[0:15] I'll do it. All right. Um, I make a
motion to call the meeting to order.
[0:21] » 7:02 p.m.
>> Yeah, I will. Once we do the jump for a
[0:27] second.
>> Thank you.
[0:28] » You're welcome.
>> I don't think we have to vote on
[0:31] » I think you got to do someone has to do
a second. Okay. Um,
[0:36] Renee, can you lead us in the salute to
the flag? Are you okay to do that?
[0:42] » To lead it.
>> Yeah, just just to you know start it.
[0:47] » You're a teacher.
>> I was.
[0:49] » You were.
>> Ready?
[0:52] » I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[0:58] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:04] justice for all. All right, you can
>> anyone who sits in that seat, I call on
[1:10] it. I'm like realizing it now because I
did hot seat. I do like right over
[1:14] there. It is the hot seat.
>> Okay. Um I make uh
[1:21] Oh, okay. I'm going to dedicate this
meeting.
[1:24] This month's meeting is um dedicated to
uh Nathan Levertu, former town
[1:30] supervisor Wendy Burton, Assemblywoman,
Assembly Member Dee Barrett, state
[1:33] senator Michelle Hinchi, and county
legislator
[1:36] Chris Drago, whose tireless advocacy
with the New York State Department of
[1:40] Transportation and other state agencies
helped make the current paving of Route
[1:44] 82 possible. Um yes, WOO. [applause]
[1:51] The paving extends um for those of you
everyone should know the paving extends
[1:55] from Salt Point north through the town
of Stanford and beyond Cold Spring Road.
[2:00] This project is a testament we think and
why we wanted to dedicate this meeting.
[2:04] It's a testament to what effective
government can accomplish when local,
[2:07] county, and state leaders work together
in a coordinated way. We're very much
[2:11] looking forward to seeing the finished
product. However, um one thing that has
[2:16] we are very very clear on is that with a
smoother Route 82 also comes the need to
[2:20] continue our focus on traffic safety and
traffic calming measures throughout the
[2:24] town. Um we're going to we're going to
talk about that through different parts
[2:28] of our work tonight. Judith McDonald
[2:35] [laughter]
[2:37] as I as I turn my as I turn my ringer
off. Um there was a meeting on Friday
[2:43] that I attended with Dee Barrett um
where I told her that in addition to not
[2:48] only repaving Route 82 and I actually
sat in on it with Michael um I always
[2:53] want to say Michael Chan um Whitten
Michael Whitten um the supervisor from
[2:58] the town of Clinton. They have been
trying for years to lower the speed
[3:02] limit on Salt Point Turnpike. It's
something that we've also and to no
[3:05] avail. It's something we've also been
talking about here in town. The DOT has
[3:10] asked us to wait for Route 82 to be
paved so they can take measurements of
[3:13] the road and and give us some
recommendations on traffic calming
[3:17] measures, but it's become apparent and
Rene's is here ostensively to probably
[3:20] talk about this. It's become apparent
that it's becoming an issue all over
[3:23] town. Um, we are having issues putting
together a neighborhood safety
[3:28] committee. Not issues, but we have
people that have different ideas for
[3:32] what can be done. Um but we don't have I
think a group and we've talked about
[3:37] this this past meeting a group of people
that are um representative of the needs
[3:42] of the community across the geographical
areas. Um and so I keep putting it in my
[3:47] newsletter over and over and over again.
Um, but I think the reality is is that
[3:52] in order to get some form of
effectiveness rather than just the town
[3:56] board asking the DOT to do measurements
is that we really get a coalition in
[4:00] town of community members together who
can start tugging on the appropriate um
[4:07] departments in New York um in the state
who can do it in the county um and who
[4:12] can start to survey the community so
that we know where these hot spots are.
[4:16] We are aware of solutions that are out
there, but we want it we don't want it
[4:20] to be we're going to put in place
because frankly we don't know all the
[4:23] information and all of us cannot we've
talked about this ad nauseium. We we
[4:27] cannot dedicate the time, energy, and
effort necessary to work this through
[4:32] with the community in a way that it
deserves to be worked through. It's a
[4:36] community engagement effort and
everybody needs to be on board and right
[4:39] now we're not finding that. So, I know
I'm sort of digressing from the um the
[4:44] meeting dedication, [cough] but we
[clears throat] are very well aware of
[4:47] coming with the repaving of Route 82,
which we've been yelling about for a
[4:50] long time, is going to be the increase
of speed through the town. And so, we
[4:55] are making the plea again for people who
are interested in becoming part of this
[5:00] effort to step up. and I'm going to
continue to put it in my newsletter
[5:03] because I will tell you once September
rolls around, people are going to be
[5:07] flying past on Route 82 and dogs are
going to be hit and we've seen it. Um
[5:12] where dogs on on 82 have been hit and
nothing happens. So, we need something
[5:18] substantial. Um there are some measures
that are actually happening in
[5:22] coordination with the highway department
in the town. We're going to add um speed
[5:25] limit signs to the flashers um going
through town and we're also thinking
[5:29] about so what the speed limit is so that
people know rather than flashing they
[5:33] know what the speed limit is. So that is
in the works.
[5:36] » Um and um and some some other things
that um are being discussed after Route
[5:42] 82 is paved because I think what we can
say is that folks in town are
[5:46] collectively nervous about what is going
to happen. We've been asking for but
[5:50] we're kind of nervous about how fast
people are going to go through town.
[5:53] Okay. All right. Um, rant over. Um,
>> roll call.
[6:01] » Julie Dakota
>> here.
[6:02] » Charlie Cunningham
>> here.
[6:04] » Eric Ames
>> present.
[6:06] » Virtue absent. Teddy Seore
>> here.
[6:10] » Okay. Um, I'll make a motion to approve
the agenda.
[6:14] » Second.
>> All right. Town board. Oh,
[6:18] » in favor? I
>> I
[6:19] » I
>> Okay.
[6:23] Um, town leazison board reports, town
board leazison reports. Um, Eric, can
[6:28] you get us started because you're
sitting to my left?
[6:30] » Yes, I can. Uh, the planning board met
on July 29th. Uh, it was a very short
[6:37] meeting. There was, uh, one
pre-application conference. Uh, it was
[6:41] for 88 Huns Lake Road, which is Bullis
Hall. Uh the owner uh came to the
[6:47] planning board. Uh she's looking to
convert the building into um two
[6:53] one-bedroom apartments on the ground
level and make the upper floor uh second
[6:58] floor a personal residence and storage
on the third floor. Uh the planning
[7:04] board told her that she could not do uh
three dwellings because uh she has less
[7:10] than 5 acres. So, uh they talked about
some possible solutions and uh the owner
[7:18] agreed that the best possible solution
is to make the uh second floor her
[7:24] personal residence and on the ground
floor make uh one uh probably
[7:30] two-bedroom apartment instead of two. Uh
this would only this would limit the the
[7:35] the uh reuse of the building to two
units. Uh the planning board is not
[7:40] meeting in August. They don't meet. So
the next planning board meeting will be
[7:45] on September 22nd. It's uh it's a
different night of the week because uh
[7:51] Wednesday wasn't possible uh for some of
the members. So it's actually a Tuesday
[7:56] night
>> which is unusual. Tuesday, September
[8:00] 22nd is the next planning board meeting.
>> Okay,
[8:03] » that's it.
>> Thank you.
[8:08] Uh Charlie,
>> I'll take it.
[8:10] » Thank you.
>> We got the water quality committee
[8:13] update. Uh they met on July 15th, 2026.
The water quality committee is working
[8:20] on their 2027 town budget requests. Um
they're looking at sustaining its
[8:25] Cornell Cooperative Extension Consultant
and their uh secretary.
[8:31] The committee clarified their role as
educational and advocacy based in their
[8:36] discussion and they h are really big on
saying they have no direct regulatory
[8:42] authority over water contaminants that
authority rests with the planning board
[8:47] through land use. So they're really
focused on education right now is like
[8:51] let's get the word out about what we can
do about water. And that is through the
[8:56] water quality committee is reorganizing
into two project teams. A private sector
[9:00] team focused on safe drinking water
since nearly all drinking water sources
[9:04] in Stanford are privately owned and a
public sector team reviewing the
[9:09] municipal policy's impact on water
resources.
