myself. I I am the budget officer unless
[2:47:10] I appoint somebody else, but that
[2:47:12] doesn't stay there. It makes no matter.
[2:47:15] Um secretary part-time Kathleen Flood,
[2:47:18] town historian, or as I like to tease
[2:47:21] her, town hertorian, Emily Major, who um
[2:47:24] is also the village of Tivoli Mayor.
[2:47:29] >> Um town clerk's appointments. Any
[2:47:31] changes there? Deanna. Okay.
[2:47:35] um highway superintendent appointments.
[2:47:37] I asked the Teresa I know she's left but
[2:47:40] um she's uh appointing again for 2026
[2:47:44] John Gardner as deputy. Um other town
[2:47:47] employees are listed [clears throat]
[2:47:49] here. Uh we made uh changes to the strap
[2:47:52] just based upon the maintenance and
[2:47:54] grounds for crew
[2:47:59] contracts and consultants. Um, there's a
[2:48:02] new name.
[2:48:09] I think it's official. Uh, Professional
[2:48:12] Computer Associates will want to make
[2:48:13] the change. Uh, Deanna, maybe on this
[2:48:15] list at our next meeting. I think it's
[2:48:18] in
[2:48:19] >> Yeah, I don't know how to spell it.
[2:48:20] >> GX or something like that.
[2:48:22] >> Yeah, I don't know how to spell it. I'll
[2:48:23] have to
[2:48:24] >> Did PCA change believe so they bought
[2:48:28] it?
[2:48:28] >> The name of it. It's a new company name.
[2:48:30] Oh, okay.
[2:48:32] >> I think had or had or having or had a
[2:48:37] replic
[2:48:38] um town CPA, custodial services, police
[2:48:42] and court attendants, that's all the
[2:48:44] same. Um there's a notation from 2014. A
[2:48:49] lot of the
[2:48:52] protocols are based upon
[2:48:55] historic.
[2:48:57] Um we have the meetings. We've discussed
[2:48:59] that and uh we'll continue to discuss
[2:49:02] that monthly and annual reports to the
[2:49:05] town board, heads and committee chairs,
[2:49:07] minutes report. Um like to get them the
[2:49:10] noon before Friday so we can put them in
[2:49:12] the packet doesn't always happen. Um
[2:49:17] there's annual reports by recognition
[2:49:19] and the CAC
[2:49:23] town board organizational responsibility
[2:49:26] that's the uh chain
[2:49:28] If you will
[2:49:31] stop me if uh you have any questions
[2:49:34] mileage that's the IRS rate town
[2:49:37] department head deputy supervisor town
[2:49:41] board.
[2:49:43] >> So here we go to our alias on roles. Um
[2:49:48] >> wasn't Christine on planning board or
[2:49:50] was that you Bill?
[2:49:52] >> We both were.
[2:49:53] >> Okay.
[2:49:53] >> So when she dropped off I I took it.
[2:49:56] >> I see. Okay. Um,
[2:49:57] >> can can we just go in in the order that
[2:50:00] it's on the list, please?
[2:50:02] >> Um, animal control uh, Bill, uh, you
[2:50:06] you've been very kind to do animal
[2:50:09] control all these
[2:50:10] >> for six years.
[2:50:11] >> Is that how long? Six years. Okay.
[2:50:14] >> Um, are you willing to stay on doing
[2:50:16] that?
[2:50:16] >> I would prefer not to.
[2:50:18] >> Okay.
[2:50:19] >> Yeah.
[2:50:20] >> What kind of animals?
[2:50:22] >> Just dogs. So, just it's just dogs.
[2:50:25] by law they call animal control.
[2:50:27] >> Occasionally there's something else in
[2:50:28] the report. It's mostly dogs.
[2:50:30] >> And and when the contract was with the
[2:50:32] SPCA, it truly was all animals.
[2:50:35] >> But by law, we only are responsible for
[2:50:38] dogs because we licensed them.
[2:50:40] >> Okay.
[2:50:41] >> Um but the issue was when the SPCA about
[2:50:44] two and a half years ago decided they
[2:50:47] were no longer going to do animal
[2:50:49] control for anybody in Duchess County. A
[2:50:52] lot of a lot of towns got uh were left
[2:50:54] flatfooted.
[2:50:56] We all had to figure out a way to stand
[2:50:58] up the dog control situation. So, we
[2:51:01] partnered with Reinbeck
[2:51:03] to not just have animal control
[2:51:06] officers, but they actually have a
[2:51:07] kennel at their highway department.
[2:51:10] And so, we partnering isn't technically
[2:51:14] legally the right way to describe it,
[2:51:16] but we because we share the same animal
[2:51:19] control officer or dog control. It's a
[2:51:21] DC, a dog control officer. And the dog
[2:51:24] control officer actually resides in
[2:51:25] Rankliffe.
[2:51:27] Things have been and it's taken a while
[2:51:29] to get up to speed, but we finally have
[2:51:31] a
[2:51:33] um something in place that seems to be
[2:51:35] working. There's still some things to
[2:51:37] work out, but um it was a lot of work
[2:51:41] getting it stood up and I'm
[2:51:44] >> So you do a lot of you do a lot of
[2:51:46] coordinating with the
[2:51:49] >> the village police, right? Because a lot
[2:51:51] of times they get the first call.
[2:51:53] >> Yeah. Often often Pat's um staff are the
[2:51:57] first ones on the scene and they pick up
[2:51:58] the dog and they actually have the key,
[2:52:01] the code to get into the kennel. So
[2:52:03] sometimes they actually just bring the
[2:52:04] dog to the kennel and then notify the
[2:52:07] dog control officer who then goes and
[2:52:08] right
[2:52:09] >> does what needs to be done.
