1
00:00:13,620 --> 00:00:19,180
Thank you.

2
00:00:42,780 --> 00:00:45,580
Good to meet

3
00:00:49,670 --> 00:00:51,830
you.

4
00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:14,240
Good evening everyone. We just completed a special meeting of the Town Board, which we adjourn

5
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,880
to executive session to discuss computer security. May I have a motion and a second to adjourn

6
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,360
special meeting of the town board.

7
00:01:22,420 --> 00:01:22,900
No move.

8
00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:23,420
Second.

9
00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:24,480
All in favor?

10
00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:26,480
Thank you.

11
00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,580
I now convene a regular meeting of the town board.

12
00:01:29,060 --> 00:01:31,180
And I ask that you join us in the pledge of allegiance.

13
00:01:38,110 --> 00:01:45,050
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America into the Republic for which it stands.

14
00:01:45,390 --> 00:01:50,310
One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

15
00:01:51,250 --> 00:01:52,110
Thank you.

16
00:01:52,170 --> 00:01:53,990
I have nine announcements this evening.

17
00:01:53,990 --> 00:01:59,690
First, thank you to the American Legion Post, 1040 Blanchard Curry Post, for another wonderful

18
00:01:59,690 --> 00:02:03,350
memorial day parade, and ceremony of Veterans Memorial Park.

19
00:02:03,570 --> 00:02:07,890
Thousands of residents lined the streets and hundreds walked in the parade and it was a perfect

20
00:02:07,890 --> 00:02:11,310
day for honoring fallen soldiers and celebrating our community.

21
00:02:12,330 --> 00:02:17,910
Second, congratulations to the Bethlehem Historical Association for 60 years of showcasing

22
00:02:17,910 --> 00:02:19,550
our town's fascinating history.

23
00:02:19,550 --> 00:02:34,790
Their Museum in the Little Red School House on River Road in Selkirk always has interesting displays and the regular news letter is a great read so for more information visit www.bethelhamhistorical.org.

24
00:02:34,810 --> 00:02:42,610
Third, Delmar Bethelham EMS, the non-profit who stands ready to deliver emergency medical services every hour of every day,

25
00:02:42,610 --> 00:02:48,450
We'll be holding our community open house on Saturday May 31st from 11am to 3pm at their

26
00:02:48,450 --> 00:02:54,690
station on Adam Street near the four corners. Check out the Dalmar Bethlehem EMS Facebook page

27
00:02:54,690 --> 00:03:02,250
for more information. Fourth, Thursdays on the park will kick off on Thursday June 12 at 6pm with

28
00:03:02,250 --> 00:03:07,870
Magician Sean Robinson. Join your neighbors at LMAF, Park to enjoy a slide of hand, comedy,

29
00:03:07,870 --> 00:03:11,170
and mind-reading unmatched by any other magician.

30
00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:16,390
Check out the Park Playbook and the Parks and Rec website for the complete schedule of performances

31
00:03:16,390 --> 00:03:21,650
which will continue each Thursday, weather permitting through August 14th.

32
00:03:21,990 --> 00:03:29,090
And speaking of Parks, the pool complex is scheduled to open on Friday, June 13, June 13th,

33
00:03:29,090 --> 00:03:35,170
featuring a beautifully rebuilt and restored Olympic pool, our exceptional pool complex now

34
00:03:35,170 --> 00:03:43,010
Most completely restored pools in addition to a great splash park and curly fries, burgers and more at the concession stand.

35
00:03:43,390 --> 00:03:51,130
Remember that you need a pool flop to enter the park complex or be sure to visit the Parks and Rec website for guidance on how to do this.

36
00:03:52,010 --> 00:04:00,950
Sixth, the Bethlehem Garden Club's annual garden tour will be held on Wednesday, June 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. at 8 gardens throughout town.

37
00:04:00,950 --> 00:04:09,450
You can get more information and advance tickets at www. Bethlehem Garden Club, New York, or NY.org.

38
00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:18,270
7. Our town clerk Kim Witzit is pleased to announce that her office can now issue state hunting and fishing licenses and tags.

39
00:04:18,730 --> 00:04:23,150
Check out the clerk's page on the town website for more information on this new service.

40
00:04:23,750 --> 00:04:29,750
8. The planning board is continuing to prepare zoning law updates to implement the recommendation

41
00:04:29,750 --> 00:04:34,450
of the Towns Comprehensive Plan. The board meets regularly on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday

42
00:04:34,450 --> 00:04:39,090
of each month, and all zoning law update meetings are open to the public. You can find the

43
00:04:39,090 --> 00:04:44,310
latest draft documents associated with zoning districts, land use, and development regulations

44
00:04:44,310 --> 00:04:49,150
by going to the town website homepage and clicking the zoning changes update link on

45
00:04:49,150 --> 00:04:54,830
website of the page. Also the planning board holds a public comment period at the end of each meeting

46
00:04:54,830 --> 00:05:00,270
and also accepts written comment via email at Bethlehem Forward, a town of Bethlehem.org.

47
00:05:01,410 --> 00:05:06,590
And finally, community members can receive email and text notifications of meeting agendas events

48
00:05:06,590 --> 00:05:12,030
and more by signing up for notifications on the town website. To do this, go to the town website,

49
00:05:12,270 --> 00:05:17,670
click the blue notification button on the left side of the page and select the town website on the

50
00:05:17,670 --> 00:05:21,990
the page and select the things you want to be told about. So that's all I have. Anyone

51
00:05:21,990 --> 00:05:24,090
have any additional announcements this evening?

52
00:05:27,570 --> 00:05:29,830
What's to go first? Go ahead Joyce.

53
00:05:32,250 --> 00:05:38,330
Again, I'm going to announce that, come meet new friends and dance your heart out. That's going

54
00:05:38,330 --> 00:05:44,610
to be on Friday evening. Today's to the hits of the 70s, enjoy light refreshments and where

55
00:05:44,610 --> 00:05:50,510
your best retro outfit. That's going to be here in the town hall, the music of Earth Wind and Fire,

56
00:05:50,510 --> 00:05:54,530
Abba, the Beegees, and Donna Summer.

57
00:05:55,190 --> 00:05:59,310
Come join us, it's a free event with light refreshments.

58
00:05:59,710 --> 00:06:02,130
No need to register, just be a walk-in.

59
00:06:02,610 --> 00:06:03,350
Take care.

60
00:06:08,710 --> 00:06:11,330
I want to encourage everyone, you know, let's all get revved up

61
00:06:11,330 --> 00:06:14,110
for the Tom McCormick Memorial Car Show.

62
00:06:14,430 --> 00:06:16,390
At the Bethlehem YMCA this Sunday,

63
00:06:17,130 --> 00:06:19,210
it will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

64
00:06:19,430 --> 00:06:21,230
Get ready for, to bring the whole family,

65
00:06:21,390 --> 00:06:23,750
enjoy some amazing looking cars, some classics,

66
00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:29,830
live music by a DJ food trucks. It's fun for all ages. It's $5 for adults and free

67
00:06:29,830 --> 00:06:32,750
for kids. So I hope you'll join me at the YMCA on Sunday.

68
00:06:35,580 --> 00:06:39,100
I just wanted to remind folks that the town has set up a dedicated

69
00:06:39,100 --> 00:06:42,980
phone line for water-related concerns and water quality issues that

70
00:06:42,980 --> 00:06:47,260
numbers 518-694-464-0. We have the town of that

71
00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:51,440
lens been active for 5-6 weeks now, did it? A little bit longer?

72
00:06:52,740 --> 00:06:55,160
Water quality hotline? Water quality hotline has been up since I

73
00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:55,760
I think, January.

74
00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,880
Okay, even longer than that than I don't even know what that is.

75
00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:04,360
But that line is up and active so please do call in with any concerns or DPW staff can

76
00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:05,060
get right on them.

77
00:07:05,300 --> 00:07:06,320
Thank you.

78
00:07:07,340 --> 00:07:07,640
All right.

79
00:07:07,860 --> 00:07:09,420
We're going to move on to public comments.

80
00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,480
The public comment period at each time board meeting is an opportunity for people to share

81
00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,080
their thoughts and ideas on issues.

82
00:07:15,660 --> 00:07:20,200
We have a public hearing immediately following the public comments regarding submission at

83
00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,920
the 2025 micro enterprise grant program grant application,

84
00:07:24,020 --> 00:07:27,200
so please hold comments on that topic until the public hearing.

85
00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,300
To keep the meeting moving smoothly,

86
00:07:29,540 --> 00:07:32,200
we have established a town board public comment policy,

87
00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,300
which is available in the back of the room,

88
00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,480
included in it are three things that everyone needs to respect.

89
00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:40,340
First, comments may not exceed five minutes.

90
00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,680
We want everyone to have an opportunity to speak,

91
00:07:42,780 --> 00:07:44,220
while the board and the audience are fresh,

92
00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,080
and we want to be respectful of others

93
00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,860
who may want to speak as well.

94
00:07:48,860 --> 00:07:53,100
Second, audience members are asked to help maintain an environment that is welcoming and

95
00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:58,460
respectful of all speakers by not applauding or otherwise expressing support for or

96
00:07:58,460 --> 00:08:00,200
opposition to other speakers.

97
00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,700
And third, the town board typically does not respond to questions or comments during the

98
00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:08,460
public comment period, but we're always happy to speak with you directly at other times.

99
00:08:08,980 --> 00:08:11,620
So with that said, would anyone like to address the town board this evening?

100
00:08:14,860 --> 00:08:20,860
Good evening, my name is George Harder, and I live at 15 Euclidav and Delmar.

101
00:08:22,220 --> 00:08:28,380
For the 18th time, when will you permanently shut off the valve at the Clapper Road Water

102
00:08:28,380 --> 00:08:36,820
filtration plant that allows carcinogens, such as Tri-Hellumethane, PFOA's, PFA's, and

103
00:08:36,820 --> 00:08:39,640
PCBs, into our drinking water system.

104
00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:48,400
Any level of carcinogens is dangerous and no level of carcinogens is safe to drink as you claim.

105
00:08:49,240 --> 00:09:08,260
Stop deliberately poisoning and killing Bethlehem residents. Stop ripping off the taxpayers by wasting multi-millions of our dollars on quote extensive investments on quote for so-called improvements that will never rectify the situation at this failed facility.

106
00:09:08,260 --> 00:09:21,420
The use of this water should be restricted for commercial and industrial purposes only, as it had been for about 12 years after the plant became operational.

107
00:09:21,420 --> 00:09:26,840
The Beacon Island Fiasco has compounded the water pollution problem.

108
00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:33,800
You allowed clear-cutting wall vegetation on the island that exposed highly toxic chemicals

109
00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,760
in fly ash that was dumped there for decades.

110
00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:44,440
These toxic chemicals were dispersed into the air, onto the land, and into the river.

111
00:09:45,140 --> 00:09:55,160
11 wells in the river drew up the chemicals and fed them to the Clapper Road facility, from which they were sent into our drinking water system.

112
00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:06,260
The county legislature should prohibit the use of the Hudson River as source water for the drinking water system in Bethlehem and throughout the county.

113
00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:16,060
You should stop your false assertion that water drawn from the aquifer under the river is not Hudson River water.

114
00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:27,120
Any reasonable person knows that the Hudson River water and any contaminants and pollutants are pulled by gravity through the soil into the aquifer.

115
00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:33,120
And this process has been taking place since the end of the last Ice Age.

116
00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:40,540
Also, pollution of the river has been continuously occurring since the first Europeans arrived

117
00:10:40,540 --> 00:10:42,640
here 500 years ago.

118
00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,040
Your ignorance and arrogance make you unfit to govern our town.

119
00:10:49,420 --> 00:10:54,800
Your inaction leads me to conclude that you just don't care about the health and welfare

120
00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,600
of residents and business owners alike.

121
00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:03,980
You have a responsibility to care for the common good but you are failing to do so.

122
00:11:03,980 --> 00:11:07,780
You should all resign immediately. Thank you.

123
00:11:07,820 --> 00:11:10,180
Thank you. We didn't want else like to address the town board.

124
00:11:14,490 --> 00:11:18,490
All right, Michael Carey was a blow or civil rights disability rights advocate.

125
00:11:22,530 --> 00:11:26,350
Between four or five thousand people die in the mental health care system.

