Town Board - Regular Meeting

Oh, this isn't a 9:30 agenda. Michelle, thank you so much. I'm calling the meeting to order. Attendance, please. Supervisor Haldridge, here. Council member Becker here. Council member Casara here. Council member Courtney here. Please stand for pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Did everybody get a chance to read over the February 11th uh minutes? Yes. Are there any questions, debate points? No. All is good. No. Seeing none, is there a motion to accept the minutes as written? I'll make the motion. I'll second it. All those in favor? I

I All right. Uh summary bills. The town will be paying bills in the amount of $586,84944. And then in the beginning here, we have some nice community news. Um, we have Miss New York International 2025 here with us tonight. And, uh, we have a proclamation in her honor. So whereas Christina Contento a Miss New York International 2025 has served with distinction as a statewide title holder while dedicating her platform to advancing wellness, confidence, and healthy living for women and youth within local communities. Whereas throughout her title year, Miss Contentto has demonstrated a strong commitment to civic engagement by partnering with the community organizations and engaging residents through educational research, public appearances, and wellness initiatives that focus on accessible and sustainable health practices. And whereas Miss Contento has led a virtual wellness fair providing women with youth I'm sorry women and youth with access to wellness resources, education, and encouragement related to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Whereas through her leadership and service, Miss Contentto has empowered women and girls to prioritize self-care, confidence, and personal growth while serving as a positive role model for youth. Whereas Miss Contentto Contentto's advocacy and service have strengthened community awareness around wellness and have contributed positively to the health and well-being of residents. Whereas it is appropriate to recognize local leaders who inspire service, wellness, and civic pride within the community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the town board of the town of Chester formally recognizes Christina Contento's service

and accomplishments with this official proclamation. Congratulations, Miss Contento. Thank you. Would you like to come up for a picture? Yeah. Let me just sign this real quick.

Hello. I'm going to come down. Congratulations. And thank you. Does the board want to join us? You don't have to. You can. community.

You have a phone that you want to take a picture with. And then you want to take a picture of your partner after picture. There you go. Give a good background. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Congratulations again. Yes. You don't have to stay if you don't want to. Some people feel obligated. That was the exciting part. Now goes down. All right, public comment. Oh, we should have grabbed the Who was uh Does anybody know who should sign up first? Public comment. No, no, no. Takers for public comment. Public hearing. Oh, John. Yeah.

Good evening.

Uh, my name is John D. Roso. I live at 256 Sugarloaf Mountain Road and myself and a couple of the neighbors are ones that put the petition together to try to reduce the speed to 30. Um, I've lived on Sugarloaf Mountain Road for seven years. I've lived on Beverly for 25, so I know the road very well. And I think 30 years ago, I don't think the speed limit was a problem. I think nowadays there's a lot more traffic. There's a lot more pedestrians on the street, a lot of bike riders, a lot of people walking children in baby carriages. Um I I request that we could possibly bring that speed limit down to 30. Um, part of the problem I think is at 40 most people are doing 50 and 60. I walk my dog on that street four or five times a day and at least once or twice a week I'm jumping out of the way of somebody that almost hits me. And part of the problem is if you have cars going two different ways, there's literally nowhere to go. Um, on top of that, there's a lot of blind spots and I'm sure as you all know, it's a very hilly street. Um, so it's it at 40 miles an hour, especially if you don't know the street, I think it's it's fairly difficult. Um, other than that, I think that's about all I have to say.

And thank you for your time. Thank you. All right. Any other public comment tonight? Anything online?

We'll move forward then uh with reports. I'll lead us off. We have, I think, two department reports tonight. So, the 2026 January building department report, uh, new building permits 11, closed building permits 12, open building permits 299, total inspections 21, total complaints one, five, municipal searches. the building department report and we have the planning board and zoning board. So the uh February 4th meeting for the planning board uh Bell Station Corp project was uh there was a public hearing. Uh Oakswood subdivision was discussed and uh that was really it. Not too much else. And then the zoning board uh it was canceled on February 12th. Uh they tried to reschedu and it didn't really work out. So the next meeting will be on March 12th.

