(1) Town Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, good evening folks. I want to welcome you to the Red Hook Town Board meeting of Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Would you be kind enough to join me in the pledge of allegiance, please? I pledge algiance 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. Thank you all very much.

Uh tonight we want to welcome uh Panda has their new executive director with us, Suzanne Fagel. Suzanne, thank you very much for joining us. Hudson, our camera operator, uh, soon to be departing, and Caleb, who is starting tonight, uh, for the first time. So, welcome to you all as well. Uh, we are going to start out as we normally do, asking you to pan the camera over to the big screen so we can uh, very briefly describe for the folks at home what's on tonight's agenda. and you can decide uh how long you want to hang on with us if you're watching from home. So uh we have because it's the first meeting of the month, we have the supervisor's report. It's a snapshot uh at a given moment of what the town's finances are and this is for the month ending September 30th. We also have the clerk's report. Uh a few brief announcements. We'll take public comments for 15 minutes as we always do. As you can tell from our lengthy agenda, we're going to be here very late tonight. Uh budget highlights. Uh just two pages. Uh we're in the beginning of budget season and I prepared the uh t tentative uh 2026 budget and I'll just speak very briefly on that because we'll do a bigger presentation once it's in its preliminary phase. Um we are a brief discussion about a new uh program uh state program funded through the county um septic system replacement fund program that's uh for individuals who own uh septics that are near the salt hill or other uh significant water bodies. There is some funding to help assist in the replacement of them. Uh we

have a a resolution authorizing the award. If you've been watching the last several meetings, uh we have a grantf funded program to identify uh all of the natural resources inventory uh here in town. We uh went out to bid, had several submissions on consultants. We'll be uh discussing and perhaps uh choosing a consultant tonight. Uh we have uh our highway superintendent, Terresa Burke, is with us tonight. um annual awarding of bids. We go out to bid for materials uh before each winter so that we can uh solicit many bids and get the best pricing uh for you the taxpayer. We are uh reintroducing local law one as two local laws. Uh let me start with a local law a rather it's an amendment to the community preservation fund. We are uh proposing to uh add two things to the community preservation fund plan. The first is a parcel of 28.4 acres what we commonly refer to as Wreck Park West. Um if you're familiar where that is there's a softball field. It's the entrance to the Sockill trails ultimately to be developed out with rectangular fields uh for soccer someday and other uh rectangular uh sports. Um the other thing we are adding to the plan is the language that is authorized in the law for us to uh pay down debt on existing uh preservation projects that are already completed. And by doing so, because we're now maintaining a balance of uh $3.6 million, by doing so, it frees up some monies that we can use for

other important things. We have fire companies and other uh departments that need additional funding. So, uh those are the two things. Now, uh somebody said, "Oh, you're including uh language boat club um using CPF monies to acquire the boat club." Folks, please don't believe what you agreed on social media. The Community Preservation Fund has very specific uses. It cannot be used for anything except a willing seller. So, if somebody convinced you otherwise, I'm sorry that that was the case. Um, there's very uh clear language uh about that uh in the law. So, those are the two things we're doing, adding the Wreck Park West so we can pay down the existing debt. And it also gives me an opportunity to remind folks if you haven't been here uh uh previously we talk about how the community sometimes is very agreeable with actions that are taking place and then there are sometimes when they are divided and you've probably heard me talk about the last time the community was quote unquote this divided on an issue was back in the day community preservation fund launched in 2007. And some of you have talked about the Bo Club and why don't we put it up to a public referendum? It's not eligible to be put up for a public referendum. But also to say to you that back in the day and timing is everything.

Timing is everything. When we introduced uh the community preservation fund that initiative with the local law, it had been worked on for about a year and a half and just as we're about to introduce it and put it to a public referendum. It's 2007 and the real estate market is declining and so it was not as wellreceived as it is today. By the way, by many municipalities, it's passed by overwhelming margins. that was put to public referendum passed by something like 33 votes. So, and it's been transformative. I see people here who have properties whether it's on West Curly Corners or other parts of town um who uh were willing sellers and a great example of public private partnership. One of the many that we have. we were able to protect those private properties with tax dollars that were paid by people coming into the community and buying the property. So, that's my uh update on community preservation fund. Just those two things are being added, the language to pay down the debt, which is allowed by law, and the one property wreck park west. Let's go to local law B and local law C. For the folks at home, in 2024, we introduced I think it was referred to as local law D of 2024, passed as local law 1 of 2025. By the time we had several public hearings and iterations, it was passed I think February 11th of 2025. Um there was a challenge to local law uh uh one while we uh we prevailed on most of uh the uh challenges. The court uh ascertained that perhaps we already knew

that we were going to uh acquire the boat club and therefore we should have included that in the environmental review of local law one. Of course we disagreed with that. We had no idea that we were moving forward without

we had not had public hearings or a vote on it until July. Uh we said at the time when the court came down with the decision that um in in order to uh consider any additional legal fees, we decided it might just be easier to introduce reintroduce the local law and consider the acquisition as part of the environmental review. And so we are doing that tonight. We are introducing local law B and local law C. We've split it out a little bit so that most of it's in local law B. Any issues related to um boat club or marina is in a separate law of local law C. And so we're introducing that tonight. Um number seven is a resolution regarding New York State building code update. Every several years uh the building code is updated. We have to recognize it here in our municipality as well. and uh we are going to do so tonight. The code will go into effect in January. Um we have the op we have the option or uh individuals applicants have the option of going under the old or the new code. Um I believe that we're waiting until January to impose the new code, but you should be aware of that um that there is a new building code. There's a summary sheet, sort of a cheat sheet of what the changes are, and this all comes down from the state. It's not something that we uh formulate ourselves. Uh we have a resolution to call a public hearing. If you've been watching the last several meetings, we have another exciting preservation project that protects water quality and will introduce trails to a different part of town, which is really nice on the souththeastern part. If you're familiar

with the Camp Rising Sun property, um that is uh the project that we're working on and we have a resolution to call a public hearing to get some input on that. It's already been referred to the community preservation fund uh advisory committee. Um we are uh very close to starting construction on the second community solar project. Um that is happening on the few acres that were mined nearly a century ago on Cookingham West. It is not on any of the active farmland. All of that has been permanently protected. And so the construction is about to begin next month. And so we are uh going to hire somebody to acquire the uh members and to manage them. If you were fortunate enough to join the first uh community solar which is located by the Red Hook Fire on the uh Red Hook Village, um you're doing really well. You're saving hundreds and hundreds of dollars each year. Unfortunately, for the way the uh energy pricing is this uh this time, you'll be looking at something like a 10% savings on what you would normally pay uh for um your electricity. Uh we have a couple of items for reorganization and we will not be awarding the community composting bid, but we will be discussing um the continuation of that under a different uh company name. Okay. Uh, with that being said, let's jump right into the supervisor's report. Uh, this is for the period ending September 30th. We started with an opening balance of 10,65,000,

receipts of 1.2 million, dispersements of 1.7. We end the month with ending balance of 9,562,000. uh board members for uh your information, the budget adjust adjustments that's prepared by Ann Conway, our bookkeeper are included as well and the monthly variance report. All of this information, folks, if you sign up on our web page, we've had for years, notify me. It'll all be sent to you the day before uh the meeting. and you can have it sent to you either by email or by text members. Any questions on the supervisor's report?

