(1) Town Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, good evening everyone. Welcome to the Red Hook Town Board meeting of Wednesday, September 24th, 2025. Would you be kind enough to join me in the pledge of allegiance, please? 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 and thank you all for uh coming out tonight on what is an unusual rainy night here in the Hudson Valley. Um, tonight for the folks at home, if you'd be kind enough to pan to the screen. We have a public hearing uh regarding a proposed increase in the uh water rates for the water district 1. And we have our water board chairperson here, Hank Pan Paris, to talk to us about what may be coming uh in 2026 as well. Um we'll take some public comments for up to 15 minutes. Then we'll uh entertain that resolution. We as if you watched the meeting uh last time, we are amending our uh purchasing and procurement policy uh to include as well a green policy. And we uh were approached by the county, as were other municipalities, about uh a textile recycling program, which actually already exists here in the town of Red Hook. Um, but we'll talk about joining the county's program as well and a resolution to approve a couple of change orders to the St. Margaret's project and we hope to have that uh project completed um this fall. And then a couple of items and reorg. It's the second meeting of the month. So, we'll read our department and committee reports and entertain a little bit of correspondence. With that being said, I'll jump right into announcements. Uh we did have uh from our state senator Michelle Hinchi announcement of a couple of events coming up this Saturday is a senior golden gathering at the Rington

uh high school. Um and there is a skilled trade sphere right here at Red Hook High Thursday, October 23rd. We'll put this all out on our news alert and remind you again at our first October meeting. That's 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Red Hook High School. It's an event that's uh been taking place for a while and it's been very successful. Just another quick reminder, this Saturday, weather permitting, uh street painting festival in Tivoli starts at 10:00. Uh rain date would be Sunday, September 28th. There is a uh memorial for Tom Gilbert who is very uh uh much involved in uh baseball and little league here at uh town of Brad Hook. And coach Gilbert uh passed away uh not that long ago. And there's a bench dedication for him Sunday, October 19th at 11 a.m. And that's at the Wreck Park. for this next announcement. Julia, would you be kind enough to let people know what's happening?

Sure. This is the first uh of the public workshops for the comprehensive plan. There will be a number of different ways to get engaged, including three workshops. This is number one focused on visioning. Uh it's Tuesday, October 21st at the Red Municipal Cafeteria and registration and advancement is appreciated.

Terrific. Very exciting that we're starting our community outreach. Um, what do you want to see in your community for the next two or three decades? Um, as we have had in the past, uh, light up the village pink in October. It's breast cancer awareness month. You'll notice the pink light bulbs all around. Um, light the village pink, uh, festival. Uh, October 8th from 5 to 8 at the fairgrounds. [Applause] We have pink light bulbs if you'd like to uh showcase one. Uh we received, you all have heard me talk about uh some wonky uh statistics. We received just the other day from the controllers's office the 2024 risk r fiscal risk. I did say that correctly, didn't I? fiscal risk analysis for the town of Red Hook. Uh for this year, over past year, we received a perfect score again uh 000 um both for fiscal and environmental. And if you're wondering what environmental stress means, it just means the general um uh economic environment around what's the demographics are businesses coming into the community, is there growth, that type of thing. That's it's not environment as you and I may normally understand it, but it was another perfect score. We're one of the few municipalities with that around. Um we you hear me talk about how we don't accomplish much of what we have accomplished and we've accomplished something like 86 87 capital projects at least during my time here as town supervisor. And it's

because of so many people in this community who help with their projects and Eagle Scouts have done uh a number of them throughout the years that I've been here. And this is uh Robert Pascal who uh in connection with uh assistance from from dad basically did this entire um baseball equipment storage shed at Wreck Park. And um he also raised part of the the funding for it and it just looks absolutely beautiful. You can see uh over here behind us our b our baseball batting cage. Um and this is our multi-purpose uh field over here just to orient you. But what a wonderful job uh they did there and we're very grateful for for that work. Okay. Um, it is 7:38. So, uh, why don't we do the notice for our public hearing at 7:35? Diana, would you be kind enough to read the notice, please?

Notice of public hearing, town of Red Hook. Please take notice that a public hearing will be held by the town board of the town of Red Hook on September 24th, 2025 at 7:35 p.m. local time to hear all interested persons on proposed modification of the water rates and charges for water district number one. The Red Hook Water Board has recommended modification of the water rates and charges to increase the minimum rate from 40 $54.60 to $57.33 for up to 9,000 gallons and from $6.62 62 to $6.95 per 1,000 gallons over 9,000 as further set forth in the schedule on file with the town clerk. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard in person or by directing comments in writing to the town board, 7340 South Broadway, Red Hook. All reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. In such case, please notify the town clerk in advance at the above address or by phone. By order of the town board of the town of Red Hook, dated September 9th, 2025. Diana Cochran, Town Clerk, Town of Red Hook.

Thank you very much, Deanna. At this time, I would like them to make a motion that we open the public hearing. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I

I And we have with us our water board chairman, Hank Van Paris, to talk to you about not just this annual 5% increase. And we've done a series of these over the last five or six years to try to get our water rates up a little bit because we know we're going to have some capital improvement projects coming down the pipe in the years, but also to talk to you about maybe the next few years and what's what's anticipated. So Hank, did you want to maybe start off the public hearing and then we can take some comments from your folks? Uh, cut me off after an hour. Uh, uh, no, I think we'll cut you off a lot sooner than that.

Okay. But thanks for coming out in the bad weather. Pardon my stumbling around here. That's okay.