Have they given you any backup information on that MUN collab that they were the program they were looking at for this? So we all got that information last year. Um and then I had asked Melissa to forward uh the information over. But I'm honestly going I think we should wait to discuss because we we should be having a new board member on in the beginning of March. So we had an email that had more information on that. actual uh from Melissa. I'm not sure who it was from. I didn't pay attention to that, but it was on that and it had to do with it was actually a contract from them with cost of like $11,000 for

Yeah, I'm sure we all got that. Yeah, I can reforward that to everybody. I was going to wait until we got a new board member on in the beginning of March so everybody's on the same page. It's more not so much a new board member as it is is the planning board acceptable to that being a program that's going to be beneficial to them. That's where we left off with them because it was something we were in favor of, but we wanted more information from them as to what they thought about the program and how it was going to help them. Yeah. I thought I don't have I don't have an issue with the program at all if and being that we're seeing it again now and if they're happy with it, I'd like to get that done sooner, you know. Yeah, I thought sooner than later.

I thought that they had already responded saying that they like the program, but uh last year Councilman Dyinger wanted more information from MUN Collab itself. That's that's that was my recollection. He sat down with them and he actually had a go around with them, but where we left off was with the planning board to uh possibly look at other options and I'm not sure if they did that but and or if they're satisfied with with that actual program. I can talk to that might be beneficial to the ZVA also. I can talk to Jack and and Greg and we'll uh we'll figure it out. Okay. But yeah, Abe Abe abe from Uni Collab uh sent us the resent all the information from last year because he had reached out to me after the uh

uh I think it's a good idea because of what it can do for the planning board, put them through the steps of the process they had to go through and it it would be more informative and more clear for them. I I'm always like the program. I thought it would be good. I was on the planning board at that time when it was introduced and the board was in favor of that software. Yes. So, I thought it's something we shouldn't be waiting on. I'll I'll reforward everything again so everybody can take a look at it again. Appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah. Why you were on that report?

Mhm. All right. Um other reports tonight, those were the only two department head reports. Uh the other reports that I have was um we received just I don't know if it was uh publicly stated too much on a at a town board meeting yet, but we received a $50,000 grant for the police department um for getting accredited uh to become an accredited agency, which again I cannot stress enough, it is a difficult task becoming that. just goes to show the quality of our police department and our officers and our chief. So, thank you to the department for getting that done and uh thank you for Senator Scufus for getting us that grant um to show the to show his appreciation for good law enforcement in Orange County. Is somebody about to say something over there?

I think u I think they're policely working towards their reertification also within the next four years. How what is the 50,000 for the work that they've done or for work that they need to do? Both. Okay. Yeah. It's to, you know, keep uh standards up and everything and uh help them continue to stay credited and all that.

Yeah. Uh and then we just recently got a $3,500 uh grant for the fire department of which I'm very happy to see. Um, you know, I I've had the grant writers work directly with uh the fire department. Um, Brad Ellens and all them over there. They're, you know, he's their grant writer type guy. Uh, so that was for wildland uh what's it called? Fire equipment. I believe it's thermal uh related. So, uh it's a very good uh nice piece of equipment there that we were able to help the fire department get. And then uh finally just the uh you know the ICE situation. So, if you have not heard about it yet, uh there's been a development uh assemb uh says that he had spoken with a representative from ICE uh that he was able to make contact with while he's on deployment and uh they had told him after their conversations that they will no longer be interested in the facility uh the the Pep Boys warehouse for one of their facilities, one of their detention centers. So, um, that's good news to hear. Uh, you know, I'm I'm still cautiously optimistic about it all because they said something similar in Roxbury, New Jersey, and then the next day they bought the facility. So, um, you know, I'm I'm cautiously skeptical. There's been a lot of mishaps and uh mistruths from this administration on this subject specifically. Uh, so I just want to be I just want to temper everybody's um, you know, optimism, but I'm still optimistic. I' I'd like to hope that it's that it's the final word on it and that it's true completely. And um, I again I want to thank Brian uh, for you know, being able to get in touch with somebody after we had been trying all this time uh, and actually get pin somebody down and get something out of

them on that. So, thank you to the assemblymen. Um and then the joint letter that people may have seen uh you know me send out to ICE and on social media is now up to 68 signatures uh in terms of elected officials from around uh the Hudson Valley and now includes a delegation of county legislators from uh Olter County uh in support. Uh so that's uh Republicans, independents, and Democrats all signing on to this joint letter uh to further exclaim that we do not want this facility here. So I think that is a good thing. Uh but that is really it for me in terms of reports. Are there any announcements?