No. No. Okay. Is there a motion to accept? So moved. Second. Thank you, Jacob. Uh all in favor, William. Julia. So, very good. Diana, would you kindly uh give us the town clerk's report, please?

Town clerk's report. Um, September 2025, we had 232 um served at the window. We had 179 phone calls and we did 89 notaries, give or take. Um, the town clerk's report for the period of September 1st, 2025 to September 30th, 2025. Total local shares remitted, $8,252.80. Amount paid to New York State Agriculture and Markets for the Spay Neuter Program, $36. Amount paid to New York State Department of Health for marriage licenses, $180. Amount paid to New York State Environmental Conservation for Hunting and Fishing Licenses, $2,875.20. Total local total state, county, and local revenues $11,344. And um there are vouchers. I hereby certify that vouchers number 33853 to 34001 totaling 586,83462 processed in the month of September 2025 are an accurate reporting of the abstracts approved for payment by the town board.

Thank you very much. I noticed the uh hunting and fishing licenses. Is that up from last year? Um this is just that was just a very busy month because the um dope commits and most of the people are getting their hunting licenses in September. So it's it's sort of average the same as last year. Yeah. Any questions? Motion to accept the clerk's report. So moved. Thank you, Bill. Second. Second. Thank you, Julia. All in favor?

Very good. Okay. Um announcements. Uh so we want to remind everybody um now's now's the time. Now's the time to uh become involved in developing and shaping the community you want to have for the next 20 or 30 years. And in particular, what would you like to see in this community that doesn't currently exist? Um what types of places, what types of activities? And so the very first visioning workshop uh the update to the town's comprehensive plan, you often hear that our comprehensive plan is from 1993. That is actually true, but the comprehensive plan went through an extensive review back in the 2004 2011 time period. It's when the centers and green space initiative was launched and zoning was passed in order to match that. So it hasn't been really 32 years that people have been thinking about the big picture. It's been something in the neighborhood of uh 14 years or so. Nonetheless, we want to hear from you in particular about ideas of things that you would like in the community. The first visioning workshop is happening at the Red Hook High School Tuesday, October 21st. Um and registration

is open is encouraged. Yes. So is encouraged. Everyone is welcome. We will not be turning anybody away but it it's very helpful if you register in advance and we hope to see you all there.

Okay. Very good. Um, we have uh a memorial bench dedication to do Tom Gilbert who was very involved um with the softball. Um, and that is this Sunday, October 19th to 11:00 a.m. the bench just arrived today, as a matter of fact, and was installed. Um, and uh, it's a good opportunity to not only thank his family for all the time that he put into it, but to remind folks that small communities like ours really run on the energy of volunteers. And so, uh, we thank all of you who volunteer in whatever capacity that you are. Um, people need help with lots of things. Um, I can I can tell you you don't need me to tell you that. However, um Duchess County Community Action Agency and uh full disclosure, I sit on that board. Um we have a Red Hook location. It's um in order to assist people with lots of services that they might need. Everything from heating assistance to uh other federal programs. Um, one of the nice things they have is they have volunteer tax preparers who also uh come and help individuals who need uh that type of assistance. So, um there's opportunity to volunteer for that if you'd like. Okay. Um that's all I have for announcements. Um, I did get something from uh Duchess Tourism uh letting us know that both the Fisher Center and uh Tangent Theater

were nominated for they are finalists in the destination Duchess tourism awards of distinction in the accessibility and storytelling categories respectively. winners to be announced November 13th at a special breakfast at the FDR Library. So, congratulations to those organizations on being nominated. Okay. Uh, with that being said, we have time for 15 minutes of public comments. Who uh would like to make some public comments, please? Okay, Robert, I have several. Um, I had to make notes. He can go first. Al Tresa.

Thank you. Thank 77 West Curly Corners Road, Tilly, New York. First of all, I'd like to talk about this sign. This sign was out at the fork in the road and obviously been vandalized. And Robert, if those are your supporters, I'd like to know what kind of men or women support you. Haven't got the guts or the courage to come to the bowl club and tell us why they want to strip us of our title and glom on to everything we've done for the last 77 years. Okay, that's number one. And that's disgraceful. Disgraceful. The other thing, you lied to me, Robert. Last time I came here less than two weeks ago, I asked you, "Are you going to are you going to remend the zoning law?" I can't answer that. I asked, "What do you mean you can't answer?" I can't answer that. I can't answer that. You knew damn well you were preparing this. What kind of man are you? Stand up and say, "Yeah, I'm going to redo it." Have the courage to confront us. We're your damn constituents. Talk to us about it. Tell us you're going to do it. All right. Here you come with this nonsense. And on top of that, you notice and you've been working on this for weeks. Why didn't you put it on a town board uh uh meeting notice 24 hours in advance? You filed it at 8:10 last night. That that is totally wrong, you people. And what's the matter with the rest of you people? You're just as guilty of this. Don't you have the courage to stand up and tell me, Al, yeah, we're going to redo the zoning law. What are you, Pipe Piper? Is that the pipe piper? Are you following him down the street?

Stand up and speak for yourselves. Especially you, Willie the Moocher. And you, Jacob, you're the one behind all this crap and you know it. Stand up and speak for yourselves. Tell me you're going to do it instead of hiding behind Robert. I can't answer it. I can't answer it. Now, the other thing, the marina, Robert, I'm very glad you're doing that. I'm glad you're taking out Marinas because our civil rights lawsuit is predicated upon you damaging us by taking out Marinas. And we're the only property affected. Remember this, Robert. Punitive damages are not covered by insurance. And we are seeking punitive damages against one, two, three, four, and five.

And we're going to follow through. We'll try that case. Believe me, we will. Yeah. And the other thing, why do we have seven attorneys listed on the eminent do the main proceeding? Seven attorneys. Who's paying for these people? How much money have you spent? Have you answered the foil request? I don't know where Linda is tonight, but have you answered Linda's foil request as to what you're spending, what we spent today? How much money have you spent in legal fees on this eminent domain proceeding? Okay. And the other thing, thank you. Are you going to refer us to comments three minutes?

Let me finish. Robert, please let me finish. Don't be act like Woopy Goldberg. All right. The other thing is what what is what is going on? Are you going to refer this out to the planning board, your changes again, or you just going to declare another negative declaration? That's what I'd like to know. What are your plans? Why don't you people talk to us? You go into that room in executive session after these meetings and you figure out what you're going to do. You come out here and you rubber stamp everything. You know what the nickname for the town board is in the community? I didn't make it up. I wish I did. I'd love to take credit. It's called Bobby and the four bobbleheads. Go ahead.