126
00:11:27,130 --> 00:11:32,810
Every year, mandate reporters report into town, town hides the deaths from the medical

127
00:11:32,810 --> 00:11:36,370
of examers and corners, local police, and the district attorneys.

128
00:11:36,870 --> 00:11:38,110
Same thing with sex crimes.

129
00:11:38,890 --> 00:11:39,930
This is going on.

130
00:11:39,950 --> 00:11:41,670
You try to say it was not factual.

131
00:11:41,910 --> 00:11:44,050
I didn't try to bring evidence to the police,

132
00:11:44,130 --> 00:11:45,090
which is not true.

133
00:11:45,310 --> 00:11:46,590
I've asked the police to investigate.

134
00:11:46,790 --> 00:11:48,150
I've never asked you to investigate.

135
00:11:48,750 --> 00:11:50,770
They asked you to simply do a letter to the feds.

136
00:11:51,190 --> 00:11:52,350
They asked for federal investigations.

137
00:11:53,590 --> 00:11:54,590
Why you're not doing that?

138
00:11:54,670 --> 00:11:55,510
It makes no sense.

139
00:11:55,670 --> 00:11:56,890
I'm asking you to do it again.

140
00:11:57,310 --> 00:11:58,610
These crimes have to stop.

141
00:11:58,850 --> 00:12:01,630
These state and federal crimes are occurring in town at the stop.

142
00:12:02,310 --> 00:12:08,070
The city mail I read this public record, dear Mr. Potter and all town officials, as a well-known

143
00:12:08,070 --> 00:12:11,510
well-respected town resident, whistleblower, civil rights, this bill rights advocate.

144
00:12:11,950 --> 00:12:15,630
I continue to blow the whistle to you and inform each of you that numerous state and federal

145
00:12:15,630 --> 00:12:21,270
crimes continue at 161 Delaware Avenue across from the Delaware Plaza. Thousands of people

146
00:12:21,270 --> 00:12:25,350
with disabilities that are incompetent and physically disabled are being harmed and killed as

147
00:12:25,350 --> 00:12:30,090
those that are committing these heinous crimes against them are protected and shielded

148
00:12:30,090 --> 00:12:33,230
from criminal prosecution, it's all happening here in town.

149
00:12:33,570 --> 00:12:37,710
The Betham police department's top officials have full knowledge of these criminal activities

150
00:12:37,710 --> 00:12:42,530
and some of the specific individuals directly involved and have continued to look the other

151
00:12:42,530 --> 00:12:43,310
way.

152
00:12:43,590 --> 00:12:49,890
Chief Court Chair and Deputy Chief Rexford, I've asked you to remove them and you haven't done

153
00:12:49,890 --> 00:12:50,370
so.

154
00:12:50,970 --> 00:12:51,810
They're not doing their job.

155
00:12:51,850 --> 00:12:55,810
I have made numerous attempts via personal meetings, town board meetings, email, certified

156
00:12:55,810 --> 00:12:59,570
letters, touch evidence, seeking emergency actions by the town to get the Feds in

157
00:12:59,570 --> 00:13:04,470
to know a veil and outright refusal to simply write a letter to a U.S. Attorney-Pay on

158
00:13:04,470 --> 00:13:09,510
Bondi, seeking criminal and civil rights investigations. Why? What are you afraid of?

159
00:13:09,670 --> 00:13:15,750
And outright refusal to simply write a letter to the FBI Director Cash Patel, ask you

160
00:13:15,750 --> 00:13:19,910
for a special investigations unit to investigate the public corruption, criminal cover-ups,

161
00:13:19,970 --> 00:13:25,290
a massive Medicaid fraud. Why aren't you doing it? What are you afraid of? Who is directing

162
00:13:25,290 --> 00:13:27,290
you to stand down and do nothing,

163
00:13:30,580 --> 00:13:33,420
you know, is it the governor, is it the governor, Kathy

164
00:13:33,420 --> 00:13:39,300
Hockel, is it Attorney General James, is it, is the board being told by the supervisor

165
00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:46,520
van Louvre and to stand down, do nothing? I'm asking these answers to be in writing back

166
00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,260
to me since you don't, you just do nothing here.

167
00:13:51,340 --> 00:13:53,460
Play Sergeant Schultsey, I know nothing

168
00:13:53,460 --> 00:13:56,740
see nothing, you know everything and you have responsibilities.

169
00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,060
The common denominator that I

170
00:14:01,060 --> 00:14:05,760
that everyone involved in the crimes are protecting them, also crimes, are the same political

171
00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:06,360
party.

172
00:14:06,940 --> 00:14:09,340
Everybody's involved is in the Democratic Party.

173
00:14:10,780 --> 00:14:12,740
For the record, I'm not in any party.

174
00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:17,900
And this is in about a party, but a party political corruption and protecting one another.

175
00:14:18,580 --> 00:14:24,560
And not people with disabilities and mental health problems is insanity and it's illegal.

176
00:14:25,340 --> 00:14:29,740
Please explain why you would write the state asking them to make a safety adjustments to

177
00:14:29,740 --> 00:14:35,000
road where two people in the general public died, but you won't write the DOJ and FBI letters

178
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:40,940
when I've requested you as the town officials, close to 50,000 people with disabilities

179
00:14:40,940 --> 00:14:48,360
that I represent and have been called, and I, 161 Della Rav and almost all were kept

180
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,880
from medical examers, county district attorneys, and a high percentage of these deaths are

181
00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:59,140
intelligent desk that are being covered up in town with the knowledge of the

182
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:07,380
The President, please, to pardon. My advice to each of you is that you remember and honor your oath of office, instead of continue to look the other way and do nothing.

183
00:15:08,140 --> 00:15:15,280
Now, one more minute should be wasted. You cannot continue to protect the criminal obstruction of justice and lawlessness occurring in our town.

184
00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:24,020
I once again blew the whistle on this last town board meeting, May 14, about the 15th time at least.

185
00:15:24,620 --> 00:15:33,700
In the presence of most of you, including Bethlehem, please Chief Courtshire, I've asked you to remove her from her duties due to her involvement in the cover-ups.

186
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:35,720
She is criminally obstructing justice.

187
00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,740
You have not done so yet. Why?

188
00:15:40,650 --> 00:15:43,450
I've informed each of you that the State of New York has been used.

189
00:15:43,590 --> 00:15:51,070
The Bethlehem Police Department attempts to illegally try to intimidate me for my whistleblower efforts to try to frighten my family.

190
00:15:51,210 --> 00:15:52,330
Show it up at my house.

191
00:15:52,330 --> 00:15:54,190
20 seconds Michael

192
00:15:56,940 --> 00:16:00,920
you defame me. I left last time you said what I was saying was not true

193
00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:02,500
You need to ask you to apology

194
00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:09,820
Yeah, the memorial day you said you wouldn't do it. I'm asking publicly that you apologize if you don't think I'm speaking something true

195
00:16:09,820 --> 00:16:14,720
Speak it at my presence and you owe me apologies and you need to get the feds in here now

196
00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,000
Thank you. Would anyone else like to address the town board this evening?

197
00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:34,120
Hi

198
00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:43,480
And my comments will be regarding the tree resolution, first I want to thank the town for

199
00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:49,380
advancing the resolution to manage and protect the street teas in our town.

200
00:16:51,390 --> 00:16:55,030
I think it shows a lot of leadership and also much foresight.

201
00:16:55,830 --> 00:16:59,870
You understand the value of trees and the importance of maintaining our tree canopy.

202
00:17:01,070 --> 00:17:04,950
So I live near the Normanside Gulf course, and I walk the streets in that neighborhood

203
00:17:04,950 --> 00:17:11,930
including Euclid in Burhans multiple times a day, year round, during the summer I absolutely

204
00:17:11,930 --> 00:17:16,950
depend on the canopy of those trees for relief from the sun and so does my dog.

205
00:17:18,930 --> 00:17:24,510
I know that some of those silver maples on Burhans and Euclid are approaching the end of their

206
00:17:24,510 --> 00:17:31,070
life and they will need to come down for safety reasons and I hope that each one that is taken down

207
00:17:31,070 --> 00:17:35,550
will be replaced by another tree to maintain the tree canopy in that neighborhood.

208
00:17:36,570 --> 00:17:41,450
Development of the Education of Materials, describing the many public and private benefits

209
00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:47,550
of street trees, and the selection of trees that would be appropriate for replanting is

210
00:17:47,550 --> 00:17:49,630
going to be extremely critical.

211
00:17:51,550 --> 00:17:57,490
I want to volunteer my expertise to the town to help develop these materials to frame the

212
00:17:57,490 --> 00:18:03,810
to encourage homeowners to allow the highway department to replace the street trees that may be removed.

213
00:18:04,610 --> 00:18:08,390
When I worked at NYSERDA, I managed the behavior research program there.

214
00:18:08,710 --> 00:18:17,390
I have a educational background in behavioral science, and I also have experience applying behavioral insights for positive change.

215
00:18:20,630 --> 00:18:28,410
The educational materials should be from the town of Bethlehem, not from the highway department, and that will be critical.

216
00:18:28,410 --> 00:18:37,010
And also not from another entity, because the town of Bethham is a trusted messenger that the neighbor's will respect.

217
00:18:38,710 --> 00:18:47,410
And again, I want to thank you for your leadership and for recognizing the importance of trees in our town and the importance for protecting them.

218
00:18:48,310 --> 00:18:48,890
Thank you.

219
00:18:48,990 --> 00:18:50,690
Would anyone else like to address the town board?

220
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:00,600
Good evening.

221
00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:02,280
I'm Dr. David Hoffman.

222
00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:09,620
I reside on East Popular Drive in Delmar, and I also would like to address the Tree Resolution.

223
00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:16,300
I think this resolution is a big step in the right direction for the town, and I applaud

224
00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:17,000
this effort.

225
00:19:17,660 --> 00:19:24,000
The recognition that trees provide value is in many ways essential, and the fact that the

226
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,020
town board is considering this recognition is an important step.

227
00:19:28,020 --> 00:19:36,300
The whereas clauses of the resolution describe many of the benefits we can all enjoy with more care for trees,

228
00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:47,540
preserving trees whenever safe and possible, and planting trees whenever one is removed and where trees have previously been removed and not replaced.

229
00:19:48,660 --> 00:19:55,040
The education products and programs for town staff and the public that are referenced in the resolution

230
00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,380
can assist us now and in the future.

231
00:19:59,740 --> 00:20:10,300
The presence of a new town tree advisory committee mentioned in the resolution can assist with guidance for the appropriate removal or replacement of trees going forward.

232
00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:17,180
I'm hopeful that this action and those that follow will serve as informative and inspirational

233
00:20:17,180 --> 00:20:25,100
to local businesses and residents to consider planting or replanting trees to achieve all of the

234
00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:31,320
benefits outlined. I applaud the effort of the town board considering this resolution as

235
00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:37,270
a movement toward a healthier, safer and more attractive community. Thank you.

236
00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:41,340
Thank you. Would anyone else like to address the town board this evening?

237
00:20:46,620 --> 00:20:50,920
First, for sure, I live in 86, Somerset Drive in Glenmont.

238
00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:57,780
I'm tempted to say what they said, but a couple of notes here, we've moved to town

239
00:20:57,780 --> 00:21:03,760
about 40 years ago, but attracted by the four corners, the tree canopy, which is a term I've

240
00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,620
just learned, and schools.

241
00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:12,360
We decided to retire here about 15 years ago for about the same things, plus the community,

242
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:14,520
and now trader Joe's.

243
00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:25,640
So I'm here speaking in support of the tree resolution and the effort that David Van Lovan has given us to pull all the pieces together and go through a lot of our

244
00:21:26,220 --> 00:21:32,380
more expansive thing and come to what I think is a pretty good package to start looking at our tree.

245
00:21:32,740 --> 00:21:42,440
So I think if you looked at over the 40 years that I've been here drone shots over each five years you see a lot less trees here now than then.

246
00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,960
And so I think it makes the town tree management a lot more important

247
00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:52,440
that we do as the best we can do to preserve those trees to replace and maintain them

248
00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:53,180
the best we can.

249
00:21:53,500 --> 00:21:58,580
I think the Tree Advisory Committee will provide an act of source for educational materials

250
00:21:58,580 --> 00:22:03,060
and to advocate for the trees in the sense if you can do that.