[2:52:11] >> So you whoever does this would be
[2:52:13] coordinating with that or at least be in
[2:52:15] touch with that.
[2:52:16] >> So how much time does this take?
[2:52:19] >> Well in the past
[2:52:20] >> there's a lot sounded like a lot but
[2:52:22] >> but now it's it's it's more under
[2:52:24] control and the only time that there's a
[2:52:25] situation um the dog control officers
[2:52:28] getting up to speed I mean these are
[2:52:29] people that never did it for a living
[2:52:31] before but now they are. And so they're
[2:52:33] learning all the rules is we had an
[2:52:35] unusual circumstance um that happened
[2:52:38] recently in which there was a number of
[2:52:40] dogs that all belong to one person
[2:52:43] >> that got loose.
[2:52:45] >> Um but
[2:52:48] we worked it out and and the village PD
[2:52:50] did a great job of helping get them
[2:52:52] getting them coralled and taken to the
[2:52:54] kennel,
[2:52:54] >> right?
[2:52:55] >> And then we worked on a project to find
[2:52:58] a way to get them adopted out. So that
[2:53:00] was an anomaly.
[2:53:02] Um, you know, the issue that you get
[2:53:04] calls on is we're only authorized to pay
[2:53:08] a vet a certain amount of money and say
[2:53:10] a dog was hit by a car and abandoned,
[2:53:13] >> right?
[2:53:14] >> You know, we still have an obligation to
[2:53:16] pick up the dog and then make a decision
[2:53:19] what we're going to do,
[2:53:21] >> right?
[2:53:22] >> It doesn't happen very often.
[2:53:23] >> So, Patricia Wayne is the dog
[2:53:25] >> is the dog control officer.
[2:53:27] >> So, you're in contact with her?
[2:53:28] >> Yeah. She calls me when there's an
[2:53:31] unusual circumstance and I can tell you
[2:53:34] she has a lot more business south here
[2:53:37] in Rinbeck than they than they do have
[2:53:39] here. But but you occasionally get a
[2:53:41] call um saying you know what do you
[2:53:44] think about this?
[2:53:45] >> Okay.
[2:53:45] >> And then there are some things that have
[2:53:47] to go to the supervisor um you know it's
[2:53:49] an [snorts] emergency and you know do we
[2:53:52] take the dog to the hospital in Kingston
[2:53:54] or does it have to be euthanized? I
[2:53:57] mean, I had to make that decision once,
[2:53:59] >> right?
[2:54:00] >> So, um, but that it's infrequent.
[2:54:03] >> Um, and I'm I feel I'm setting up
[2:54:05] myself.
[2:54:07] >> Kenny, you you would be making a phone
[2:54:09] call to Pat. Maybe you have his number.
[2:54:11] >> Yeah.
[2:54:14] [laughter]
[2:54:15] >> This may be an easy one.
[2:54:17] >> Yeah, I'll I'll take it on.
[2:54:18] >> Okay.
[2:54:19] >> Thank you, Kenny.
[2:54:20] >> But I wanted to be on some other ones.
[2:54:21] >> Thank you. I'd end up adopting all of
[2:54:24] them, so that's better.
[2:54:26] Um,
[2:54:27] >> and the like I got to tell you, the only
[2:54:29] animals that I I'd like to have are the
[2:54:30] ones you eat.
[2:54:33] >> Okay.
[2:54:36] >> I don't want any.
[2:54:38] >> Not at this time. Maybe you want I don't
[2:54:40] drive anymore.
[2:54:42] >> Anyway,
[2:54:43] >> all right.
[2:54:43] >> I appreciate that, Kenny, very much.
[2:54:45] >> Yeah. Next.
[2:54:46] >> And and I listen, I'm more than happy to
[2:54:48] help you.
[2:54:49] >> Okay.
[2:54:50] >> Get acquainted to how this process
[2:54:52] works.
[2:54:53] >> Okay. Thank you. think you can um uh
[2:54:57] assessor um you'll notice that the town
[2:54:59] supervisor typically is the less on to a
[2:55:02] lot of the positions that are in town
[2:55:04] hall for obvious logistical reasons. Um
[2:55:09] so was I have assessor attorney um I am
[2:55:12] the leaders on the bark college um I
[2:55:16] have you know been for many years now um
[2:55:20] bookkeeper is a is actually a position
[2:55:22] that is
[2:55:25] for the town supervisor um building
[2:55:28] inspector
[2:55:30] um to build
[2:55:31] >> I'm I'm happy to keep it or if somebody
[2:55:33] else is interested
[2:55:35] >> I'm happy to take I mean that's that's
[2:55:37] in my wheelhouse So, Bill, I'm happy to
[2:55:39] take it on if you if you want.
[2:55:43] >> Yeah, it's actually a very um there's no
[2:55:46] heavy lifting
[2:55:48] uh to be that liaison. You get a the
[2:55:50] only the only heavy lifting is the
[2:55:51] report is the biggest report every month
[2:55:53] that we get. It's like
[2:55:54] >> a half an inch thick.
[2:55:56] >> Okay.
[2:55:56] >> Um but there's really [clears throat] um
[2:55:59] not much. So, if you want, it's
[2:56:02] important for the public to know and
[2:56:03] certainly for our new town board members
[2:56:05] as well. There's a wall. There's a wall
[2:56:09] between the boards. There's a wall
[2:56:10] between the independent offices. That's
[2:56:13] the assessor. That's the building
[2:56:15] department. There's the planning board.