[9:13] And they're also reviewing its founding
resolution to formally add education to
[9:17] its mandate. And we'll be meeting with
other boards, planning, zoning, CSC,
[9:22] CAC, and the highway department on how
water quality and wastewater factor into
[9:27] their decision-m. And um this is an
exciting one. They actually, this is
[9:31] kind of like hot off the press is the
water quality committee is going to be
[9:35] hosting a public workshop um in October
and it's called Stanford's rural well
[9:41] workshop, drinking water quality 101,
and it's funded by a green pastures
[9:46] grant from the Berkshire Tacconic
Community Foundation and it's developed
[9:49] with Cornell Cooperative Extension. It's
going to be on October 8th. Mark your
[9:53] calendars from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. here at
town hall with experts from Duchess
[9:58] County Planning, Duchess County Health,
the Kerry Institute, and Delaware
[10:02] Engineering. And the goal is just to
have, you know, maybe 30 minutes of, you
[10:06] know, presentation, but really big Q&A
conversation. So, um, talking about just
[10:12] what it is like to have a rural well
and, um, things to think about. So, it's
[10:17] going to be an exciting event. I'm sure
it'll be published around. And um next
[10:21] meeting is Wednesday, August 19th. So
that's next week. Also here at town hall
[10:26] um if you so choose to come.
>> You said October
[10:30] » uh 8 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
>> right before the town board meeting.
[10:34] » Yeah, that's perfect. [laughter]
5:30.
[10:37] » Sounds like a hot night. It's going to
be a hot night.
[10:41] » Um so with that, um they also So that's
it for the water quality committee. The
[10:47] zoning commission met on July 30th,
2026.
[10:51] And following June meetings with Nelson
Pope Vorhees and Matthew D. Rudikov
[10:56] Associates, the commission interviewed
Nina Peak with EDR and Victoria Victoria
[11:02] Polyoro, who's a land use attorney um
for the work to rewrite the town zoning
[11:07] code. And um they
also emphasize wanting strong public
[11:15] engagement and to build on the work
already completed over the previous two
[11:18] years. And the commission voted to
recommend Brooke Brown be appointed to
[11:22] fill an open seat, bringing membership
to seven of nine authorized seats. So
[11:28] that means two seats remain open and the
commission welcomes public interest in
[11:32] filling them as it takes on the zoning
code update identified in the
[11:36] comprehensive plan. And so this is um
work that they are currently looking to
[11:43] uh to work with a consultant on the next
update to the zoning code.
[11:48] [clears throat]
And the next zoning committee meeting is
[11:50] September 17th, 2026.
So they're also not meeting in August.
[11:56] » Um they will be here in September.
>> See you in September.
[12:02] » Right. [clears throat]
>> Great.
[12:05] Yeah. So, first off, uh, Haunted
Fortress, we are entering pretty much
[12:11] the home stretch for the upcoming
season. So, we will not be meeting in
[12:16] September or October. We will resume our
meetings in November. Um, after cleanup
[12:23] has been done. We are going to be dis we
have been discussing our budget uh,
[12:28] which budget season for the rest of the
town is upon us. Anyway, we are thinking
[12:32] about capital improvements and how our
budget really can't sustain capital
[12:39] improvements. So, we will be pressing
the the committee will be pressing the
[12:43] town about uh possible solutions to
some, but we are gathering several
[12:49] quotes for some work uh and seeing what
that would look like because there are
[12:55] things that need to be done that we
can't reasonably handle with our budget.
[12:59] So, uh, capital improvements are just
under discussion. Advertisements will be
[13:04] going out soon. Uh, we should be present
at community day this year.
[13:09] » So, you'll see us there, but you should
expect to see flyers, see us online and
[13:16] see uh listen out for a radio spot in
the future.
[13:20] Uh, ZBA, so that's the haunted fortress.
So, again, we will not be meeting in the
[13:24] next two months. ZBA met last night.
There was a public hearing for 421
[13:33] Conklin Hill Road. Uh, no one attended
that. That was over the setbacks
[13:38] variance was approved for a generator.
Um, so if you were a neighbor within 500
[13:43] ft of that property, you would have been
alerted and you would have been able to
[13:47] attend as a neighbor of that public
hearing. Um, there was going to be one
[13:52] other item of business, but there was a
discrepancy between the planning
[13:55] department's judgment, what the ZBA
needed, what they felt was incorrect
[14:02] information, and the submission from the
person in question
[14:09] » not having what is considered proper uh
surveillance and measurements. So, there
[14:13] was a three-way sort of in uh
discrepancy. Uh so there was there is so
[14:19] far no public hearing for next month and
there was no setting of any public
[14:24] hearing for next month last night. Uh so
that was that that's every second
[14:31] Wednesday of the month. So if you would
like to attend that [laughter]
[14:35] um and finally the CSC which is going to
be meeting up this Monday. We had our
[14:40] meeting last month and Brendan thank god
you are here to refresh my memory. I
[14:45] believe we had six or seven or eight new
people alto together including your
[14:52] partner who's right next to you. So I
mean we had it was a room full of
[14:57] newbies. It was nice. So really we did
informational session catching up and we
[15:03] did talk about focusing in on some items
and at our next meeting I believe we're
[15:08] going to be discussing a little bit
probably the near future community day
[15:13] if we're going to do anything for that
which I think we are um and future
[15:18] education and again like talking about
the near future what that's going to
[15:22] look like and how to get everybody on
board because now that we have all these
[15:26] new people and we are going to be.
>> Yeah. Yeah, we'll have new people. So,
[15:34] that's that's that those are my reports.
>> Great. Thank you. All right. I have um
[15:40] Nathan's from Monday. Um summer camp
finished another wonderful season. The
[15:46] program was full and we received very
positive feedback from participating
[15:50] families. Um, the recck department also
submitted its grant application for
[15:55] state EPF grant and we are eager to
learn the outcome. So, thank you for
[15:59] everybody who submitted a letter of um
support.
[16:04] I was like letter of engagement. No. All
right. Um, Teddy mentioned the
[16:09] preparations for the haunted fortress.
Um, community volunteers are always uh
[16:14] helpful. Is there still a volunteer
event on the August 23rd?
[16:17] » Yes. And every every Sunday in September
from 10 to 3.
[16:21] » Well, there you go.
>> Um, so yeah, forgot to mention that. If
[16:24] you're free, please please, dear Lord,
help us. I We always need help. We're in
[16:29] decorating mode at this time.
>> Awesome. Okay, cool.
[16:35] Um,
next was the fire commissioners meeting
[16:40] um on July 21st. I was there and I'll
cover this in my supervisor update, but
[16:45] I was there and shared um a lot of EMS
data with the fire commissioners um and
[16:50] the fire company as we discussed um EMS
consolidation. Um we looked at um where
[16:56] all where all of the historic calls over
the first half through yep through the
[17:02] end of June um were across Stanford and
we talked about um just sort of
[17:07] frequency and expectations around
response times and things like that as
[17:11] we discuss with Empress um for potential
consolidation across the four towns. Um
[17:17] what the fire commiss the fire
commissioners were um uh positive and
[17:23] optimistic about a consolidation um
especially when we looked at the costs
[17:28] from one year to the next and we looked
at the coverage uh that Empress is
[17:32] recommending in their proposal to us.
What still has to be worked out is what
[17:36] our share of that um um that agreement
would look like. There is a lump sum and
[17:42] each of the four towns need to agree on
our share. We also need to agree on
[17:46] where those um uh units will be
stationed across the four towns. We have
[17:53] not gotten that specific recommendation
from Empress. And we also want to
[17:57] understand the county's level of
participation as we um as we explore
[18:02] this. Um, we there was a meeting in Hide
Park earlier in the month that was not
[18:07] particularly optimistic that involved
Assembly member Dee Barrett and Michelle
[18:12] Hinchi and basically they said the state
is not really going to be pursuing
[18:16] anything um as it pertains to making EMS
an essential service even though the
[18:21] county has been talking about it for a
very long time. So, what that did was
[18:25] effectively put the problem back in the
um laps of the county to um put together
[18:31] some form of plan across all the towns.
Now, I've talked about this a couple of
[18:35] times and I it's it's been really
interesting for me because I've um
[18:40] learned how the refrigerator is built
and it's not particularly pretty. Um,
[18:44] every town does it differently. Every
town has a different level of agreement
[18:47] with Empress or um their other services
that are maybe across the river. Pikipsy
[18:53] has um uh engagement and it's really
because of the hospitals and where the
[18:57] locations are with the hospitals. We
also have a new player in town called
[19:01] Northwell which is getting involved
because they have now a network of
[19:04] hospitals in the area. So the good news
is is that everyone is kind of aware of
[19:08] all of the options in the area. they're
being discussed at length and what we're
[19:12] trying to figure out based on the
information that we have in front of us
[19:15] that's presented from the county as well
as um Empress is what is the best path
[19:19] forward in terms of efficiency um
effectiveness in terms of service uh
[19:24] response times and cost effectiveness.