You go ahead. Bobbleheads. Anybody else like to make some? Very good. Yeah. Um, good job. I I agree with Al that it really sucks when there's a 200 page agenda that shows up 24 hours, not even before a meeting because I like to read and see what is happening and I work during the day. So, you really made my day hard, and you've made a lot of my days hard, and I just want to let you know that isn't what I want my government to do for me is to make my days hard. Um, but

speak into the microphone. Oh, sorry. Anyway, um, uh, page 136 is page one of town of Red Hook Local Law B. And um then page 137 is page three and then it's page five. So we're missing page 2, four, and six. And it's the pages I really wanted to see. So

not only did I only get 24 hours, not even, but you're missing pages in this thing. So, I feel like whatever you're planning on doing tonight really needs to be postponed until the public, me particularly,

can see what those pages say. And I don't want it right this second because it's too late. Um, and um and I'm going to I'm going to agree with Al. Can we have a forum? Can we have a way of talking with you? because you say, "Robert, come and talk to me." Um, and I want to bring up the fact that I called you on the phone. I think it was in May. I said, "What are the procedure here?" And you said that there would be two or three meetings with the people of Barry Town. that the next step was going to be a public comment period meeting and that the next thing that happened was you were doing a procedural thing. Bill and and Christine were like, "Oh, no. This isn't a step. This is just procedural." But of course, it started the clock ticking. And so I had a conversation with you and when we were talking, I said, "Okay, I'm writing this down, Robert." You said, "Duh D." And these things haven't happened and we haven't we we didn't go through the steps you said and we haven't had two or three meetings with the people of Barry Town that was supposed to happen. So I'm really losing my trust in having a conversation with you Robert. So, I would like to have a forum where the board talks to the public and we can ask questions. We don't want to just read these documents. I I want to understand what's happening and I want to be able to ask questions and have those questions answered. Is there some way this can happen?

Gary, thank you very much for your thoughts. will take into account to give other people an opportunity to speak. Does other do other people want an answer to this question? I think I'm representing pretty much is there anyone in the room who doesn't think we should have a forum? Is there anyone in the room who doesn't think we should have a forum? I think and so so everyone in this room agrees with me. Okay. But you refuse to answer a question or speak to us as people. We're people. Okay.

Thank you, Carrie. I'm sorry, but I have to ask you to wrap up because we decorum. Robert, I am going to do your decorum. But I think that's how my role was instituted before my I understand that. However, you have an opportunity right now to say yes, let's have a public forum. You have an opportunity. Okay, I'm giving it to you right now. Thank you, Carrie. I appreciate your comments. You won't be on the line. Roxan, we've got time for two more two more folks.

Uh, good evening. My name is Roxan Fischer. Um this statement was made uh in haste because as everyone has commented it was very late to get this material. So if I kind of twisted a few things the gist of it remains as it is. Okay. Good evening to the board. I'm here as a followup to my previous statements to express ongoing outrage over the board's reckless misuse of taxpayer funds to pursue the eminent domain seizure of the Red Hook Boat Club, a project which is overwhelmingly opposed by our community. Despite court ordered settlement discussions ongoing now, the board is pushing forward with tonight's agenda. It introduces local laws A, B, and C as attempts to circumvent the court's findings and push the seizure ahead. As background, Duchess County Supreme Court Justice Maria Rosa ruled against the town in this past August and enolled the major parts of local law one for violating SQA and failing to consider the environmental impacts of eminent domain and for improperly redefining boat club to target private property. This ruling confirmed the process's flaws, lack of transparency, and echoes the fact that there is no public input. Yet, instead of halting this divisive action, the board continues to insist on full acquisition even as legal actions remain pending in both state and federal courts. Local law a manipulates the county preservation fund CPF meant for voluntary land purchases under the

general municipal law six to bankroll this five 1.25 million plus seizure plus hundreds of thousands in ADA and maintenance costs. The funds from the CPF would possibly be used post purchase for for this eminent domain process. Laws B and C patch zoning flaws that Rosa exposed bypassing proper environmental studies and site suitability. I've attached a supporting document with specific details. This is fiscal malfeasance under general municipal law 51. And I've calculated through foil about 190,000 spent so far on lawsuits, consultants, and new laws with no transparencies or updated budgets or public votes. The CPF designed for willing sellers, not force seizures, is being twisted to fund this divisive agenda, tearing our community apart. I've done some research and importantly the board does not have sole authority to ram these through. The process is constrained by state law. Each require public hearings, secret environmental reviews, planning board referrals for zoning changes, plus potential Duchess County planning board review and possible supermajority vote if 20% of owners protest. A 45day permissive ref referendum allows petitions also to force a public vote. I, you know, I filed a complaint with the New York State Controller. I urge the press and the public to demand a full accounting of costs, reject these laws, and organize petitions, pause spending, embrace mediation for a true partnership, and commit to an

independent audit. Red Hook deserves accountability, not conflict at our expense. Thank you.

Comment. Matt, if you'd be kind enough to say your name.

Sure. My name is Excuse me, Matt. Matthew Donnie. I live at 60 Garden Street. And the reason I'm here is to represent all these folks and everybody in Red Hook. And you said something in the beginning of the meeting which um you said there was a divide with the community about the eminent domain taking over the boat club and there is no divide. There's five against the entire community. You are the only five people on record on record that want this to happen. So a good friend of mine Ed Blundell mayor of Red Hook for many many years trustee. I've known Ed for 20 years. He gave everything to this town, everything to the village. He was like the real representation of of Red Hook. I'm going to let you know what Ed sent me today. This is her quote from Ed Blundell. Seems like the town isn't listening to the people. The zoning change is a bit devious, but but I am not sure he can do that in one meeting. The first change was voided by the court. As I recall, he's trying to devalue the location of that zoning change, which reduces the market value in eminent domain. just sounds like bad karma across um the effort. I don't recall town people ever complaining about river access issues. Ed kept his boat in the round for 30 years. If a res he says if a resident can't afford a boat, there's plenty of places and options to dock in winter storage. Like he mentioned once, we need to keep the lawyers and the financial people on top of this. Buying, redevelopment, insurance, and staffing will prove very costly. The purchase could likely be funded by the community development fund, but not the recurring costs. That would be from taxes. The town should just back off and recognize the folks don't need or want this. Then he goes on to say, "You guys should get a friendly accountant to project cost to the town down the road. The purchase price is one thing, but I would I would presume that they need engineering,

demolition, redevelopment, and a year to do that. That's just about a half a million dollars. The insurance, proper staffing all year is going to be expensive. Even though it is not a beach, you you're gonna probably need a lifeguard and trading staff. Is there is there any deep thought to to what they're going to do with the boat club during the winter when people and and um teenagers decide to go down in there and party and hang out and have fun and do absolutely nothing. So, this is, listen, this is a very emotional issue obviously for the town and I'm trying to be as less emotional as I can, but the reality is folks, this isn't what the town of Red wants. We're telling you that. Everybody's here is telling you that. Please do the right thing.

Bottom line is Alan. That's the bottom line. I'm sorry. We're finished with Let him speak.