[2:56:17] There's the town clerk's office. There's
[2:56:20] the highway superintendent. They're all
[2:56:21] independent uh offices. and um they have
[2:56:25] a role to play Korean uh fear of
[2:56:29] influence of of decision making. That's their their job to do. Um so, you
[2:56:37] know, when it comes to building
[2:56:39] inspector, when when you're liazing with
[2:56:41] it, it's not you're not really
[2:56:43] [clears throat]
[2:56:44] um influencing anything that building
[2:56:46] inspector does. You're getting reports
[2:56:48] and seeing if they you know, you'll hear
[2:56:51] and you'll hear from the building
[2:56:52] department. We actually are now trying
[2:56:54] to figure out a bigger space and
[2:56:56] reconfiguring the town hall for example.
[2:56:58] Those are the kind of liaison things.
[2:57:00] They're not related to
[2:57:02] >> but if you have questions if you have
[2:57:04] questions just send an email
[2:57:06] or call and they'll be happy to happy to
[2:57:08] do it.
[2:57:09] >> So we'll make that change. Building
[2:57:10] inspector Christine Duch
[2:57:13] uh fire companies. I have been doing the
[2:57:15] fire companies. Um I'm happy to do it.
[2:57:19] um
[2:57:21] would like to do it, continue to do it.
[2:57:24] Um it's been a passion of mine. I think
[2:57:26] I started out as a citizen
[2:57:29] campaigning for the LOSA program in 2007
[2:57:33] doing mailings because I felt so
[2:57:34] strongly about our fire companies and I'
[2:57:38] I'd be happy to continue that work. Um
[2:57:41] highway Jacob
[2:57:43] >> happy to continue doing it.
[2:57:44] >> Okay.
[2:57:47] Recycling
[2:57:49] uh who could or could not continue with
[2:57:51] that. What? Whatever. Anybody have a
[2:57:53] strong passion for that? Well,
[2:57:55] >> you were there a lot.
[2:57:56] >> I'm there twice a week.
[2:57:57] >> You want this? You want to change it?
[2:57:59] >> Yeah, I can take that. Um, you know, TJ
[2:58:02] has traditionally come to me anyway.
[2:58:05] >> Yeah, cuz you're there.
[2:58:06] >> Cuz I'm there if there are issues, you
[2:58:08] know. So,
[2:58:10] >> not on an operational basis. That's you
[2:58:12] like if they have to close for weather
[2:58:14] or whatever, but um
[2:58:16] >> on other issues. Yeah. Yeah.
[2:58:18] >> Uh, Red Hook Central School District.
[2:58:20] No, I've already forgotten who was the
[2:58:22] le if it was Julie or Christine.
[2:58:25] >> I have a question on that one. And the
[2:58:27] village of Red Hook,
[2:58:28] >> are those do the liaison need to go to
[2:58:31] each meeting?
[2:58:33] >> Um, so for these, no, but for the board
[2:58:36] and committee ones, yes. But for these,
[2:58:39] no. This is who's the person who is
[2:58:41] going to help communicate between the
[2:58:45] various uh entities in the community. So
[2:58:50] um in answer to your question, no, but
[2:58:52] there's no point of being the liaison if
[2:58:55] you're if you're not engaging on some
[2:58:57] level, right? Does that make sense?
[2:58:59] >> Yeah.
[2:59:00] >> Okay.
[2:59:01] >> I mean, if we're splitting this up, I I would prefer to do the village, but
[2:59:07] I'll do either. Um,
[2:59:09] >> I mean there's like I mean I'm looking
[2:59:11] at the list. We're
[2:59:13] >> Yeah.
[2:59:13] >> Right.
[2:59:14] >> Yeah. Um,
[2:59:17] anybody else wanted to develop?
[2:59:19] >> Oh, right.
[2:59:20] >> Yeah.
[2:59:21] >> Okay. Uh, sure. Right. [snorts]
[2:59:26] >> You want to do both?
[2:59:28] >> I mean, I I'll do both.
[2:59:31] >> Well, careful what you wish. I mean,
[2:59:33] [laughter] the one thing I would say
[2:59:34] >> I will do both. I will do both. Yeah.
[2:59:36] >> I mean, the only thing I would say,
[2:59:38] Christine, I don't I don't want to fight
[2:59:39] you for this the the school district.
[2:59:42] Um, but I am in monthly meetings with
[2:59:44] them.
[2:59:44] >> Yeah.
[2:59:46] >> I'm happy.
[2:59:46] >> Is that something you can do?
[2:59:48] >> Um, if you're in monthly meetings with
[2:59:51] them, then then you should probably do
[2:59:53] it.
[2:59:53] >> Okay. I was more looking at Kenny and
[2:59:56] saying if like I don't want to I don't
[2:59:57] want to cut him out, but I think
[3:00:01] >> the village
[3:00:02] >> we want to make sure Penny
[3:00:05] >> gets lots. [clears throat]
[3:00:07] >> Well, I've got three four on the bottom,
[3:00:09] >> right? Okay.
[3:00:10] >> Yep.
[3:00:11] >> So, all right. So, I think we've
[3:00:12] established Robert will do school
[3:00:14] district. Christina will do village of
[3:00:17] Red Hook.
[3:00:17] >> Yes.
[3:00:18] >> Okay. And you have a business in
[3:00:20] village. That's great. Um, agriculture
[3:00:23] and open space advisory board.
[3:00:26] >> Yeah.
[3:00:28] >> Kenny, do you have a background in
[3:00:30] agriculture and open space? Okay. Uh,
[3:00:34] board of assessment review. Again, that
[3:00:37] has been me. Uh, board of ethics. Jacob,
[3:00:40] you'll continue with that. You haven't
[3:00:42] continued with that. CPF PDR advisory
[3:00:45] committee.
[3:00:47] >> Okay. Anybody else want that? Okay.
[3:00:50] Kenny, thank you.