I'll sit over here. These chairs are heavy. Okay, as Robert said, I'm Hank Van Paris. I've been managing the town water district for 25 years now. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, uh so we're going to talk about water rates. I would like to just set the little perspective. We have enjoyed the lowest water rates of any place around since since we started. For example, Robert mentioned the rates we get currently 9,000 up to 9,000 gallons for a minimum charge of about $55 which we want to increase. Uh, the village of Red Hook pays a minimum charge of almost $85 for 5.6,000 gallons. Uh, if you happen to live in the town where you're serviced by the village, you will pay twice that amount. Wood Park, for example. uh village of Rinbeck seems to have a re reasonably reasonably good rate 72 thou $72 per quarter but I'm not sure whether it's a minimum or not I really don't know however pays a minimum charge of $118 let's sayund $117 for up to 10,000 gallons our administrative assistant Dory I mean, who will you talk to if you call the water district? She lives in Statsburg and she happened to mention her water bill, which is even

worse. She pays $82 minimum or for up to 9,000. I'm not sure which. But anyway, they also have no their minimum charge is $25 a month service charge. So, you're going to pay a minimum charge of 75 plus your water usage. That's just, you know, to set the stage a little bit. We are, we have enjoyed, we still enjoy the lowest rates around for probably the best water. So, just to back up, give you a little history, which I like the history of this district. This district, it started out back in the 1950s. The college park development came into being with a water system supply and water manes. A few years later acres came into being with a water supply and distribution. And uh let's see in the 70s the college park system started to fail. The health department prevailed upon Anaddale the Lindon acres supplier to take over the college park supply. So we put in a water man. I say we, I wasn't involved yet, but a water man from Elby over to the south end of Cornell. So now they were a combined district. But Edendelle did not have enough water and they did not have good water. A group of people led by Ray Roads talked to the public service committee. She talked to the town board and Anandel really wasn't interested in doing the water business. They weren't making much money. There was more headaches than anything. So they turned the district over to the town in the mid 80s for I would say a pittance a few thousand 2030,000 something like that.

So first thing the town did was to engage some experts to find a new water source. And maybe that's not the first thing. They formed a water district a special district which a special district provides sewers water maybe some other things but anyway it's financially separate from the town in in terms of generating revenue and paying its expenses although the town does back it up. So anyway the water district was formed. They found a site for a new water supply which is just across the creek from the wreck park. They bought some land from Oakley Cookingham, drilled three wells. Two of them we've been using up to now. Very good wells, very good water. And they move the old the pressure for those systems uh was uh the water pressure was provided by a tank into which you pump water and air, a pneumatic tank. The air pressure pushed the water out into the district, provided your water pressure. So, they moved that big tank from the site at on on Aspen Wall. It's right west of the pond between Albi and Aspen Hall. Uh moved that over there and we had water pressure from the new wells. The next thing is one of the next things they did is that did that I mentioned they established a water advisory board and Ray Roads was the chair. I came on that board in maybe ' 87 or something like that. The next uh major investment we made was to uh build the storage tank on top of the hill out on Kelly Road.

The initial plan was to build the $500,000 a 500,000 gallon tank. But B College was in trouble. They didn't have enough water. They had no storage. So they came to us, came to the town and made a deal, increase it to a million gallons and we'll pay half. So they did. They paid half of the cost of that original tank. That tank went online in 1989. And the next thing was to pay for it all, which we probably had been doing anyway, but uh we never did get to the stage of a formal loan. We had something called bands, bond anticipation notes. We paid those off in the early 2000s, before 2005, something like 2003, four, I'm not sure when, we paid those off. So, we've been free and clear. Socking the money away. Well, kind of. We did for a while. Uh we have built up some pretty good reserves. We currently have about $800,000 in reserves. 500, let's say 450 in a con reconstruction reserve, which was aimed for tank replacement or reconstruction and 350 in a transmission reserve oriented toward water mains. So I mentioned our rates. We've been coasting along. It wasn't until just a few years ago, half a dozen years maybe, we instituted this 5% yearly increase, which we should have done from the beginning, and we probably should have had it bigger. You really should be planning for when your system ages, how to replace, how to repair, how to keep it going. So, we have only been doing the 5% raise uh raise, but that's good for now, but next year we're going to have to do

more. And the reason is our water storage tank needs to be either replaced or reconditioned, cleaned up, painted, repainted. We had recommended a couple times to replace it. looking at about 40 years or so, it looked like the best option. But this year, we really started thinking about what's coming up in the next 15, 20 years, 25, whatever. Do we want to really be burdened with the cost for a new tank would have been about 4 mil total, you know, with contingency at all? The cost to redo this tank is going to be 1.7 mil. I mean, that's our estimate. We don't have bids proposals yet. Uh so we chose the the lesser expensive approach and this tank is good to be re rehabbed how who knows how many times but probably several times. Okay. So we're looking at an expense next year of let's say $1.7 million in our reserves. I mentioned uh our reserves. I suggested that we take $400,000 out of the reconstruction reserve to keep some of it there and put that toward the cost of the tank. Bard College is not uh interested in paying 50% this time, but they will contribute and when we get a hard price, when we get responses to our requests for proposals and know what it's going to cost, then we can get a hard figure from Bard. That'll be sometime next year, early next year, I hope. So, next year we're going to face up to paying off a loan, a large loan

for redoing our tank. The town water district, our town board uh met few month two, three months ago and we recommended that we use a combination of water rate increase and adorum tax like we did the first time. I don't know how much we're going to have to borrow. I don't know. It's up to the town board to determine how we're going to repay it. But I just want to tell you we're going to see a bigger increase next year. Okay? And it's just one of those things that we've been coasting. Water is not free and the infrastructure is very expensive. Water manes for example, we have six or so miles of transite water manes which were came along with the district and we have two or three miles of uh uh ductal iron. Now they you can't get a hard figure and that's understandable for how long they're going to last. The projections are up to 100 years. We've already got 70 on the College Park mains and we got 60 on the Bendon Avenue mains. So we can anticipate in the next 15 20 years significant expense for either patching or maybe replacing certain parts of the mains. The number I have dollar number is precoid so it's old but they were talking about a million dollars a mile for water manes. So big deal. Our days of coasting are over, but I think we still will be better off than most water districts.

Well, that's it for me. Question. H how often will you have to refurbish the inside of the old tank?

Again, we don't know. We've gotten 30 years out of this one. Okay. It's a new tank and we not 30, about 26. It came on in ' 89, so we've gotten about 26 years now. and it's been inspected and it's pretty good shape. Can we expect that uh good with refurbishing an older tank and repainting it? I don't know. Nobody knows. So, but we're planning we're hoping to get at least 15 years and with a little good paints this the way uh they they they hold up now and doing a good job with good inspections during the painting. Uh, we can maybe I would hope 20 years.

Could So could you put a new tank up and sell your used one? Sure.