My name is Rob Singleton. I live at 19 Smith Street in the village of Red Hook.

Thank you for your time tonight. I'd like to address my comments to the Ford board members exclusive of Mr. McKeon. You were elected to your positions by the people of this town because the people of this town believed that you shared their values, that you understood their vision and their priorities. After 10 months of this debacle, it's hard to believe that anyone thinks that Robert's plan really demonstrates the people's values, executes their plans, or their visions. All you need to do is drive around this town and see banners in opposition and lawn signs in opposition or to go to the four corners on a Saturday morning and seeing people standing out in opposition to this ill- fated plan. The result of this debacle has been wasting taxpayer dollars on legal fees and dividing this town and the erosion of the people's trust in you five people. You four can change that tonight. All you need to do to restore the people's trust is vote no on local law B. You can then bring back some faith in our public leadership. If you stand up and just vote no, you'll regain people's trust.

Thank you. Thank you.

Okay, we're going to jump into the agenda. I'm going to try and address very quickly because it's a long agenda. A couple things that we heard. It's not a back and forth. If you want to have a back and forth, please come into town hall. We can dedicate as much time as you want individually or if several of you want to come, that's all fine. First of all, as far as who wants to have access to the river, well before many of us even moved into Red Hook, the community, we talked about the comprehensive plan and visioning. The community said, "We want access to the rivergo. We want Please don't interrupt me. I didn't interrupt. Please don't interrupt." The community adopted several plans that said to establish a town park, waterfront park in Barry Town. We did extensive research on the properties to to understand that the one and only place that that could be done have public access was the Red Hook Boat Club.

Please don't interrupt. As far as marinas are concerned, you can say what you want about marinas. The boat club has never been a marina has never met the minimum acreage required by the zoning code for decades of a marina and was not a recommendation by the town board, but was actually recommended several years ago by the LWRP update committee. And in part they were thinking about not just commercialization by having a large marina. They were thinking about if you recall there were the tankers that were docking up and down the river. Why were they sort of barging uh along the river and waiting there? Because they were waiting for oil prices to improve so that they could move up the river and then they could unload their oil at a better pricing. So Marinas has nothing to and by the way the court's decision was very clear that removing Marinas was consistent with the LWRP. What the court said is if you knew you were going to do the eminent domain, something you didn't bring up and the court's decision said you didn't bring it up until March, but you passed the law in February. If you knew those two things were going to happen, then probably you should have included that in your secret review. The court did have a problem with the definition of boat club because it referenced dues paying members. either our planner or attorney, somebody had basically looked at the definition of club that had existed club not club in our code for many decades. It had that same language and an association or organization with dues paying members blah blah blah. It should not reference uh the ownership. That is true. That was a that was very

astute of the court to to make that. We are making that change in uh the local law uh this evening. But we are trying to keep legal costs down. And so we said earlier we said we said earlier we would just it' be just easier to reintroduce the law which has gone through an extensive review and then incorporate the acquisition of the boat club in the environmental review. And so we are doing that tonight. We are introducing it. It will go through a several week process where there will be input from the public, input from the planning board. There are basically no changes with the exception of the definition and the incorporation of the boat club acquisition in the environmental review. There's plenty of time for everybody to have input. You have to introduce something before you can have input on it. That is a requirement by law. It is also the only way the process can begin. So we are not

Please don't interrupt me, Karen. Please don't interrupt me. Please don't interrupt. I'm not going to ask you again. You're not going to answer me. I'm not going to I'm not going to give it away. I really need to know. Are you voting on something? We are not voting on anything except to refer it so we can get input from the planning board. Thank you so much for answering my question. But see, these are the things that if you all just picked up the phone and said, I don't want to talk to you, Robert. I don't want to talk to anybody else. Answer any question. You don't to talk to you is like around the world. I'm going to ask you not to interrupt us. He goes back.

We should go. They're not. We're going to uh move on to the agenda items. We're going to cover

very basics about the 2026 tentative budget. There'll be an extensive presentation, but just the highlights of the budget are there's a modest increase that's proposed for 2026. Lowers the tax rate by 5% to offset the increase in residential assessments. Big picture is despite a slight increase, the average homes town taxes in Red Hook will be $648 for the year. That's for all the services you get, your roads, your parks, you know, all the permit, all the all the stuff, your your recycling, your garbage, sanitation. We have wonderful programs related to clean energy, all of that. and all the many events for $648 for the year. That is down from $674 a decade ago despite triple digit increase in healthcare premiums and other inflationary aspects

and more than 80 completed capital projects. So, we'd like to think, you may disagree, that we're doing an amazing job managing the taxpayers money and we're doing our best tonight. Let me finish, please. Tonight, the important part of local law. And the reason we want to get it passed is it will free up budget lines so we can use it for things like our fire companies who have additional needs and other departments uh who have uh needs as well. So, uh, fund balances and credit rating remain strong. Um, somebody talked about financial risk. We have for the second year in a row a perfect risk score from the New York State comprollers office a zero score. Um, we had an upgrade back in 2016 by standard and pores reaffirmed back in 2019. in 2024 citing improved management of the funds um and continued projects and you've heard about many of them uh related to trails and connecting parks. The entire wreck park has essentially been renovated after not having any funding since basically the 60s. Um we have flipped the the script if you will. I think I mentioned at our last meeting, my predecessor when I was on the board proposed one year for a budget, 23% increase in uh town taxes just for one single year. We haven't had any increase over the entire uh uh decade. I would anticipate knowing the demands that are coming in front of us that you should expect modest increases from this point on out. But some of the things we're doing are providing opportunities for savings uh moving forward um related to community solar um things like uh buying

the street lights and switching them to LEDs. They're all paid off this year. So there'll be savings associated with that for example moving forward. So there'll be an extensive report with lots of pretty pictures coming up at the meeting uh at the end of October or beginning of November uh with the preliminary budget. Okay, moving on to the first item uh discussion. I think I mentioned there's a a program uh through the state uh EFC department of health. You can if you have an individual septic within 300 ft of the sockill and the sockill meanders throughout the community. So I wouldn't be surprised if there were several people here in tonight's audience who may be eligible. You can get a 50% match uh uh up to $10,000 for an eligible uh septic system of replacement. This is a great program consistent with what we've been doing. You'll hear about uh the Winnicki uh project. Uh tonight, we've been trying to protect all of the critical large uh properties along the Sockill to keep that waterway clear for the fishing and for the drinking that uh happens uh with the water in in the Sill. So, information on our website. Uh, for those of you at home, here's, uh, the website address.

Here's the map. So, you get some idea of just how many people are eligible in the colored area. This includes the village. Village residents are eligible system replacement. Did we talk about what the deadline is for us?

Well, it's not showing what the deadline is. So, if you're interested, I would encourage you to uh take a look on the website. Probably uh first come, first serve. But I think there was a fair amount of money that was allocated for this. Any questions, town board members?

Very good. Okay. Next item is uh the last Excuse me. I need to recuse for this one due to a potential conflict with my business. I'll step out.