[3:00:52] >> Um,
[3:00:54] >> CAC, Jacob, you're doing that. Design
[3:00:56] review is from time to time. Bill,
[3:00:59] you've been doing
[3:01:00] >> I've been doing it. They don't meet I
[3:01:01] don't think I've they've had a meeting
[3:01:03] since I've been a while. They get
[3:01:05] referred.
[3:01:06] >> They get an occasional referral.
[3:01:07] >> Be nice if they meet, you know, once a
[3:01:10] year.
[3:01:11] >> I mean, I'll just say when we're going
[3:01:12] down this list, the two that I would I
[3:01:14] would have the most interested in would
[3:01:15] be Design Review and LWRP.
[3:01:18] But I'm happy to fill in as needed.
[3:01:21] >> Okay. Well, why don't we uh
[3:01:24] >> Well, if you want design review, I I
[3:01:27] don't have a problem.
[3:01:28] >> Okay. Okay.
[3:01:29] >> Um but because I'm the liazison for the
[3:01:33] planning board, which is the LWRP.
[3:01:36] >> True.
[3:01:36] >> It it makes sense.
[3:01:38] >> That does make sense
[3:01:39] >> that I would do that. So, if you want if
[3:01:41] you want design review.
[3:01:42] >> Okay.
[3:01:44] >> Um
[3:01:46] >> Right. Okay. So can we make that
[3:01:48] interesting for design review
[3:01:50] >> disaster preparedness committee?
[3:01:53] >> Is that
[3:01:54] >> we need to get that up and running
[3:01:56] again?
[3:01:56] >> Is that in case like an EMP hits and uh
[3:02:00] you know we lose we lose power for like
[3:02:02] two months.
[3:02:03] >> We have issues with
[3:02:04] >> anybody read the book one second after.
[3:02:06] >> Yeah.
[3:02:08] >> So
[3:02:09] >> something to think about. Well, we're
[3:02:11] talking about we're going to be talking
[3:02:12] about battery storage best battery
[3:02:15] energy, although it's not been a fun topic over in Nolster
[3:02:20] right now and it's, you know, again
[3:02:24] very sight specific. Um,
[3:02:26] >> right.
[3:02:27] >> So, uh,
[3:02:32] disaster preparedness, we need to get
[3:02:34] that back up and running.
[3:02:36] >> I'll think about
[3:02:37] >> You'll think about Okay. Yeah. We don't
[3:02:38] have to do this right this second. Okay.
[3:02:40] >> As leaison.
[3:02:41] >> So, yeah, as liaison. Yeah. Um, energy
[3:02:44] committee. I want to stick with that.
[3:02:48] We're still the only town I know that
[3:02:50] has the energy one
[3:02:55] when I started.
[3:02:57] Um, Greenway and Trails. Who was that?
[3:03:00] Julia?
[3:03:01] >> So, it was Christine. Okay.
[3:03:03] >> Although I think the committee always
[3:03:05] emailed me because they thought that I
[3:03:06] was the
[3:03:08] >> and I'm happy to take it on. Um,
[3:03:09] >> okay.
[3:03:10] >> You know, I've attended a meeting before
[3:03:12] and
[3:03:12] >> Okay. You guys work well with that.
[3:03:14] >> I I attended a few meetings also.
[3:03:16] >> Okay.
[3:03:17] >> Um, well, what? Uh, Jacob, can we can we
[3:03:25] scissors?
[3:03:26] >> Yeah. You guys want to rock, paper,
[3:03:27] scissors, Jacob?
[3:03:28] >> And Kenny, do you feel really strongly
[3:03:29] that you want to do it? You're welcome.
[3:03:32] >> About trails, screaming trails. Okay.
[3:03:34] Yeah, [laughter]
[3:03:36] >> I'm happy to do it as well,
[3:03:37] >> but I might I might go to those.
[3:03:39] >> Yeah, and I think that's a good point.
[3:03:41] We're all welcome to I mean, it's nice
[3:03:42] to attend these meetings even if you're
[3:03:44] not the leazison just to get to know
[3:03:45] what they're working on.
[3:03:46] >> I just want to remind you some of you
[3:03:48] mentioned good nights and bad nights.
[3:03:51] There's a lot of nights on your calendar
[3:03:52] that are filling up right now with with
[3:03:55] your yes uh indications.
[3:03:58] >> Um
[3:04:01] housing checkup, you going to stick with
[3:04:03] that? Okay, Bill, you've already asked
[3:04:05] for LWRP and your rationale for that.
[3:04:08] Fine. Planning board bill. Uh,
[3:04:11] recreation committee. Yes, I'm here with
[3:04:13] the rec director every day. Uh, Red
[3:04:17] Church Cemetery Committee, that's sort
[3:04:19] of a once in a blue moon, although we
[3:04:21] will be hopefully um doing some events.
[3:04:24] Uh, it's uh Rev 250, 250th anniversary.
[3:04:29] There is no more
[3:04:32] um
[3:04:34] struggling for words but primitive
[3:04:37] church
[3:04:39] in our immediate area than the beautiful
[3:04:42] red church.
[3:04:44] We have civil
[3:04:45] >> revolutionary war
[3:04:46] >> and we have warrior
[3:04:49] >> I think what did they identify 13
[3:04:52] >> I think it was 14
[3:04:53] >> was it [clears throat]
[3:04:55] >> they're still identified
[3:04:58] um okay uh
[3:05:01] >> who's going to take
[3:05:02] >> I'm going to take that cuz I'm going to
[3:05:04] have to coordinate events and all that
[3:05:05] stuff and the schedules with John and
[3:05:08] whatever that's okay I take that all
[3:05:10] right
[3:05:12] Jacob still speak for the trees.
[3:05:14] >> Sure.
[3:05:15] >> Okay. And then water and ZBA
[3:05:18] bill you are existing here.