251
00:22:03,060 --> 00:22:09,860
The development of an Everest, like I talked to our first, in that was helpful for expertise.

252
00:22:09,860 --> 00:22:15,040
And I think that you think it was just mentioned the fact that you'll have some sort of a little guidance

253
00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:18,940
thing to look at in your front yard if you're replacing a tree.

254
00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:20,200
What do I put there?

255
00:22:20,740 --> 00:22:23,260
And you typically, I would typically pick the wrong thing.

256
00:22:23,260 --> 00:22:27,340
This will give you some guidance as to how tall the root structure and all that.

257
00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:28,040
So that's helpful.

258
00:22:29,820 --> 00:22:34,000
You get a little bit of community complaining about raking leaves, but it's pretty nice

259
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,360
and the fall to sit there under those leaves.

260
00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:42,600
Yes, so I again speak in favor of this and thank you so much and I hope the board will give it consideration.

261
00:22:44,420 --> 00:22:46,860
Thank you. Would anyone else like to address the town board?

262
00:22:54,590 --> 00:22:59,870
Supervisor Rand Loven. Members of the town board. Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Pam Skripack.

263
00:23:00,050 --> 00:23:07,070
I live at 98 Cellsbury Road. I want to also express my thanks for you taking up a vote on this

264
00:23:07,070 --> 00:23:12,890
management resolution and strongly encourage you to vote yes for it. It is a step forward

265
00:23:12,890 --> 00:23:17,530
in our communities effort to protect one of our most precious assets which is our trees.

266
00:23:18,390 --> 00:23:23,150
I served with many others on that tree committee and while I was not one of the most active

267
00:23:23,150 --> 00:23:28,770
participants I can tell you we worked hard and for a very long time to try and create something that

268
00:23:28,770 --> 00:23:34,190
is thoughtful and reasonable and provides for the protection maintenance and when necessary replacement

269
00:23:34,190 --> 00:23:40,710
of our current treeline streets with carefully selected need of trees that will provide a multitude

270
00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:45,950
of benefits. I think we have all seen how poor tree management can significantly diminish a

271
00:23:45,950 --> 00:23:51,070
neighborhood as well as negatively impact the environment. I don't think I need to tell you

272
00:23:51,070 --> 00:23:56,510
the environmental associate economic and health-related benefits of trees, but let me just mention a

273
00:23:56,510 --> 00:24:02,710
few anyway that I hope you're all familiar with. Trees provide for air quality improvement and

274
00:24:02,710 --> 00:24:04,850
absorb pollutants like carbon monoxide.

275
00:24:05,190 --> 00:24:10,630
They sequester carbon, absorbing carbon monoxide dioxide to help reduce the impacts of climate

276
00:24:10,630 --> 00:24:11,330
change.

277
00:24:11,810 --> 00:24:16,770
They regulate temperature, so tree line sheets, tree line streets will provide shade.

278
00:24:17,370 --> 00:24:22,190
They also release moisture cooling this around in air and reducing heat.

279
00:24:22,330 --> 00:24:27,370
They provide for storm water management, tree roots, absorb rainwater, reduce runoff,

280
00:24:27,790 --> 00:24:31,350
helping prevent flooding and erosion, which is a greater and greater concern as we have

281
00:24:31,350 --> 00:24:38,310
moisture due to climate change. Obviously, we know that trees support birds and sex and other

282
00:24:38,310 --> 00:24:43,930
wildlife maintaining biodiversity. There is a lot of research about how green spaces and trees

283
00:24:43,930 --> 00:24:50,030
reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and lead to healthy communities. Physical health, it

284
00:24:50,030 --> 00:24:55,750
allows people to stay outside longer, promoting exercise and outdoor activity. Community

285
00:24:55,750 --> 00:25:00,250
Patreys create community spaces in our parks on our neighborhoods that are more

286
00:25:00,250 --> 00:25:08,450
void inviting and enjoyable trees save energy shading buildings helps

287
00:25:08,450 --> 00:25:13,730
reduce the need for air conditioning trees improve and increase

288
00:25:13,730 --> 00:25:17,570
property values homes and businesses near trees often have higher property

289
00:25:17,570 --> 00:25:22,330
values associated with them and they and beautiful tree line neighborhoods

290
00:25:22,330 --> 00:25:25,690
are exactly the kind of time the ones that we want to spend time in. So as a

291
00:25:25,690 --> 00:25:32,330
community being a tree line community will attract customers and tours and visitors to come

292
00:25:32,330 --> 00:25:33,190
into our town.

293
00:25:33,950 --> 00:25:38,110
So I ensure our trees are essential for creating a healthier and more sustainable and more

294
00:25:38,110 --> 00:25:38,830
vibrant towns.

295
00:25:39,190 --> 00:25:45,710
We have lost many, many, many trees over the last 10, 20, 30 years with the increasing

296
00:25:45,710 --> 00:25:46,350
development.

297
00:25:46,570 --> 00:25:53,830
We don't have this resolution does not yet speak to a requirement for landscape or landscape

298
00:25:53,830 --> 00:25:59,930
is following developers, developers, to install trees, but it is an essential and we hope that

299
00:25:59,930 --> 00:26:03,970
the town of Bethlehem will actually become a leader and an inspiration to homeowners, to

300
00:26:03,970 --> 00:26:09,770
developers and to other communities in adopting this. So thank you for taking into consideration,

301
00:26:09,770 --> 00:26:16,630
thank you for your interest in this issue and thank you for taking it into consideration. Thank you.

302
00:26:17,190 --> 00:26:19,690
Thank you. Would anyone else like to address the town board?

303
00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:31,180
Linda Juzinski from South Bethlehem, the Champlain Hudson power line has been going through

304
00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:36,460
for the past year and a half down South Albany Road, West Jard Road. It has really disrupted

305
00:26:36,460 --> 00:26:43,220
life down in South Bethlehem and going through those roads. But I remember and I'm not my memories

306
00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:48,100
not so great, I'm getting older. There was supposed to be some money that the town was to get

307
00:26:48,100 --> 00:26:51,860
for the line going down West Yard Road.

308
00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:55,200
I believe it was a couple hundred thousand dollars.

309
00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,520
And when I was here the last time talking about it,

310
00:26:58,540 --> 00:27:01,980
you said you would definitely be using it in the south Bethlehem area,

311
00:27:02,020 --> 00:27:05,060
because we are the ones affected by that power line.

312
00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:08,160
So I'd like to know where it is, how much it is,

313
00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,180
and what you're going to do with it.

314
00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:14,300
I was out on my 10-eye house the other day,

315
00:27:14,820 --> 00:27:17,380
and one of the highway department guys stopped

316
00:27:17,380 --> 00:27:24,940
to talk to me and he told me that they're going to be digging up the side of the road to put

317
00:27:24,940 --> 00:27:33,060
in a 15-inch pipeline to drain the swamp at the top of the road. Now I always thought

318
00:27:33,060 --> 00:27:37,820
swamps were wet and wet lands were supposed to be protected because they're so important in

319
00:27:37,820 --> 00:27:42,220
the amphibians that are living there are supposed to be protected. You guys even help them cross

320
00:27:42,220 --> 00:27:42,820
the street.

321
00:27:44,900 --> 00:27:51,160
But I was kind of surprised to hear this. And so I asked to see the plans, the engineering

322
00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,400
plans and what they plan to do. And he said, oh, we're just going to dig it up and we're

323
00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:00,120
going to put in some catch basins and we're going to dump it at the bottom of the hill because

324
00:28:00,120 --> 00:28:06,280
water flows downhill. Which, of course, the two houses at the bottom of the hill have flooded

325
00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:13,540
basements a lot when the rain comes because of the topography down there and the creek and

326
00:28:13,540 --> 00:28:17,520
everything else. So I asked where I was going to go after that and he said, well, I'll go in

327
00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:22,500
the creek and I'm like, hmm, I didn't think storm water should be going into the creek but

328
00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:30,300
well, whatever. But I have concerns because there's no plans. I'd like to see plans. I'd like to

329
00:28:30,300 --> 00:28:35,180
know what you're going to do. I'd like to know how you're going to repair the drive ways you're

330
00:28:35,780 --> 00:28:42,100
Take care of the lawns and gardens and the gas lines that are there and make sure that

331
00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:46,760
this doesn't make a situation worse because catch basins overflow when too much water

332
00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,180
comes through it.

333
00:28:48,580 --> 00:28:53,340
And I also have concerns because I have an aging parent in the house there and there are

334
00:28:53,340 --> 00:28:57,760
people going in and out of that house four or five times a day to take care of them.

335
00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:07,080
So we really can't have the road closed off or the driveway closed off at this time, which street is that again?

336
00:29:07,260 --> 00:29:10,600
Ten-Ike Avenue, ten-Ike, down in South Bethlehem.

337
00:29:13,470 --> 00:29:19,270
And I've been up here a couple of times talking about the four wheelers, ATVs, motorcycles,

338
00:29:19,810 --> 00:29:23,430
dirt bikes that go up and down the road, and it is very annoying.

339
00:29:23,430 --> 00:29:32,130
I mean, there's 4 or 5 of them going 70 miles an hour down 396 on people's backends, doing

340
00:29:32,130 --> 00:29:40,330
wheelies down the road and now we're getting harassed by the parachuting lawn chair people

341
00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:45,610
that are circling around. Now I know the police don't have anything they can do about that,

342
00:29:45,830 --> 00:29:51,710
but I really am getting tired of three, four times having screaming motorcycles and I'm way off

343
00:29:51,710 --> 00:29:57,990
road. So, and I can hear them coming way down, picked away road. I'd like to have something

344
00:29:57,990 --> 00:29:59,850
done about that. Thank you.

345
00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:03,440
Thank you. Would anyone else like to address the town board?

346
00:30:04,860 --> 00:30:08,540
And Linda, could you please send me your email address so I can follow up with you?

347
00:30:12,790 --> 00:30:20,390
I'm new to this. I'm sorry. My name's Harry Sheavers. I've spoken with you on numerous occasions via emails and such.

348
00:30:21,050 --> 00:30:25,890
I live in the Brookfield Development Cross from the High School and Eagle Elementary.

349
00:30:25,890 --> 00:30:53,870
And my concern is elementary age, young adult, other pedestrian, safety, particularly at the corner of a long metal, and a 443 otherwise known as the Delaware Turnpike, which begins in Skahari, and moves unfettered until it gets to my grandchildren's crosswalk.

350
00:30:53,870 --> 00:30:56,570
ostensibly at 35 miles an hour.

351
00:30:57,830 --> 00:31:03,550
And just giving you an update, I have like three or four balls in the air with y'all.

352
00:31:04,690 --> 00:31:12,350
I've been talking with folks affiliated with the town planner, as well as the transportation

353
00:31:12,350 --> 00:31:13,770
and pedestrian committee.

354
00:31:15,030 --> 00:31:17,070
One of my recommendations was sent up.

355
00:31:17,070 --> 00:31:23,670
I don't know how they voted on it, but it was sent up to the nice dot region one.

356
00:31:25,090 --> 00:31:32,110
I thought it was a reasonable request to proactively reduce the probability of the

357
00:31:32,110 --> 00:31:36,330
facility at this intersection at a minimal cost.

358
00:31:36,730 --> 00:31:40,830
For example, a high-end smiley face sign.

359
00:31:40,990 --> 00:31:45,330
I've noticed I can buy for 1699 on eBay or someplace.

360
00:31:45,950 --> 00:31:51,110
So presumably this doesn't cost a lot of money to fix this.

361
00:31:51,110 --> 00:31:53,930
DOT has, I'll spare you the details,

362
00:31:54,150 --> 00:31:56,810
but they said, no, you can't have a school zone,

363
00:31:57,130 --> 00:31:58,650
and we can't reduce the speed.

364
00:31:59,670 --> 00:32:04,490
However, 30 feet to the east, there is a school zone.

365
00:32:05,970 --> 00:32:08,630
So my theory is my feeling,

366
00:32:09,030 --> 00:32:10,430
I've been researching this,

367
00:32:10,590 --> 00:32:14,770
so I've just got out of my cave of looking at nice doc,

368
00:32:20,030 --> 00:32:24,610
But I really think they're wrong on this.