The cost is not going down. The cost
[19:29] keeps going up year-over-year um as the
cost of labor and insurance and
[19:33] equipment and all of those good things
go up. So, um, we are, I think, at the
[19:39] forefront of exploring consolidation
across the county as it pertains to
[19:42] towns banding together and really
looking, um, Bob, uh, Buts has been
[19:46] helping us look through the legal
agreements and some, um, uh, sample
[19:51] contracts, but we feel good about, um,
pursuing this with the fire
[19:56] commissioners, understanding that we
need to understand station locations and
[20:00] exactly what the share of the um, of the
cost um, would look like.
[20:05] Um the fire commissioners uh will begin
their budget process uh this month
[20:10] because I was there in July. Um they had
a slight backlog involving a truck
[20:14] repair because of limited local
servicing options, but otherwise there
[20:18] were no significant equipment
communication or radio concerns
[20:21] reported.
The CAC discussed several projects and
[20:25] initiatives during its most recent
meeting, including historic Route 82 oak
[20:30] tree, which is almost, I think, like a
200-year-old tree, and it's not looking
[20:34] good. Um so they are assessing the
health of that tree. It sits for anyone
[20:39] that's interested right um by the
graange and they are looking to do some
[20:44] outreach with the Kerry Institute and
the broader community to explore options
[20:47] but um it's not looking particularly
good for that tree um in terms of the
[20:52] long-term health. There are some dead
branches and they've already done some
[20:54] significant cutting.
Um Love it Preserve had a um a nice
[21:00] macro invertebate invertebrate event um
which they discussed. We talked about
[21:04] that at the last meeting. Um the CAC is
also reviewing a comprehensive
[21:08] management plan for the preserve. If you
looked at my newsletter last week, um
[21:12] you saw just some helpful sort of like
tip just things to consider as we use
[21:16] the local preserves inclusive of Loveit
Preserve. Um so I put that in the
[21:22] newsletter and they'll continue their
outreach on education as it pertains to
[21:25] the local preserves. Um they discussed
some riparian plantings um with some dis
[21:31] with discussion with the DLC and the
Duchess County Soil and Water
[21:34] Conservation District. There are two
events that are anticipated for next
[21:38] spring. Obviously, we'll let you know
about those. Um there was some
[21:42] discussion about the Love It Preserve
kiosk and utilizing some leftover
[21:45] treated lumber that's at the highway
department um to repurpose and construct
[21:49] theformational kiosk at the preserve. So
when we talk about haunted fortress,
[21:53] those are things that we can look at in
terms of resources. Um there is also a
[21:59] trail camera that is pointed only
towards um um
[22:05] it's not it's not pointed there's some
trail cameras that if people are at Love
[22:09] Preserve, they might notice. It is um a
participation with the CAC and a group
[22:15] called Snapshot New York, a statewide
wildlife monitoring program. Um the
[22:21] trail cameras are not pointed for
people. They're pointed for wildlife. So
[22:24] if people ask and if it comes up, they
are not pointed at the trails to survey
[22:28] people. They are pointed in the other
direction to survey the wildlife.
[22:32] » Um community day is uh coming up and the
CAC is planning a bird focused
[22:37] educational presence and um continues to
explore educational programs for the
[22:43] future including a program on native
plants. Um the CAC also discussed
[22:48] participating in the water quality
symposium on October 8th and the
[22:52] dedication for Barry's bench will um
most likely be September 27th with an
[22:58] October 4th rain date and that would be
at Love It Preserve for the dedication
[23:02] of Barry Haz
um for his bench um that is going to be
[23:08] installed in his honor um a longtime CAC
member. So, uh, September 27th, but once
[23:14] that's confirmed, we will put that in
the newsletter. Okay.
[23:19] Um, supervisor's report. So, let me just
transition seamlessly. Okay.
[23:28] More paper. Okay.
Um, this path month, this past month, we
[23:33] also discussed um, dedicating the
meeting to a longtime community member,
[23:37] Anna Denko, um, who was a deeply
involved Stanford resident who passed
[23:41] away. Um recently um we did mention that
we would uh talk about her during the
[23:46] supervisor's report. So I just wanted to
take a moment of silence to recognize
[23:50] after I finish. Um Anna was the first
female president of the Stanford Lions
[23:54] Club, a past officer and a member of the
Forever Young Club. She was also a
[23:59] recipient of Stanford's Distinguished
Citizen Award. Her many years of service
[24:03] and commitment to our community will
greatly be missed. Um so I just want to
[24:07] um have a a brief moment of silence for
Anna Denko.
[24:23] Thank you. Um, in my report, but we
already discussed it was route 82 and
[24:28] neighborhood safety. Um, I'm not going
to uh beat that horse um anymore. Um,
[24:34] but I did make a note in here for my
supervisor's report just to talk about
[24:38] um the neighborhood safety committee and
the importance of forming that with um
[24:42] with uh representative members of the
community.
[24:46] Um September 11th memorial. I put this
in my newsletter today, but um planning
[24:50] is underway for Stanford's commemoration
of the 25th anniversary of September
[24:54] 11th. I can't believe it is 25 years.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7
[24:59] p.m. on Friday, September 11th. Um, so
please join us then as we continue to
[25:04] honor and remember those who lost their
lives on that tragic day. A special
[25:08] thank you as always to Ed Zik who is
tireless in his preparation. He is going
[25:12] to put a ribbon at the bottom along the
fence of town hall um which is why it's
[25:17] been reinforced for every member um on
that tragic day who lost their lives. So
[25:23] over 2,000 ribbons are being put
together by the Stanford Fire Company
[25:26] and they will be hung at the foot and
I'm like getting emotional thinking
[25:29] about it. They will be hung at the foot
of town hall in addition to all of the
[25:32] flags. So all of the names of everyone
that was lost on that day will be down
[25:36] at the uh foot of town hall.
>> Um
[25:42] okay, more information will be released
as we have additional details and there
[25:46] will be something um there will
definitely be in the newsletter for um
[25:50] opportunities to volunteer for that. Um
community day is September 19th,
[25:55] Saturday. Um, we have a terrific day
planned for Stanford. Activities will
[25:59] include a cherry pie making contest. How
much more wholesome can we get? Um, a
[26:04] pickle ball tournament where I hope to
be beaten by Charlotte and Eric Haynes
[26:07] again. Um, a talent show. [laughter]
Maybe we'll see.
[26:13] » A talent show, the first inaugural
Stanford talent show. Um, see Nicole
[26:17] Clanahan about that. A classic car show
and much more. There will also be a free
[26:22] concert that evening with the Red Barn
Band backed by um uh by popular demand
[26:28] from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. along with free
ice cream courtesy of Stewart's.
[26:33] Um
next month we are going to be issuing a
[26:38] Purple Heart proclamation, but I just
wanted to thank everyone who was
[26:41] responsive for the Purple Heart outreach
that we did in the newsletter. We have
[26:45] identified one additional Purple Heart
recipient in the town of Stanford, which
[26:48] brings our total up to 10.
Um and so um we're going to make a
[26:53] proclamation next month as we um honor
um these veterans and their service and
[26:59] sacrifice. Tonight we have a wonderful
um budget resolution and a um RFP plaque
[27:06] proposal acceptance because our very own
Rita Mary Bell um applied for and
[27:13] received a dollar grant from the county
so that we can make um this um very very
[27:20] special and more details will be shared
next month. I don't want to take that
[27:22] thunder away. um one ambulance and EMS
update with just numbers um in
[27:28] particular. Um during July we had 40
total EMS calls with 16 transfer
[27:34] transports. Of those calls, 25 were
answered by our dedicated Stanford unit.
[27:39] What's interesting here is that um
Empress does not get reimbursed. Um they
[27:43] only get reimbursed if they transport.
They don't get reimbured if they they
[27:46] don't get reimbured for insurance if
they treat in place. It is an ongoing
[27:49] discussion with um Medicare and that is
a reason why our costs continue to go up
[27:54] is because there's no reimbursement from
Medicare for those um for those uh
[27:57] calls. So when they transport they do
get uh reimbursement when they don't
[28:01] they don't. Um our pri our priority call
response data continues to be closely
[28:06] reviewed. They are advocating um I
should say they're advocating for that.