[3:05:21] >> I know there's one um that's not on this
[3:05:24] list that is below I think
[3:05:27] >> um for the comp plan revision or the
[3:05:29] comp plan uh
[3:05:30] >> okay
[3:05:31] >> committee and I talked to um Julia who
[3:05:34] was the chair of that committee and I've
[3:05:35] worked as leazison for the housing
[3:05:37] committee for the past few years.
[3:05:38] >> Okay.
[3:05:38] >> Um and she expressed interest in having
[3:05:40] me as leazison for that committee.
[3:05:42] >> Okay. Um, so I just wanted to put that
[3:05:44] out there. It's something I'd be happy
[3:05:46] to do. Um,
[3:05:48] >> yeah.
[3:05:48] >> Okay.
[3:05:51] >> Um, I'm fine with that. Anybody else?
[3:05:56] >> Bill, are you okay with that?
[3:05:57] >> Yeah, I'm fine.
[3:05:59] >> I mean, I was sitting in on those some
[3:06:01] of those meetings also.
[3:06:03] >> You still can.
[3:06:04] >> I will.
[3:06:07] Christina. Yeah, I'm I making a a
[3:06:11] deliberate point not to participate or
[3:06:13] sit in any of those meetings. I don't
[3:06:15] want to
[3:06:17] >> I don't want to in any way, shape, or
[3:06:20] form have any kind of, you know,
[3:06:23] influence over how the recommendations
[3:06:25] is. The whole point of it is to get the
[3:06:27] public's input and to have that plan to
[3:06:30] be shaped because if you're an
[3:06:31] implementtor, the last thing uh you want
[3:06:34] to do is be involved in the developing
[3:06:36] of the plan. Um [clears throat]
[3:06:40] we often say to people occasionally when
[3:06:42] they come here and they say why are you
[3:06:44] doing something? We say well because it
[3:06:46] was in the adopted plan and so want to
[3:06:50] be able to say that that plan is you
[3:06:52] know free and
[3:06:55] influence of the
[3:06:56] [cough and clears throat] implementation
[3:06:57] board and represents the public's
[3:06:59] desire. Okay,
[3:07:02] >> I'm not going to go through them all,
[3:07:03] but anybody anybody [snorts] that's 26,
[3:07:06] they're still on.
[3:07:08] >> Okay. Um,
[3:07:10] >> to those members and asking
[3:07:11] >> the last thing we could get to, I I
[3:07:13] don't want to be here too too late
[3:07:15] tonight. We've heard about saying too
[3:07:17] late, but can we do the layers on for um
[3:07:21] the committees, excuse me, so that you
[3:07:23] can then reach out to the chair of those
[3:07:24] committees and ask the chair to reach
[3:07:26] out to the members, right, as we
[3:07:29] discussed and find out
[3:07:30] where when vacancies exist. What we'll
[3:07:33] do is in my office, we'll put together a
[3:07:36] master list and we'll put a notice out
[3:07:39] to the public. Here are the for the
[3:07:41] vacancies if you're interested in
[3:07:42] joining. Send your letter of interest
[3:07:45] which can be in the email for Okay. Uh
[3:07:49] we did we already figured out
[3:07:51] agriculture and open space system review
[3:07:55] climate smart. Well, that's a task
[3:07:56] force, right? Um, so I don't think we
[3:07:59] need that CAC.
[3:08:02] >> That's a subset of the CAC because it's
[3:08:05] comp conservation design review. Is
[3:08:07] there anything we haven't covered here?
[3:08:12] No, I think that's it.
[3:08:14] Okay.
[3:08:16] So that's what we have for annual reorg.
[3:08:20] Thank you all very much. Um we have uh
[3:08:24] let me do other business
[3:08:26] uh which is really correspondent. Um I
[3:08:29] mentioned this earlier if you've been
[3:08:31] following along the last three or four
[3:08:34] years the town and the uh
[3:08:39] other municipalities. Uh we're a member
[3:08:43] of the supervisors mayors association.
[3:08:45] And we've lobbyed Albany uh and our
[3:08:48] colleagues in Austin County and other
[3:08:50] counties to have home rule uh ability to
[3:08:54] lower speed limits in our own
[3:08:56] municipality. Somehow in this home rule
[3:08:59] state DOT decides the speed limit on
[3:09:02] roads, small town roads. Um unless of
[3:09:06] course you live within 15 miles of a
[3:09:09] municipality with 50,000 time. It's it's
[3:09:13] rather convoluted. But uh needless to
[3:09:16] say, we were successful uh less than two
[3:09:18] years ago in getting the legislature to
[3:09:21] allow town road speed limits to go down
[3:09:24] to 25. Um and again, I apologize if I'm
[3:09:28] repeating myself. Um but back in the
[3:09:32] 1980s, the folks who sat at this table
[3:09:34] said, "Let's raise the town speed limit
[3:09:37] to 35." And that's why the townwide
[3:09:40] speed limit is 35 miles an hour. Um and
[3:09:44] so um we have endeavored to try to lower
[3:09:49] the speed limits in certain suburban
[3:09:52] subdivision neighborhoods. College Park,
[3:09:54] Forest Park. We were successful. We made
[3:09:57] some speed changes uh speed limit
[3:10:00] reductions with DOT's approval.
[3:10:03] Everything is DOT approval. River Road
[3:10:06] 9G, a portion of that um Buds Corners.
