Town Board - Regular Meeting

day, seventh, 8th, whatever day that was for the Christmas party. Hello everybody. It's Wednesday, November 19th, 2025. The time is 6:32 p.m. I'd like to call this Town of Dover Town Board special meeting to order by asking everybody to please rise for the pledge to the flag.

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. Good evening everybody. Uh any public comments andor questions on agenda items only? If you have any questions or comments to make on agenda items only, please approach the podium at this time. Seeing nobody approaching the podium, we'll move on. And you'll see on your agenda, we're just going to reopen a conversation or a discussion on the plan community zoning that we put back on the table uh with our zoning committee. Um we had uh I believe they met with some residents. They have taken consideration some of the comments andor suggestions that they made and I'm going to read right from the conversation that myself and the chairman had. The committee is currently updating sections of the code based on comments received. The committee is also working on compiling of the overall zoning code draft which is section 145 and is hoping to provide the town board with a full zoning code update by the end of the year. I've alo also asked for the the chapter of the plan community chapter to be sent to me as well separately. So once things are added or tweaked, I like to you I like to say um but the suggestions we actually received an email tonight from a gentleman asking where we were on that and I believe we did send an answer that the suggestions that he and his wife submitted are being considered and possibly added to that chapter. Correct.

Yes.

So So we're we're looking at it and we're listening to everything that people sent to us. So, I'm hoping to uh to have something back here by the December meeting at least on that chapter for the plan community and then hopefully by the end of the year to go into the new year with the entire update of section of chapter 145, which is zoning for the town of Dober. The problem we do have is is I will do everything I can to keep the two of them separate, meaning accept the plan community chapter on its own and then it will be incorporated to 145. But they overlap in so many places throughout the entire chapter of 145. We have to make sure we do it right by doing it separately. Okay. Any questions?

No. Okay. Nothing. No. Moving on. Sports and Recreation Department highway superintendent reports. Julie, you want to start us off, please? Hi, I'm Julie Muny from Dover Recreation. Um, our basketball season kicked off last night and it was a great turnout. We had about 75 kids uh between third and sixth grade up at the school last night. Um our 9th 9th through 12th grade uh group will meet this Tuesday coming up on the 25th. Um and as of today we uh we have 54 kids registered from kindergarten through um 12th grade. Uh we are hopefully expecting between another 15 and 20 with my older kids. Uh I won't know that until next week. Um so we'll get that. Um, so and then in December we will um resume our regular schedule Tuesday, Thursday kind of thing going forward, but uh with the holiday coming up, it was a little crazy. So we had to scoot in our classes whenever we could. Um we are still in need of a few coaches, adult coaches for coaches for the fifth and sixth grade to assist our teen helpers. Uh we just need a couple more. Um, we are looking for coaches for our K through 2 grade. Uh, that does start in January, but if you can let me know ahead of time because on December 3rd, there is going to be a coaches meeting here at town hall. Um, so if you have any questions, you can call me at the office at 8458329168. Um, our senior program meets every Monday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All are welcome to join for games, arts and crafts, exercise classes, line dancing, and more. Um, so you guys can just go to the American Legion Hall on those days and between those times and go and enjoy yourself.

Um, the recreation barber is preparing our annual uh Christmas tree and holiday fest coming up on Saturday, December 6th at 6 p.m. at Boyce Park. Uh, we have donuts, waffles, hot chocolate, the bubble bus will be there again. Uh, holiday characters, letters to Santa, our toy drive, uh, our holiday singers, and of course Santa Mrs. clause. Uh, also please remember that um you'll see down at the park the lights are lights were going on, but we're putting up our displays. Please don't lean or sit on them for displays only. Uh, a big thank you to Sean, Billy, Paul, Paula, and Dodie uh, for all their hard work setting up the displays outside as well as getting Santa's workshop ready um, in our offices uh, to get transformed. So, we'll be doing that in the next week or so. Um, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 6:15. Um,

what time did you say you were starting that event? 6 o'clock. 6 o'clock.