In fact, there there are advantages to a new tank because we could continue to use the old one until the new one is ready to go. With this current uh the plan to refurbish the old tank, we will need a uh a standby tank, ground level tank somewhere to provide pressure while the old tank is being repainted because it has to be emptied and it'll be empty for about a month. But the village did that recently. U more public uh uh com comments during the public hearing. Kenny.

Oh. Uh do you know what the barge usage is opposed to the residents? Yeah, it's low now. In fact, they only use it occasionally now when they have to shut down their system to do some maintenance. So, it's relatively low. I don't know whether it's monthly or couple months. doesn't matter. Uh they I what's the numbers? Well, like in the course of a year.

Oh, in the course of a year. No, I don't know that number either because it's a set of, you know, incidental usages. If they put the whole their total usage, I think is about 200,000 gallons a day. Okay. It's it's less than 10%. Okay. Or came to us because they were in trouble. Yeah. With the public service commission and the health department because their system was inadequate. I agree.

Okay. You know that. I know that. And they came and it was only through the laress of the town in agreeing to increase the size of the tank that we solved their problem for a minimum amount of money. Well, a half a million. It would have been a lot more for bar to solve its own problem. I agree. And I certainly think Barb should step up to 50% of any increase because we're still solving their problem for them. Okay.

Okay. And I and I listen, you have done just a marvelous job. God, I'm I didn't believe it when you stood up that you were still in this business, but thank God, brother, cuz you've done a marvelous job running this system. But um uh to be honest, the board really should step up to the plate because we solved their problem and continue to solve

and there's an agreement in place but it may have expired kind of by now 30 years or so. But anyway, there was no provision in that agreement for barred to contribute to any maintenance of this tank. that's got to be fixed in a new agreement which they'll be doing as we, you know, enter this new arrangement. But the current agreement does not require them to contribute anything for maintenance. Well, then shut them off. Well, the main is right there behind the tank.

All you got to do is turn it off and Bard will then understand what's going on. Now you know you got to play a little hard ball with Bard. I'll give you another example. The only reason we have a ladder truck in the town is because of Bard. We have to have a ladder truck in our fire department because of Bard's uh buildings. We went to Bard and they said, "Well, we respectfully declined to pay anything towards the ladder truck." Now, this is not right.

No, it isn't. Now, I realize BART is one of our probably the largest employer in the town, but still they should be willing to step up on this reconstruction and I I really I really feel strongly about that and you should talk to Leon about it.

Thank Thank you, Albert. I just want to remind everybody three minutes for public hearings, but also if you'd be kind enough to say your name because we need to have your name in public hearings for the record. and Mingler Albert Treza uh Roxan Fiser if folks issued more with public hearing on water rates. Right now we're talking about the 5% increase. That's what the p subject matter of the public hearing is. Anybody else like to contribute on that on this? Okay. You sure? Going once, going twice. So Hanky will be back with us in the springtime when we have a better sense of

let's say I don't buy green bananas anymore. I'm going to be 95 next month. It's time for me to step aside. Okay. And I've told the board that uh I'm not sure when I will. But anyway, good to see you again, Al. Good seeing you. Thanks. Thanks very much. Terrific job. Um, hearing no other folks who want to speak up on this matter in the public hearing, I would entertain a motion to close the public hearing. Is there a second for that? Second. Any further discussion? If not, Bill, did you want to say anything?

No.

No. The only thing I'll say is as the liaison, I attend the board the water board meetings. I attend all the monthly mate uh you know water department meetings on the basic operations and I think everything that Hank said uh we have to take very seriously. Um the the bill is coming due. Um and we've been getting a really great rate on our water and you know it's either paid in the past for the past 25 years a higher rate like some of our other municip uh neighboring municipalities or we've gotten a real bargain on our water and now we're going to have to we're going to have to step up and pay. So I uh I'm confident the people on our water board, we have people who run water departments uh work for the county uh they feel strongly that the technology of the paints and the sealants that are used today uh are far superior than what they were before and in the past it was 8 to 10 years and now they're talking you know 15 maybe plus years. In addition uh we have the tank inspected like a scuba diver goes in. The big concern you have is corrosion of the steel and rusting. We have very little damage to the tank. So, uh, they feel the board, they're the experts, but they feel confident that we'll get a lot of life out of it for much less money than replacing the tank.

Okay. Jacob Bank. No. Um, yes, we were told we should expect at least 15 years as far as the borrowing is concerned cuz it was mentioned it's a 15-year PPU. So, we would have 15 years um to service that debt uh related to the rehab of the tank. And I thought that was an interesting question. It be it it'd be nice to know if there are if there's a market for used water tanks and and what that would go for. Scrap. Scrap. Just that's what we did with the old pneumatic tank. Yeah. We got 100 bucks. Yeah.

That doesn't sound so exciting now that I hear I like to sell it to another municipality though. But yeah, that's what Tim had to do with their tank. Yeah. Okay. Uh we need to keep moving because we've got I'm going to finish the vote. All in favor? I I Thank you very much. Okay. We're back to public comments. Uh folks, public comments. Lisa, if you'd be kind enough just to come up and and uh say your name for the record, please.

Lisa Polo, town of Red Hook. On September 9th, at the 28 minute 10second mark, Robert looked into that camera and said, "As far as the notion of starting an eminent domain, anything could be further from the truth." But the paper trail seems to refute that. On February 11th, this board voted unanimously to pass local law. And on February 21st, the Red Hook Boat Club through their attorney filed the article 78 lawsuit challenging the new law. And as per their invoice, town attorneys at Keen and Bean began reviewing and responding to the litigation on February 25th and 26th. Simultaneously, you contacted a law firm experienced in property acquisition in eminent domain. And on March 26th, following executive session, this board voted unanimously to have the supervisor sign a letter of engagement with the Hodgegson Russ Firm, which you did on March 27th. That letter thanking you for selecting their firm was dated March 19th, only 18 business days after the filing of the article 78. So, where is the documented outreach to the officers of the Go Club during those 18 days? The letter reads, "The scope of our initial engagement will be assistance with the acquisition of property from the Red Hook Boat Club and a potential eminent domain action. They were not retained to represent the town in the article 78 because Keen and Bean was already doing that." Now, that letter did not land on your desk unsolicited. So clearly there were communications with Hodgson Russ prior to March 19th within a month of passing local law 1 and I have submitted more than one foil request for those communications which are not privileged because you had not yet engaged but I haven't received anything. You signed that letter on March 27th and immediately following Hod

and Russ held conference calls with you and both club's attorneys on March 28th and 31st respectively as per their invoice. Your March call, March 28th call was invoiced as call with town supervisor on acquisition plans for the boat club. In a court filing on April 1st states that during the March 31st conference call, the boat club's attorney was informed that in conjunction with the resoning issue, the town also intends to acquire the boat club by eminent domain. And at the last meeting, you read us emails or messages from May, but clearly the eminent domain plan was put into action well before that. and we'd be very interested to hear the emails between February 22nd and March 19th. There's a popular quote, never let the truth get in the way of a good story. And you spin quite a story. Equally frustrating is that none of the rest of you step in to correct or clarify. You all know what transpired and when, and you all know when this plan was put into motion. You didn't need to spend hours researching or filing foil requests to get to the truth. Your silence signifies complicity and betrays your obligations to those who were elected you to those you were elected to represent.