[3:10:10] We had the help of our county
[3:10:12] legislature in that uh effort to slow
[3:10:15] those speeds down there. That's a county
[3:10:17] road. Um
[3:10:19] so uh we uh positioned ourselves
[3:10:24] um to go ahead and do a townwide
[3:10:26] engineering study. um they are in the
[3:10:29] middle of that and they will um uh send
[3:10:34] us a list of classifications once they
[3:10:37] get the data collected from the various
[3:10:40] roadways. They won't do it during the
[3:10:42] winter because of snow for obvious
[3:10:43] reasons and then they will make a
[3:10:46] presentation to us on a draft
[3:10:48] application which goes to DOT. Then
[3:10:50] their engineers review it um after we've
[3:10:54] seen it and approved it and then they
[3:10:56] make it a decision um on that town
[3:11:00] lights application all to say to manage
[3:11:03] expectations. You should look for us to
[3:11:06] have a document summertime. you should
[3:11:09] look for us to perhaps submit something
[3:11:12] to the state late summer, early fall,
[3:11:16] and then the state, which is probably
[3:11:19] understaffed as it historically has
[3:11:21] been, would then render a decision
[3:11:23] sometime in 2027. So, I feel hopeful. I
[3:11:27] always do. We have had enormous success
[3:11:30] in efforts to reduce where people said
[3:11:33] Bui never would. Um and so I maintain
[3:11:37] that optimism, but it will take time.
[3:11:39] >> And is there a study available for what
[3:11:41] happened in Forest Park?
[3:11:43] >> Yeah. So I'll send you what what
[3:11:46] documentation we have. It's been a a few
[3:11:48] years. I think we got approval for that.
[3:11:51] A verbal approval. I got written
[3:11:53] approval. It literally took 6 months
[3:11:55] just to get a piece of paper that says
[3:11:56] we aford
[3:11:57] >> cuz in the in the inter room I'd be
[3:11:59] interested in looking at at what that
[3:12:02] looked like what we submitted to lower
[3:12:04] in Forest Park and I was there another neighborhood
[3:12:08] >> park we did it as a joint application
[3:12:12] >> because they were similar you know
[3:12:14] there's uh neighborhoods with a lot of
[3:12:17] study short roads um so it wasn't it
[3:12:21] didn't require the kind of analysis
[3:12:23] necar that this will because you've got
[3:12:25] connector roads, collector roads, you've
[3:12:27] got that that type of
[3:12:29] >> Isn't the issue of this something like
[3:12:31] AOT? It's the kind of thing AOT
[3:12:33] >> we we continue to lobby for each
[3:12:38] if you see your state representatives
[3:12:40] just ask them please to give us home
[3:12:42] rule authority. We know our roads
[3:12:45] >> um and we want our roads to be safe but
[3:12:49] we also want them to be used. For
[3:12:52] example, Forest Park is a is a great
[3:12:54] example of a place where kids should be
[3:12:56] able to ride their bike on a road. It's
[3:12:58] a suburban subdivision, and it's ideal
[3:13:01] for that. And so, there's no reason why
[3:13:04] anybody needs to go 35 on the tiny
[3:13:06] little road. So,
[3:13:08] >> we need a four-way stop on uh Wells and
[3:13:13] Rockefeller and Bud Corners.
[3:13:17] >> You know what I'm talking about?
[3:13:19] >> At the Steiner Farm. Yes.
[3:13:22] >> Yes. I've been in touch with uh I've
[3:13:25] been with in touch with the county for
[3:13:27] years on that intersection. They are
[3:13:29] going to make improvements, what they
[3:13:31] call improvements to that intersection,
[3:13:33] I'm told.
[3:13:34] >> Right.
[3:13:35] >> Um
[3:13:36] >> and I will let you know when they're
[3:13:38] doing the install.
[3:13:40] >> Okay.
[3:13:41] >> Yep.
[3:13:44] » Okay. Uh last but not least, we have um
[3:13:49] uh
[3:13:52] we discussed uh in attorney client
[3:13:55] session proposed settlements of
[3:14:00] oh uh all this to say I never got to the
[3:14:02] actual point of the correspondence. We
[3:14:04] received correspondence from a gentleman
[3:14:07] on uh who lives on Elm Street requesting
[3:14:10] that we lower the speed limit. I both
[3:14:12] wrote to him and spoke with him at
[3:14:14] length on the phone. um is very happy to
[3:14:17] hear that we're already on it and um
[3:14:22] uh he provided rationale
[3:14:25] um in his argument. He in his profession
[3:14:29] must know something about these and
[3:14:31] consulted apparently with uh New York
[3:14:34] State on these types of matters in a
[3:14:37] previous life. Um
[3:14:41] so all right uh in attorney client
[3:14:44] session we discussed proposed
[3:14:46] settlements as it relates to assessments
[3:14:49] on two properties.
[3:14:52] We have those properties
[3:14:54] >> 172
[3:14:56] >> sorry
[3:14:57] >> 172.
[3:14:58] >> Thank you J.
[3:15:01] >> So we have to approve those.
[3:15:03] >> Yeah.
[3:15:04] >> Yes we have to approve those. Penny and
[3:15:06] I appreciate you uh weren't involved in
[3:15:09] the discussions or the whatever.
[3:15:13] >> I mean, was this approved by the
[3:15:14] assessors also?
[3:15:16] >> Yes, this is the Yes, this is in
[3:15:18] consultation with the with the assessor.
[3:15:21] It is the town board's role to approve
[3:15:23] or disapprove of these. So, it's it's a conversation or discussion that
[3:15:28] >> Which page is that on?
[3:15:29] >> 172.
[3:15:31] >> Thank you.
[3:15:32] >> Um discussion with
[3:15:33] >> of the final final.
[3:15:35] >> Yes.