Um just one for the Sugarloaf Engine Company. Their annual corn beef and cabbage dinner is going to be held on March 14th and doors open at 6 pm. It's all you can eat and drink for $25 per person. $20 will give you a takeout dinner. There's going to be raffles. And if you would like to purchase tickets, you can call 845-469-4400 or email slecf fundraisinggmail.com. So, everyone should attend and support the Sugarloaf Fire Department. Very good. Yeah.

Um, all right. We'll start with uh Councilman Casara. Uh, I'm just going to say thank you to the highway department for their uh snow plowing during the second snow event. And I want to applaud the parks department for uh cleaning up the uh parking areas in the Sugarloaf District. Uh uh Deputy Supervisor Becker.

Okay. I just want to bring to the board's attention that we need to start the process of increasing the water rates again if we're uh wanting to do that to cover the cost of the each water district's needs. Uh we did not raise the rates last year with last year's budget. We should start to have the water budgets covered by water revenue and not taxes. Uh I'd like to see the $1 per year increase over the next five years with a yearly review of these rates to make sure that we are not exceeding our immediate revenues. This we had spoke about. Yes.

So we need to move on eventually here to get uh get it in place before we uh so we can have it in effect for next year.

Absolutely. Uh also uh I attended the DOT uh about the future proposed upgrades for 86 at the village hall today with your supervisor and two village trustees. They've made some changes to their plans as per feedback. They have received and traffic study information. They are now proposing to add an exit near Lego land to access 17M from the highway. some upgraded changes to exit exit 126 and a reconfiguration traffic circle at 17M Lehi and Kings Highway intersection that will improve the flow of traffic there. So hopefully uh hopefully they'll get on those projects very soon. I guess our understanding for them also for the Route 17 or the 17M bridge that we've been trying to get replaced. uh a hold up to them is the railroad not working with them at this point right now to get that project done. So

yeah, hopefully that does take place. And I've done a little bit bit of review on some documentation that's just came in on the greens at Chester on the amount of gallonage they're going to be using at the project of about 150,000 gallons per day. They're also complaining claiming that uh the maintenance cost for that project when it's built out is like 42,000. I'm not sure that those numbers are are accurate or meaningful to uh the actual cost that could be incurred in that in the future. I'll be reaching out to our engineer because it was an engineer to put together. I'll be reaching out to our engineer to confirm those numbers a little bit better. That was how many years ago? I'm sure nothing's

Well, this is something that's been done recently with with the uh with them getting water from the village of Chester. So, this is an upgraded document that shows what they're going to use and other things, but I just have some concerns with the numbers they're putting in there. And that's it for me.

All right. Um, just to piggyback off of that, I Yeah, like the like deputy supervisor said, I I was also at this DOT meeting and I'm going to wait to speak more uh about it until I have all the facts together from DOT. I have two uh requests out to them and more information about the 17M bridge and the uh what's it called? The um the plans for uh Route 17 into I 86. So, we're supposed to get their presentation today and I'll make that all public once I have that in my possession and I'll provide a full update to the public uh when I have all that information together. Uh, Councilman Courtney,

I'm just going to echo Council's uh comments too. Thank the highway department for a really nice job over there in our parks department and our fire and police departments too. You know, the snow is snow continues to come. I hear we're going to have another another event Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. So, like everyone else, we're probably all part of it. I'm sure they are as well, but I thank them for their hard work and dedication. I second that or third it. Yeah. Um All right. Uh I think we're good to go with reports. Town clerk, do you have anything? No.

Good. All right. Uh, is there a motion to open up a public hearing on intro local law number nine, battery storage mortorium extension? I'll make the motion. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? I. I. There's no one signed up for this. Is there any comments? Anything online? I'll give it one more. Just to clarify the record. Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. I don't know why I had nine on there. Maybe it was there was probably multiple versions of this. Yes. Do you want to read something before we close the public hearing?