[28:10] They're making progress but it hasn't
happened yet. Um our priority call
[28:14] response data continues to be closely
reviewed. I get detailed reports every
[28:17] month which I love um because I love
data. Um there were 10 priority one
[28:22] calls um including four with response
times exceeding 10 minutes. Um like I
[28:27] mentioned, Empress provides detail
regarding those calls and the response
[28:31] times were appropriate given their
locations. P2 through P4 calls were also
[28:36] reviewed with response times remaining
within the benchmarks. I feel personally
[28:39] good about the relationship that we have
with Empress right now. It is a new
[28:43] partner of ours. Um but we have been
able to develop a strong feedback loop
[28:47] between our fire company, ourselves at
the town and Empress and they are making
[28:51] service improvements as a result of our
feedback. So I think them as a partner
[28:56] um we feel good about them and like I
mentioned we have also engaged in some
[29:01] substantive conversations with Empress
regarding consolidation and they have
[29:05] been quite responsive about that. I
remain hopeful that we can accomplish um
[29:10] both improving response times and
quality of care while also reducing
[29:13] costs to taxpayers. Last one I promise
is our financial update. As mentioned in
[29:19] the supervisor's newsletter uh two weeks
ago and today we will be introducing a
[29:24] resolution related to local law law
number three I believe it will be for
[29:28] this year which would allow the town to
override the property tax cap if
[29:32] necessary as part of the 2027 budget
process. It's important to emphasize
[29:37] that taking this procedural step does
not mean that the town intends to exceed
[29:41] the tax cap. We're doing this out of an
abundance of caution because of the
[29:44] timing of our budget process and the
November 3rd election. We already know
[29:48] that several significant expenses are
projected to increase next year.
[29:52] Healthc care premiums, while not set,
are uh expected to go up 11.6%.
[29:58] For those that are insured, transfer
station costs are estimated to go up
[30:02] approximately 30%. We are exploring um
the costs associated with um
[30:08] facilitating our own service of solid
waste transport. Those are not
[30:11] insignificant costs, but we are
exploring them. In the meantime, those
[30:15] costs at the transfer stated transfer
station are estimated to go up about 30%
[30:19] next year. The ambulance costs without
consolidation are also slated to go up
[30:24] approximately 13% and fuel costs which
are already increasing. Our goal remains
[30:29] to control costs wherever possible while
maintaining the essential services our
[30:32] residents expect and we will continue
looking carefully at every opportunity
[30:36] to reduce expenses and maximize revenues
before the preliminary budget is
[30:40] presented. But for 2026, the town
finances remain on track within budget
[30:45] estimates. The recck department,
building department, and the town court
[30:48] are exceeding re revenue expectations,
which should provide us with additional
[30:52] flexibility as we prepare next year's
budget. I greatly appreciate the
[30:56] partnership of our town employees,
deployment head, department heads, and
[30:59] community members as we navigate the
uncertainty surrounding the 2027 budget.
[31:03] Everyone is holding hands, and I feel
grateful for that. Um, I'm now deeply
[31:08] engaged in preparing the 2027 budget and
budget request materials were
[31:12] distributed to our department heads this
past week. Our planned budget workshop
[31:16] schedule, which has been shared with the
town board, are September 24th,
[31:20] September 29th, and October 5th. We're
currently planning to hold the public
[31:25] hearing on the budget after the water
symposium on October 8th if everything
[31:30] remains on track. Um in the event that
it doesn't, we will be setting another
[31:35] um public hearing most likely at the end
of October um to pass that budget. Okay,
[31:41] I make a motion to approve the agenda.
>> Second.
[31:46] » Oh, it's already done. Sorry. Sorry. I'm
so sorry. I'm so sorry.
[31:50] » Privilege of the floor.
>> Cut that out of the film.
[31:53] Edit
>> privilege of the floor. Steve,
[31:59] » do I sit or do I stand?
>> You stand, please. So Pete can.
[32:02] » So I am here to name name and address
first.
[32:06] » So Steve Broomman, 3 Milis Lane and 97
Huns Lake Road. So I'm here to make you
[32:13] aware and ask for assistance with the
county DPW about the Milis Lane Bridge.
[32:19] It's happening. I don't know when it's
going to happen. Um but maybe in 2027, I
[32:25] don't know. So that bridge is 100 years
old and it needs to be changed. So my
[32:32] reason for coming here is because we
would like you on board about the
[32:38] historic nature of the rebuild of that
bridge and of course what we've been
[32:42] talking about adnauseium and the traffic
situation. There's a two-prong approach
[32:47] of why I'm here. So also we've had the
privilege and the sympathy of the DPW
[32:53] because when those bridges at Huns Lake
Road and Salt Point turnpike they rented
[32:58] space in Bangalore. So we know them. The
guy grew up here. The head the the head
[33:02] engineer so he knows it. He knows
exactly how we feel. But it needs to be
[33:07] more than a few neighborhood people in
Bangville. The town needs to know about
[33:11] it and the town needs to help. I hope.
Mhm.
[33:15] » So
>> it's a count it's a county
[33:17] » it's a county project. It's a county
road.
[33:20] » It's a county DPW
>> project.
[33:23] » Okay.
>> Whereas 82 is a state
[33:28] » repaving.
Um so again I just want to repeat the
[33:34] the mission. Our goal is to preserve
the Bengal hamlet you know uh look
[33:44] Adding a super modern bridge with 35 ft
guard rails almost enhances and entices
[33:54] traffic speed.
It will look slick.
[33:58] » We cannot have that.
>> Yeah, there's already issues with people
[34:01] crashing into
>> build. On top of that,
[34:04] » many of the properties in Bengal are
pre-turn of the century historic. So,
[34:10] there's a lot of scoop there that gives
us power. Uh this week uh this week we
[34:18] wrote to Chris Drago
>> with the correspondence that we've had
[34:23] with uh DPW
and also Kathy Spears who's completely
[34:29] on board and understands this thing
completely has also reached out in
[34:34] detail with various law ideas and things
we could finagle to Chris Drago as well.
[34:40] We have not heard back. Mhm.
>> So Kathy has a plan, an idea about some
[34:46] of the laws that she has learned about
about how far
[34:50] uh any new construction of a bridge can
be close to a designated his historic
[34:58] place. And the Bangal post office is a
designated by the New York State and
[35:03] federal
>> designated historical places. Nothing's
[35:07] landmark in Stanfordville. Nothing's
landmarkked in Bango.
[35:11] » We're not there.
>> So, that's a an angle that we're going
[35:14] to go after, but we haven't heard back.
>> She's also talking to the Duchess County
[35:20] historical people,
etc., etc. So, um,
[35:26] I just want you to want you to be aware
of it. It's going to take more work than
[35:30] Tom and I and Charlie, Shawn, and the
people there. Um,
[35:36] there are four properties involved. My
house, Bangle Works, Charlie Shaw, and
[35:42] the Yellow House. These 35 ft guard
rails supposedly have to go
[35:48] before the bridge.
>> That will mean almost to the end of our
[35:52] driveway in our front yard, Charlie
Shaw, and Robert, the guy in the yellow
[35:57] house, those guardrails will go into
their yard. There's nowhere for them to
[36:01] go. So it's not just our personal
property. I'm re we are really, you
[36:08] know, concerned that we need to do
something to keep the Bangalore hamlet.
[36:13] » Mhm.
>> You know, historical, not like the
[36:16] bridge on Huns Lake Road, not like the
bridge on Salt Point Turnpike,
[36:21] » in addition to
enticing speed when they see those 35 ft
[36:27] guardrails that look like, oh, that's a
safety net. Last thing. So, uh, there
[36:32] were two accidents this past year. One
was a semitr climbing that hill, turning
[36:38] left from Mills Lane, turning left onto
Huns Lake Road, not knowing where he's
[36:44] going,
trying to take a left. A Welsh truck,
[36:49] garbage truck comes speeding down, you
know, towards our building, hit the
[36:53] truck and, you know, demolish the front
plastic cab. Everybody was all right.
[36:59] That's number one. Number two, a few
weeks ago, there was an accident from a
[37:04] speeder going down Huns Lake Road in
light rain, speeding, turned around and
[37:10] flew into Bulis Hall.
>> Yeah.
[37:12] » Um I also heard today from Sam Holden
that there was an accident on 82 that a
[37:18] car ran into the Stanford Plaza sign.
Did anybody hear about that?
[37:23] » That was that was last week.
>> Last week at 3:30 in the morning.
[37:26] » On No, on Sunday at 7:30 in the morning.
Yeah. So, I I hadn't heard about that.
[37:31] I'm just bringing it up. So, twofold,
historic, character,
[37:35] » speed.
>> Yeah. No. Yeah. Can you um can you just
[37:39] copy I guess copy me on whatever
followup you have just so I have
[37:42] visibility into it and I can help.
>> Yeah.
[37:46] » Thank you.
>> Yeah.
[37:47] » That's it.
>> All right.
[37:48] » Thank you.
[37:53] » And yes, please. Yes.