369
00:32:26,470 --> 00:32:29,990
I've tried to follow their logic, their engineering logic,

370
00:32:30,850 --> 00:32:33,490
and I hope it's for a physiological reason,

371
00:32:33,950 --> 00:32:37,990
or they're just afraid that people will get distracted

372
00:32:37,990 --> 00:32:40,890
by two sets of lights, a school light,

373
00:32:40,910 --> 00:32:43,130
and then what they call the signal light.

374
00:32:44,070 --> 00:32:51,210
I've talked to some of my engineer friends, and my worst fear is that they did this back in 2003.

375
00:32:51,590 --> 00:33:02,510
They made this revision to the federal highway requirements, and I think they did it for money, for budgetary reasons.

376
00:33:04,290 --> 00:33:07,770
I can't see any other reason why you wouldn't do this.

377
00:33:10,790 --> 00:33:11,490
Let's see,

378
00:33:13,530 --> 00:33:15,850
I'm sorry, so anyway,

379
00:33:18,030 --> 00:33:23,310
the safety of our children, the young adults attending

380
00:33:23,310 --> 00:33:27,330
the high school and the other pedestrians, this has got to be in the top three, right,

381
00:33:27,570 --> 00:33:28,830
people for the town.

382
00:33:29,690 --> 00:33:36,890
Okay, I mean, this is no nonsense, so I've been asking the town for years to remove the

383
00:33:38,150 --> 00:33:42,850
because you see if there's a pile of snow where the pedestrians wait, where the kids wait,

384
00:33:43,310 --> 00:33:50,010
then they have to go stand three feet closer to traffic, that's accelerating out of the Clarksville

385
00:33:50,670 --> 00:33:52,830
or coming into 35 miles an hour.

386
00:33:53,850 --> 00:33:56,110
Okay, so the snow should be removed.

387
00:33:57,070 --> 00:33:58,890
Okay, and I haven't heard anything on that.

388
00:34:00,530 --> 00:34:03,150
So again, I'm trying to be proactive here.

389
00:34:03,150 --> 00:34:05,710
I think I understand what they're saying.

390
00:34:07,470 --> 00:34:11,850
I took a quick look at, I apologize for not getting involved earlier.

391
00:34:12,670 --> 00:34:23,090
I was supposed to show up here in July to make comments about the transportation plan going east from Ellsner, okay, to the city line.

392
00:34:23,450 --> 00:34:24,450
It looks great.

393
00:34:24,570 --> 00:34:26,330
I don't know where the money comes from.

394
00:34:26,330 --> 00:34:34,990
I personally think the design at the corner there by CVS is dangerous.

395
00:34:35,490 --> 00:34:40,630
I think the children should be encouraged to move closer to Elzmir and cross there.

396
00:34:42,330 --> 00:34:52,210
I personally think the top most dangerous intersections are Elzmir, over there by the stewards.

397
00:34:52,210 --> 00:34:53,070
20 seconds.

398
00:34:54,430 --> 00:34:56,130
I will please call me on this.

399
00:34:57,430 --> 00:34:58,410
And my solution.

400
00:34:58,610 --> 00:34:58,910
I'm sorry.

401
00:34:58,950 --> 00:35:07,190
My solution, I think, is to begin a to come traffic out by the YMCA down to 40 miles an hour.

402
00:35:07,670 --> 00:35:10,810
And then drop it down to 30 and then to introduce the school zone.

403
00:35:11,430 --> 00:35:14,950
And please, somebody please call me on this because I still have some else.

404
00:35:15,170 --> 00:35:16,170
Outstanding questions.

405
00:35:16,470 --> 00:35:16,870
I apologize.

406
00:35:17,310 --> 00:35:17,550
Okay.

407
00:35:17,970 --> 00:35:18,730
Thank you.

408
00:35:19,350 --> 00:35:21,210
Would anyone else like to address the town board?

409
00:35:21,210 --> 00:35:22,050
All

410
00:35:25,830 --> 00:35:30,570
right, we're going to move on to our public hearing and thank you everyone for your comments this evening.

411
00:35:32,270 --> 00:35:37,330
Just as with the public comment period, we asked that speakers please keep their comments to five minutes or less,

412
00:35:37,510 --> 00:35:45,210
that audience members be respectful of all speakers by not applauding or otherwise expressing support for or opposition to speakers.

413
00:35:45,910 --> 00:35:54,970
So with that said, may I have a motion and a second to open a public hearing to solicit public comment on the submission of the 2025 micro enterprise program grant

414
00:35:54,970 --> 00:35:59,330
application to the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal.

415
00:35:59,530 --> 00:36:00,050
So moved.

416
00:36:00,870 --> 00:36:01,390
All in favor?

417
00:36:01,770 --> 00:36:01,950
Aye.

418
00:36:02,530 --> 00:36:08,050
May I have a motion and a second to to to forgo the reading of the public notice and to

419
00:36:08,050 --> 00:36:09,930
indent the notice into the minutes?

420
00:36:10,570 --> 00:36:11,130
So moved.

421
00:36:11,350 --> 00:36:11,650
Second.

422
00:36:12,030 --> 00:36:12,430
All in favor?

423
00:36:13,730 --> 00:36:15,930
Brianna, do you have a presentation for you?

424
00:36:16,850 --> 00:36:17,270
Brianna.

425
00:36:17,270 --> 00:36:17,410
Brianna.

426
00:36:18,190 --> 00:36:18,410
Brianna.

427
00:36:21,870 --> 00:36:22,470
Brianna.

428
00:36:22,870 --> 00:36:23,030
Brianna.

429
00:36:23,350 --> 00:36:23,750
Brianna.

430
00:36:23,750 --> 00:36:24,190
Brianna.

431
00:36:24,190 --> 00:36:28,290
prize grant program is, so if people do have comment, they know exactly what they're commenting

432
00:36:28,290 --> 00:36:32,770
on. My name is Brienne Connor. I'm the senior economic developer here at the town of Bethlehem.

433
00:36:33,230 --> 00:36:37,650
If you haven't met me before, it's because I'm relatively new in the position. Thank you guys for

434
00:36:37,650 --> 00:36:42,490
giving me the opportunity to share a little bit more about this program. So we're about to put

435
00:36:42,490 --> 00:36:49,030
in the grant application with the Department of Home and Community Renewal. I'll tell you a

436
00:36:49,030 --> 00:36:53,210
little bit about the background of the program. This program is made possible with the New York

437
00:36:53,210 --> 00:36:58,510
state office of homes and community renewal, the town of Bethlehem has administered this grant

438
00:36:58,510 --> 00:37:06,430
in four previous rounds, 2014, 16, 18 and 2021. This program has provided 36 separate grant

439
00:37:06,430 --> 00:37:14,330
awards totaling almost $700,000 since 2014. That is just for town of Bethlehem,

440
00:37:14,330 --> 00:37:19,090
micro enterprise businesses. The 2025 town of Bethlehem

441
00:37:19,090 --> 00:37:26,350
request this time is $200,000, $180,000 of that goes directly to grants for businesses.

442
00:37:26,970 --> 00:37:32,090
20,000 of that is program administration delivery fees. Additional funds are available. If we

443
00:37:32,090 --> 00:37:37,690
use up all of that $200,000, we have more interested businesses we can request more funds.

444
00:37:39,250 --> 00:37:43,530
These are many of our local businesses that have been previous grant recipients.

445
00:37:43,530 --> 00:37:47,530
You will probably recognize many of your favorites up there.

446
00:37:48,010 --> 00:37:52,290
Their success has been supported by this program.

447
00:37:56,460 --> 00:38:04,500
The way this program works is that awards are provided to the businesses that in the awards range from 5,000 to 35,000.

448
00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:12,780
They tell us their project, they make a budget for it, and they apply based on the amount that they are hoping to receive within that range.

449
00:38:12,780 --> 00:38:16,640
The grant funds may cover up to 90% of their total project costs.

450
00:38:16,780 --> 00:38:24,120
We are expecting them to put in a little bit, 10%, the primary goal of this program because

451
00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:28,260
of the way that it's funded through the federal government is that it creates or sustains

452
00:38:28,260 --> 00:38:32,140
a permanent job, principally for a person of low to moderate income.

453
00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:37,840
So this can be the owner of the business or it can be a new job that that business creates

454
00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,480
and hires for.

455
00:38:40,140 --> 00:38:57,280
This program is realized through support of businesses, specifically micro enterprises, so we aren't paying for the job, we aren't paying someone salary, but we're paying for a project that helps the business grow so the business can support their own payroll.

456
00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:03,220
A micro enterprise is a commercial enterprise that has five or fewer employees.

457
00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:06,980
One of those would be the owner at the time of the application.

458
00:39:07,860 --> 00:39:13,080
The business would be a private for-profit business, a corporation, partnership, or

459
00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:17,760
sole proprietorship that is already legally licensed and operating.

460
00:39:18,420 --> 00:39:22,920
And the applicant's future or existing business location must be within the town of Bethlehem.

461
00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:27,220
So we're not given money away to businesses that are not operating in the town of Bethlehem.

462
00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:34,340
The grant funds can be used by the applicant to purchase capital goods, machinery, furniture,

463
00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:39,840
fixtures, equipment, or provide working capital in some cases to support business operations.

464
00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:49,040
Grant funds cannot be used to purchase real estate to repay existing debt or to undertake any kind of construction or renovation.

465
00:39:50,290 --> 00:39:55,790
Here's some examples of things that these grant funds have been used for before.

466
00:39:56,530 --> 00:40:01,950
The top left is Warbler Brewery and some brewing equipment.

467
00:40:03,390 --> 00:40:06,170
I don't know how it works, but it looks fancy.

468
00:40:07,230 --> 00:40:13,350
Top notch athletics, if you guys have ever been out to their place, really fun facility and

469
00:40:13,350 --> 00:40:16,970
they were able to use this funds to outfit that.

470
00:40:16,970 --> 00:40:37,850
Brutish Roasting, this is a big coffee roaster over on the right-hand side there, Max Ross Insurance and support for updated computer equipment and Sandy seedlings, which is this wonderful playground for this child care provider in our town.

471
00:40:38,750 --> 00:40:45,030
There are many stories of this because like I said there's been 36 separate awards over the life of this program.

472
00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:51,280
So, what's next is following this public hearing, the grant will be submitted.

473
00:40:52,020 --> 00:40:57,160
If awarded, we'll provide public information sessions in the fall, it late summer fall

474
00:40:57,160 --> 00:41:02,280
for any interested businesses, so they know exactly how to apply and how they can receive

475
00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:03,020
these grants.

476
00:41:03,540 --> 00:41:08,720
They will open it up for applications in the last quarter of the year, participants complete

477
00:41:08,720 --> 00:41:13,040
training, provide documentation of their projects, and then they receive the grant funds.

478
00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:15,620
I'm excited to give away some money, you guys.

479
00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:28,840
This is the part where if any of you have anything you would like to say, as part of this public hearing about the application of this grant, you have the opportunity to do so.

480
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:30,200
Thank you, Brian.

481
00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:35,560
Would anyone like to share their thoughts on this proposed grant application?

482
00:41:38,380 --> 00:41:40,660
Well, that a lot of competition for this one.

483
00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:43,260
I'm good evening everybody, Terry Egan on behalf of the Beth

484
00:41:43,260 --> 00:41:44,320
on Chamber of Commerce.

485
00:41:44,900 --> 00:41:48,700
I don't want to repeat that many of the things that Brand said,

486
00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:53,060
but we are here to clearly support this application.

487
00:41:54,180 --> 00:41:57,400
I know certainly I've heard more in-speak very highly of this program

488
00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:01,020
in the past as well as many of the other town board members here.

489
00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:03,040
It is a phenomenal program.

490
00:42:03,460 --> 00:42:06,780
As you can see, 36 businesses here in town and I want to underline

491
00:42:06,780 --> 00:42:13,760
it's here in town, so we as residents are receiving the benefit of what comes out of this in addition

492
00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:18,320
to the business owner themselves, and importantly, we are giving opportunities for employment

493
00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:22,760
here in town, and hopefully people live here, play here, and work here.

494
00:42:23,700 --> 00:42:28,760
So we are asking for your support letting you know that certainly as the Chamber of Commerce,

495
00:42:29,780 --> 00:42:31,000
we support it wholeheartedly.

496
00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:36,500
We've been working with Rob in Breann's absence and we're very thrilled to have her here.

497
00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:40,160
Hopefully helping out to get this program kicked back off again.