Yeah. Did we have a motion? I'm sorry. We had a motion to to open it. Open it. Okay. Should I close it?

I'll just give a a brief summary. Um, as the board is aware, uh, the town has been undergoing for the better part of two years now a comprehensive planning process. As part of that, they adopted a moratorum on battery energy storage systems um so that they could prepare a local law. Working with your consultants, you had prepared a local law and that was going to be going undergoing part of the comprehensive plan review process. However, in the interim, um there have been a series of fires, particularly fires in the town of Warwick. And in light of those fires and concerns related to those projects, you asked your consultants to take a step back and to um review whether that whether the draft law would be appropriate and adequate to protect the town. Um the prior uh moratorum effectively expired. I think it expired yesterday. Um but while we do that, we want to make sure that we don't have an application that something comes in. So, we're asking for a six-month mor extension of the existing moratorum um so that the consultants can further review and the board can further deliberate whether um having the system authorizing the systems in the town is appropriate

and that's outside of the moratorium behind it's separate and distinct from the moratorium. Right now your code doesn't regulate them at all. Yeah. Um there is some while there's some process some thought process that they would come in as utilities which are given much broader um leeway under the zoning code. So if you define them, they're under the defined term. If you don't define them, we haven't defined them yet because we're not sure. Correct. So I would um if there's no public comment, um it would be appropriate to close the public hearing that you have a resolution. Is there a motion to close the public hearing? I'll make the motion. Is there a second? I'll second it. All those in favor? I I.

Yes.

Whereas the town board of the town of Chester recognizes that battery energy storage system installations are being developed throughout the Hudson Valley. And whereas the town desires to put a temporary halt in such development to allow the town of Chester, its comprehensive plan committee and its consultants to develop and implement adequate regulations for the sighting and operation of such facilities in the interest of the residents health, safety, and welfare. And whereas the town Whoops, repeated that twice. Oops. And whereas the town board adopted a temporary moratorium on large-scale battery energy storage systems through the adoption of local law 8 of 2024, which went into effect on August 23rd, 2024 and extended by local law 10 of 2025 until February 24th, 2026. And whereas since that time, the town board has developed a draft local law to regulate large-scale battery energy storage systems and had anticipated action in the fall of 2025. However, multiple fires at area battery energy storage facilities have given the town board concern as to the safety of such systems and the town board wishes to further evaluate such systems and has determined that an extension of the moratorium is necessary and appropriate. Whereas the town board uh excuse me whereas the town board desires to extend the moratorum to allow that analysis to take place. Uh whereas a duly noticed public hearing was held on February 25th, 2026 and no public comment was received. And whereas the matter was referred pursuant to general municipal law section 239 in sequential and Orange County Department of Planning issued a letter indicating local determination. Um now therefore be it resolved that introductory local law 1 of 20 20 uh 26 a local law to extend the temporary land use moratorium prohibiting large-scale battery energy storage system installations within the town of Chester established by local law 8 of 2024 by 6 months is hereby adopted as local law 1 of 2026. Be it further resolved that the town clerk shall cause said local law to be filed um in the New York State Department of State.

All right. Are there any questions or debate points about this? Uh no. No. Is there a motion to uh pass the local law? I'll make the motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I I All right. resolution to direct the town clerk to advise I'm sorry to advertise for the open parks uh advisory board seats. I'll make a motion. Second. All those in favor? I

I All right. Resolution to approve purchase uh request of a $76,393 2026 F350. It was budgeted at 90,000, so it's well under uh the budgeted amounts, which is good. And I failed to put which department was uh for this request and it was from the highway department. Um it's to replace another uh utility truck. Are there any questions or debate points on this? No. Seeing none, is there a motion? I'll make the motion. Is there a second? Second.

All those in favor? I. And it's on the Anataga County award bid back. Yep. All right. Resolution to everybody received the email um regarding Colleen Collins uh interest in the in the uh parks advisory board. Any questions or points on it? I think she addition. Yes, I agree. Um I'll I'll uh I'll motion to appoint Colleen to the uh to the advisor board. Is there a second? Second.