Thank you, Lisa. Would anybody else like to make some comment? And again, just as a reminder, three minutes, please. Yes. Thank you, Rox.

Sure. Roxan Fisher, Barry Town, New York. Okay. So, I'm also outraged and disappointed by the falsehoods in your statement on September 9th. You entered into the public record after the speakers, which is unusual. And I'm here to request truth and also to correct one of my errors. You claim the boat club's refusal of a public private partnership forced eminent domain by reading that May 2nd attorney client email blaming the club. Lisa has given the exact timeline for your proceedings. Please stop this myth. You've told me and others that acquisition was the only basis for a partnership. Even this week, you called quote acquisition speculative in the Daily Catch. So, Judge Rose's August 15th ruling striking down local one on many points confirms your intent was always acquisition. Consider a true partnership without ownership. You stated that the town authorized an appeal of Judge Rose's re ruling. As of September 23rd, no public record shows an appeal filed within the 30-day window. Just as you told the Daily Catch, authorization doesn't mean action. If no appeal was filed, please tell Red Hook's si citizens your next steps. Are you resubmitting local law number one? Are you commissioning independent environmental studies? And as a correction to my previous statement, the records on the town's website after the May 16th public meeting document 916 unique names from letters, statements, petitions, and speakers, not just speakers, as I had

misstated. 80 846, by the way, or 93% opposed eminent domain for the boat club property. Please, Supervisor McKeon, it's your turn to clarify your cert your statements. Reject myth and embrace honest dialogue now for a public partnership and private partnership. Thank you. Thank you, Ron. Senator, if you come a little closer to the microphone. I'm coming. Yeah, no worries. Okay. Can you hear me now? We can don't forget to say your name for the record, please. Roland Page.

Thank you.

Prior administrations did not act when private hover riverfront property came in on the open market. There was no need to for additional waterfront land. Your administration has not identified a true need for riverfront. Eminent domain without identified public need is likely to fail. If justice prevails as you've failed with bar dealing with bar college, I believe you will fail with the eminent with the appellet division of New York state courts. Providing access for 11,000 residents without a plan questions your capability and your capacity to function as a super. I documented the deficiencies found in the environmental assessments and presented my findings to the town board and to the planning board. This sloppy work is typical of your leadership style. It's my way or the highway. No discussion, no correction of any deficiencies. It's very obvious. In my first review of the environmental assessment, I concluded the words to the effect, sloppy work makes good court exhibits. Mr. Supervisor, you are quoted in the daily catch. I am determined to do my very best for this community. I feel like I feel my role is to help assist in the bringing of consensus. Mr. Supervisor, you have not fostered an environment conducive to productive discussions.

You you've been my aware of the highway stuck on town ownership for the 2.37 acres of boat club land due to your ego. An analogy of prisoner convicted to the death penalty brings being given a choice of of injection or firing squad comes to mind. Thank you. I appreciate Mr. Supervisor.

You have failed again. The LWRP at V165 supervisor the town of Red Hook and the town board will be responsible for over overall management and coordination of the LWRP. You can be objective you how can you be objectively with a clear conscience serve as a and impartial official while a project under discussion is your baby. Thank you, Ron.

Exercising good judgment before the project reached this point would result in a recusal by the town board and referral to the Secretary of State for determination of the correct manner to proceed to the for an independent and objective review of the project pursuant to the LWRP. Roland, I'm sorry, but your time is up now. Did you want to submit the rest in writing? I can do that. Okay. I appreciate that and I thank you for coming and sharing your thoughts. I'm sure you don't appreciate them. No, it's Thank you.

I do appreciate you coming and sharing your thoughts. We have time for one or two more speakers and then we're going to go on with our agenda. Anybody else? Yes. I I have a question, Robert. Albert Tresa. Okay. We're taking we're taking comments. We're not doing a Q&A. I'm sorry. if you want to come up and just say your name and you would just I I understand that there's some uh discussion about uh redoing the zoning law again and I'd like to know if that's true. Okay. Um I can't answer that question for you now. Why not? I can't answer that question for you now. Okay. Cuz I don't have I don't have the answer for you. Yeah. Well, we'll find out. Okay.

Just keep us notified, Robert.

Yes. you you can get all the notifications if you sign up on the website for notify me something we instituted years ago here. Okay. Um no more public uh comments. Let's move on to our agenda please if we would. Um I did want to say there were some uh try to tackle a couple of these things that remarks that were made. um public private partnership. Uh once again we'll reiterate for the public. We were told by the B club who approach us with a director that we would have a meeting that never came to pass. Um we can only develop a public private partnership if we actually meet to discuss that. We've had only one meeting. Um once again we're committed uh to try and make something work for everybody, the boat club, the general public. Um, it is not the mission of this town board to get public access to the Hudson River. It is the mission of many town boards previous to us. It's dates all the way back to the 1960s, the 1990s. All of those plans call for locating a public park in Barry Town along the Hudson River. We have in our quest to try and get more informed about all the parcels along the riverfront discovered many things including that the village of Tivoli will never have a public park because of environmental reasons and they don't have a legal crossing over the tracks and so uh we are left with this as the only location which was also concurred by a boat club uh director and other members as feasible to have the public. As far as discussions about what that public private partnership would look like, that can only happen if there are discussions. There are constant uh

outreaches from the town to the B club leadership to have meetings without conditions placed on anybody for those meetings so that we can discuss something and hopefully come to um an agreement that works for everybody, which is uh the goal that we also share. Okay, we're going to move right on to our first item in the agenda and that is for water district rates. Um, any questions board members about that 5% increase that's proposed? Obviously, it's rather minor as it compares to the next year's discussion. Any questions folks? Okay. So, we do have resolution number

62 62 50 62 62 62

uh app proven water rates and charges for water district number one. Um we did mention what the rate would go up to for a minimum. And by the way, we we spoke about the controllers's office. There's a report saying the average municipality spends out of the controllers's office about $1,100. Water user $1,100 a year. Uh sewer is something like $600. Um but there's also a tap fee. Did you want to say something quickly about that?