Yep. And then Santa and Mrs. Claus at 6:15. And then we'll do the tree lighting. Um, probably around 6:30. I think that's normally usually about about that time. Um, this year we're excited um to have uh to invite all the town residents to participate in a light up our community, a Christmas lighting and uh decorating contest. Please email uh your name and address if you would like to uh to register at recreation uh doeny.gov um to register your house by December 12th. Uh judging will take place uh between the 13th and the 23rd and we'll announce our winner on the 24th. Um that'll give you uh the winner gets bragging rights and a $100 gift certificate. Again, if you have any questions, you can call us at 845832-9168. Any questions?

No town staff. Oh, no. Sorry. No town employees are allowed to join or boards. We'll still do a good job. Yes, but you can still decorate. Anything else? Um, I think that's it. Okay.

You did the Christmas light, so we're good. Highway Superintendent Jason Stori. Uh Jason Stori, Dovertown Highway Superintendent. Hi everyone. How you doing? Uh grading of all of our dirt roads have been completed for coming up for this winter. Uh, also we finished up uh some year ending black top paving projects which was one of them was Wing Avenue where we changed the pipe uh back in the end of September uh and we waited a month or so or whatever before we could black top it so it let it settle and everything like that. So that was taken care of. Sycamore Circle uh down at Westchester Modell uh it was all broken up in the back side of it from the garbage trucks because they were kind of small and narrow when they made them over the years. So we had to do some work on that. So we fixed that. And also we did a an apron on Ridge Road where it connects to Chestnut Ridge Road. Uh it's a dirt road going into Blacktop and it's a bad spot to pull out of. So a lot of people spin their tires and it's always got like whoops in it or whatever and holes and potholes and stuff right at the end and it's hard to get out. So we graded it all off and we paved it. So now it's an easy transition off the dirt into the black top for everyone there. Uh also we did some fixed some potholes on Sherman Hill, uh Weebuck Road, Benson Hill, and Dual Hollow. Uh we also helped dig out or I should say we did dig out from uh the retention ponds at Country Mills. They had given us a call and said, "Hey, in the past we think you guys did something for us down here and dug out the uh inlets where the water comes in off the roads and stuff or whatever like that." So we took care of all that for that. Uh and we're also in the middle of uh maintenance on our plowing equipment. Uh tomorrow we're going to start putting our wings on the snow plows and putting our plows on and make sure everything's up to par and ready to go, which they pretty close are. Uh we'll still continue to blow leaves off the roads throughout the town. Wingdale. Uh and also snow is coming soon. Uh so

I'd like to remind everybody again still that roads are closed for parking from October 15th to April 15th. And also could you please keep your garbage cans off the roads and on your lawns so they don't get hit by the plow trucks and so on. Uh, I'd like to thank my team for all their hard work and I'd like to thank Terry, my assistant, for everything she does and wish her happy birthday for Friday. Happy birthday, Terry. Any questions? Good to go. Thank you, Jason. Thank you. Thank you, Jason.

Um, I'll add the building department uh report. Total permits were 24 for the sum of $6,625. Nine CC's were issued, one CO was issued, and two violations uh respectfully submitted. Uh, Miss Burns from the building department. At this time, we'll go into the resolutions. Reports of the supervisor. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Moving right along. How about the reports of the board members? Councilman Holmes.

Yes. Uh, met with Jason a couple times this month and discussed everything that he just told you about. Um, glad to hear about the dump road being done on the end. That'll make some residents happy. Thank you very much to you and the guys. Good job. Thank you. Thank you, Tommy. Councilman Muda.