498
00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:46,080
We know we've had a lot of interest from many of our members about when is it going to start again.

499
00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:49,940
So I think you will have many applications starting to line up.

500
00:42:50,420 --> 00:42:54,700
Importantly, as well, the chambers stands ready willing and able to assist.

501
00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:58,420
We've started discussions with Rob and Breann about how we can help.

502
00:42:58,420 --> 00:43:05,800
There are certain requirements of this program, technical requirements that we're hoping that with the chamber we can help with that.

503
00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:11,040
One underlying, you do not need to be a chamber member to be an applicant or take advantage of this.

504
00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:15,460
Our interest is just business improvement here in the town in general.

505
00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:23,180
So again, we're here to help anyway we can and we would certainly request your support for this application.

506
00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:24,680
Thank you very much.

507
00:43:25,260 --> 00:43:28,740
Thank you. We didn't know when else like to address the town board on this.

508
00:43:30,540 --> 00:43:36,380
I'm sorry. I'm a newbie to this. Just a quick question. I noticed one of the slides had

509
00:43:36,380 --> 00:43:39,620
past users of this. Yeah, past recipients of this.

510
00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:43,980
So they're quite a few of those. So are they success stories?

511
00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:49,320
So I'm sorry. The public comment period is an opportunity for you to provide comments.

512
00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:52,040
If you have questions, you should talk to Brian after the public.

513
00:43:52,040 --> 00:43:55,000
Okay, all right, so my comment would be,

514
00:43:55,380 --> 00:43:59,160
I would like to make sure, or I would like to know more

515
00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:01,860
about the longevity of the employees.

516
00:44:02,980 --> 00:44:03,560
Great.

517
00:44:04,060 --> 00:44:04,780
Thank you.

518
00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:05,400
Thank you.

519
00:44:06,020 --> 00:44:07,880
But anyone else like to address the town board?

520
00:44:10,820 --> 00:44:11,660
I just want to say quickly.

521
00:44:13,100 --> 00:44:16,800
I suspect that this is a federal funded program,

522
00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:21,980
and so they probably input these requirements into place.

523
00:44:21,980 --> 00:44:26,640
But if there's any way that this could be expanded to support non-profits doing social enterprise,

524
00:44:26,900 --> 00:44:28,740
I would be delighted personally.

525
00:44:29,220 --> 00:44:32,380
So I just want to put that out there if we have any control over that.

526
00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:34,480
It would be wonderful if such a thing could also be included.

527
00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:35,540
Thank you.

528
00:44:35,740 --> 00:44:36,240
Thank you.

529
00:44:36,360 --> 00:44:38,420
We did anyone else like to address the town board?

530
00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:48,640
With that, we are going to close the public hearing.

531
00:44:49,060 --> 00:44:51,020
So are there any questions or comments from the board?

532
00:44:53,940 --> 00:44:59,680
I didn't know if we were going to talk, but I do love this program as Terry said.

533
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:23,000
And I've said that for years. And I think the last time we spoke about it a recent time when we spoke about applying again, maybe it was wrapping up the last round. I asked, okay, when are we going to do another expo of all the businesses that was done several years back? I think before COVID. And they said, we've got to wait for the new staff person to come on board to be able to do that.

534
00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:31,000
But that was such a great event to highlight all the businesses into Mr. Sheaver's point to celebrate the successes.

535
00:45:32,240 --> 00:45:38,920
So I'm signed me up to help on that and maybe Terry again, her crew can also help.

536
00:45:39,340 --> 00:45:42,900
And then the second thing, just building on what Mr. Sheaver said,

537
00:45:43,220 --> 00:45:51,180
I think we probably don't celebrate enough the successes of the past and check in and do sort of a retro

538
00:45:52,260 --> 00:45:58,300
annual report on, you know, what the last 10 years of this program have brought to Bethlehem.

539
00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:04,200
So now that we have you on board, I guess there's more possibilities to doing this.

540
00:46:04,420 --> 00:46:07,480
But yeah, that's a great job and glad to have you on board.

541
00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:10,540
Thank you, Martin. Anyone else?

542
00:46:11,720 --> 00:46:15,240
All right. I may have a motion in a second to close the public hearing.

543
00:46:15,240 --> 00:46:16,160
Oh, moved.

544
00:46:17,080 --> 00:46:17,540
All in favor?

545
00:46:18,060 --> 00:46:18,200
Aye.

546
00:46:18,560 --> 00:46:18,860
Great.

547
00:46:18,960 --> 00:46:19,560
Thank you.

548
00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:20,360
Minutes approval.

549
00:46:20,560 --> 00:46:24,080
May I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes from the Town Board Regular Meeting

550
00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:26,320
on May 14, 2025?

551
00:46:27,320 --> 00:46:27,820
Second.

552
00:46:28,300 --> 00:46:28,340
Second.

553
00:46:28,340 --> 00:46:28,820
All in favor?

554
00:46:29,780 --> 00:46:30,400
Line items.

555
00:46:30,540 --> 00:46:32,400
We have nine line items this evening.

556
00:46:32,820 --> 00:46:33,680
Item number one.

557
00:46:33,960 --> 00:46:37,760
I have a request from the Administrator of Parks and Recreation for the approval of

558
00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:39,280
Seasonal Personnel is attached.

559
00:46:39,660 --> 00:46:41,340
Are there any questions or comments from the board?

560
00:46:41,940 --> 00:46:43,300
I have a motion and a second please.

561
00:46:43,300 --> 00:46:44,480
I'll move.

562
00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:46,040
All in favor?

563
00:46:46,460 --> 00:46:46,640
Aye.

564
00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:47,120
Aye.

565
00:46:47,240 --> 00:46:47,700
Item number two.

566
00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:52,080
I have a request for the Town Board to approve a tree management resolution to guide

567
00:46:52,080 --> 00:46:55,720
management or trees on town properties, easements, and rights of way.

568
00:46:56,600 --> 00:47:00,580
So, some background on this, a bit over a year ago, I brought together a small working

569
00:47:00,580 --> 00:47:05,800
group of interested residents to discuss how we could incentivize tree conservation in

570
00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:06,480
our community.

571
00:47:07,160 --> 00:47:12,140
And this resolution is the first product of our collaborative efforts, and it's rooted in

572
00:47:12,140 --> 00:47:18,540
idea that the town should be practicing, in our operations, the things that we would like to see

573
00:47:18,540 --> 00:47:24,800
our landowners doing on their properties. So I'm going to just quickly read the wear-ass statements

574
00:47:24,800 --> 00:47:29,940
for the resolution and the four major actions, but I'm not going to read all of the sub-actions

575
00:47:29,940 --> 00:47:36,940
associated with that, but that's all available in the agenda packet. So this is a resolution

576
00:47:36,940 --> 00:47:40,940
regarding the management of trees on town properties, easements, and rights of way,

577
00:47:40,940 --> 00:47:50,880
We're as in 2014 the Bethlehem Town Board launched the Bethlehem Street Tree program to commit the town to planting and maintaining street trees throughout our community.

578
00:47:51,480 --> 00:47:59,540
And we're as the town of Bethlehem completed a street tree inventory analysis and management plan at 2020, which described the town's aspirations for street trees.

579
00:47:59,540 --> 00:48:05,260
Identified actions for maintaining existing trees and planting new street trees and

580
00:48:05,260 --> 00:48:09,820
recognized the many benefits that street trees yield for our community's aesthetic value,

581
00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:15,020
air quality, and public health, and whereas the Bethlehem forward comprehensive plan

582
00:48:15,020 --> 00:48:19,980
update recognizes the value of street trees and encourages implementation of the street

583
00:48:19,980 --> 00:48:25,740
tree inventory analysis and management plan, including the creation of a tree advisory committee,

584
00:48:25,740 --> 00:48:32,540
And whereas street trees in Bethlehem have annually removed more than 1,800 pounds of air pollution from neighborhoods,

585
00:48:33,020 --> 00:48:39,480
and observed 783 gallons of storm water, which helps reduce flooding and protects creeks of wetlands.

586
00:48:40,060 --> 00:48:49,700
And whereas trees decrease lower heating and cooling expenses by providing shade and acting as wind brakes and help reduce neighborhood noise levels.

587
00:48:49,700 --> 00:48:57,720
And whereas large trees in yards and neighborhoods increase residential property values by an average of 3 to 15% nationally,

588
00:48:58,220 --> 00:49:04,360
and commercial property rental rates are 7% higher nationally when trees are on a property.

589
00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:12,680
And whereas tree line streets typically have lower traffic speeds, making them safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and whereas,

590
00:49:12,680 --> 00:49:19,520
The more mature at tree, the greater the benefits it delivers, so it is critical to preserve existing trees on town properties,

591
00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:25,560
easements and rights of way, whenever possible, to plant new trees with mature establishment in mind,

592
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:29,020
and to encourage property owners to keep and care for their trees.

593
00:49:29,460 --> 00:49:36,300
And whereas due to the many benefits that trees provide the U.S. Forest Services estimated that for every dollar spent on trees,

594
00:49:36,300 --> 00:49:43,660
return of $2.70 is received. Now for be it resolved that one, preserving and planting

595
00:49:43,660 --> 00:49:47,660
healthy trees is a priority for the town of Bethlehem in its easements rights of

596
00:49:47,660 --> 00:49:49,480
way and the properties it owns.

597
00:49:52,140 --> 00:49:54,720
When trees are removed from town properties easements

598
00:49:54,720 --> 00:49:57,960
rights of way, replacing them is always the preferred approach.

599
00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:02,980
Three,

600
00:50:07,820 --> 00:50:07,820
we will appropriately

601
00:50:07,820 --> 00:50:09,980
are any questions or comments from the board?

602
00:50:12,620 --> 00:50:17,940
Well, I hate to fall back on Proverbs and cliches, but I think on this, we have to.

603
00:50:18,980 --> 00:50:23,220
The ancient Greeks said that a society grows great when old men plant trees they will never

604
00:50:23,220 --> 00:50:28,400
see the shade of, and while I will reject the ages of inherent in that statement, and

605
00:50:28,400 --> 00:50:34,740
rage against the dying of small loises from my back, I will say that this is a chance for

606
00:50:34,740 --> 00:50:39,580
us as a town to grow even greater, the trees that we need, the environmental benefits, the aesthetic

607
00:50:39,580 --> 00:50:45,280
benefits and the financial benefits are important. I commend and advance the volunteers that

608
00:50:45,280 --> 00:50:49,400
will make up the Tree Advisory Committee for their expertise for their efforts and for their

609
00:50:49,400 --> 00:50:55,460
commitment not just to the tree that they see in front of them but for the next 50, 80, 100 years

610
00:50:55,460 --> 00:51:00,540
that that tree will be providing shade and benefits to their neighbors and descendants so that I will

611
00:51:00,540 --> 00:51:02,200
be happily voting in favor.

612
00:51:05,460 --> 00:51:10,220
I would argue that two of the best things about Bethlehem are

613
00:51:10,220 --> 00:51:14,900
local businesses, which we already talked about the people, obviously, and then the trees.

614
00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:22,380
And I've had visitors coming from different states, different countries, and they always

615
00:51:22,380 --> 00:51:28,680
remark about the trees and the giant trees we have around town.

616
00:51:29,360 --> 00:51:31,520
So yeah, I think this is great.

617
00:51:31,960 --> 00:51:37,760
I was on an early, street advisory committee years ago, 10 years ago, probably with David.

618
00:51:39,180 --> 00:51:42,840
And I'm just happy to see this now moving forward.

619
00:51:42,840 --> 00:51:44,220
I think it's a big step forward.

620
00:51:44,500 --> 00:51:46,180
Thank you.

621
00:51:46,820 --> 00:51:47,160
All right.

622
00:51:47,740 --> 00:51:48,920
So I'm going to restate the motion.

623
00:51:49,120 --> 00:51:51,640
I have a request for the town boards to approve a tree management

624
00:51:51,640 --> 00:51:54,400
resolution to guide management to trees on town properties,

625
00:51:54,760 --> 00:51:56,100
easements, and rights of ways.

626
00:51:56,300 --> 00:51:57,760
I have a motion that a second place.

627
00:51:58,000 --> 00:51:58,460
I'm moved.

628
00:51:58,820 --> 00:51:59,120
Second.

629
00:51:59,400 --> 00:51:59,900
All in favor?