Tapping fee. Yes. Um, if you have property in the water district which is currently not connected into the district and you have to tap the water man to get your service, there is a tapping fee and I forget just what it is now. $1,000 2,000 something,000. Um, service connection charge is a,000. It's right behind you, Hank. Don't turn around. else have been service restorations 100 and unauthorized hydrant use is 100. Those are low. Those are low.

But we we haven't had the situations come up so we haven't been too concerned about it. Okay. Um moving right along. Any further discussion on this topic? No, Jacob, you're all set. Resolution number 62 to approve uh water rates and charges for water districts number one. Who wants to move that? I will move that. Why did I? Okay. Uh second by anybody? Second. Thank you, Jacob. Um further discussion hearing none. All in favor? I Bill I I Jacob I

Okay. Um Next up is the Thank you, Hank. Thank you very much, Hank. Get home safely. Did you bottle some of this water on the way over on? Uh, I funnel it directly into the wells. What about What about our giant rain barrel? That really is what a water tank is at the end of the day. Well, that or the wealth. I'm not sure which. Okay. I think we're I think we're better off with the I think we're all glad to get some rain. Okay. Have a good night. Thank you.

Um, all right. We've got uh the amended purchasing and procurement policy. Jacob, thank you for incorporating that language into it. Uh, for folks at home, New York State has allowed us to deviate ever so slightly um when uh we can purchase something that has environmental benefits up uh to a 10% uh adder. And so uh we've incorporated that into our policy and obviously we will use that um or endeavor to use that provision um carefully when it's justified um where the environmental benefits are is significant. Any questions about um the changes to update the amounts for quotes and formal bids. And there is that language from the law which was passed a couple years ago. Anything Julia Obama?

All good. Will you last covered it pretty well last meeting? Thank you, Jacob. All right. I appreciate the draft. Resolution 63. Jacob, you want to move this? Sure. Um, I move resolution 63, uh, approving a purchasing procurement policy. Who would like to second? I'll second. Thank you, Bill. Further discussion? If not, all in favor? I thank you very much.

And then we have the application to join the green purchasing community, right? Mr. Greenman Y, which we just need a signature from you, Robert, too. Yeah. So, whenever that's right, we can move forward with that. Yeah. Well, Ann and I will work on it tomorrow. I'll try to come up with that estimate. And that doesn't need further board action. Just sign it.

Okay. Uh there's the application. Um all right. So, uh next item is county textile recycling program. Now, this is something I'm familiar with. Um my wife goes to these bins on the property on farm at Ozone. They've had these. And for the folks at home, what this textile recycling program does, uh, the company's called Helps Save, and they will take clothing, fabric, um, that's not in good condition, and they will reuse um, reuse those items as opposed to them ending up in a landfill. and the county uh once again sort of following Red Hook's lead. Um as you know we've done food waste recycling and the county started a food waste uh grant program there. Here here we go again. And actually, this was a private um u situation that led um in this endeavor. And um what the county is asking whether or not we as a municipality want to join in and do either or both have a box or two at recycling or have a direct pickup from households where you make appointments. Um which I thought was kind of interesting. I'm not sure how financially that works out to be worthwhile, but it sounds great. Um, any any thoughts on on this, Julia, Jacob?

Um, can you explain seems like there is not a cost to the like how does it how does the financial model work?

I think the model that helps ends up selling the material that it collects. So, as you see, they pay the and I have it on the screen here. They pay participating municipalities $40 a ton for all salailable textiles collected and um from home pickup programs and 140 uh collected from the bins. Obviously, that's a uh volumetric uh calculation there, not to exceed $1,500 annually. So they on the resale of the reuse of the goods collect. It's kind of a thrift store model if you will, right?

Well, that's the question I have is we have bins at the town recycling center from selfarming Goodwill. I think we do. Um would those then go away?

No, we could keep those. And um TJ says we have room for the helps ones or twos um to go alongside that and then people can choose where they want to put their goods. The idea with the Salvation Army is that those goods should typically be in decent shape because they're for you know being reused in their current form. The helps stuff is for uh textiles that are not necessarily in good shape. I mean, it seems like a great addition to the recycling center at least. I think it'd be good to consider that alongside everything else we've done to try to capture things and divert them from landfill. I think this is a great opportunity to do something.

I know for me like if I'm getting rid of shoes or something like that, I'm always like it feels wrong to throw it away, so I just like hang on to them. So having something that I know is going to recover those materials would be really great. And if it's free, it's help divert things. exciting that it's something that I would love to join.

Yeah. And anecdotally, I can tell you my wife is constantly driving by seeing that it's that box is full of Craig Farm and so and has to come back, you know, for when it's empty. So, it's obviously a popular activity for people in our community. So, are we interested in one or both of these?

I mean, I'm not sure I see the I don't think there would be nearly as much use of the home pickup option. um feels like the kind of thing as Jacob described that you would do along with you know your other waste disposal at the recycling center but it doesn't seem like there's any harm in opting to providing it an option we find out that people really like it or nobody's using it but if they have as an option I think if it's no additional cost there's no reason to not do it I agree I think there's no harm I mean maybe it may be something for like estates or something like that yeah well also folks folks who maybe aren't as mobile. Exactly.