[37:58] and Leeling Quarter Horseway Veterans
Liaon. [laughter]
[38:02] I just wanted to remind everybody about
the um mobile outreach event a week from
[38:08] today 1 to 4 at the library. Even if
you're not a veteran, you can come and
[38:13] have cookies. Um but the first one was
really successful. It um it was in the
[38:17] spring and um Beth Anne Cano, who's from
the VA, was busy from 1 to 4 the whole
[38:24] time. And what's really I learned so
much because I get a survivor's benefit
[38:29] and um I learned to get property tax,
you know, you know, uh benefits and
[38:36] other things like if you if if I need
help in the future, um you know, home
[38:41] care or whatever, they increase the
benefit. So these are things that people
[38:45] probably don't know about and it's
really I learned so much and I just
[38:49] wanted to spread it to everybody. So,
let your let your friends know, anybody
[38:53] who's a veteran, who's a veteran's
family.
[38:55] » What time is it, Ann?
>> 1 to 4.
[38:57] » 1:00 p.m.
>> And yeah, I mean, just if you know
[38:59] anybody who's a veteran, um there's
benefits that they may not be aware of.
[39:04] » Thank you. You've been amazing at
ensuring that the community knows that
[39:08] these are happening and setting them up.
Thank you.
[39:12] » Anyone else?
[39:15] Sorry, I didn't mean to say. Um All
right. Um, I will make a motion to pro
[39:21] uh close the privilege of the floor.
>> Second.
[39:24] » Thank you.
>> All in favor?
[39:28] » I
>> I
[39:31] » Can I make a motion to accept the
supervisor's report? I don't think so.
[39:34] » No. Okay.
>> I make a motion to accept the
[39:36] supervisor's report.
>> Second.
[39:39] » All in favor?
>> I
[39:40] » I
>> I also make a me motion to accept the
[39:44] town clerk's report.
>> I'll second.
[39:48] I. All in favor?
>> I
[39:50] » We're gonna do this. We're gonna do it.
>> Yeah.
[39:52] » Um I make a motion to accept the
building inspector's report.
[39:55] » Second.
>> All in favor?
[39:58] » I.
>> Terrific. [clears throat]
[40:00] Um I make a motion. We had a highway
boiler um issue. Um and we put out an
[40:06] RFP for replacement of the boiler. We
received uh two responses back. One from
[40:10] Fox Air for $34,000
and then two from Boutini. one for one
[40:17] singular um uh boiler and then um the
second proposal for a backup um more
[40:27] efficient boiler system. Oh, sorry,
Jane.
[40:30] » A pair. Exactly. Two of them. Two of
them. Um so sort of a a two-prong
[40:35] approach. It basically results in um
better fuel efficiency
[40:39] » and better efficiency over the long term
of the units. the one um the one unit is
[40:47] $12,000. The two unit with uh better
fuel efficiency was $19,000. We
[40:52] discussed it as a town board. Um we
discussed that fuel prices continue to
[40:57] go up. We discussed that we are not in a
position as a town yet to explore
[41:01] alternative energy options that would
help us reduce our costs of fuel long
[41:04] term. and we discussed the fact that we
do have um um adequate funds in the um
[41:10] in the capital reserve fund for the
building to undertake the um the
[41:16] two-prong more efficient approach for
the highway department. Um this would
[41:21] also help them um in the event of um
redundancy um and having sort of an
[41:26] extra unit should one fail. We were
lucky that our boiler failed in May
[41:31] um and not in December. Um so um we're
going to make I make a motion to accept
[41:36] Bini Fuels um
estimate for boiler replacement for the
[41:42] uh 2 unit system that would result in
greater fuel efficiency for a price of
[41:47] Do you have the exact reading? 19,000
[41:52] » uh 19,400
>> $19,400.
[41:57] » Second.
>> Who is that? I'm sorry.
[41:59] » Me, Eric.
All in favor?
[42:02] » I I
[42:06] Okay, bronze. Um, the next is for uh
some purple heart bronze plaques um that
[42:14] I mentioned earlier in the supervisor's
report. Rita put a RFP out for uh bronze
[42:20] plaque uh development or production.
We received
[42:26] » Can I have that? Yes. Take it.
>> Thank you. I think there's four. Sorry,
[42:30] I didn't print this. Um, we received
four responses back um from ABC
[42:37] Corporate Awards in Hopewell Junction,
Timely Signs in Kingston, Franklin
[42:41] Bronze Plaqua in um Franklin, PA, and
Superior Signs in Hopewell Junction. Um
[42:51] we um make a motion. We're going to we
would like to uh choose Superior Signs
[42:56] in Hopewell Junction um at a cost of
$3,866.
[43:01] Keep in mind that we have a $6,000 grant
from the county. So, this is fully
[43:04] reimburseable. Uh $3,866
for um Purple Heart bronze plaques with
[43:12] an installation of $350.
So, a total of $4,000. You're going to
[43:17] have to make me do math. $4,216.
[43:21] I make a motion to improve approve that
estimate from Superior Signs.
[43:26] » Second.
>> All in favor?
[43:29] » I.
>> Did you want to show those pictures?
[43:32] » Oh, yeah.
>> They're happy.
[43:33] » Yeah. Okay.
>> I'm going to put those in the newsletter
[43:35] and read them. Be front and center. So,
these will be unveiled um November 11th.
[43:41] November 11th.
>> Veterans Day.
[43:42] » Veterans Day. And these are going to be
plaques. We found a big old rock.
[43:47] I'll put this in the newsletter. We
found a big rock and we're going to put
[43:51] it um at the Bengal um Veterans Memorial
and there will be an official unveiling
[43:57] of the bronze plaque. Thank you, Rita
Mary, for your beautiful tribute to this
[44:02] community on November 11th. And then
there's a small one that will go on the
[44:07] side of the town hall here
somewhere. Here we go. Here we go.
[44:13] Okay.
>> We're trying to save on ink here. Yes.
[44:16] So, this one will go.
So, please join us on November 11th. And
[44:22] thank you, Rita Mary, for all of your
hard work.
[44:24] » You're welcome. And thank you, Ann.
She was a big help, too.
[44:29] » Thank you, Ann Lethal.
>> Did we all accept that?
[44:33] » You did. Great.
>> We did.
[44:35] » All right. Um, next on the agenda is a
um I'm going to make a motion to approve
[44:40] the um the vacancy seat for the board of
assessment review and um make a motion
[44:48] to uh put Jennifer Kip on the board of
assessment review.
[44:53] » Second.
All
[44:56] » in favor?
>> I
[44:58] » I will make a motion to accept the
zoning commission recommendation to
[45:02] appoint Brooke Brown. decided to bring
her on board.
[45:07] Seconds.
>> All in favor?
[45:10] » I
>> I
[45:13] » um budget modification for the general
fund for the um Purple Heart Grant. You
[45:19] want to read it? You got it.
>> Thank you.
[45:23] » Resolution 8A, budget modification of
the general fund. So, this like Julia
[45:28] said is the budget modification for the
Plex that we just talked about.
[45:34] Whereas the town board of the town of
Stanford adopted the 2026 annual budget
[45:38] on October 22nd, 2025. And whereas the
town clerk of the town of Stanford
[45:42] applied for a purple heart grant for
$6,000 for signage/decorations in early
[45:47] 2026, but was not certain they would
receive the grant award. And whereas the
[45:51] town clerk was awarded the grant for six
grant in 2026. And whereas pursuant to
[45:57] New York State town law subsection 106
and applicable provisions of the New
[46:02] York State comprollers regulations, the
town board is authorized to amend the
[46:06] adopted budget by resolution. And
whereas such budget amendments do not
[46:10] increase the total appropriations of the
adopted budget beyond available revenues
[46:14] and fund balances. Now therefore, be it
resolved that the town board of the town
[46:18] of Stanford hereby authorizes the
following budget amendments to the 2026
[46:22] budget, which adds grant money, takes
grant money in and adds it to
[46:28] celebrations contractual.
>> Thank you, Teddy.
[46:33] I have a second, please.
>> Second.
[46:37] » Julia Dotto,
>> yes.
[46:38] » Charlie Cunningham,
>> yes.
[46:40] » Eric Hayes,
>> yes.
[46:42] » Nathan absent. And Teddy Seor,
>> yes.
[46:47] Uh this one because it says Julia down
here. Do I read it the same way?
[46:52] » No. Uh no, you would read it. Uh council
member Charlie Cunningham.
[46:57] » Correct. Uh all right. So we've got
resolution 8B of 2026
[47:02] um is fire prevention week.
So
[47:08] whereas Stanford Fire Company number one
in is committed to ensuring the safety
[47:12] and security of all those living in and
visiting the town of Stanford. Whereas
[47:17] fire remains a serious public safety
concern both locally and nationally. And
[47:22] the presence of lithium ion batteries in
many household devices, I see many of
[47:26] them here, um introduces fire risks. And
whereas most of the rechargeable
[47:30] electronics used in homes daily,
including smartphones, tablets, laptops,
[47:35] power tools, ebikes, e- scooters, and
toys are powered by lithium ion
[47:39] batteries, which if misused, damaged, or
improperly charged, can overheat, start
[47:44] a fire, or explode. And whereas the
National Fire Protection Association,
[47:48] NFPA, registered trademark, reports an
increase in battery related fires,
[47:54] underscoring [snorts] the need for
public education on the safe use of
[47:57] lithium-ion batteries and devices.