Um, the American Legion would like to thank the Dover Elementary School for their Veterans Day celebration that they held along with uh the the VFW in in uh Wasa and um all the veterans that were there. Um, if you're not doing anything, the Legion could use your help. Sign up and be a Legion member. Um, Taylor Oil is I believe they're just about done, if not um soon on the um uh air conditioning at the library Legion building. And um personally, I'd like to wish everybody a blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you. Thank you, Yan. Councilwoman Jackson,

on the Thanksgiving note, um the library is offering Thanksgiving food bags to anybody who would like to go there. The Do Plains Library is offering to register for a free bag of food. It will be distributed next week. So, contact them tomorrow. Um I'd also like to talk a little bit about something we we talked about um last meeting about Helpsy, which is a clothing donation, fabric donation drive. Um, Helpsy is a company that collects fabrics and linens and textiles and brings it to uh be sorted and recycles the fabric. This is to work in in coordination with local turf shops. You can still give to your local charities, but if you'd like to have um your textiles picked up from your house, Helpsy is going to be able to do that. And then it works with our climate smart community to give a donation back to money back to the town. Um, this is something we're want to look into starting in the new year. So, we have your New Year's resolution is to declutter and get rid of some things. We'll let you know what's going on with Helpsy when we get everything set up.

Thank you. Mhm.

Deputy Supervisor Murphy. Um, yeah. Um, Park looks good, Juel. Great job. um and had the opportunity to attend a planning board meeting this month. Uh great turnout for for for what was on the agenda. So, uh a lot of good comments the planning board took back and the next phase will be into a couple other meetings that uh again the best way to stay involved in the community is to attend these meetings. Whether it is a public hearing or not, you want to know what's going on in the town, attend the meetings. So again, great turnout by the people that did show up this week. So, um, that's it. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Thank you, Jay. And I'll just reiterate, I'll piggyback on what he just talked about. Um, we post everything that comes in on our website. Our regular scheduled meetings are always scheduled and they are on our website. Any special meeting that comes up in between the regular meetings is posted and not in sent the word is sent out with the legal time frame minimum. We we're not responsible to hold everybody's hand so they know what's going on in this town. If you want to know what's going on, go to our website, watch or attend the regular meetings. Don't believe everything you see on Facebook.

Thank you. 99% of what was said on this issue was wrong.

Okay. There were so many comments that were made wrong that we just sat there and looked at and ignored it. And I am very glad and I thank our consultants and our chairman Ryan Cortine for clarifying that the other night and setting the record straight. This is not a new project. This has been coming to our planning board for most of this year. Okay. So again, you want to understand and what know is going on throughout the town. It is your responsibility to watch or attend our meetings or check out our website or get to it when you can on the YouTube. There's nothing else we can do. You want to know, make it a point to come here and find out or look at it somewhere else. There's no other way we can say it. We put everything out that we can. We don't only want to, we have to. So again, to stay ab breast on things, you have to step up yourselves and not believe everything you see online. Okay. So with that, Julie brought up the Christmas light decoration. I look forward to going around and and being one of the judges and looking at the the houses each and every year. I I kind of make it a trip every year just to drive around and look and uh myself and Julie talked about this and I said it would be a nice gesture and let's see if we can get some residents involved. All right. I think it'll be a nice thing. Um it was a busy month. We attended uh the historical society threw three events in the last five weeks. Maryland um two one here at the town hall and two at the firehouse. Um, two of them were were under or led

by uh Valerie Larobadier, our town historian. Uh, good job was done at both of those. Um, our historical society keeps our town's history alive, and I say that every time I speak to them or in front of them, they keep our town's history alive. They keep our town's people informed about what happened in our town way back when. And then the third event was just a couple weeks ago um at the firehouse and it honored our local veterans. Uh President Dick Pelky and his and his committee, our host historical society, they put on one hell of a day. Um the displays were phenomenal. They had displays, memorabilia, newspaper clippings from each and every war andor conflict. The entire room at the firehouse was set up with tables. the entire perimeter and then some. Um, it was well attended. It was a privilege and an honor to speak there. Um, I was honored to and privileged to speak for somebody who couldn't attend. Um, about two do residents, two hometown guys who were friends for life, went to war together, and, you know, spent their last days together as well. So, it was it was a it was a good month. Good month and a half. busy. Um, but good job to Val, good job to uh Mr. Pelky and the historical society members. Um, phenomenal job once again when you all put something together. It's it's pretty awesome. So, thank you for having me there again. I was honored and privileged to be able to speak and asked to speak in front of all of you. So, thank you, Marilyn. You're the only one here representing them. Thank you very much. Uh, and I already gave my point on believe in Facebook. So, I'm done.