Right. We do this with our e-waste or we did for many years where if they called up in advance, we would drive to their house and pick up those very heavy TVs that they had. Um I would be in favor of both. Yeah. The only thing I would say is I would hope that the county has coordinated with Salvation Army, Goodwill, and the others so that when things get put into those bins that don't meet their standards for reselling that it's going to go to this program

rather than a landfill. And you know, I mean, obviously they would have the answer about whether they do that, but it might be good to check in with them. So maybe some signage. You could talk to TJ about signage at the recycling center. good condition. They're clear, right? I'd be curious whether the county has any like marketing materials to promote the program. It'd be good to be able to have something to send out to households or to post at the recycling center. Yeah. If they have anything made up, I mean, if they're doing it throughout the county, I'd imagine they have Well, they they're starting. Yeah. Yeah. Right. So, I don't know how much they get when they get going. Yeah. Do you need a motion on this?

Yes. I do. Sure. I I would motion to uh join this program both for posting a um container at the recycling center and to opt into the curbside textile collection program as well. Second. Further discussion. All in favor? I thank you very much.

Okay. move them. Got a couple uh change orders for St. Margaret's. Both of them were anticipated. Um we spoke about many months ago on the doors. Uh we needed to have um we need to pause on the the door construction and the openers until we knew exactly what that equipment looked like. Um that's all set. The uh Stanley for store operator and then when they were doing some of the drainage and doing the uh earth works there for the parking lot um they made a recommendation that we um place some top soil to try to minimize the slope off of the back there. If you're familiar with the property, there's quite a drop off there um for maintenance and for safety reasons. So, those are the two change orders. Any questions? There's detail there and there's a recommendation for the warranty. Okay. Um, ADA accessibility, St. Margaret's change orders. Okay. Any further discussion? We have a resolution 64. Are we on 64, Dan?

Yes. Okay. Authorizing change order for St. markets accessibility improvements contract amount two change orders one for 9650 one for 9500 and I move is there a second second hurry uh further discussion if not all in favor

all thank you very much okay moving right along to reor for a couple things we will do tonight. A couple we'll just reference. Um, oh, by the way, here are the budget adjustments. Can I also get a motion to approve these budget adjustments, please? Um, for uh one was a request by Highway Superb to transfer uh 12,000 from SAND. She feels very well stocked up for this year to patch. She's got more patching to do. Um there's that and also these two change order budget adjustments. Can we simultaneously have a motion for those please to approve them?

So oh this is highway. I guess Bill's looking to you Julia wants a second. Okay. Uh all in favor of these budget adjustments. Thanks very much.

Okay. Um we have uh recommendation from the planning board chair. Um we have an applicant. We have at the moment the one vacancy on the planning board uh Nancy Low Hogan. Um he's got a very extensive uh background having been on the planning board and uh representing the bar association in another county u working for universities um in in the county legislature planning board. Town board and recommended by uh felon chair. Now we only have where is our list? There's the list. Let's go. I think the one we have is for the period ending 2030 if I'm not mistaken. Yeah,

these are uh 7-year appointments.

So, that's the spot we have right now.

Any questions? No, I thought she qualified.

All right. Um, at this time, I'd like to make a motion that we appoint Nancy Low Hogan to the planning board for a 7-year term, filling the vacancy ending in 2030. And I moved. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Bill. Further discussion. All in favor? I.

Okay. Um, we did have an expression of interest for the energy committee and I think uh the chair and the applicant Robinson Brad um will be talking and we'll get back to that one at our next meeting. Did we finish? They had a third one. This one.

Oh, right. Our Panda representative, right? That's right. It's not one of our committees. Uh Panda Panda um also has a board and has a uh municipal representative and the Red Hook representative has been for the last decade. Marian Harvey and she's uh sent a very nice note grateful for uh the time she spent both with Panda and uh liazing with the town of Reub. Um but she uh wishes to retire from that position and there is a recommendation to appoint Caroline who has a lot of professional production experience and is a fairly recent Red res.

We have a lot of folks in this community have worked professionally in television in this type of capacity, film as well. Looks like a good fit. And um while we're talking about Panda, um Danielle Maloney, who's been the executive director for many years, looks like is moving on or literally moving out of the area and uh she's been with Panda for a very long time and we want to wish her well and thank her for all of her good work over the years um and nothing but the best. So, um it looks like they have uh a replacement, Suzanne Fagel, who is also a fairly recent uh although not that recent uh resident of Red Hook, who also has professional uh production experience. We'll be taking over those ranks. So, welcome, Suzan. All right, I think that's all we have for reorg. Um, why don't we do some excuse my scrolling some committee and department reports. Um, the assessor has been preparing uh for upcoming SCAR hearings for 2025. They've received 72 applications. um we had a 9% trend and for the folks at home what we've been doing over the last several years is what the state requires from us in order to maintain 100% equalization everybody's property depending upon what type of property residential commercial as a trending percentage in order to uh

keep it if you will even Steven um and so the last trend we had was 9% um what we are seeing in this region um perhaps different than in other places in the country is that it seems to be um prices continue to creep creep up. Um affordability continues to be a challenge. Um, you heard us talk about accessibility in terms of uh folks with physical challenges, but really what you know, I hope you'll be hearing more from us in the upcoming couple of months is accessibility based upon income. We talk about that we live in a community that if you want to access uh the the waterfront, if you want to access the Red Hook pool, if you want to play soccer uh with the Red Hook Soccer Club, you need to be a member, you need to um have um some means in order to do that. Um with escalating prices and certainly the increase in mortgage rates that uh we've seen over the last several years um this community is um moving very far away from many folks uh to uh be able to move here or have their children stay and buy a home here. Um so we'll see what the trending is for next year. Um we talked about uh the assessor talks about some of the petitions in article 7s um and working on next year's uh um equalization rate and resales. Um the most recent list of sales from Duchess County was for August 2025

sales, the highest coming in at $800,000 for a multi-use building. And in the town, there were 11 arms length sales. The highest was $1.4 million for a new single family home. Uh for the folks at home administratively, if you feel like this keeps changing, um you are not mistaken. New York State Tax and Finance has changed how uh you file uh for enhanced star. Um, the assessor's office can no longer accept any applications from the homeowner. They must contact the state directly. It does make sense. They're the ones who have your income data. Um, the number to call, and we'll put this up on the website as well, is here for you all to see. And there's a threshold. In order to qualify for enhanced STAR, you must have uh an income below 51,400 and then you can continue to apply for the assessor's office for renewal. Um and that is from uh Cheryl Kesler, our assessor. Our next report is building

um the assessor. Yeah, I'm aware that thank you. Um building and zoning the building on so do it.