630
00:52:00,380 --> 00:52:00,460
Aye.

631
00:52:00,620 --> 00:52:01,580
Item number three.

632
00:52:01,940 --> 00:52:05,240
I have a request from the Assistant Administrator of Parks and Recreation

633
00:52:05,240 --> 00:52:07,140
to approve a memorandum of understanding

634
00:52:07,140 --> 00:52:09,080
between the Parks and Recreation Department

635
00:52:09,080 --> 00:52:10,660
and the Bethlehem Public Library

636
00:52:10,660 --> 00:52:13,540
for the Thursdays and the Parks special event series.

637
00:52:13,940 --> 00:52:15,740
Are there any questions or comments from the board?

638
00:52:16,580 --> 00:52:17,920
I have a motion on a second please.

639
00:52:18,700 --> 00:52:19,020
I'll move.

640
00:52:19,220 --> 00:52:19,540
Second.

641
00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:20,360
I'll in favor.

642
00:52:20,800 --> 00:52:21,800
Item number four.

643
00:52:21,940 --> 00:52:23,560
I have a request for the town board

644
00:52:23,560 --> 00:52:25,360
to authorize the town supervisor

645
00:52:25,360 --> 00:52:27,300
to sign a memorandum of understanding

646
00:52:27,300 --> 00:52:30,140
with the capital district transportation authority

647
00:52:30,140 --> 00:52:34,420
for a CDPHP cycle bike sharing operations in 2025

648
00:52:34,420 --> 00:52:36,320
I have 2026 and 2027.

649
00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:38,580
Are there any questions or comments from the board?

650
00:52:40,160 --> 00:52:42,660
I think this is just a great program.

651
00:52:42,860 --> 00:52:44,580
I'm excited we're continuing it in partnership.

652
00:52:44,800 --> 00:52:47,940
I'm excited about the long-term cost savings opportunities

653
00:52:47,940 --> 00:52:49,960
for the town here in.

654
00:52:50,200 --> 00:52:52,840
And I'd like to commend our folks in Bethlehem

655
00:52:52,840 --> 00:52:56,600
for starting over 400 bicycle rates through this program.

656
00:52:57,000 --> 00:52:58,520
Staying active, staying healthy, and keeping carbon

657
00:52:58,520 --> 00:52:59,080
under the atmosphere.

658
00:52:59,440 --> 00:53:02,280
So thanks to CDTA and CDPHP for making that happen

659
00:53:02,280 --> 00:53:04,160
and excited to see this move forward.

660
00:53:05,040 --> 00:53:06,580
And that was just in one year, right?

661
00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:07,500
That was the first year.

662
00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:08,380
It'll go up.

663
00:53:09,500 --> 00:53:09,680
All right.

664
00:53:10,180 --> 00:53:11,600
May I have a motion in a second, please?

665
00:53:11,920 --> 00:53:12,320
And moved.

666
00:53:12,580 --> 00:53:13,620
Second, I'll have favor?

667
00:53:14,080 --> 00:53:14,320
Aye.

668
00:53:14,900 --> 00:53:15,820
I'd have number five.

669
00:53:16,040 --> 00:53:18,220
I have a request from the Superintendent of Highways

670
00:53:18,220 --> 00:53:20,800
to purchase a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee

671
00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:22,360
for use by the police department,

672
00:53:22,620 --> 00:53:23,780
subject to permissive referendum.

673
00:53:24,560 --> 00:53:30,180
The total amount of this purchase is $48,971.37 and includes

674
00:53:30,180 --> 00:53:35,140
the emergency equipment and upfitting. The funds for this purchase will come from the general fund

675
00:53:35,140 --> 00:53:39,820
capital reserves subject to permissive referendum. Are there any questions or comments from the board?

676
00:53:40,480 --> 00:53:41,840
I have a motion on a second please.

677
00:53:42,100 --> 00:53:42,960
It's all moved.

678
00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:49,980
Second, all in favor? I don't know number six. I have a request from the Chief of Police for authorization

679
00:53:49,980 --> 00:53:56,180
for authorization to accept $12,285 in trade value for the current department's

680
00:53:56,180 --> 00:54:03,100
block model 45 handgun inventory and to acquire upgraded firearms equipped with miniature red dot site

681
00:54:03,100 --> 00:54:11,620
systems for a total of $16,200 and $16 since after trade. The funds for this purchase, the funds

682
00:54:11,620 --> 00:54:23,340
to purchase the new systems will be taken from the department's asset for future funds, 1100.31200.522-23.05. This

683
00:54:23,340 --> 00:54:26,900
The purchase will fully modernize the department's existing handgun platform.

684
00:54:27,500 --> 00:54:29,180
Then, any questions or comments from the board?

685
00:54:29,980 --> 00:54:31,460
We have a motion at a second, please.

686
00:54:32,500 --> 00:54:32,880
A moved.

687
00:54:33,180 --> 00:54:33,580
Second.

688
00:54:33,880 --> 00:54:34,400
All in favor?

689
00:54:34,920 --> 00:54:35,060
Aye.

690
00:54:35,180 --> 00:54:36,040
Item number seven.

691
00:54:36,460 --> 00:54:40,560
I have a request from the town engineer for the town board to grant a temporary easement

692
00:54:40,560 --> 00:54:45,200
at the Rockefeller Pomp station property located at 43 Rockefeller Road.

693
00:54:45,420 --> 00:54:49,380
Tax parcel ID 86.07-2-9

694
00:54:49,380 --> 00:54:49,640
9.

695
00:54:50,120 --> 00:54:54,940
Tonight, Agra Mohawk Power Corporation in Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage Incorporated.

696
00:54:55,320 --> 00:54:57,020
Are there any questions or comments from the board?

697
00:54:57,760 --> 00:54:59,200
They have a motion and a second, please.

698
00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:01,000
So moved.

699
00:55:01,620 --> 00:55:01,980
Second.

700
00:55:02,300 --> 00:55:02,780
All in favor?

701
00:55:03,020 --> 00:55:03,200
Hi.

702
00:55:03,620 --> 00:55:04,460
Item number eight.

703
00:55:04,780 --> 00:55:09,080
I have a request for the town board to approve a temporary use agreement with Niagara Mohawk

704
00:55:09,080 --> 00:55:13,500
Power Corporation in Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage Incorporated and authorized

705
00:55:13,500 --> 00:55:15,760
to supervise or to execute the agreement.

706
00:55:16,160 --> 00:55:17,900
Are there any questions or comments from the board?

707
00:55:17,900 --> 00:55:20,200
May I have a motion on a second please?

708
00:55:20,220 --> 00:55:20,640
On that.

709
00:55:21,080 --> 00:55:21,320
Second.

710
00:55:21,660 --> 00:55:22,060
On favor?

711
00:55:23,540 --> 00:55:28,500
And before we kick in on our final item, participation and government students, if you could

712
00:55:28,500 --> 00:55:32,420
bring your agendas up, we can sign them and you can go off and do all of your homework and

713
00:55:32,420 --> 00:55:33,200
other responsibilities.

714
00:55:33,960 --> 00:55:34,460
Off touch.

715
00:55:41,820 --> 00:55:43,600
Anyone up here can sign them?

716
00:55:51,590 --> 00:55:52,070
Have a good night.

717
00:55:52,330 --> 00:55:52,790
Are you doing?

718
00:56:13,120 --> 00:56:14,420
Have a good night.

719
00:56:16,890 --> 00:56:17,110
All right.

720
00:56:17,250 --> 00:56:17,970
Have a good night, everyone.

721
00:56:19,670 --> 00:56:19,930
All right.

722
00:56:19,930 --> 00:56:31,430
We will now have a presentation by our town com controller Michael Cohen on our 2024 financial results and look ahead to the rest of 2025 and 2026 over to you Michael

723
00:56:32,670 --> 00:56:34,930
Everyone disappearing kind of hurts

724
00:56:38,160 --> 00:56:40,170
We wouldn't leave you

725
00:56:40,840 --> 00:56:50,220
I appreciate all of you out there and you there to the millions watching at home. Thank you and everyone at home, but

726
00:56:50,220 --> 00:57:00,840
Anyway. Okay. I will keep this to my lips. All right. So the presentation touches on the

727
00:57:00,840 --> 00:57:07,340
finances of 2024. Highlights key occurrences that have already happened in 2025 and provides

728
00:57:07,340 --> 00:57:15,720
insights into what lies beyond the end of this month in titled yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

729
00:57:15,720 --> 00:57:16,600
we'll

730
00:57:20,120 --> 00:57:26,820
start with yesterday. From a financial standpoint, this slide summarizes 2024.

731
00:57:27,460 --> 00:57:34,020
Notably all four major operating funds recorded operating surpluses will first look at these.

732
00:57:36,170 --> 00:57:44,170
Within the general fund, sales tax says slightly surpassed last year's figures and exceeded the budget by $1.1 million.

733
00:57:44,170 --> 00:57:50,690
Three interest rate decreases, totaling 1% should have led to a decrease in mortgage taxes,

734
00:57:51,390 --> 00:57:57,470
but due to two large commercial mortgages during the year, mortgage taxes netted an increase

735
00:57:57,470 --> 00:58:03,870
of $429,000 over budget. The positive side of increasing interest rates is that our investments

736
00:58:03,870 --> 00:58:11,970
did well across all funds, but in the general fund we exceeded budget by $680,000. However,

737
00:58:11,970 --> 00:58:16,570
On the expenditure side, the cost of the general fund employees fell short of the budget by

738
00:58:16,570 --> 00:58:23,010
$415,000 due to turnover and challenges in hiring replacements and the related benefits.

739
00:58:25,720 --> 00:58:31,120
Within the highway fund, Interest Income exceeded expectation by $190,000.

740
00:58:31,340 --> 00:58:35,620
Meanwhile, on the expenditure side, savings stemmed from term stemming from turnover

741
00:58:35,620 --> 00:58:41,940
and difficulties in recruitment amounted to $598,000 and due to a delay in receiving

742
00:58:41,940 --> 00:58:49,160
vehicles highway acquired $238,000 less in fleet purchasing than expected.

743
00:58:51,440 --> 00:58:58,640
The water fund exceeded expectation primarily due to $943,000 in user charges including

744
00:58:58,640 --> 00:59:00,100
late payment penalties.

745
00:59:01,140 --> 00:59:07,280
This was due in large part to a back bill of one industrial user totaling over $576,000

746
00:59:07,280 --> 00:59:15,040
including penalties. In addition, the town received $253,000 in interest income above expected.

747
00:59:15,680 --> 00:59:21,740
On the expenditure side, turnover led to savings totaling $250,000 in wages and related fringe.

748
00:59:22,380 --> 00:59:26,800
Additionally, we didn't spend as much on water mains to the tune of $357,000.

749
00:59:30,800 --> 00:59:35,040
The sewer fund exceeded their user charge estimates by $175,000,

750
00:59:35,040 --> 00:59:39,060
and their interest income estimates by $93,000.

751
00:59:40,000 --> 00:59:46,660
On the expense side, again, turnover allowed the fund to save $271,000 in personnel and

752
00:59:46,660 --> 00:59:47,400
fringe costs.

753
00:59:51,050 --> 00:59:56,490
The capital fund transfers in the general fund relate to the shifting of cash to repay the

754
00:59:56,490 --> 00:59:59,970
on anticipation note, or ban, as the town is...

755
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:05,560
There's no longer borrowing for the Olympic pool, the project for which the funds were obtained. The

756
01:00:05,560 --> 01:00:12,260
water and sewer funds relate to the movement of cash from ARPA to pay for a vehicle. The transfer

757
01:00:12,260 --> 01:00:16,760
is out, relate to cash that was previously approved for spending on capital projects through

758
01:00:16,760 --> 01:00:24,640
the reserve funds, but held in respective operating funds within the fund balance. These funds

759
01:00:24,640 --> 01:00:30,920
required to be moved to the reserve and expense as a transfer as specific projects are approved.

760
01:00:33,830 --> 01:00:38,010
Earmarked fund balance relates to fund balance that is otherwise committed. This would

761
01:00:38,010 --> 01:00:42,610
be items such as purchase orders written, which is a commitment to pay for a particular

762
01:00:42,610 --> 01:00:49,870
items ordered, funds approved for capital reserves, fuel waiting to be pumped, sitting in

763
01:00:49,870 --> 01:00:53,730
our fuel pumps, or even prepaid workers compensation insurance.