All those in favor? I resolution to approve highway water department's education request to attend the UDIG New York spring into safety course on March 12th. It's at no cost and it's from 7:30 to 10:30. Any questions at Bay Points on it? Nope. No. No. It's a good class for them to take. It's very educational. Very good. Um I will motion to approve the request. Is there a second? I'll second. All those in favor? I I

resolution to appoint Paul K. Miller to the o open alternate uh ZBA position. Everybody received their uh the uh the um letter of interest in the uh the resume and all that. Are there any questions or points? No. Is there a motion to pass? I'm sorry to appoint Paul. I'll make the motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I I just have a question. supervisor, the ZBA and the planning board. Are we where are we at with staffing? Are we fully staffed or are we almost there? We're after tonight, the ZBA should be fully staffed. Okay. And then there should be six members on the seven member board for the planning board. So, we still have one. So, we still have one more. Okay.

It seems like it's been forever that we haven't had a fully staffed board, which is unfortunate. Um resolution to appro approve highway departmenting department training request for Donna Tom and uh Tanya McI to attend the New York State prevailing wage electronic certified payroll system training. Uh it's on March 12th from 9 to 12 and it's $65 per attendee. Are there any questions or debate points on it? No. Is there a motion to approve the request? I'll make a motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I resolution to set a public hearing on the creation of a water district for uh

yeah I failed to put something on the agenda there. I apologize. You need a longer order by statute. So hold on. I don't know why I thought I had a different copy that had all everything down.

Um I'm going to read a a draft order. Um there's actually a specific um this is pursuant to town law section 193. um where we had to put specific things in the notice. So I I did prepare that order. So it's not just quite a simple resolution. So bear with me. Whereas a petition dated October 30th, 2025 for the establishment of a water district was filed with the town board of the town of Chester, county of Orange, state of New York. Whereas the proposed district and describe described and bounded to include the real property identified on the town of Chester tax map as section 38 block 2 lots 1-83 and section 39 block one lots 99 through 104. Whereas the proposed improvements consist of the items specified in the map plan and report prepared by John Petraini PE last revised January 10th 2026 and on file with the town clerk. Improvements will include uh construction of an on-site uh an on-site booster pumping station and distribution system including approximately 6,500 square feet 6,500 ft of 8 in diameter mains, hydrants, valves, meters, and associated fixtures. Whereas the maximum amount proposed to be expended as stated in the petition is $1,210,000 which will be the responsibility of the project sponsor. Whereas the estimated cost of hookup fees is as set forth in the town of Chester fee schedule order. This town board will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the petition and relevant matters on March 25th, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. or soon thereafter may be heard at town hall 1786 Kings Highway, Chester, New York 10918. Order that the town clerk is hereby directed to publish a certified copy of this order in the official newspaper, the first publication thereof to not be less than 10 days 10 nor more than 20 days before the date set forth of the hearing and post a copy of the same on the sign pursuant to town law section 193. Thank you.

Um, so just in layman's terms, can you just explain to the public what that is since I failed to put something descriptive on the agenda? Sure. Um, so in this case, this is the developer of the Greens project is petitioning um for the uh town board to create a a special district, a water district um for taxing um or for excuse me uh administration of the water. In this case, the village of Chester is actually providing the water. The town is not. Um, the developer is responsible for all the costs. Um, but this is the statutory process to create that district. And as is normal with any other development. Yes.

It doesn't it doesn't mean that we're taking anything over. It just means we're creating a district for the future. Cor. Well, it's it's essentially for purposes of billing so that with the bills can get distributed to the individual uh owners. Uh this one has a transportation corporation. Um but the district's part of their agreement with the village. My understanding is that they were required to do a district is also as part condition of their prior approvals. They were required to do a district. So because it's located in the town, we have to create the district. Correct. They are paying for everything to create. Correct. They're installing the infrastructure. Yes. At their cost. All right. Are there any questions about that?

And this long complicated resolution I just read literally just sets the public hearing. You just have to state all those per statute. Yeah. All right. Is there a motion to set the public hearing for March 25th? I'll make the motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I I

All right. Cleaning services RFP responses. So, uh, Tom, uh, took this over and, uh, he had done a couple conversations and walkthroughs with a lot of different, uh, services. I think it was a little bit over half a dozen. And, uh, this is the best priced and gave the best, uh, presentation from what I, Tom and I saw. I all the council members got everything via email. So, um you may have a different uh opinion, but Tom and I agreed that this was the best option given the price and what was in their uh in their response.