[laughter] And whereas the way lithium
[48:01] ion battery devices are charged can make
a difference in helping prevent home
[48:05] fires. And whereas safe charging
includes using the cord and charger that
[48:10] came with your device or one approved by
the manufacturer, charging on a hard
[48:14] flat surface, watching for warning signs
like devices that are very hot or start
[48:19] to swell, unplugging them when fully
charged, and charging larger devices
[48:24] like ebikes outside and away from exits.
And whereas residents are encouraged to
[48:29] understand that safe charging means
making smart choices every time they
[48:32] plug in. And whereas the Stanford Fire
Company first responders remain
[48:36] dedicated to reducing the occurrence of
fires through prevention, safety
[48:40] education, and community outreach. And
whereas the 2026 Fire Prevention Week
[48:44] theme, charge into fire safety, safe
charging is a superpower, serves to
[48:49] remind all residents that safe charging
can help reduce the risk of fires in
[48:53] homes and communities.
Now therefore, I, Town Councilman
[48:57] Charlie Cunningham and the Stanford Town
Board do hereby proclaim October 4th
[49:02] through 10th, 2026 as fire prevention
week throughout the town of Stanford and
[49:07] urge all residents to learn about and
practice safe charging habits. That is
[49:11] also the week of that meeting actually.
>> Oh my gosh,
[49:14] » it's a big week in town.
But no jokes aside, it literally right
[49:19] now charging things, especially if
you're charging outdoors during the heat
[49:23] or you have something in a garage where
you mentioned power tools, things like
[49:26] that. Definitely something to think
about [clears throat] and keep an eye
[49:29] on. Um, making sure you're using the
actual charger that came with the item
[49:33] that you purchased. Um, so I make a
motion to
[49:40] » Oh, I'll second. Yeah.
>> Second resolution.
[49:43] » Dakota.
>> Yes. Charlie Kahan,
[49:47] » yes.
>> Eric HS,
[49:48] » yes.
>> Nathan is absent. Teddy Seabour,
[49:50] » yes.
>> Okay. Uh, resolution number 8C of 2026.
[49:56] Um, it's the,
uh, resolution to introduce the provo
[50:01] proposed local law number three for the
year 2026, overriding the tax levy limit
[50:05] established in general municipal law 3C.
Um, Bob, do you want to explain this one
[50:10] briefly?
>> Uh, sure. the um uh the um uh state law
[50:16] imposes a uh tax cap on budget
increases. I believe it's 2%. And uh the
[50:24] but it can be overridden by 60% of the
board which should be a vote of three
[50:32] people on the board. And um so this is
uh intended just to enable the the town
[50:40] uh to be able to do this if it proves if
it turns out to be necessary although
[50:46] you you don't intend to utilize it. This
is a u this is not subject to seeker
[50:54] review
and um we've done this
[51:00] uh on at least one occasion in the past.
>> Thank you.
[51:05] Okay. Um, I'm going to read the whole
thing.
[51:10] Uh, I'm going to keep out the I'm I'm
gonna read the whole thing. Um, at the
[51:15] meeting of the town board of the town of
Stanford held at the town of Stanford
[51:18] town hall on the 13th of August, 2026,
town supervisor Julia Dakota called the
[51:23] meeting to order, seconded by council
person Eric Ames. Move the following
[51:27] resolutions. Whereas general municipal
law 3C establishes a limit upon the
[51:31] amount of real property taxes that may
be limited by levied by local
[51:34] governments in New York State. And
whereas general general municipal law 3C
[51:39] authorizes a town board to override the
tax levy limit by adopting a local law
[51:43] approved by at least 60% of the voting
power of the town board. And whereas the
[51:47] town board recognizes that adoption of
such a local law does not require the
[51:50] town to exceed the tax levy limit, but
preserves the board's authority to do so
[51:54] should it become necessary during the
preparation and adoption of the 2027
[51:58] town budget. And whereas the town board
finds it to be in the best interests of
[52:02] the residents of the town of Stanford to
preserve this budgeting flexibility
[52:05] while continuing to strive for fiscal
responsibility. And whereas town
[52:09] supervisor Julia Dakota advised the town
board that pursuant to the municipal
[52:13] home rule law of the state of New York,
it was necessary to hold a public
[52:16] hearing upon this proposed local law.
And whereas overriding the tax levy
[52:20] limit established in general municipal
law 3C constitute routine or continuing
[52:24] agency administration and management
under section 67.5
[52:28] of the seeker regulations of 6NYCRR part
67. There. Now, therefore, be it
[52:33] resolved that the following proposed
local law is hereby introduced to be
[52:37] known as proposed local law number three
of 2026 entitled the local law
[52:40] overriding the tax levy limit
established in general municipal law 3C
[52:45] to read as follows. I'm not going to
read all of the um legislative intent
[52:50] authority tax levy limit override
severability precedence effective date.
[52:53] This will be on the town website. Um but
um I will let everybody know that um the
[52:59] public hearing will be held in relation
to the proposed local law as set forth
[53:04] in the form of notice herein after
provided at which hearing parties in
[53:07] interest of citizens shall have an
opportunity to be heard to be held at
[53:11] town hall on September 10th, 2026 at
7:00. And that meeting of
[53:15] [clears throat] said and that notice of
said meeting shall be published in the
[53:18] official newspaper of general
circulation in the town of Stanford by
[53:22] the town clerk at least 5 days before
such hearing. And that notice shall be
[53:26] in the following form. I will um avoid
reading that because it's redundant. Um
[53:31] the town the public hearing will be on
September 10th, 2026.
[53:35] Um, take further notice that all persons
interested and citizens shall have an
[53:40] opportunity to be heard on set proposal
at the time and place a foret and that
[53:44] copies of the aforet proposed local law
will be available for examination at the
[53:48] town of Stanford town hall um during
normal business hours on all business
[53:52] days between the date of this notice and
the date of the public hearing as well
[53:56] as on the website.
>> Julie Dakota,
[53:59] » yes.
>> Shirley Cunningham,
[54:01] » yes.
>> Eric,
[54:02] » yes. Nathan absent court.
>> Yes.
[54:07] » Can I do this budget modification 8D?
[54:12] » Resolution 8D budget modification.
Whereas the town of Stamford has
[54:16] expenditures for the adopted 2026
general fund budget lines. They will
[54:21] exceed the amount of funds available in
these certain budget lines. And whereas
[54:26] the general fund has funds available in
other lines and needs to transfer such
[54:30] funds to provide for expenditures. Now
therefore, it be resolved that the Town
[54:34] of Stanford Town Board hereby amends and
transfers from and to budget lines
[54:39] listed below for fiscal year 2026.
Account number ending in 40,
[54:46] description, rec supplies and services,
an increase of $150.
[54:51] Uh ending in account 40, public safety
contractual expense increase of $175.38.
[55:01] Uh, account ending in 40, traffic
control contractual expense, a decrease
[55:07] of $175.38.
[55:11] Account ending in 40, playground
contractual expense, a de uh an increase
[55:19] » should be yeah, a decrease.
>> Yes, sorry.
[55:21] » In the amount of 150. Uh therefore the
total increases of $325.38
[55:29] equals the total decrease of $325.38.
Thank you.
[55:36] » All right. I will do
>> second please.
[55:38] » Oh, second.
>> I'll second with the correction.
[55:41] » Yes. Thank you. Thanks.
>> With the minus.
[55:44] » Thank you guys.
>> Julia,
[55:45] » yes.
>> Charlie Cunningham.
[55:47] » Yes.
>> Eric Ames.
[55:48] » Yes.
>> This one's correct.
[55:51] » Charlie or Teddy can read that or you
can read it. Sure.
[55:56] » All right. Resolution 8E, budget
modification. Whereas the town of
[56:00] Stanford has expenditures for the
adopted 2026 highway fund budget lines
[56:05] that will exceed the amount of funds
available in these certain budget lines.
[56:09] And whereas the highway fund has funds
available in other lines and needs to
[56:13] transfer such funds to provide for
expenditures. Now therefore, be it
[56:17] resolved, the Town of Stanford Town
Board hereby amends and transfers from
[56:22] and two budget lines listed below for
fiscal year 2026.
[56:27] Count number 41, general description,
general repairs, gas, hot, and cold and
[56:33] increase of $43.14.
[56:37] Account number 10, salaries bridges um
increase $10,419.56.
[56:47] And account number 43, Calcium,
it's a decrease $43.14.