764
01:00:55,070 --> 01:01:00,290
The contingency line is uncommitted rainy day funds for when we find ourselves in a bind.

765
01:01:00,930 --> 01:01:05,630
I put the unimperant the seas because only the general fund can truly be unassigned.

766
01:01:09,470 --> 01:01:18,070
So while the other funds have to be assigned for the purpose of contingency, which the fund balance policy automatically does when certain parameters are met,

767
01:01:18,070 --> 01:01:25,410
These funds also represent 20% of the most recently adopted budget, which as of today is the 2025 budget.

768
01:01:26,430 --> 01:01:33,430
Infrastructure reserves are the designed end of year holding area to accomplish this as we have a catch 22.

769
01:01:34,110 --> 01:01:46,670
Any dollars in our four primary funds that would have been assigned or unassigned for contingency in excess of 20% are automatically designated to be moved to the capital reserve.

770
01:01:46,670 --> 01:01:50,730
But they can't actually be transferred there until the financial statements are issued.

771
01:01:51,890 --> 01:01:57,850
Lastly, the Farms and Forest Fund Reserve is calculated based on a formula in the town's Farms and Forest Resolution.

772
01:01:58,470 --> 01:02:01,450
This calculation is capped at $500,000.

773
01:02:03,750 --> 01:02:04,650
Now for today.

774
01:02:07,330 --> 01:02:10,530
So let's see what we're looking at thus far in 2025.

775
01:02:11,590 --> 01:02:12,030
Sales tax.

776
01:02:12,570 --> 01:02:17,950
Sales tax receipts are up slightly by less than 1% year over year.

777
01:02:17,950 --> 01:02:26,410
Typically, we would expect an increase of closer to 2%, but, which is in line with inflation,

778
01:02:26,530 --> 01:02:29,970
but it appears this year, we may fall short of that benchmark.

779
01:02:31,090 --> 01:02:36,150
Mortgage tax, based on the information provided from the county, the town is expecting

780
01:02:36,950 --> 01:02:41,270
$524,000 for the first seven months of the Mortgage tax collection year.

781
01:02:41,270 --> 01:02:48,470
This leaves the town needing approximately $72,000 per month for the remaining five months to meet budget.

782
01:02:49,370 --> 01:02:56,230
Interest rates are expected to gradually decrease by up to 1% this year, which could spur borrowing an increase annual revenue.

783
01:02:58,090 --> 01:03:09,310
Interest income in 2024, the town earned $2.1 million in overall average interest earnings rate of 4.6%.

784
01:03:09,310 --> 01:03:16,250
That's up from 1.6 million and a 3.7% overall earnings rate in 2023.

785
01:03:17,210 --> 01:03:24,310
To date this year, we've already booked $591,000 with an overall interest earnings rate of 3.8%.

786
01:03:25,090 --> 01:03:28,310
Also, we're locked into tables with varying maturity dates.

787
01:03:29,110 --> 01:03:35,550
Primarily in May, June, July, November that will earn another $121,000 this year.

788
01:03:35,550 --> 01:03:42,230
Even with the expected rate cuts, we should meet or exceed or slightly exceed this year's budget.

789
01:03:44,110 --> 01:03:46,110
The water and sewer are user charges.

790
01:03:48,490 --> 01:03:53,390
Late spring and summer mark the peak water consumption periods in the town, as lawns often demand,

791
01:03:53,910 --> 01:03:58,310
irrigation and pools need to be maintained at our above minimum levels.

792
01:03:58,310 --> 01:04:06,090
The rise in temperature and decrease in precipitation lead to increased usage while cooler rainier weather results in fewer sales.

793
01:04:07,370 --> 01:04:14,050
June and July 2024 were below average in terms of total rainfall with less than six inches falling over the two months.

794
01:04:14,570 --> 01:04:23,950
Additionally, the town identified and corrected a billing issue with an industrial customer from 2023 after the budget was completed in 2024.

795
01:04:23,950 --> 01:04:28,250
this is producing stronger than expected 2025 financial results.

796
01:04:31,050 --> 01:04:33,190
Employees, as noted above,

797
01:04:33,450 --> 01:04:40,170
we had significant savings from staffing changes in 2024. This year appears to be consistent

798
01:04:40,170 --> 01:04:47,450
as we had as of this writing, a net loss of five full-time staff this year bringing us to a total

799
01:04:47,450 --> 01:04:54,730
of 16 unfilled positions ranging from help desk technician to deputy commissioner of the DPW

800
01:04:54,730 --> 01:04:59,310
and from utility service helper to senior outreach worker.

801
01:05:00,850 --> 01:05:01,230
Pension.

802
01:05:02,150 --> 01:05:05,490
Despite the savings that I just outlined regarding personnel,

803
01:05:06,070 --> 01:05:10,790
the costs for both our employee and police retirement systems have gone beyond the unthinkable.

804
01:05:11,450 --> 01:05:15,790
Rising a projected $1.39 million in just three years.

805
01:05:16,510 --> 01:05:18,330
This was primarily due to two factors.

806
01:05:18,550 --> 01:05:21,370
The first was a series of reductions over the past decade

807
01:05:21,370 --> 01:05:25,050
of the expected rate of return from the pension plan investments.

808
01:05:25,790 --> 01:05:29,070
The hit is because the worse you expect the market to do,

809
01:05:29,530 --> 01:05:33,450
the more you need your participants to contribute to make up the shortfall.

810
01:05:34,330 --> 01:05:36,750
The second occurred over the last couple of years,

811
01:05:36,930 --> 01:05:39,810
which was the increase to the benefits of Tier VI,

812
01:05:40,090 --> 01:05:43,470
a tier that was originally created in 2012 with fewer benefits

813
01:05:43,470 --> 01:05:48,750
in order to help municipalities and the residents cope with rising pension costs.

814
01:05:48,750 --> 01:05:54,710
Both the decrease in expected rate of return and the increase to tier six benefits placed

815
01:05:54,710 --> 01:05:57,050
significant strain on municipal budgets.

816
01:05:59,880 --> 01:06:06,680
Cable. The payment from the cable industry to the town based on the use of the town's

817
01:06:06,680 --> 01:06:11,500
right away has been slowly disappearing for the last several years due to the rise of streaming

818
01:06:11,500 --> 01:06:19,280
services. In fact, the first quarter of 2025 has been no different. As it is $7,000 less

819
01:06:19,280 --> 01:06:21,180
than the first quarter of 2024.

820
01:06:22,000 --> 01:06:23,940
If anything, I'd say that there does appear

821
01:06:23,940 --> 01:06:27,820
to be an acceleration of that pace.

822
01:06:28,560 --> 01:06:30,320
That said, and despite my indication,

823
01:06:30,480 --> 01:06:31,780
the cable is receding.

824
01:06:32,880 --> 01:06:34,920
The two cable companies that provide service

825
01:06:34,920 --> 01:06:36,580
to the town, charter and Verizon,

826
01:06:36,780 --> 01:06:38,800
would each like to negotiate a new contract

827
01:06:38,800 --> 01:06:41,020
as both agreements are now expired.

828
01:06:41,900 --> 01:06:43,880
I'd like to say that this comes with an opportunity

829
01:06:43,880 --> 01:06:47,900
to increase the revenue that comes into the town,

830
01:06:47,900 --> 01:06:52,640
But based on New York State rules and regulations, we already obtained the maximum allowed.

831
01:06:56,240 --> 01:06:56,880
Borrowing.

832
01:06:58,040 --> 01:07:00,440
We are currently paying the annual debt service.

833
01:07:00,460 --> 01:07:05,600
We are currently paying annual debt service cost of $2.4 million on five bonds,

834
01:07:06,020 --> 01:07:10,640
which as of December 31, 2024, totaled $33.6 million.

835
01:07:11,440 --> 01:07:15,140
These were sold between the years 2015 and 2019.

836
01:07:15,840 --> 01:07:21,440
Further, we have obtained additional borrowing in the form of a bond anticipation note or ban,

837
01:07:21,820 --> 01:07:30,740
totaling $5.96 million, which represents a $1.06 million increase from 2024, as we attempt to borrow money

838
01:07:30,740 --> 01:07:45,100
only when the cash is actually needed. Unlike bonds, which have interest rates locked in for an extended period of time,

839
01:07:45,100 --> 01:07:51,920
from 4.5% to 5% we received extra money from the lenders called a premium on both issuances

840
01:07:51,920 --> 01:07:57,460
which offset some of that rate. Therefore, the difference is the net interest cost or

841
01:07:57,460 --> 01:08:05,920
Nick, which changed from 3.95% to 3.62% from 2024 to 2025, meaning that the actual cost of the

842
01:08:05,920 --> 01:08:12,880
barrowing was lower this year than last. That's the most difficult slide of all of the ones to explain.

843
01:08:12,880 --> 01:08:19,820
I promise. Capital Reserves, we maintain reserve funds to cover capital projects and equipment

844
01:08:19,820 --> 01:08:24,860
expenses aiming to minimize reliance on borrowing and the additional costs associated with

845
01:08:24,860 --> 01:08:30,680
that. If you're interested in seeing how these are used, we provide a review of our plans to

846
01:08:30,680 --> 01:08:35,900
utilize these capital reserves in the annual capital plan document released each September.

847
01:08:36,600 --> 01:08:39,660
This document offers valuable insight into our current position.

848
01:08:40,280 --> 01:08:44,960
Lastly, please note that the numbers shown on the slide include the infrastructure reserve

849
01:08:44,960 --> 01:08:49,240
numbers from 2024, which were identified on the second slide.

850
01:08:53,160 --> 01:08:53,920
On to tomorrow.

851
01:08:57,110 --> 01:09:00,530
I don't know what keeps anyone else from getting a good night's sleep, but for me, the

852
01:09:00,530 --> 01:09:02,730
chaos at the federal level is driving me crazy.

853
01:09:03,630 --> 01:09:08,610
For more than a century, the U.S. economy and the federal government have demonstrated

854
01:09:08,610 --> 01:09:14,190
a general consistency in approach, while presidents and congressional majorities have shifted

855
01:09:14,190 --> 01:09:19,470
left or right, those shifts have typically remained within a range that maintained an overall

856
01:09:19,470 --> 01:09:24,690
balance, never allowing one side of the economic teeter totter to dominate entirely.

857
01:09:25,550 --> 01:09:27,950
That balance now appears to be under strain.

858
01:09:28,850 --> 01:09:33,410
Whether one believes this shift is necessary or not, the result has been an increased turbulence

859
01:09:33,410 --> 01:09:34,550
and uncertainty.

860
01:09:35,670 --> 01:09:41,690
Economic forecasting already a complex task has become even more difficult if not impossible

861
01:09:41,690 --> 01:09:43,190
in some areas.

862
01:09:43,190 --> 01:09:49,670
Threats of federal grants being revoked after having been awarded discussions about ending

863
01:09:49,670 --> 01:09:55,810
municipal tax exempt borrowing, and potential cuts to state funding, all raised serious

864
01:09:55,810 --> 01:09:57,450
concerns for local governments.

865
01:09:58,590 --> 01:10:05,910
Other fiscal pressures also play higher tariffs, reduced household spending power, which

866
01:10:05,910 --> 01:10:12,330
can lower sales tax revenues, declining interest rates may reduce income from bank reserves,

867
01:10:12,330 --> 01:10:14,870
though they might boost mortgage tax collection.

868
01:10:15,810 --> 01:10:17,730
The full impact is hard to predict.

869
01:10:19,050 --> 01:10:22,110
It's impossible that policy may shift again

870
01:10:22,110 --> 01:10:24,690
returning toward the center in order to restore

871
01:10:24,690 --> 01:10:28,910
more stable footing, but for now, the outlook remains uncertain.

872
01:10:32,490 --> 01:10:35,530
So what do the computers have to say about what's going on?

873
01:10:35,850 --> 01:10:37,310
Well, this is from AI.

874
01:10:38,150 --> 01:10:39,350
Economic outlook is mixed.

875
01:10:39,670 --> 01:10:42,690
Inflation has eased, and interest rate cuts are expected,

876
01:10:42,690 --> 01:10:48,050
but growth remains soft amid lingering recession fears, global instability and tight consumers

877
01:10:48,050 --> 01:10:53,770
spending. Municipality should plan cautiously amid revenue, uncertainty, and shifting fiscal

878
01:10:53,770 --> 01:10:54,390
conditions.