[3:15:38] 02 um one property initially assess
[3:15:45] more than one
[3:15:47] >> 172 is a resolution author authorizing
[3:15:50] the settlement it's a small difference
[3:15:52] between what was the assessment level
[3:15:54] 560 and um 515
[3:15:59] and this is settlement of article 7
[3:16:02] proceeding Susan Kirchoff and Helen
[3:16:06] uh property. The parcel number is
[3:16:08] indicated here. Um it's a settlement
[3:16:13] as discussed.
[3:16:15] >> So what so so what is separating these
[3:16:17] two properties?
[3:16:19] What what's the precedent here?
[3:16:22] All right, president. Um, folks, you you
[3:16:25] should know if you have a property that
[3:16:27] you feel is over assessed or unequally
[3:16:30] assessed, unfairly assessed, you are
[3:16:33] encouraged to first reach out to the
[3:16:35] assessor's office. The assessor, as I've
[3:16:38] mentioned before, is an independently
[3:16:40] appointed office. Um, and the assessor
[3:16:44] will uh
[3:16:47] take your information and and make uh in
[3:16:52] this case her determination whether or
[3:16:55] not a change in assessment is warranted
[3:16:57] and why it would be. If you don't feel
[3:17:01] um [clears throat]
[3:17:02] that you are happy with that, you should
[3:17:04] come to grievance day. That's in May.
[3:17:06] And so that is typically the fourth uh
[3:17:10] Tuesday in May. And uh you will then
[3:17:15] present your hopefully your rationale
[3:17:17] and your comparables
[3:17:21] um to the assessment for review board
[3:17:23] and then our next meeting we'll be
[3:17:25] hopefully reappointing one of them and
[3:17:28] entertaining
[3:17:29] um you know additional members to the
[3:17:32] assessment review board. And if you are
[3:17:35] not satisfied what they make a
[3:17:37] determination then you can take a legal
[3:17:40] action which is called uh somebody
[3:17:42] mentioned legal fees here. Um the town
[3:17:45] of Red Hook spends funds um on legal
[3:17:49] matters and so you can take a legal
[3:17:51] matter um
[3:17:53] >> and that's what they that's what they
[3:17:54] did
[3:17:54] >> and that's what they did and the other
[3:17:56] ones did. And so, um, often times you
[3:18:01] are deciding on, um, you're doing your
[3:18:05] best to work with the assessor and with
[3:18:07] the attorneys and the comparables to
[3:18:09] understand whether or not um, any
[3:18:12] adjustment
[3:18:14] is appropriate and there's a negotiation
[3:18:17] that ensues. And so in this case, we
[3:18:19] have resolution number seven.
[3:18:24] >> So we've reduced one. So, one is is
[3:18:26] being reduced by 45,000 and one is being
[3:18:29] reduced by by 200,000. But is there like
[3:18:33] is this does this potentially apply to
[3:18:35] other properties? Like what like what
[3:18:37] was
[3:18:37] >> it does not
[3:18:38] >> what was the justification?
[3:18:40] Um
[3:18:42] I'm trying to understand what
[3:18:46] >> why we why we assessed them for more
[3:18:48] than they than they were ultimately
[3:18:52] valued for.
[3:18:53] >> Well, Um you asking a rather broad
[3:18:57] question um about uh the the assessor
[3:19:02] um anytime a property for example
[3:19:06] transacts
[3:19:08] um anytime a property is enhanced
[3:19:11] anytime the uh community values
[3:19:16] um uh trend upward um an assessment uh
[3:19:20] level uh can change and so they're
[3:19:24] various reasons why a property is
[3:19:26] assessed for what it is. um a discussion
[3:19:30] and uh happens with the attorneys and
[3:19:34] with the input of the assessor on the
[3:19:37] property and why it should or should not
[3:19:39] be adjusted and then in a negotiation
[3:19:42] ensues and in this case looking at
[3:19:45] comparables
[3:19:47] um they felt that this was a fair
[3:19:49] settlement right
[3:19:50] >> and so that's why we have um in this
[3:19:53] case it's a reduction of about 8% and I
[3:19:55] think in the other one it's it's perhaps
[3:19:57] similar
[3:19:59] It's about 10% on the other one. A lot
[3:20:01] of
[3:20:03] >> Yeah, it's about 10% in the other one.
[3:20:05] Um
[3:20:06] >> Christina, when it comes to values,
[3:20:09] uh there's a it's not black and white.
[3:20:13] It's a gray area. I mean, I've dealt
[3:20:15] with a lot of appraisals,
[3:20:17] you know, with uh conservation
[3:20:19] easements, and
[3:20:22] there's always a gray area. So, it's uh
[3:20:25] you know, and I'm sure they got comps to
[3:20:28] look at other homes or, you know, size
[3:20:32] of, you know, lots and that's what they
[3:20:35] had to do. I mean, they paid money to
[3:20:37] they had to pay somebody to do this.
[3:20:39] >> Um, and I'll I'll just tell you on the
[3:20:42] second one, um, just to give you an
[3:20:43] example, Christina, is on the second
[3:20:46] one, the settlement level is essentially
[3:20:49] what that property was purchased for.
[3:20:53] um during the period of time where it's
[3:20:55] to be valued.
[3:20:57] >> And that's kind of that's that's the
[3:20:58] basis of my of my question is is not why
[3:21:03] these two folks argued to have their
[3:21:06] assessment lowered, but more like why
[3:21:09] did we get it wrong? Why why were we 10%
[3:21:12] over? Is this is this is this something
[3:21:15] that because I mean that's that's
[3:21:17] significant. That's a significant amount
[3:21:19] of money and
[3:21:22] >> [clears throat]
[3:21:22] >> It's that gray It's that gray area
[3:21:24] speaking. I wouldn't necessarily make
[3:21:26] the assumption that it's wrong.