Okay. Thank you. Um we are we went out to bid for consultants for this grant funded project which is to do natural resources inventory. We had several submissions. We've got a resolution here. Um the CAC spearheaded this. We had one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. submissions. Uh the recommendation from the task force

is for um Hudson. I know they've done a bunch of these in fact for our neighboring Milin and they did if I'm not mistaken they did the one for the county. So they probably already have a fair amount of the data. Sonia is right here in uh based in Anondale. And here's the staff that will be working on it. I think I showed you earlier the scoring by the review committee. and the team are reviewing.

He's paying attention to this. Uh they were also the lowest bidder and they fit within the budget of the uh grant. Any questions, folks? Are we ready to entertain us? What uh resolution are we on? 66.

66. Uh whereas the town issued an RFP dated August 6 uh for acceptance of proposals for a consultant for the NRI with proposals received is the amount in this communication to 58

58 8820. Okay. So, let's fill in the resolution with whereas after review the proposals received, the town board has determined to enter into an agreement for professional services between Hudsonia, the consultant, and the town substantially in the form on file with the town clerk. the agreement to provide professional consulting services for the project in the amount of 58,820 and I think the grant was for 63 mate. That's set forth in the agreement. Who would like to move this?

So moved. Thank you, Christine. Who would like to second this? I'll second it. Thank you, Jacob. Any discussion on this? I just want to thank Bill, Lori, Alex, and Jen for their work on scoring and probably moving this forward and for the review of seven submissions. Exactly. Yes. Very good.

Okay. Uh likewise, thank you to all the volunteers um for gathering uh not only the submissions, all the work, helping to draft the request. Okay. All in favor? I myself I resolution passes and we can go get Julia bill if you wouldn't mind. Just letting her know we're already finished with that.

Okay. As I mentioned earlier, we go out each year for highway materials and um several different categories authorizing the purchase of ice control abrasives. We have bids for that. We have a recommendation from our highway superintendent. um purchase of road services and materials pursuant to town procurement policy. Whole host of items uh crush stone, gravel, so on and so forth. And then this year, um, we only had one bid for asphalt and, um, our hobby superintendent is, uh, recommending that we reject that bid and go out to bid again so that we can get, uh, some more bids. And so, um, any questions on those items? Both our highway super with us tonight. if you do have any question. All right, we've got resolution number 67. Teresa, did you have anything you wanted to add before we entertain me? We're all good. Authorizing the purchase of ice control abrasives for highway department purposes. You see the bids that were submitted. Um the uh bid that is being chosen is the bid of Redwing Properties at $12 per ton FOB.

Who would like to move 67? So moved. Thank you, Jacob. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Bill. All in favor? Julia? I.

Christine. Myself. five. [Applause] Okay. Uh that's 6768 as road services and materials. Um we have two vendors who have been selected for the various items. Uh, Redwing properties. Red wing properties for soil, gravel washed, commercial item four, bank run cobles and ice control sand wash. And the rest are for Karuso various items that you see in front of you. And this is resolution number 68. Any questions about this?

Two biders on this, but just two. Teresa. Yes. Okay. Okay. All right. Anybody like to move resolution 68? So move, Jacob. Second. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor?

Okay. Resolution number 69 authorizing rejection of bids and rebid for hot mess asphalt. Seal bids were opened and read on October 2nd. And the highway superintendent has recommended that we reject that bid and rebidding uh could be in the best interest of the town and uh has prepared a bid specifications package in the form on file of the town. All bids are hereby rejected as a part of resolution number 69 and the town clerk is authorized and directed to be advertised for requests for seal beds for hot asphalt. Would like to move 69.

So move. Thank you Jacob. Is there a second? Second. Thank you Christine. Further discussion. If not, all in favor?

I thank you very much. Here are those submissions. Um, resolution number 70, if you've been following along, uh, the highway superintendent made a recommendation that our last meeting or the meeting before, I think our last meeting, that we would, uh, expend, um, some capital funds on a chipper truck and a cold patch vehicle, dual use. Um this would uh replace the 2002 international 4700 and the purchase would come from the HT equipment line and balance of chips funds. The total cost is uh this is being piggybacking off of source well contract. Total cost to be just under $172,000. And this is resolution 70. Any questions about this? Seems like a smart move. We're, as I think I've been talking about for the last couple of years, we're spending more and more time energy labor on tree removal. The storms are often times more wind than than rain, and the crew needs to go out there at all hours to go clear the roads. Okay. Uh, who's moving 70 or who would like to move 70?

So moved to second. Thank you, Bill. Further discussion. Thanks for your second. Hearing none. All in favor? I.

All right. Uh, and there are the specs for that. Um, We've got uh local law a a local law adopting an amendment to the community preservation plan. Um I think I mentioned earlier uh what the amendment is. Um here is the uh FEF form. This will also be referred to the planning board. Um but the the changes are just those two things. The Recre Park West parcel being included in the language that it will allow um for the debt to be paid on already completed projects. That would not include the boat club after it is acquired because once again funds from the CPF cannot be used unless they are willing sellers. Okay. Um, we've got a couple things on uh CPF the plan and all of the lists of the parcels and everything are on the town's uh website. Please feel free to look through uh this extensive uh document. Um we need to uh first of all entertain a uh classification uh resolution here on the proposed change. This would be resolution number 71.

Um because one of the projects uh is in the LWRP area. So it would need a referral also uh to the planning board, one of the completed projects or that townwide the plan. Um so resolution number 71 classifying the action and establishing lead agency. It's a type one action. Um, the town board of the town of Red Hook has proposed amendments to the community preservation plan local law a proposed of 2025 in the town of Red Hook. A full E environmental assessment form dated October 14th was prepared to the proposed action. The board has reviewed the thresholds for type one and type two. After examining the EAF, the town board has determined, this is in the draft, uh that there are no other involved or federal agencies on this matter since no other agency has approval authority with respect to the proposed action. This is an update to the community preservation plan. We are the only uh legislative body that weighs in uh that has approval authority. Um now therefore be resolved. The town board hereby determines the proposed action as a type one action. Um this resolution declares the town board as the lead agency for the review. Uh be it further resolved that a determination of significance will be made at such time as all reasonably necessary information has been received by the town board on the action. Um 71. Okay. Uh who would like to move resolution 71?

Put the date. I I think I mentioned 14th if we put Yeah. And let's make sure the EAF has that date of the 14th on it as well. So Diana will include those in the documents. a date of 14th and the resolution with the date of 14th. Would you speak a little louder, please?

Thank you. The resolution date um references the full environmental assessment form dated October 14th, dated October 14th. And um the EAF itself will also be dated today's date, October 14th. That's resolution number 71 classifying the action as type one. And who would like to move resolution 71? I'll move that. Thank you, Bill. Is there a section? Uh second, whatever term I'm looking for. Second on that.

Second. Thank you, Jacob. Any further discussion on the classification? Okay. All right. Uh all in favor? Julia. I William. Hi. Myself. I Christine. I Jacob. Hi.