[56:55] Um account number 10, general repairs
salaries,
[56:59] it's a decrease of $10,41,956.
[57:04] So that is um a
increase of $10,822.70
[57:10] and a decrease of $10,822.70
therefore equaling each other.
[57:17] » Thank you, Charlie.
>> Second,
[57:22] Teddy. We're
>> almost tied there.
[57:24] » I know, right?
>> Julia Dotto,
[57:26] » yes.
>> Charlie Cunningham,
[57:28] » yes.
>> Eric James,
[57:29] » yes.
>> Andor,
[57:31] » yes.
>> All right. Last is the resolution 8G, a
[57:37] budget modification for the celebrations
line.
[57:39] » What about the camp?
>> What about the rec camp?
[57:41] » Oh, sorry. Where's that one?
>> 8F.
[57:43] » 8F. That's I printed that.
>> I think the numbers on our lines are on
[57:48] our um titles.
>> Changes. I'm sorry. I don't have 8F
[57:52] printed, but I Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you. Thank you. I just
[57:54] need it back when you're done. I'll dip.
Um 8F is to authorize the recreation
[57:58] campaign to pay for the EPF grant
application. Whereas the town of
[58:02] Stanford created capital project H40 rec
campaign committee for future capital
[58:07] improvements. And whereas the town of
Stanford pays invoices utilizing funds
[58:10] raised by the Stanford rec campaign on
the expenses they occur. And whereas the
[58:14] town of Stanford has arranged for a
grant application to be submitted at the
[58:17] end of July 2026 for the New York State
EPF grant which was already done. And
[58:22] whereas the town wishes to pay the
invoice from Saratoga Associates for
[58:25] their services from capital project H40
rec campaign committee. Now there
[58:29] therefore be it resolved supervisors
authorized to pay all invoices for
[58:33] capital project H40 rec campaign
committee and be it further resolved the
[58:36] supervisors authorized to use funds from
H40 rec campaign committee capital
[58:41] project to pay $5,835.75
to Saratoga Associates for the grant
[58:46] application writing services. This is to
modify the CAP project 40 budget as
[58:51] follows.
Uh budget line 40-599 appropriate fund
[58:56] balance of $5,835.75
[59:00] and appropriations 40-960
for the same amount $5,835.75
[59:08] which will be credited to playground
equipment um account ending in 067020
[59:14] sorry 40-06-720-40
[59:19] for $5,835.75.
5 cents
[59:23] » second.
>> Thank you.
[59:26] » Julia Dakota,
>> yes.
[59:27] » Charlie Cunningham,
>> yes.
[59:29] » Eric Ames,
>> yes.
[59:30] » Nathan absent court. [snorts]
>> Yes.
[59:33] » Okay. And now H budget modifications for
the se celebrations line. Um I think
[59:39] we've talked about this quite a bit. Um
we have a wonderful um Rev 250 that is
[59:45] going to extend into um community day. I
believe we have fireworks planned. Um
[59:51] again um and if anyone was at the July
4th fireworks, they were spectacular. I
[59:55] had to miss it. I was super bummed, but
I got photos and videos.
[59:57] » They were
>> um so this is a uh budget modification
[1:00:01] for the celebrations line. Whereas the
town board of the town of Stanford
[1:00:05] adopted the 2026 annual budget on
October 22nd, 2025. And whereas the town
[1:00:10] board has determined that certain
budgetary adjustments are necessary to
[1:00:13] properly reflect unanticipated
expenditures and or revenues and to
[1:00:16] ensure the continued efficient operation
of town services. And whereas the rev
[1:00:19] 250 committee has requested an increase
for expenses related to America's 250th
[1:00:23] anniversary. And whereas pursuant to New
York State Town Law 106 and applicable
[1:00:28] provisions of the New York State
comprollers regulations, the town board
[1:00:31] is authorized to amend the adopted
budget by resolution. And whereas such
[1:00:34] budget amendments do not increase the
total appropriations of the adopted
[1:00:37] budget beyond available revenues and
fund balances. Now therefore, be it
[1:00:41] reserved that the town board of the town
of Stanford hereby authorizes the
[1:00:45] expense of Sorry, I have to change this.
I didn't change it in that that line
[1:00:49] there, so I'll change it. $2,532
for celebrations with the voucher to
[1:00:54] appear on the August abstract and the
following budget amendments to the 2026
[1:00:59] budget appropriate fund balance ending
in 5992532
[1:01:04] to the celebrations line ending in um
account 00-06-7550-40
[1:01:11] for $2,532.
[1:01:16] Second as corrected and the resolved.
>> Julie,
[1:01:21] » yes.
>> Charlie Cunningham,
[1:01:22] » yes.
>> James,
[1:01:23] » yes.
>> Nathan absent.
[1:01:26] » Yes.
>> Okay. Wendy, been so patiently waiting.
[1:01:33] » Almost got a pretty
>> Yeah. [laughter]
[1:01:37] Uh, first Rita, I would like to present
this to you. It's a book that New York
[1:01:41] Association of Towns just published
called The Foundations of Freedom. And
[1:01:46] this is an anthology celebrating New
York's roles in shaping America. Well,
[1:01:50] thank you. But now it's the second one I
have.
[1:01:52] » Oh, [laughter]
you could have just said that.
[1:01:56] » I'll bring one to the library.
>> There you go.
[1:02:00] » Great. Thank you. But thank you anyway.
Well, it made me think that maybe we
[1:02:04] should talk with Kathy Spears who has a
the Stanford Historical Society has a
[1:02:09] huge library that we have bought
historical books, you know, we've spent
[1:02:14] our funds,
>> but it seems like we're the only ones
[1:02:18] who have access to those books really.
Um, so I thought if we could get a lock
[1:02:23] cabinet in in your for your office and
it
[1:02:26] » or the hallway,
>> right? And and so people could sign them
[1:02:29] out. it. That's why I think
>> I'm going to become a lending library,
[1:02:33] too.
>> Yes. Well, [laughter]
[1:02:34] the the um society would approve it, but
I can't imagine why we wouldn't
[1:02:40] » and then I think there'd just be more
access for
[1:02:43] » That'd be fun.
>> Yeah.
[1:02:45] » Okay. So, um I'm here just to give a
little context to the the next motion um
[1:02:52] from local high school students to have
a non- voting advisory position on the
[1:02:57] town board. Most of you, well, some of
you know, you all know that I've been a
[1:03:01] member uh of the executive committee of
the New York Association of Towns for
[1:03:06] about five years. I'm very honored to
have been asked to join that. It's
[1:03:10] basically the board of directors for
NIAT. And that organization, New York
[1:03:16] Association of Towns, is a fantastic
trade organization that advocates for
[1:03:22] over 900 towns in New York State.
microphone.
[1:03:28] » Oh, sorry. I' I've never done this
before.
[1:03:32] » So, so we advocate for the the towns in
New York State and our primary focus is
[1:03:39] on home rule.
So, within the
[1:03:44] um executive committee board, we have
different committees and I'm the chair
[1:03:49] of the workforce development committee.
And if you look at our board ex uh it's
[1:03:55] a very young board.
>> Uh especially Teddy
[1:04:00] » and but [laughter]
>> I mean that in the best possible ways.
[1:04:04] » Oh yeah.
>> Just say thank you. [laughter]
[1:04:06] » You won't say thank you later.
>> Um but if you go around and look at the
[1:04:12] other um offices in in our town hall and
all over New York State, we're an aging
[1:04:20] population. Rita, no offense.
[1:04:25] » So, I mean, we are
>> That hurt,
[1:04:29] » honey. We're aging out. Um, you know,
look at Never I don't have to name
[1:04:33] people. We [laughter]
never did.
[1:04:39] » Anyway, so one thing we're trying to do
is engage younger people in town
[1:04:46] government. uh it's a diff a bit of a
difficult task because we can't compete
[1:04:50] salary www w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w
w w w w wise with the private sector and
[1:04:54] we really can't compete uh in retire a
really meaningful retirement package
[1:04:59] especially with tier six being what it
is. Um so
[1:05:04] we have done we've taken some measures
that are mostly educational
[1:05:09] measures. Um, we've worked with several
of the Sunni colleges to set up
[1:05:15] microcredential programs um that people
either already in government or just
[1:05:21] anybody can participate in and get
courses in accounting. My favorite one
[1:05:27] is there's a grant writing uh credential
program. Um
[1:05:32] » that one is through Sunni Oniian. Um and
we we've also established a uh
[1:05:39] scholarship fund so uh we can help with
the costs of some of those micro
[1:05:45] credential programs are a little bit
expensive but we can defay those costs.