Um they've been busy but not as busy as some of the earlier summer months. But they issued 50 permits. They conducted 95 inspections. They issued 26 certificates of occupancy or completion. They did receive three complaints and they generated $9,89 in revenue when it's permitting fees. Um, and want to thank Steve Cole who's not left, but uh we we've been down a person in the building department and um they really picked up the slack uh during that absence. and Jackie and Jackie

and Jackie and uh we're happy to have Brandon back and uh this is for a portion of the month. Um just to to preview for next year, you know, we should see a slowdown in that department based upon tradition is looking to wrap up their um building. We are only a few foundations away from completing and then sign offs uh perhaps in the summertime and Bard College which was building dorms and another performance space um you know that work is getting done. So

very good. And here's a breakdown a chart of of some of the types of activities and fees associated. All right, Julia.

Yes. So, the comprehensive plan committee, and this is a communication that went out um on the notify me system to anybody who is enrolled for updates about the comprehensive plan. If you would like to stay a breast of what's going on with the plan, um feel free to enroll yourself and be glad to keep in touch with you. So, the um comprehensive plan steering committee has been meeting since May uh monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Uh our consultants are Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, Face Land Use Law Center. And um after being out in the public at Apple Blossom doing some initial engagement, um we went a little bit behind the scenes through the summer um so that the steering committee could really get up to speed on the comprehensive planning process, uh local demographic and socioeconomic trends and sort of the existing documents that are guiding the town, um as well as smart growth planning principles. So um this baseline information was important for everybody to be on the same page about as we went into the planning process. And then we also have been working on developing a community engagement plan. Um the committee I would say unanimously is very committed to a comprehensive and inclusive public engagement process. Um and so that has begun. Uh we were at Apple Blossom Day last weekend. Talked to a lot of folks which was great. It was a beautiful day. Uh and as I mentioned earlier, our first public workshop will be on Tuesday, October 21st, uh 7 to 9:00 p.m. at the route of high school in the cafeteria. It will be interactive small groupoup conversation around long-term vision for the town. Uh registration is not required, but is strongly encouraged. It will help us have a a sense of how many people will be in the room um and communicate with people in advance. Um children are welcome. Uh there's no specific child care provided but it is a child-friendly event and there will be Spanish language interpretation. Um we also uh have another engagement cool tool called kitchen table conversations which are really just a way to have a sort of a more informal conversation um in your community with

your neighbors. Uh members of the steering committee have been sort of oriented to how to lead one of those um as well as some other volunteers for the process. you think you might be interested in hosting one in your community, uh you can reach out to me or another member of the steering committee and we can help you get set up to do that. Thank you. Thank you.

Um there's a real my way or the highway with the highway department. What uh what do we have for this month's highway department? Um so there's a number of updates to projects and a few other things that Teresa has shared in the report for this month. Um the first is the Stockhill bridge replacement um happening um on Aspenwall Road. Um the water department's been working on a shut off on as Aspenol Road to facilitate the project. Um the point of contact with the project is changing as well expecting to go out of bid by this fall. In Forest Park, the highway department's completed uh the initial work on the shading drainage project. Multiple catch basins. Several lengths of drainage pipe have been installed. Minimal disturbance to the bordering homers properties, which is good. Um, road cuts been filled with asphalt binder and then we're going to let it settle over the winter and then do the final top course of asphalt in next year's paving season. So, that project should be complete next year. Um, as trail crosswalk and signs, trail committees directed sign traffic control plan for aspenol road. Um Teresa recommended the plan be reviewed by the engineers for safety improve use of signs and markings which feels a good idea. Um for the Brian grant highway department met with the vendor to discuss the equipment necessary um preliminary estimates for the mixing storage and application process. We're going to need to store this um in a shed at least to start we have a alternative um and then um we're going to wait for guidance from Brandy for next steps. Um, a Colorado Rouso and Suns resurface Jefferson Adams and Woods roads with asphalt. The highway department crew provide traffic control for the project. So, I think they're pretty for that.

Um, the next one is a um purchasing note. So, previously Teresa proposed purchasing a combination body truck for tree tree work chip chip truck. Um, and then for a few other things um she's suggesting a change here um to look for a dedicated chip truck for this year's purchase. the cost will be lower because of that because it's not going to have the multiple bodies. So, um she's suggesting purchasing the chip truck at a lower price and then also purchasing an additional vehicle electric van within the same budget. Um she's going to provide a quote and specifications as soon as we receive them from the vendor. Um expected to be a New York State OS contract purchase. Um and then she notes that we're going to need to replace a plow truck next year and she's going to propose a combination body truck be that instead of this year's purchase. So, um, she's linked to the other proposed truck in the letter. Um, that truck would have the Brian tank as one of the interchangeable parts. So, we wouldn't be able to do that until later. Um, and then she has a note about electric vehicle incentives. So, um, looking at electric options for the utility van and pickup truck purchases. Um, and she notes that the effectiveness and efficiency of heavy duty electric vehicles for use in emergency response situations is being evaluated. Um, so she says that she's going to be pricing traditional fuel vehicles for heavy equipment and noting that there will be um fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, enhanced enhanced safety features for replacing 15-year-old engines with newer models. Um, so I don't know if we're going to want to have a conversation about what that looks like, but I appreciate her sharing the thought process behind that here.

So that's the program that truck I sent her that information. It's truck voucher incentive program. Yeah. And you know, typically they they had you scrapping a vehicle, a dirty vehicle, if you will, or for or the clean one. Um, you know, let's take a look at that when they come in, but see what we can do. I'm inclined to to go with the electric if we have an option. You know, I think these Yeah, we'll have to evaluate what what exists now as opposed to what may be coming down the road in a few years in terms of what what actually works.

Um, and then she noted that the highway staff department completed AED CPR refresher course on uh September 9th. So that happens every two years. So appreciate them getting that training done. So thanks to Theresa and the crew for everything they do. Yeah. And especially for the Forest Park project that was a retrofit that you know uh most folks were desperate to to get some relief from drainage. It's uh sad to say it's probably not the only retrofit we'll have to do. Um it's a good start. It's a good start. Exactly.

Okay. Uh, so many thanks to the highway department. Um, as we Italians say, politia bill.