Anybody else? Anybody miss anything? Okay. Now, we'll move on to resolutions. Resolution authorize and approve consent agenda items. Be it resolved that the town board of the town of Dover does hereby approve the following items for consideration and adoption on the November 19th, 2025 town board regular meeting consent agenda. Authorize a payment of abstract 11 of 2025 in the amount of $540,99. Accept the minutes of town board meeting of October 29th, 2025 and special meeting of November 5th, 2025. Approve a town clerk's report for October of 2025. Approve the town supervisor's financial report for October 2025. Accept unanticipated revenue, authorized budget transfers, budget amendments, and payment of offabract purchase orders as prepared and submitted by the town's bookkeeper and authorize a renewal of the Duchess County Shared Services Procurement Agreement.

I'll entertain a motion. So move second brought by Murphy, seconded by Maluda. Any discussion hearing? No discussion. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? So carried. Resolution authorizing supervisor to execute NY class municipal cooperation agreement. Whereas New York General Municipal Law Article 5G section 119-0 section 119-0 empowers municipal corporations defined in article 5G section 119N to include school districts, board of boards of cooperative educational services, counties, cities, towns and villages and districts to enter into amend cancel and terminate agreements for the performance among themselves or one for the other of their respective functions, powers and duties on a cooperative or contact contract basis. Whereas the town of Dover wishes to invest portions of its available investment funds in cooperation cooperation with other corporations andor districts pursuant to the NY class municipal corporation agreement amended and restated as of August 1, 2023. Whereas the town of Dover wishes to satisfy the safety and liquidity liquidity needs of their funds. Now therefore be it resolved that Richard Cino, town supervisor of the town of Dover, is hereby authorized to participate in the NY class program under the terms of the NYLASS municipal corporation agreement amended and restated as of August 1, 2023. I'll entertain a motion. I'll move

second.

Brought by Murphy, seconded by Jackson. discussion. So, this was something that I brought to you that we were looking into during the budget process of um a higher yield, a very safe um plan, much higher yield than banks. Um this is uh as of right now, the county of Duchess uses this with a very large sum of money. 19 fire districts within Duchess County use this. 15 towns and eight villages. So, 23 local municipalities are involved in this. And they actually came to a supervisor and mayor's meeting not long ago. And that number will probably grow after the first of the year. They didn't want to make any decisions before election day, obviously. Okay. For obvious reasons. So, this is something that we're going to talk, we've talked about, we're talking about it now. Um, this is something that I think we should do. We're looking to set up reserve funds for certain projects for certain future endeavors. This money is guaranteed. It It is one. It is uh it is a high yield. I'm trying to use the proper language here.

Collateralized by the It's collateralized 100%.

There's the word I was looking for. It's coll fully collateralized meaning we don't lose our principal. Yeah. Okay. So, um the rate that they would charge is only on the interest. No interest, no charge, 0.15%. So, we are going to invite this gentleman that is representing or who will be working with us and Mr. Star to come next month and give a little five 10 minute spiel. And at that point in time, if this is approved tonight, I will have a list of um fund balances or reserve funds that we will put in place. Um the big ones would be for the library and Legion building, which would be a very large sum of money due to the amount of work that it needs. That that that sum would also include the amount the work that would is needed to be done at the Taber Winghouse. As of right now on my desk, the number that I'm thinking for both of those is upwards of $350,000. And I truly don't think that'll be enough. Okay. But if you look at what happened last year with the data that they gave us, not that we're putting this much in there, but a million dollars brought in over $53,000 in interest just last year. You're not going to do that at a bank.

So, this is something that we've looked into. myself, the staff in my office, our bookkeeper, Miss Scaramuzo, we are we are very very uh confident in this and we think this is the right move for one our buildings, putting the money aside for our buildings, securing our fund balances and letting them grow, which will help all of us down the road as taxpayers. We have a lot of work to be done both here at the building, our out buildings like I just mentioned, there's two of them, as well as our parks. Okay. And I am working on setting up one fund strictly set for emergency services. That will be a sum of money put aside and that interest each year will help pay the next three years of our ambulance service which is only $50,000 the next three years and as we that move money grows and stays it will help prepare whoever is preparing the budget after this year or next year down the road as well. Okay. So any questions?