[1:05:51] So after we we started working with the
colleges, I thought we really need to go
[1:05:57] to a lower uh level of education, which
would clearly be the high schools. And
[1:06:05] uh what's his name? John Jun Skoonmaker.
>> John Schoomaker.
[1:06:09] » Skoon maker.
>> Um he teaches is it an involvement
[1:06:13] » economics and history and
>> it's an involvement in local government,
[1:06:17] politics. Anyway, and two of his
students already, Teddy and Trevor from
[1:06:23] Pine Plains have gone on from that class
um and actually been elected to public
[1:06:28] office. So, what I have suggested that
we do and that Stanford in uh
[1:06:36] partnership with the Pine Plains uh
Central School District is start a
[1:06:42] program where we get a high school
student to be a non- voting member of of
[1:06:47] a town board, bring student issues, you
know, the concerns of their peers to the
[1:06:53] board and just actually participate and
hopefully get engaged. in the whole
[1:06:59] process of town government. And um I
also think there could be a mentor uh
[1:07:08] component where somebody on the board or
I would be happy to do it just
[1:07:12] introduces that personally to all the
different jobs within the town. They can
[1:07:18] sit with Steve Godavich and get
fascinated about what an assessor does,
[1:07:22] you know, and and so that's my hope. And
I was thrilled because Julia was just so
[1:07:29] gung-ho excited when I talked to her
about it. Hence the the motion. And I'm
[1:07:34] meeting I I think I'm on the agenda of
the school board on Tuesday. So I'd like
[1:07:40] to bring the motion with me. And I'm
pretty positive they're on board, too.
[1:07:46] Um, and then I just, which is why the
language in the I I asked Julia to tweak
[1:07:52] the language in the motion because
although it would be lovely if the
[1:07:56] student happened to be from
Stanfordville, they may not be from the
[1:08:01] most promising student might be from
Pine Plains and it's a pilot that
[1:08:06] encompasses the school district. So, uh,
I you'll hear the the latest if you
[1:08:12] already have it language. But anyway, so
that's the story of why this is being
[1:08:16] put forward. And that's I think all I
have to say.
[1:08:20] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[1:08:23] » All right. So, I make a motion
to I got some language in here.
[1:08:29] » Foul language.
>> No,
[1:08:31] never.
>> I don't think I don't think I
[1:08:34] » around children.
>> All right. Here we go.
[1:08:37] A motion to establish a student advisory
position to the town board. I make a
[1:08:41] motion that the town board of the town
of Stanford establish a non- voting
[1:08:44] student advisory member position to
provide a local youth perspective on
[1:08:48] matters before the town board and
encourage civic engagement among young
[1:08:52] residents. Thank you, Wendy. Um, the
student advisory member shall be a
[1:08:56] current high school student and resident
of the Pine Plains Central School
[1:09:00] District, serve in a non- voting
advisory capacity, and shall not be
[1:09:04] considered a member of the town board
for purposes of establishing a quorum or
[1:09:07] exercising any statutory authority of
the board. They will be invited to
[1:09:11] attend town board meetings and
participate in discussions at the
[1:09:14] discretion of the town supervisor and
the town board. They will serve for a
[1:09:18] one-year term with an opportunity for
reappointment while the student remains
[1:09:21] eligible. And they will be appointed by
a majority vote of the town board. The
[1:09:25] student advisory member will provide
input on issues affecting Stanford's
[1:09:28] youth or yeah, Stanford's youth and
community and gain firsthand experience
[1:09:33] with municipal government and public
service. Priority will be given to
[1:09:36] residents of Stanford, but will
ultimately be up to the discretion of
[1:09:39] the Pine Plain Central School District's
selection process.
[1:09:43] Um, we mentioned that because we're re
um redesigning and relaunching our
[1:09:47] website that this person could also have
a hand because they're young ostensibly
[1:09:52] um in keeping the website updated
>> hopefully if they're a high school
[1:09:55] student.
>> Yeah, right. We would hope that they're
[1:09:57] adept at technology um and um and yeah,
we're excited and and potentially grant
[1:10:02] writing opportunities, things like that.
So, um I make a motion to establish a
[1:10:06] student advisory position to the town
board.
[1:10:09] » Second.
>> Same.
[1:10:14] No, the young one. [laughter] No
offense, read [snorts]
[1:10:21] young ladies. All
>> in favor?
[1:10:23] » I I
make a motion to approve the minutes
[1:10:28] from July 9th.
>> Second.
[1:10:32] » All in favor?
>> I.
[1:10:34] » Thank you. I make a motion to um approve
the abstract number eight for August.
[1:10:41] General fund $87,855.82
[1:10:45] highway fund $171,000
983171983.85
[1:10:52] Bangal light $1,4355
escrow planning board escrow $42875 and
[1:10:58] ambulance $64,62.50
50 cents.
[1:11:04] » Second.
>> All in favor?
[1:11:06] » I
>> I
[1:11:10] » um no other business. So I will make a
motion to open the privilege of the
[1:11:14] floor.
[1:11:18] » Wendy Lake Road. I forgot to tell you
guys something. Um what's your number on
[1:11:24] this?
>> 648.
[1:11:29] » 628.
>> Thank you. O
[1:11:31] » close to Charlie. Oh. Um,
we have the NIAT has lobbyists who work
[1:11:41] for us in Albany and they came to the um
retreat we were on last weekend and
[1:11:50] we were they were talking about how both
the House and the Senate passed um
[1:11:57] a law uh that would have removed EMS
costs from the cap. from the and the
[1:12:04] governor mentioned she um vetoed it.
>> Yeah.
[1:12:09] » So I asked not that they could you know
had a crystal ball but what was it what
[1:12:14] would move the governor to reconsider
like will it be brought up again in both
[1:12:19] houses and will it be presented to the
governor again and they said it it won't
[1:12:24] be an election year.
>> So that's where it all came down. So
[1:12:29] hopefully it won't solve the EMS cost,
but at least get it out of the budget.
[1:12:35] » Yeah, that's
>> Thank you, former supervisor Burton.
[1:12:38] » You're welcome. Current supervisor.
[laughter]
[1:12:42] » Yes, Sandra.
>> Um,
[1:12:47] privilege of course.
>> Yeah. Yeah, please.
[1:12:58] I'm Stanford Bilski Fort Conlin no for
Aberdine Lane in town of Stanford and
[1:13:05] I'm just going to follow up on the
safety of the fire that you were
[1:13:09] speaking to and I just wanted to relay a
piece of information that we got at the
[1:13:16] Forever Young Club that you all may know
about. Just say if I'm repeating
[1:13:20] something.
>> No, I don't know this.
[1:13:21] » A representative came from, I believe it
was from the American Red Cross to our
[1:13:25] meeting last month and they said that in
fact the Red Cross was giving out free
[1:13:31] new fire alarms where that they were
suggesting that they be in every bedroom
[1:13:37] of your home and over the doorway if
there's room for it above the doorway.
[1:13:43] » They would pre put them in your house.
They were not going to give them to you
[1:13:47] to put them, but they would come to your
home and they would install them and
[1:13:51] they were to last for a a period of time
of I believe it was 10 years.
[1:13:56] » So, um I don't know if you were aware of
it, so I just thought I would
[1:14:00] » No, thank you.
>> That Okay. Wait, what? Um what was it
[1:14:02] that they're going to put for you?
>> Smoke fire alarm.
[1:14:04] » Smoke detectors. Fire alarms.
>> Smoke detector.
[1:14:07] » That's the American Red Cross, right?
>> Pardon me.
[1:14:09] » The American Red Cross.
>> That's what they had said. Are they only
[1:14:13] specific to seniors?
I didn't get that feeling. No, no, I
[1:14:17] don't believe they said that. I think
>> I really don't know why it was at our
[1:14:22] meeting, but maybe maybe perhaps the
person was a member of our club and
[1:14:27] hadn't been to meetings before and was
sharing it with us.
[1:14:30] » Thank you.
>> But I I I got the feeling it was for
[1:14:33] anybody that felt they had the need and
wanted somebody to come in their home
[1:14:37] and put it because they were going to
hand them to you.
[1:14:40] » Smart. Okay. All right.
>> Yeah. It's better to have them installed
[1:14:44] than sit in a pile in your basement.
>> Agreed,
[1:14:47] » that's for sure.
>> Yeah,
[1:14:50] » especially in a lot of these older homes
in these communities.
[1:14:53] » Yeah, I see it here. Okay, I'm going to
put that in my next newsletter.
[1:14:56] » I think you should. Yeah,
>> I should. All right. Um, and with that,
[1:15:00] I make a motion to uh adjourn the
meeting.
[1:15:04] » Second.
>> Second.
[1:15:05] » Second.
>> All in favor? Hi,
[1:15:09] » thank you.
>> Good meeting.
[1:15:12] » Thank you.