I did a review of each one of the applicants that put the uh the bid in for this. And only two applicants actually put everything in there that we requested as far as individual pricing on floor cleaning and stuff like that. So these two only two of those two of the six actually put everything in that we wanted and the DOC is uh DOC cleaning service and and property maintenance are the cheapest and I did reach out to them and they are in line with everything we wanted. Are there any questions or debate points on this? Nope.

Seeing none. Is there a motion to accept DOC uh cleaning services and property maintenance for our uh official cleaning service? You want to label that also as a monthly basis at this point? Yeah, I was going to do that right after, but we can do that now. Confirm that we're satisfied with their work. Yeah. Um let's do this then. Is there a motion to accept a uh accept the proposal from DOC and authorize the supervisor to sign a monthly uh agreement with them for cleaning services? I'm good with that. I'll make the motion. I'll second. Uh um what's it called? Subject to uh review by the attorney. Is there a motion in a second? I'll motion it. I'll second.

All those in favor? I I Yes.

Uh March 1st. All right. Resolution to request speed limit reduction on Sugarloaf Mountain Road from uh 40 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour. Um, we got 49 signatures on this petition. Uh, thanks to John and uh, Jeff Zan, I believe were the two uh, primary people to Rachel Chap.

Rachel also Rachel Chap Chapet. Okay, very good. Um, are there any questions or debate points on this resolution? And again, it's not a resolution setting the uh, the speed limit. Unfortunately, we can only request uh through the DOT to uh set the speed limit because that is how that works. So, it's a request on a town road to DOT permission to lower. We can't lower your own speed. Well, they get noticed, but they don't give permission, do they? No, they are the ones that

send the the uh request to the DS through their office. All right. Is there Everybody saw my uh my um resolution. Uh did any are there any questions or debate points on it? Make a motion to put this to this DOT for a reduction. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I I will uh tweak that at the end there to say that it should go to the DPW as well before you send it along. Okay. That makes sense.

All right. Resolution to appoint Don Higgins to the planning board. Everybody um spoke with or met with or reviewed his documents. Are there any questions or debate points? No, I'm good. No, I'm good. All right. Is there a motion to appoint Don? I'll make the motion to appoint Don. I'll second. All those in favor? I I think he'd be a great addition to the planning board with his background. Very good. Resolution to approve the water department education request to attend the 811 training courses on March 3rd and March 12th at no cost. I'll make the motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I I I think one person's taking third and two to 12, so they're not all going at the same time. Very good.

Resolution to authorize the disposition of title execution of a 2015 Ford 350. uh to the town of Monroe. The truck was owned by the Muna Sewer District. It's actually owned by the town of Chester. That's why you're signing the title. The Muna explain explain that they owned it at the meeting. They don't own it. We the town of Chester registered by the town of Chester. Sure. But it's a vehicle. Yeah. Are there any questions or debate points on this? No. Seeing none. Is there a motion to uh accept the authorization? I'll make the motion. I'll second it.

All those in favor? I I resolution to authorize purchase of a 2026 Ford police interceptor utility awd police vehicle at $51,652.95. This was a budget item at uh $58,000 replacing a 2021 interceptor at 112,000 miles. Um, are there any uh questions or uh comments on this? I'm going to recuse myself. I uh where the per with the vehicles being purchased, I work for that company. So, I'm going to recuse myself on that vote. Okay. You're going to abstain from the vote? Abstain. I'm sorry.

Okay. All right. All right. Are there any other questions or debate points on this? I'm good. As long as it's under state, we're good to go. It is under a state bid, which uh Bob has nothing to do with. So, Oh, just for the for the for the sake of appearances and all appearances, but you know what? I do work there, so I don't want anyone questioning it. All right. Are any debate points or comments? No, I'm good. All right. Uh seeing none, is there a motion to uh authorize the the purchase? I'll make a motion. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I resolution to approve various 2025 budget modifications.