The resolution passes. Okay. Um, next is a resolution establishing a date for a public hearing regarding the adoption of local law a proposed of 2025 by the town board of the town of Red Hook regarding an amendment to the community preservation plan. So before we go ahead and entertain this resolution, we need to look at the as we discussed uh at the last meeting, we have to change our November meetings. So, uh, the first meeting falls on Veterans Day. Obviously, we don't want to have a meeting on Veterans Day. The second meeting typically falls on, um, the fourth Wednesday, which is the night before Thanksgiving. Nobody's going to want to come to a meeting or, uh, run a meeting night before Thanksgiving. So, um, looking at the schedule, would you confirm your availability for the two meetings to be rescheduled? November 5th and November 19th. Looking at the calendar and the availability of town hall, that would uh leave two weeks exactly in between the meetings. We will keep our October 22nd meeting in case there's one or two items that need to be um addressed, but mostly October 22nd is the uh budget workshop, not the budget hearing, but the budget workshop.

11th 5 and 11. Yeah. 11 uh sorry, November 5th and November 19th is when this room is available and uh town clerk's office is available and does that work? Yes, the 19th works for me. I'm not so sure about the fifth. Not so sure. 19th.

Okay. In particular, uh so let's do that. Let's let's have a motion to to uh cancel the November meetings, regularly scheduled meetings, and to reschedu them to November 5th at 7:30 and November 19th at 7:30. And I'll move that. Um, is there a second for that? Thank you, Julia. All in favor? I

I Okay, so folks, uh if you're watching at home or you're in the audience, our next meeting will be the budget workshop October 22nd. We could uh also have one or two items that uh are regular uh meeting materials. Uh the next meeting would then be November 5th, which is uh Wednesday, I believe. Um and then uh two weeks later, November 19th uh will be the next meeting. Now that we have done the rescheduling based upon the holiday conflicts, um I would suggest so that we have lots of time for input from the public on uh the local laws that are being introduced tonight. is what the purpose of these local laws to introduce them so that we can get feedback. Your feedback can be at the public hearing. It can be before the public hearing. We always encourage it in writing if possible because of the limitations um of accommodating uh lots of speaking and lots of agenda items. Um, so I would recommend that this resolution um be be calling for a public hearing on November 19th. That's five weeks essentially. It should give plenty of people an opportunity um to weigh in on two simple things. Including Rec Park West, which by the way we acquired right around the time we developed the community preservation plan. that may explain why that was not included in the um original plan. And the second thing is to pay down um debt service on already completed projects with willing sellers. I see some of the people here in the audience actually were a part of those projects and

private land owners. Um and that's it. That's the only updates uh to the community preservation plan. So, uh, let's input in this resolution, please, that will hold a public hearing on November 19th at 7:35 p.m. at town hall. Um, what else do we need to input? I think that's it. This is resolution I'm sorry, 72, Deanna. Yes. Okay. calling for the public hearing on uh proposed local law a

who would like to uh move uh for the calling of the public hearing November 19th 7:35 some move okay second much uh further discussion if not uh all in favor Julia I William I myself Hi, Christine Jacob. Hi. Hi. Okay, thank you.

All right, we're moving on to local law B of 2025. Um, and the law is intended to amend the town of Red Hook zoning law to provide for updates. Um, this is the same law that was introduced. So again to remind the folks at home, local law 1 that was passed earlier this year of 2025 is being reintroduced as proposed B and C with only one change or I should say two changes. one change to the definition of uh club and boat club so that it doesn't reference dues paying members um which is what uh the court um had pointed out uh rightly so uh shouldn't go towards ownership it is a zoning law um and the other uh change that is proposed is to have the seeker include the acquisition now that we know um the uh vote uh back in July. Um we can now uh include that. It's not speculative anymore. Um we can now uh include that in the environmental review. Um and just for the folks uh at home, we did the environmental review on local law one. We did the environmental review on the eminent domain. So all of the environmental review has actually concluded. Um but what the court wanted us to do was when we did the laws not the eminent domain when we did the laws the court had nothing had no jurisdiction on the court had no jurisdiction on the eminent domain. The court wanted us to consider the acquisition as part of the environmental review. So that's a reminder.

So this is local law B of 2025 amending the code. Um here are the various sections just as a reminder. It's not a very long law. So, I'll just very quickly The court held it, didn't they? Excuse me, please. Don't interrupt.

I I will go over just the basic uh updates to the code. Um there's a description of both local law B and local law C. Um we uh worked hard to try and figure out regulations as they relate to cannabis and the locations of those dispensaries. Um, we when we passed our initial short-term rental law several years ago, inadvertently didn't cover the topic of uh properties that were in the ABD that were not doing agricultural activities and what level of uh rentals that they could short-term rentals they could have. The law updates uh relative to the state. You heard us talk about the building code tonight. the state updated the wetlands law and so this um includes uh some of those updates uh as well.

This is where you're Oh no, this this is sorry.

And so um this is local law B. Um here is the uh use table as well. Again, it relates to uh also the agricultural business district. It's to give more flexibility to the farmers. So, in their complex area that they have um when they put their lands in easement, they get a pocket, if you will, where they're allowed to uh build uh structures and so on and so forth. And this gives them more flexibility on how many um buildings they can build in that pocket. It also limits however on the other hand the trade-off is it limits how much subdivision um can happen from those farms and that um is consistent with um our comprehensive plan to be protective of the farms. You've heard me speak earlier about all the uh immediate response by this board to try to protect whether it was the Cookingham farm or the UTS property or other farms that were um vulnerable to um overdevelopment and so uh

will this be always please don't interrupt please don't interrupt this value the club

please please don't interrupt this is please don't interrupt. This law has nothing to do with waterfront properties. This law has to do with those areas that I have told you. None of the laws have anything to do with deval devaluing the boat club property. The boat club has never been a marina. It has never met the minimum standard as a marina. It doesn't look like a marina. It doesn't smell like a marina. It doesn't walk like a marina. Anybody who tries to get you to convince convince you just like they try to convince everybody here tonight that they could use CPF funds to acquire the B club is trying to sell you on something. Okay. Um, this law uh deals with those topics. Please don't interrupt.

Can you just slow down so I can follow this because I think this is where the pages were missing. Okay. There are no pages missing. that the law needs to be available tonight 10 days in advance. Okay. And that of a public hearing the document the document is prepared. You're welcome to go on the website. You're welcome to look in the packet there. Okay. Okay. I'm serious that there's pages missing. Thank you. Thank you. Please ask I'm going to ask please not interrupt. I'm going to ask you to please not interrupt. It's just kind of

from what I can tell the law is complete. Again, there are five weeks. We have to lay it on the desk to begin to get input. We are laying this law on the desk. We can make changes tonight to it. We can make changes in the future to it. We must first lay it on the desk in order to get input. That is what we are doing. So those of you who are saying you want input, we have to introduce the law and we have to put um the part one EAF uh make that available as well. So are you going to apologize for not having the pages on the website? Just I'm going to I'm going to ask you please not to interrupt.