[3:21:28] >> Yes. I think that's a a really that's
[3:21:32] bad to even suggest that when you are
[3:21:35] trying to value a property. This is a
[3:21:38] good example of the property. This was
[3:21:40] owned by Mary Gadeski for decades and decades. So you have no idea
[3:21:46] what for example the condition even
[3:21:49] though it's in the property card of the
[3:21:51] house like how much work does that the
[3:21:53] house need. So you you go and you look
[3:21:55] at this large uh property with you know
[3:21:59] over a 100 acres of unprotected land and
[3:22:03] so you think it's just it's got to be
[3:22:05] worth tons of money. But then if you're
[3:22:08] if you gets put on the market as you
[3:22:11] know because you're involved in real
[3:22:13] estate heavily the market is what the
[3:22:16] market is. It's not what the assessor
[3:22:18] says the value is. The assessment does
[3:22:20] its best to look at comparable
[3:22:23] situations and place that assessment
[3:22:25] level on. often times when either
[3:22:30] townwide uh reevaluations for when a
[3:22:33] property transacts, you get a better
[3:22:35] sense of right a better sense of another
[3:22:40] example is a house that I think you were
[3:22:42] involved in a project over on Garden
[3:22:44] Street there. A nice beautiful
[3:22:46] extension, right, for Will and Katie,
[3:22:50] right? That property was purchased
[3:22:53] like 300 something thousand just five or
[3:22:56] six, right? Course
[3:22:57] >> big improvement,
[3:22:58] right? So how does an assessor you
[3:23:02] figure out you go the square foot, you
[3:23:04] look at the condition of that
[3:23:05] improvement on I I would bet that that
[3:23:09] house was not assessed for the $1.4
[3:23:11] million that it got when it sold this
[3:23:14] year. That little red bird house on
[3:23:18] street with that. How many of these do
[3:23:20] we get in a year?
[3:23:24] » We do get them every year.
[3:23:25] >> We do. We get them every year. We get
[3:23:27] more than more than one and less than
[3:23:29] 10.
[3:23:31] >> What? Less than 50.
[3:23:32] >> Less than 50. That's fair.
[3:23:34] >> Yeah.
[3:23:35] >> So, um,
[3:23:36] >> but anybody anybody can file one
[3:23:39] >> for sure.
[3:23:40] >> And it's something it's a it's a part of
[3:23:42] the process of what we have to do.
[3:23:44] >> Yeah. And in this case, it's a really
[3:23:47] good, you know, in that second one, that
[3:23:48] larger one, it's a good example, the
[3:23:51] purchasers reported, you know, being
[3:23:53] surprised at how much work the condition
[3:23:55] of the house. And I can attest, and I'm
[3:23:58] sure you've been involved in in this
[3:24:01] business. Um,
[3:24:02] >> I feel if Cheryl is okay with this, I
[3:24:06] >> make a motion.
[3:24:07] >> It's not it's not it's not always the
[3:24:09] case that theor,
[3:24:11] but you know, you have
[3:24:11] >> I would make a motion to accept these.
[3:24:14] All right. Well, let's uh Penny, I uh
[3:24:18] embrace that. But we have resolution
[3:24:21] number seven authorizing
[3:24:24] article 7 settlement reducing property
[3:24:30] with the 767017
[3:24:33] from 56500 to 515,000.
[3:24:38] And can we move that resolution?
[3:24:40] >> I'll second. [clears throat]
[3:24:42] Any further discussion? If not, all in
[3:24:46] favor?
[3:24:47] >> I I five eyes. Okay. Um this other
[3:24:50] property
[3:24:52] um which is parcel number ending in
[3:24:55] 215250
[3:24:57] uh currently assessed for 2,185,100
[3:25:01] reduced to 1,965,000.
[3:25:06] » The names on both of those are the same.
[3:25:09] >> Oh, there was a typo. Should have been
[3:25:11] corrected. Um,
[3:25:13] >> correct. I think
[3:25:16] >> my copy is fine. It's correct.
[3:25:18] >> That has been that has been corrected.
[3:25:20] Thank you, Rich.
[3:25:22] >> That was in yesterday's.
[3:25:24] >> It's different on on what I'm looking
[3:25:25] at.
[3:25:26] >> Yeah, it corrected.
[3:25:27] >> Yeah, there was a typo there and that typo was corrected. Yep. The
[3:25:31] resolution we use as a template.
[3:25:35] We use templates, don't we all?
[3:25:38] because it makes it easier until we do
[3:25:40] something like forget to change the
[3:25:41] name.
[3:25:42] >> Um okay. Uh
[3:25:45] >> I make a motion.
[3:25:47] >> I'll second.
[3:25:48] >> Okay. This is uh
[3:25:50] >> eight.
[3:25:51] >> Your your motion is to prove approve a
[3:25:53] resolution.
[3:25:55] >> Okay. Thank you. I like it. Um further
[3:26:00] discussion.
[3:26:02] >> If not, all in favor?
[3:26:05] >> I I
[3:26:05] >> Thank you very much. Thank you folks.
[3:26:08] It's almost 11:00.
[3:26:11] I want to thank you for sticking with us
[3:26:13] again. Um and
[3:26:17] once again to wish you a very healthy
[3:26:19] and a happy 2026.
[3:26:23] There's a lot of stuff going on around
[3:26:27] many many uh many places near and far.
[3:26:32] Um there are viruses going around. I
[3:26:35] hope you get to dodge them. Some of them
[3:26:37] have not been pretty. Um, but also that
[3:26:41] you get a chance to take a minute to
[3:26:43] enjoy where you do live because it's a
[3:26:46] very special place.
[3:26:47] >> With that being said, good night
[3:26:49] everyone.
[3:26:50] >> Make a motion.
[3:26:51] >> A motion to adjourn the meeting. Second.
[3:26:55] >> All in favor? I thank you.