All right. Uh, August was a busy month. Um, in the packet they only gave us the even pages. I'm hoping hoping that what can put up was had them all. the original draft did, but um they responded to 141 calls uh here and then another 16 toy because they does their uh is their contract. Okay, good. So, the package has all the all the pages. They issued uh 16 um traffic summones, no violations, no parking tickets, and two arrests. Um each of the categories is self-explanatory. um and uh goes through the various types of calls that they go on um to include a great community service welfare checks. There is uh it's always at the end and I will say this at every meeting uh where I do this. The welfare check is if you have a loved one that you can't reach, you call the police. even if you live in another state, they'll contact our police and they'll go and see if the person is okay. And they've saved a few lives of people who were found unconscious and probably weren't going to survive had they not broken in and and saved their lives. So, it's an important public service that people um don't really recognize, but that's what 911 is for. And uh I utilized it once for another state. All police departments in the United States perform this service. Uh it's part of what they do and I'm I'm proud of our police department for uh for the work that they do.

Uh Christina is not here to do uh the rec commission report. Um I can briefly summarize um they're caught up on Rec Park West and Rec Park East. Well, that's a quick summary. Um the recreation park field scheduling. Uh they talk about um the various teams and leagues. Uh flag football is now being done on the west side of of London Avenue and um they've roasted off and they put up flags as well. Uh talking about some maintenance issues with the tractor. Um they've got a good handle now on the trails fence line over at Cookingham. Um the pickle ball club starts in September and um we are going to remove the nets in the winter time, but the winter is getting more and more delayed each year it seems. We'll see how this winter turns out. Um, we did put some more bean clay down um on uh one of the fields, the softball field in the west. Um, just had some grooming and we're looking at some alternates uh with the purchase of playground safety fiber. Tom Gilbert Memorial Bench. I've already mentioned the men's basketball league at Wreck Park Court um has concluded and um this is now the 350th year that Kevin Mal has um run that league. It's a real uh tribute to his volunteerism and

we thank him for all of that. Um we spoke about uh the Eagle Scout project and that's referenced here in their report. Um, reminder to folks, we do have a public Wi-Fi at Rick Park East once in a while. It needs a little attention and uh, but for the most part, it's been quite uh, reliable. The folks playing pickle ball would like to see if there's a way we can provide them some shade during the summertime and so uh, they're looking at that as well. groundskeepers and they did some work along the saw hill. You know, we have that uh trail that goes behind Apple Ring and so um they uh pulled some trees and limbs out of the stream itself. And we got another grant um for next year. Gators, maintenance stuff. I think that's pretty much it. There's a softball tournament uh coming up in October the 17th, 18, 19th, the Tom Gilbert Memorial Tournament with rain dates for the next weekend. Um and there'll be no uh softball field for open play for that weekend. And that's all for recreation for now. Um tree will speed up for the trees.

I'll read the report. Okay.

Um so Kathy actually included she typically starts the meetings with a quote about trees and the one for this month was he that plants trees loves others beside himself. Um so I kind of like that she included that in the report. Um a few notes of discussion from the meeting. Um 14 trees have been ordered for the fall planting planting sites to include Pitcher Lane, Buds Burner Road, Bre Park West, Aspen Mall Road, and Walesback Road. So, the number of locations for those trees, um, the tree inventory project continues to move forward. The next scheduled field trip will be September 27th, so this weekend, I think. Um, an updated and expanded planting proposal for Rec Park West has been approved, including the removal of one dead tree and the planting of several more several more. Um, and then a note that the Genko trees are planted at Mill Road School several years years ago have sustained some damage, most likely from string trimmers and mowers.

Um, so the committee has reached out to the school. It's going to put new protective wraps and cedar mulch around the trees in an attempt to prevent further damage and hopefully the trees will recover. That's it for that. Thank you very much, Jacob. Um, we talked a lot about water, Bill, but do you want to give us a couple of highlights from the monthly report?

Sure. Um, I think I mentioned last month, uh, well number two has been functioning wonderfully, but well number one, uh, apparently is not producing as much water as it normally does. Um, and they believe it's a probably a piece of equipment or two, not necessarily the well itself. U, but it's going to be rehabbed. Um, one of the things that Hank talked about was the reserves. uh part of their reserves is for sort of issues related to this. Um and so there are some like a well a new well pump or a rehab. These things cost in the low five figures um to do and they get done they were last rehabbed three years ago I think both the wells um and there are reasons uh that uh from sediment and other things that get stuck inside the well considering the amount of water that they pump. So, um, we're working on that. But the water itself, the testing, if you go to the next page, I mean, our our water is fabulous. Never had any problems with it whatsoever. And, uh, the rest of it is issues like supplies like filters and things that and then maintenance things that have to be done. So, for example, the number six on the other what the water had to be turned off uh over a manner for a short period of time when they were having to repair a uh dig up a valve and replace it. But, um you know, many as Hank said, some of these systems are old and um they're going to be having to be repaired. So, that's what's in store.

Okay. Well, we want to delve right into the ZBA report. There was just one uh ZBA applicant from the last meeting was there was no meeting in September. Uh it'll be next one is in October and it was Robert Burke who was in Barry Town or right on on the corner of River Road and uh and Barry Town Road has put in put in an application to raise the roof I think and increase the size of the barn. So that's before the ZBA

and as far as is that the last I think that's the last committee or department report and then we had uh just some correspondence on a boil boil water notice for not uh the town district but for a privately owned system at Mountain View mobile estates we were sent correspondence they all have been sent is there date for that boil water notice or is it still ongoing because this was from September 7th I I I I don't

I don't know if it's over or not. Um typically they notify the homeowners um and then let us know. So we didn't receive this until a good week after uh the boil was issued. So I don't know, but that's a good question to follow on that.

Okay, folks. Um, that concludes what we have for tonight's agenda. I want to thank you all for coming out and uh wish you safe travels back home uh during the rain and uh we'll see you back here. Our next regularly scheduled meeting is October 14th. We will have some additional meetings in October because it's budget season and so um you'll get a sense of what that budget's like. um at the beginning of the month. So, we may have some meetings in between and of course uh you'll find out if you sign up for notifications. And I want to thank you all again for coming tonight. At this time, I'd like to make a motion that we go into attorney client session. Is there a second?

Second. All in favor? I. Thank you all again for funding. Good night.