Um, as I said, they are listed. Everybody got them from the uh comproller. Are there any questions or debate points on them? No. Good. Are we close to an end of year numbers yet? They should be closing out today. Yeah. Awesome. So, I'm working on the analysis. Good. Thank you, guys. regarding craft. Thank you. So, these modifications really just total in less than $5,000 worth pennies compared to the full budget. Are there any questions or debate points on them from the town board? No, but I'm fine. All right. Uh, is there a motion to accept or approve the uh modifications? I'll make the motion.

I'll second. All those in favor? I I resolution to approve controller request to host a GFOA breakfast at the Chester Senior Rec Center on May 20th from 8:00 a.m. to 8 9:30 a.m. No cost associated with the events. Uh the last one went well by the email our comproller put out. Are there any questions or debate points on this? I just have one question for Michelle. Does this this doesn't interfere with anything that would be normally going on there, right? Absolutely not. I didn't ask that question. I just asked anything else going on. Okay.

All right. I have I have no issue with it. All right. Uh seeing none, is there a motion to accept the request? I'll make a motion. Is there a second? I'll second. All those in favor? I I

resolution to authorize the release of a 35 I'm sorry 3,5 $3,55.73 from the senior rec center generator cash reserve to cover comprehensive plan expenses from 2025. So, as it says, but in layman's terms, basically we have money left over in the cash reserve that we had for the senior center generator that we approved last year or maybe yeah, last year. And uh we want to use that money for the uh comprehensive plan expenses from the same year, which is just kind of lean. Yes. Just moving around again. That's fine. Yeah, right. I'm good.

No, sorry. Um All right. Is there a motion to authorize? I'll make the motion. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I just a question to on the generators. Do we have a service contract on them? Oh, we do. We do. Okay. They spent all that money and we're just No one's looking at them. We have a beautiful resolution to authorize sale of the 2020 Ford Police Interceptor utility for $4,650. It's uh through an auction site called propertyroom.com. Are there any questions or debate points on this? No. No. Seeing no.

Yes. Yes. We Yes. Um is there a motion? I'll make the motion. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? I

I All right. Entity disclosure introductory local law. So, uh, this would basically require full and fair disclosure of the person or persons substantively involved with entities making land use applications before the town to the extent possible to ensure that any and all potential conflicts of interest or other ethical concerns are properly disclosed and addressed by any and all affected parties. and further to ensure the individuals appearing on behalf of such entities are authorized representatives. Um so in layman's terms just more transparency. We didn't have anything like this in place in the past. No ethics or anything else.

This is something that I've been uh wanting to do since I became supervisor but it just kept on getting shuffled down because of more pressing matters. But I think this is a just a very black and white simple uh local law that I think every town should have. Uh just so we have no question about So is this this basically covering employees or is this covering applications? This is from the this is from the um for the planning and zoning board stuff applications developers. So anybody that's coming before the anybody that's asking for um relief or something whether it's the town board and we're actually taking it's not just in the zoning code. It's it's in all applications um

because we've we've had requests for relief from certain portfolio. So any so if somebody applies uh for example um the petition we just discussed at the greens that particular property owner would have to identify the principles. Um, you know, we do see a lot of LLC's and some of that is um to facilitate um knowing where potential conflicts are because sometimes it's hard to know who's really behind an LLC and if you have a conflict, you might have a conflict with the individual, but you wouldn't know it based on the name of the LLC. Final payments of your plan process.

Correct. Correct. Um, so that information has to be provided. I did circulate um the draft local law. I also circulated that to um your uh the chairs of both the planning board and DBA as well as your council for both boards. Um your council for your planning board did provide a brief comment that I I put in before today's introduction. Um and that will all be available um on the website. Um there are some limited applications that don't require that because they're they're small in nature. Um this is very similar to other um stat you know I I poked around to see what other communities were doing. So that's what we based on. So we're just public.

All right. Is there anything? Yep.