No, I'm very pleased it's a as of September it was a 4.09% 09% interest, no risk. You can't get that anywhere else. Yeah, you're not. Yeah, definitely not opposed to it. But do we want to hold off on passing it until we get the the presentation or we or do we I'm confident to pass it, but do we want to make everybody else just hear what they want to talk about? Tommy, your opinion. It's a board decision. Can we put it Can we put the vote on the December meeting as well after the presentation? because I'm I'm comfortable passing it today. But just to give the opportunity for everybody else to hear, Councilman Holmes, I agree. We table it. Yes. Yan.

Yeah, I agree. Let's see what he say. Just to be clear, I think it's a great idea. That's fine. I'm fine with that. So, Madam Clerk, you have any opinion on that? No, I think that would be fine. There's no penalty for waiting, right? So, so just give everybody a chance to hear what it's about. I'm I'm more than fine with that. That way everybody can hear what me and Nicole and was that heard. Okay, good. Okay. Okay. Um, we'll share we'll share everything. I think we did. I shared you uh I left at your spots tonight a breakdown and uh I believe copies of the towns that get it. If not, we can we'll forward that to you. We'll forward it.

All right. Um, what I didn't I failed to mention is there also is two cities in our county that also participate and that is the city of Beacon and the city of Pikipsy. All right. in the town of uh the town of Pikipsy as well, which is next to East Fishkill, the biggest town in our county budget-wise. So, okay, we will table that. Y, no problem. Totally understand. Moving on to the next one. Not going to read that one. That was removed. We're not reading the bid one either. Correct. We're going to read this on the 19th.

Okay. Or 17th. Sorry. So, the next one would be my budget. Correct. On the highway vehicles. Do you want to cover that? No. Okay. We're going to take that off, too. Oh, wait. Yes. I'm sorry. We're reading that one.

I had that one in the bid. The bids confused. The vehicle bid. Resolution authorizing purchase of highway department vehicles. Whereas the town of Dover Highway Department has requested the purchase of a 2024 Ram 5500 chassis cab with Rugby 9 ft steel dump and a 2025 Ram 3500 with Reading 8-foot service body from Rugie's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Reinbeck, New York. And whereas the total cost of the 2024 Ram 5500 chassis cab with Rugby 9 ft steel dump is 76,648.50 and the total cost of the 2025 Ram 3500 with reading 8 ft service body is $59,274.50. Now therefore, be it resolved that the town board of the town of Dover does hereby authorize the purchase of a 2024 Ram 5500 chassis cab with Rugby 9 foot steel dump and a 2025 Ram 3500 with Reading 8-foot service body from Rugie's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Reinbeck, New York. Be it further resolved that the town board of the town of Dover previously authorized a budget modification on 1152025 per resolution number 1682025 in the amount of 135,923 to amend the 2025 budget by an increase to fund balance appre appropriation D9990000 and increase to expenditure account D5130.2.2000 to appropriate funds from highway D fund balance. I'll entertain a motion.

So second brought by Murphy, seconded by Holmes. Any discussion? Hearing no further discussion. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? So carried. Buy your trucks, Jason. Okay. And it was the bid that we're doing next month. Got it. Resolution of the town board of the town of Dover to adopt the annual town budget for fiscal year 2026. Whereas the town board of the town of Dover has met and considered the tenative budget as well as the preliminary budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026. And whereas the town board of the town of Dover conducted a public hearing on the 5th day of November, 2025 at Town Hall, 126 East Duncan Hill Road, Dover Plains, New York, at which time the Dover Town Board did meet and review such preliminary budget as complied and accepted public comment for or against any items contained therein as required by New York State Town Section 108. Now therefore be it resolved that the pursuant to the town law section 108, the preliminary budget has change as changed, altered, and reviewed is hereby adopted as the annual budget of the town of Dover for the fiscal year beginning on January 1, 2026, and the same be entered in the minutes of the town board. I'll entertain a motion. So move second.