879
01:10:59,290 --> 01:11:05,990
So, the tax cap. A 2% tax cap on property taxes today represents only $340,000 increase

880
01:11:05,990 --> 01:11:11,510
to our tax levies. Compared to a 2% coal in wages, salaries and overtime, which exceeded

881
01:11:11,510 --> 01:11:16,690
$19 million in 2024, we fall short by $40,000.

882
01:11:17,650 --> 01:11:21,690
That doesn't even include the increased to fringe costs, which includes Social Security

883
01:11:21,690 --> 01:11:26,810
Taxes, Workers' Compensation, Retirement Contribution, Health Insurance, and other things.

884
01:11:27,630 --> 01:11:32,690
The increase in these and fringe costs, which are salary adjacent costs, actually increased

885
01:11:32,690 --> 01:11:42,730
$800,000 from 223 to 224 primarily as earlier indicated earlier due to retirement contribution

886
01:11:42,730 --> 01:11:49,270
increases over which we had no control. Without a flourishing economy and department heads

887
01:11:49,270 --> 01:11:54,330
diligently and actively working to offset shortfalls, the tax cap would have caused us

888
01:11:54,330 --> 01:11:56,570
more significant issues much earlier.

889
01:11:59,020 --> 01:11:59,540
Questions?

890
01:12:01,740 --> 01:12:03,740
Thank you, Michael. Any questions or comments from the

891
01:12:03,740 --> 01:12:04,660
I

892
01:12:07,290 --> 01:12:18,730
just want to thank you for the report for your in-depth, you know, touchy based on what the end you were talking about concerns we have to deal with right now moving forward.

893
01:12:20,330 --> 01:12:34,230
I feel that when we look at the reserve accounts, I think it's time for us to start following your advice, which is basically, I think we need to start creating a special infrastructure account for the town.

894
01:12:34,850 --> 01:12:38,810
We have infrastructure needs are going to be growing over the next several years, whether

895
01:12:38,810 --> 01:12:44,010
they'd be from the highway department building to infrastructure, other buildings we have.

896
01:12:44,590 --> 01:12:47,230
But I think we need to start preparing ourselves that we are not how much money is coming

897
01:12:47,230 --> 01:12:52,590
down down the road here, how bad these federal cuts are going to be.

898
01:12:52,950 --> 01:12:57,330
So I think we start making a special accounts for infrastructure needs, whether we have the

899
01:12:57,330 --> 01:13:01,830
water facilities, I said how we're department, so I think I want to start looking into that,

900
01:13:01,830 --> 01:13:08,050
of how we can structure some kind of reserve account for widespread infrastructure needs.

901
01:13:09,910 --> 01:13:17,330
The challenge will be finding areas, revenue sources that will fund those infrastructure

902
01:13:17,330 --> 01:13:26,610
reserves. Because most of our areas are already being utilized for general operating,

903
01:13:26,610 --> 01:13:42,190
And we do have healthy capital reserve funds and a lot of those are being tapped already for projects that are in the capital plan.

904
01:13:43,530 --> 01:13:44,770
But it's a good idea.

905
01:13:48,440 --> 01:13:54,160
Just on that note, the capital plan we start working on that this fall.

906
01:13:54,160 --> 01:14:00,540
And that's an important way we can start thinking about the funding sources for that as well.

907
01:14:00,660 --> 01:14:00,980
Sure.

908
01:14:01,400 --> 01:14:05,480
Just a couple questions based in some of your stuff at the beginning.

909
01:14:07,420 --> 01:14:14,080
We said that we had Highway Department had Vehicle Acquisition Delays, which led to,

910
01:14:14,140 --> 01:14:19,560
in some parts of their surplus, are we expected to see corresponding deficits in this fiscal year as they acquire,

911
01:14:20,060 --> 01:14:21,080
or those delays were out?

912
01:14:26,890 --> 01:14:38,670
That money is any vehicles that were ordered during the year would have been, should have been, and probably were.

913
01:14:42,370 --> 01:14:46,630
And then conference would have been issued, which is a purchase order would have been issued.

914
01:14:47,330 --> 01:14:49,850
So that money would be sitting in the fund balance.

915
01:14:50,170 --> 01:14:51,130
It's just at the moment.

916
01:14:51,130 --> 01:14:59,390
It's not an expenditure, so we had the revenues come in that were budgeted for.

917
01:15:00,020 --> 01:15:27,320
So whether it's property taxes, chips funding, whatever. And then we expected that there would be an offsetting expense for the vehicle, or for vehicles. But if the vehicle doesn't come in, we're not actually expensing it. So yes, it's sometime in the future, chances are good that an expense will come that does not have a matching or offsetting revenue source.

918
01:15:27,320 --> 01:15:34,160
Okay, so it's a at least in some cases. It's not quite a morage, but it's just a timing issue. It's a time for someone to see

919
01:15:34,160 --> 01:15:41,800
Plus. Yes, but the money will should be in fun. Money's there in fun balance. Yeah, and it's in that you're we calling that part of your mark fund balance

920
01:15:42,120 --> 01:15:48,380
Correct. That would be okay. The earmarked fund. That would be a signed or unassigned for contingency as that. That's right.

921
01:15:48,700 --> 01:15:51,640
Fantastic and do we expect

922
01:15:51,640 --> 01:15:53,400
I'm moving on to a couple of things.

923
01:15:53,620 --> 01:15:59,140
Do we expect, I know we're moving through two or three into your four, two or three is like five people.

924
01:15:59,540 --> 01:16:08,060
But to your four retirees, do we expect that those pension obligation costs will decrease to end to the state of local retirement system as some of those folks retire.

925
01:16:08,500 --> 01:16:15,740
And we move into a more fully tier six workforce, or because of the additions and benefit increases for two or six that those costs are going to continue to grow.

926
01:16:20,080 --> 01:16:22,820
I will say that since I've been here,

927
01:16:22,820 --> 01:16:28,100
Well, Tier VI started, 2012, this is the same year I became

928
01:16:28,100 --> 01:16:34,120
Comptroller, and at that time, many municipalities were saying, you

929
01:16:34,120 --> 01:16:37,040
need to help us now, you need to help us now, and the state

930
01:16:37,040 --> 01:16:43,880
government said, well, this is the best we can do, and over time it

931
01:16:43,880 --> 01:16:47,120
will help, and it has, it's helped tremendously,

932
01:16:49,520 --> 01:16:52,260
that said, a number

933
01:16:52,260 --> 01:17:05,460
of the savings areas of savings, the differentiated tier 6 from tier 5 were given back.

934
01:17:06,900 --> 01:17:18,360
So yeah, as tier 3 and 4, which is probably relatively even right now with tier 6 in

935
01:17:18,360 --> 01:17:28,820
of total salaries that are being contributed toward it, but yeah, I mean we should see some

936
01:17:28,820 --> 01:17:36,960
offsetting savings there, but you know it was a huge spike by giving back those benefits to

937
01:17:36,960 --> 01:17:38,180
tier 6.

938
01:17:41,660 --> 01:17:45,340
Basically it was ten years worth of give back.

939
01:17:45,340 --> 01:17:47,320
And not something within our control.

940
01:17:47,700 --> 01:17:48,580
No, from another one.

941
01:17:48,920 --> 01:17:49,260
So that's.

942
01:17:49,260 --> 01:17:52,240
But yet, so do you expect that that rate of increase?

943
01:17:52,540 --> 01:17:55,060
We've looked at a 56% increase in three years.

944
01:17:55,200 --> 01:17:56,880
Do we expect that rate to continue to spike?

945
01:17:57,100 --> 01:17:58,940
Or is that an level off at some point?

946
01:17:59,840 --> 01:18:01,700
I would imagine that it will level off.

947
01:18:01,900 --> 01:18:07,340
I mean, we've already experienced the tier 6 pushback.

948
01:18:08,120 --> 01:18:11,140
I mean, the big catch-up, 4 tier 6.

949
01:18:11,540 --> 01:18:20,400
And the market, so the market cutoff date is March 31st, which is the stage fiscal year and cutoff.

950
01:18:21,340 --> 01:18:32,340
So the market itself, the stock market, particularly, is a decent measuring stick, although not all the investments are within the stock market.

951
01:18:32,340 --> 01:18:48,240
But it's a decent measuring stick, and it was pretty good between the increase from March 31st, 2024 versus March 31st, 2025.

952
01:18:49,320 --> 01:18:55,740
So hopefully the next projected bill will be lower, but I can't, obviously.

953
01:18:56,040 --> 01:18:59,100
Can you see that lower and absolute terms are lower in terms of rate of increase?

954
01:18:59,100 --> 01:19:03,160
I think absolute terms, that would be my guess.

955
01:19:03,380 --> 01:19:03,960
Thank you.

956
01:19:04,220 --> 01:19:04,700
It's the tall ahead.

957
01:19:06,060 --> 01:19:09,360
I just want to say, I know the tier 6 stuff you're talking about.

958
01:19:09,540 --> 01:19:11,200
But I think we all thought to keep in mind,

959
01:19:12,040 --> 01:19:14,160
you know, when you say all these giveaways to them,

960
01:19:14,280 --> 01:19:17,400
or give back, it's like, those adjustments for me

961
01:19:17,400 --> 01:19:19,040
to help working families.

962
01:19:19,060 --> 01:19:19,200
Yeah.

963
01:19:19,680 --> 01:19:23,120
You know, this is helping our county employees have a better,

964
01:19:23,120 --> 01:19:25,000
you know, a job more attractive.

965
01:19:25,000 --> 01:19:29,320
actually helps bring people to want to work for government and talent

966
01:19:29,320 --> 01:19:32,220
government because the problem was what what they saw was people were not

967
01:19:32,220 --> 01:19:36,220
coming to town to government service because the pension had changed so much

968
01:19:36,600 --> 01:19:42,340
so this is hopefully it does as they adjust that is to help people want to

969
01:19:42,340 --> 01:19:46,720
come into public service and actually start filling the jobs that we need to

970
01:19:46,720 --> 01:19:52,680
build. We have 16 vacancies here and love it is because some of it is salaries and

971
01:19:52,680 --> 01:19:55,560
and benefits, so hopefully it's going to get better.

972
01:19:56,580 --> 01:19:57,760
And don't give me wrong.

973
01:19:57,760 --> 01:19:59,960
I'm not opining on that.

974
01:20:00,180 --> 01:20:07,840
I'm explaining why we've gone up by $1.39 million in the last three years.

975
01:20:09,820 --> 01:20:11,160
Any other questions or comments?

976
01:20:12,140 --> 01:20:12,300
Great.

977
01:20:12,640 --> 01:20:14,020
I just have one quick comment.

978
01:20:14,260 --> 01:20:14,800
Thank you.

979
01:20:14,820 --> 01:20:16,200
Always very clear.

980
01:20:16,560 --> 01:20:21,120
And I don't have questions often because you are so clear in your presentation.

981
01:20:21,120 --> 01:20:27,240
But I also want to say, you want to save some money, turn down the AC a little bit in this room,

982
01:20:27,400 --> 01:20:33,340
and that would save some energy costs, and, you know, it's good for climate as well.

983
01:20:33,900 --> 01:20:35,940
So, that's my suggested for saving money.

984
01:20:36,340 --> 01:20:39,520
You're just looking into hypothermia over in the corner there.

985
01:20:40,440 --> 01:20:42,380
All right, shivering. Any other questions or comments?

986
01:20:42,400 --> 01:20:43,200
All fruiting.

987
01:20:44,420 --> 01:20:47,320
All right, this concludes a regularly scheduled meeting items,

988
01:20:47,520 --> 01:20:48,760
Does anyone have any new business?

989
01:20:49,840 --> 01:20:52,920
All right, this sends the regular session of tonight's town board meeting.

990
01:20:53,120 --> 01:20:55,200
May I have a motion and a second to adjourn?

991
01:20:55,320 --> 01:20:55,820
So moved.

992
01:20:56,060 --> 01:20:56,280
Second.

993
01:20:56,660 --> 01:20:57,100
All in favor?

994
01:20:57,560 --> 01:20:57,720
Aye.

995
01:20:57,940 --> 01:20:59,620
Be kind, be well and stay safe, everyone.

996
01:20:59,840 --> 01:21:00,340
Thank you.