It would just be put these pages out 8:00 last night. Come on. Really? Please, I'm going to ask you not to interrupt. Now's your chance. Local part one. Stand up. Part one. Stand up.

Here are the 13 pages that constitute the beginning environmental review for local law B. Again, for the folks at home, we went through months of review, changes, input, both from the public and the planning board to establish the law as it was constituted and passed in February. It is only because of a legal challenge most of which was not supported by the court. But one supposition was that we are having to redo this. If we were not sued on this, we would not be redoing this. Simple reality. The environmental please don't interrupt the environmental review. Let's go through it. Part one. um a full description of the action and a narrative summary of the proposed local laws can be found in attachment F below at the end of part one of the EA. So why don't I go to the narrative first and read that for the public. The proposed action includes three components. Adoption of local law B proposed of 2025 which amends the zoning law to regulate and I think I listed those things off. I don't believe I uh missed any uh provisions there. Um and clarifies the design standards for the TNDCC zoning district. It also includes adoption of local law number C proposed of 2025 which amends the zoning law to remove marinas as a special permanent use. Again, this was a recommendation that came out of a committee not from this town board years earlier.

Um change

adoption uh four or five years earlier to remove marinas as a special permit use. It amends the definition of a club and adds new definitions for boat club, boat ramp, dock and marina. We put these definitions in there because there was concern about grandfathering of the activities that were at the boat club and amends special permit conditions for new boat clubs, docks, and boat ramps. And three, pursuant to a decision in that court, um the proposed action also includes the town's proposed acquisition of a 2.37 acre property for dedication as parkland as a town dock and park area. The property is located and you know the parcels. It's in the hamlet of Barry Town. The proposed action is consistent with the town comprehensive plan. The narrative summary of the proposed local laws um deals with what I mentioned to you, which is that we proposed this law back in 2024. By the time it was adopted, after all the public input, it was February of 2025, February 11th to be exact exact. It was challenged in a hybrid proceeding. Um and uh on August 14th, a decision order and judgment was issued. um by acting uh justice uh Maria Rosa. Um the decision anal then set aside local local law number one as I mentioned earlier um because it was uh presumed um that we uh knew we were going to acquire the vote club and should have included that in the environmental review. The seeker review addresses three these three separate actions. The town board uh review also includes the town's proposed acquisition of a

2.37 property for dedication. A narrative summary of the two proposed local laws are set forth below for a complete understanding of the changes. Readers are referred to the proposed amendment documents available from the town clerk. Here's a synopsis of local B. public parks and trail systems currently a permitted use. Parks have been allowed in this district for decades in our zone. You will hear people try to suggest you you only just put parks into the zoning. Been allowed for decades in our zone. It's currently a permitted use in all zoning districts in the town. subject to site plan approval and additionally a special use permit in the waterfront conservation zoning district. The zoning amendments have been proposed to continue to permit this use but would remove a requirement of site plan approval in all districts and special permit approval in the WC district. The reason being is because the town board, for example, when we were negotiating with Bard College in the hopes that we could do trails there.

We were the only body that could negotiate where those trails could be with the college. It could not be subject to a site plan review. They would be in conflict with with each other. um cannabis sales. Under New York State's Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, the town of Red opted to permit cannabis retail facilities um analogous to wine and liquor stores but not on-site consumption premises analogous to bars. While the use is considered a retail trade trade, recent experience in other states that have legalized cannabis has identified a number of unique characteristics to this land use. Um, and it goes on to talk about the dispensaries and some of the state law. You know, the state had a hard time rolling this out and some uh distance requirements between uh different uh zoning uses in communities. So, the town board has proposed that a retail facility be subject to the issuance of a special use permit by the planning board. We need to get zoning on the books in order to uh in order to allow and to guide the locations of this. Um and they are allowed in the same zones as liquor stores. By the way, um the zoning amendments propose that the TND office industrial subdist would allow for the establishment of new cannabis retail facility subdist special use program as well. Is this in the agenda?

Um, short-term rentals. The town of Red Hook regulates short-term rentals uh as an accessory use of single family dwellings through section 143321. Um, and there are four types of STRs. Armstay hosted STR, registered STR, and unhosted STR. The proposed amendments would add a clause to the subdivision subdefinition of a farm state STR that clarifies the purpose of such an STR for participating in or enjoying agricultural related activities. Uh farm stay STRs are only permitted in the AB district. The clarification of the off streetet parking and loading standards

is also proposed. conservation option for the AB district. Amendments to section 14339 of the zoning district law that apply to the agricultural business district have been proposed. The current rules allow applicants three different options for new residential development in AB district. This would allow farmers were only allowed to have one residence in the development pocket when they preserved their farms. I know this both firsthand and working with uh much of the preserve farmland. Um our zoning was limiting them even though the easement wasn't into the the farmstead complex to just have one uh new uh home. So that doesn't make sense because you want to pass it on generationally to if you can if there's interest uh for example and so you want to allow the you know the family complex to develop. So that's what this does is increase um that option and as I said earlier the change is to limit the subdivision potential

um on the farm so we don't have to go and buy every farm um in order to protect it from overdevelopment. Um uh clarification on nonconforming uses. we'd have some sort of uh strange language in non-conforming that would allow any other non-conforming to come in where non-conforming was in there. Well, obviously we don't want that. We don't necessarily want a Walmart showing up on a property that's non-conforming in a residential district, for example. Um, so we're clarifying that. That's an important uh feature of local law one that we passed earlier in the year and local law C uh sorry B local law C uh local waterfront revitalization. We mentioned this removal of marinas from the district schedule use of regulations. Um you've heard me say many times that um the particular properties the two lots referred to as the rental code club did not meet the minimum standard. It was 5 acres was the minimum standard under the uh code that was in place and actually is in place. Um and and I should bring that up now that we're on local law C. So, we discussed

um I maybe I'll wait till till Richie is out um to to go over that, but um special permit standards uh sets forth standards for approval of a special permit for boat clubs, docks, and boat ramps. Um once again, it's consistent boat clubs, boat ramps. Um that type of use is consistent with recreational use of the uh riverfront. It's encouraged by the LWRP. Um amendments includes removal of the prior allowance for establishing marine pumpout facilities and marine fuel facilities. So many many years ago there were uh fuel facilities there. Um the LWRP committee recommended to this town board and we concurred that we shouldn't be having fuel pumping stations there um any longer. Um perhaps some of you read about uh the colar um that exists underneath uh south of the kipsy I believe that is now uh being stirred up into the riverfront. Um so we're trying to avoid um the risk of runoff into the Hudson River. Okay. uh definitions local law C proposed proposes to include a new definition of boat club by referring to an updated definition of club. So I mentioned earlier we had a definition of club that referred um to deuce paying members and it shouldn't have that definition I think has been on for decades. Um and so we are uh introducing uh an an appropriate definition for club and also a definition for boat club uh because we don't uh want to let the boat club go without having um a definition or being in a non-conforming status.