You don't think you just get to do it quickie? Do you? Sorry. Whereas the town board finds and determines that there is critical and compelling need in the public interest as set forth herein to provide for full and fair disclosure of the person or persons substantively involved with the entities making land use applications. And whereas the town board to the extent possible want to ensure that any and all potential conflicts of interest and other ethical concerns are properly disclosed and addressed by any and all affected parties and further to ensure individuals appearing on behalf of such of such entities are authorized representatives. And whereas the town board desires to enact this law so that there is as there is no existing law that preempts the adoption of this article. And now therefore be it resolved that introductory local law 2 of 2026 entitled a local law to add a new chapter entitled entity disclosure to the town code is hereby introduced. Be it further resolved that copies of the aforeset introductory local law be laid upon the desk of each member of the board. And be it further resolved that the town board hereby declares lead agency and further declares that this action is a type two action under the state environmental quality review act and no further environmental review is required. Um be it further resolved that a public hearing shall be held on March 25th, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. or soon thereafter as may be heard in town hall located at 1786 Kings Highway, Chester, New York 10918. We have further resolved that the town clerk shall cause to be published public notice in the official newspaper as is required by law. Um, I'm going to recommend, I know I've drafted this, I'm going to also recommend referral to the planning board, um, just as belt and suspenders as well as to the county planning department pursuant to Gmail 239. So, I will add that to that resolution.

That's fine. Is there a motion to introduce the local law and set a public hearing date for March 25th? I'll make the motion. Is there a second? I'll second it. All those in favor? I I right. There we go. All right. Is there uh Yeah. Um is there a motion to head into executive session uh for personnel? I'll make the motion. I'll second. All those in favor? I I We are going into executive session. There will be at least one piece of new business on the way out. And of course, public comment as always.

Let me know when you're good, Michelle. Is there a motion to come out of executive session? I'll make the motion. Second. All those in favor? I

I We have one piece of new business. We have a uh late education request here from Heidi. Did everybody get that in their mailbox? Um it is to send her to the uh annual conference for NYSTCA which is the town clerk's association uh for to uh from April 19th to the 22nd in Albany. Uh it is $562 which includes three days of classes, breakfast and lunches and one banquet dinner. The cost of the Desmond Hotel is at a special group rate of $53244 the three days. Um, this is just Heidi.

No, I'll be going. Oh, this is for Heidi and Glinda. Are there any questions or comments uh for the the town clerk's office? No. No. No, I'm good. Seeing none, is there a motion to accept the education request? I'll make a motion. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I All right. Is there any public comment? Are there any other new business tonight? No. No. Seeing none, is there any public comment? Yes. Quadro, please provide detailed reasons for the increase in water rates. Will the increase for all water districts? We just had a water rate increase.

Yeah. So the we did not actually just have a water increase. We had one two years ago. We did not have one last year. Uh so we we had spoken about this in the beginning of this whole process and we have proof that when you raise the rates the taxes go down. Um I just looked at the uh tax bill for a specific property over in Lake Hill Farms and when we raised the rates back in 2020 at the end of 2024 going into 2025 uh that person's tax bill went from $469 to $263 uh for the year. That's the tax bill. That is not the uh that is not the water bill that we're doing quarterly now. Uh so what we want to do is have the rates go up to a point in which that we understand what it takes to properly maintain our water districts and have your taxes go down. uh when it's when it's such a high tax system, uh you are basically uh subsidizing everybody else in the water uh uh district um for all the maintenance and all the usage. When you raise the rates, it's more based on usage. So you are more or le you you are more paying for your own usage, making it a more fair system. So

true. Yes. And it also the other benefit is gives you it gives us the town the true cost of what it takes to run that specific water district. So eventually we will get to a point where uh the rate will be at a stable uh you know footing for you know a few years and then your taxes will hopefully be as low as humanly possible. Uh so there is no more subsid sub subsidiz uh subsidies going on. If I could piggy back on that may just correct me if I'm wrong, but the practice of years past is we've taken out the general fund to balance these water districts. Yes or no? No. Okay. I think there's been some fund balance is individual. Okay. Yeah. You're not supposed to do that. Um I can't.

Okay. I I I'm just not not under our watch here. I No, I'm not saying I'm not saying here. Not in the past either. Yeah. Yeah. No. Okay. Okay. that would would not. So, so yes. So, we want to have the true cost of water and we want you to be paying for your own individual use. We do not want you having to pay for everybody else in the district. Um, and again, it literally cuts your taxes. That is there is proof of that happening. All right. Uh, are there any other public comment? Anything out here? Seeing none, is there a motion to adjourn the meeting? I'll make the motion. Is there a second? I'll second. All those in favor I I thank you.