Brought by Murphy, seconded by Muda. Discussion. Yes, I do. So, if you look at the copies of the budget that I left at your seats, you'll see a change. Um, since every every year I say a budget is a work in progress until the end. And there are some supervisors in this county that don't agree. They set it and forget it. Well, we received numbers in the last couple weeks that constituted some changes. One is the state retirement that came in way way higher than they told us to plan for. Wow.

About $14,000 higher. So, we made changes there. Um compensation came in higher

than what they told us to figure for. On the fire side, not as much. On the town side, a little higher. So, we made adjustments to that. We did some more studies on some revenues. So, we we crunched some numbers to the revenues and we made some changes there. We went to our fuel usage. We went back all the way throughout this year right up to date. We were looking at them yesterday. Our office was looking at them yesterday. We made a I believe a $5,000 adjustment on fuel usage. We went from 65 to 60, I believe, or from 60 to 55. I'd have to look again. But anyway, all said and done, oh, and we did adjust the board's salaries. You didn't lose anything. But with that, because of the changes we had to made, the preliminary was in at a 1.96% increase with the changes that we made today. finalized today at 2:30. I am now proud to say that this budget is coming in at 1.89, another hair lower. And it's just because some of adjustments we made in revenue and everything else. The increases were reinstated. Okay.

Mhm. So, and then rounded off. That's where it was. All right. So, again, any questions? And like I say, numbers keep coming in and truthfully there's still numbers that are going to come in, but we feel we are fully prepared for whatever comes in after this date. Um, Councilman Holmes, any questions? Looks good. Trimmed it a little more. Yep. Yeah, we went from uh 98 something, right? Almost a point. Yeah. Yeah. almost almost a full half a point again. So, we got it under 1.9. Yan, anything?

No, it's a responsible budget. I I I fully agree, Miss Jackson. No, I think it's a you've done a fantastic job considering the inflation and everything. You've covered everything and done it well. Okay, Jay. Fantastic. Good job. Thank you. Um, again, as always, I will thank every department head, especially here in the town hall, the clerk's office, highway, our recck department, um, my office, the three ladies in my office. Um, I can I can say it every every meeting. They are second to none.

And the work that our bookkeeper does with finding 01 02 is is simply incredible. And we sat close to an hour today crunching more numbers, deciding whether to change this or not change this. Looking at revenue, looking at recreational revenue was a big look at today. Um, I can't thank them enough. So, here we are. We're under the cap and uh, you know, this is total increase. Total budget increase, not just my operational side. Total budget increase is 1.89. 89.

So, we were on the operational side. We came in pretty much flat. Okay. Any other discussion? Madam clerk, you have anything? No, thank you. I'm good. Thank you. So, hearing no further council. Good. Hearing no further discussion. Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor of adopting the 2026 budget. I We need to call a roll call vote for that. Yes, please call the role, Madam Clerk. Councilman Holmes. Hi. Councilman Maluda. I. Councilwoman Jackson. I. Deputy Supervisor Murphy. I. Supervisor Yino. I. Five eyes.

Thank you very much everybody. Good job.

Well done. Good job. At this point in time, if there's anybody in the public that'd like to make a comment, please approach the podium. Seeing nobody approaching the podium. Um, upcoming meetings. We will be meeting on December 17th, uh, town board regular meeting, and we will also now be doing the town board organizational meeting that night. I'd like to ask the uh um the reelected council board council members um Jackson and Holmes and myself as well as the tax collector Judge Abrams senior to be here um before 6:00. We'll be swearing in that night to go into the new coming year and uh we'll be reorgan that night after the regular meeting. Uh any other questions on that? Hearing no questions at that time. At this time, I'll make the motion to go into an executive se executive session to discuss litigation. Do I have a second?

Second. Motion made by myself and seconded by Deputy Supervisor Murphy to go into an executive session and not return to the deis to discuss litigation case. All in favor? I. Any opposed? So carried. Thank you everybody. Have a great Thanksgiving. Be well. Be safe and enjoy your time with family and friends. Thank you.