Uh, new definitions for a boat, ramp, dock, and marina have also included in local law C to clarify the town's intent in regulating such uses. The addition of a proposed new road uh in the district use uh schedule indic indicates marinas will not be permitted in any zoning district and you've heard us talk about we don't want the commercialization of the river. uh boat clubs, docks, and boat ramps would continue to be allowed as a special permit used in the WC, LDH, and I zoning district subject to the special conditions found in section 143107 of the the zoning law. We have possession of the book club. Here's the uh

you currently have possession of the book club.

Okay. the uh consistency determination of drafts has been prepared. It references the currently adopted one. As I mentioned earlier, the updated LWRP was submitted to DOS quite some time ago. In fact, it could come down any day uh with approval. Um and and that uh references uh both the removal of marinas both um the town's uh desire this was submitted um quite a while ago couple years ago and then some um the desire to uh work out a public private partnership with the boat club properties. Um,

a couple years ago, the uh the town of Reic adopted a local waterfront revitalization program which was approved in 1995. Requires the lead agency under Seeker must make a determination that an action um within the coastal boundary is consistent to the maximum extent. To everyone and anyone listening, just please realize the corruption that is behind me. The town council, they're disgusting. dictatorship and please try to suck in what they are shoving down our throats. Thank you.

Um this form is designed to assist the town board on making consistency determination. This is a draft. Um the name of the action is local laws B and C proposed of 2025 local laws updating and amending the town zoning law and proposed acquisition of a 2.37 acre property for dedication as parkland. And here is the draft of the um LWRP consistency determination. We don't need to do this tonight. Why are we voting on somebody? But I want you to please don't interrupt. Um, why are we voting on something we don't know? Um, we are not voting on anything tonight. Thank you very much.

So, we can't

This is a draft for review and for input. Um, again for the folks at home, we had said when the decision came down from the court that we thought it might be easier to just reintroduce the law and incorporate this the boat club acquisition into the seeker review rather than spend additional money on appealing the decision. At a previous meeting, the town board voted to authorize the uh town's attorney to uh reargue the decision in front of the court one and to file a notice of appeal. When we file the notice of appeal, which will be done in a matter of days, local law one of 2025 will be in effect. It will be in effect until there is a ruling on our appeal, which is likely to take one to two years. So, local law number one, will be in effect. We thought it would be easier and cheaper. take the suggestion of the court to reintroduce the law.

Well, maybe listen to and include the seeker include in the seeker the acquisition of the book. That is what we are doing tonight. Introducing or input B and C which essentially replicate local law one with those two minor changes or two changes that I have reference. It's only if it passes.

Um, along with the coastal assessment form, uh, there's a description of the proposed action. I won't go over it because I think I have, uh, basically read all of this, uh, previously. So we have uh let's see. So we have to establish who's lead agency in this. Obviously it's our law that we've developed. Um we are the appropriate authority on this. U this is resolution 73.

Yes.

Establishing lead agency regarding local law B proposed of 2025 and local law C proposed of 2025 regarding zoning. Our hope, as I said earlier, is that we can get the take the suggestion to the court, get this passed. We will file our notice of appeal. Local law one will still uh be in effect. Once that uh notice is filed in the in the upcoming days, and then once this passes, presumably B and C passes, then we won't have to appeal the court's decision and spend more money with the appeal. If this B and C don't pass, then local law one stays in place and we will file uh the paperwork necessary to perfect the appeal of local law number one.

So I hope I hope that that's uh um helpful for people who are trying to understand where we are in the purpose of doing local law B and C um tonight. And so uh with that being said, we have resolution number 73 dated October 14th establishing lead agency regarding local law B proposed of 2025 and local law C regarding zoning. And uh here is the resolution which takes into account um both the laws and the separate action as suggested by the court. The vote of which has concluded.

Any questions about 73 establishing lead agency? What is it? What is that? What is it all? Can you explain that again, please? Who is we?

We would like to move resolution number 73 establishing lead agency. Whereas the proposed form of the local laws have been submitted to the town board B and C, they're considered together for purposes of the review and the separate action. The acquisition, an EAF and a CAF were prepared for the proposed action. The board has reviewed the thresholds for type one and type two actions set forth and determined the proposed action to be a type one action. After examining the EAF, the town board has determined there are no other involved agencies since no other agency has approval authority with respect to the proposed action. Um, we uh hereby declare ourselves as lead agency. So going back again to the FBA, if I could the descriptions. SP a reference down below. Government approvals, city council, town board, the only one. Application date this month. Adoption of local laws. Um, city, town or village planning board or commission. Advisory review of local laws October 25. Should that say yes? Maybe that should say yes.

Chris, can you take a look at the FE AF? You're on mute. Uh, city, town, or village zoning board of appeals? No. uh other local agencies waterfront review. Robert, yeah, your question is on which page? On government approvals? Uhhuh. Government entity? Yes.

City council, town board, obviously adoption of local laws. October 25 B. City, town, or village planning board. Right. It's no because it's not an approval. It's an advisory review just because it's advisory. Okay. Correct. That's why these are filled out this way. Okay. They're all advisory. They're not approvals from a secret perspective. Okay. So, we we answer no to the advisory. That's that's why they were set up. That's that's why they were filled out this way by Ted. Okay. Thank you. Did you all hear that? They're advisory. So, no is the answer.

Um, is the project site within a coastal area or waterfront area of a designated waterway? Yes. Uh, is the project site located in a community with the approved LWRP? Yes. Is the project site within a coastal erosion hazard area? No. Uh, planning and zoning uh actions. Will administrative or legislative adoption or amendment of a plan local law be the only approval which must be granted to enable yes. Uh, adopted use plans. Um, include the site. Do they include the site where the proposed action would be located? Yes.

Uh does it include specific recommendations for the site where the proposed action would be located? Um yes. Uh is the site of the proposed action within any local or regional special planning district. For example, greenway? Yes. Um is it located wholly or partially within an area listed in an adopted municipal open space plan? Yes. Uh zoning um is it located in the municipality with an adopting zoning law or ordinance? Yes. Uh 1972 was the first adopted zoning

here in the town of Red Hook. Uh is the use permitted or allowed by special or conditional use permit? Not applicable. Not applicable. Community services, which school district? That's obvious. What parks serve the project site? Tibidi Bay's wildlife management area and research reserve and town park. Uh project details it's not applicable. Uh project operations same. Seems contradictory. Be very surprised though.

Okay. Um that's all we have uh in the rest of the full environmental assessment form. Um and the additional information is where you see attachment F for description of the action and that is the description once again that I read from earlier. Board members, are there any questions before we entertain resolution 73? No.

Okay.

Classifying the town board as lead agent in these actions. on the pages. I apologize folks. Um you're at home getting dizzy. Resolution 73 establishing lead agency regarding local law B proposed of 2025 and local law C proposed of 2025 regarding zoning. And it also reference references a separate action um by the town board the acquisition of the Buffalo properties. And who would like to move 73?

So moved. Thank you, Jacob. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Bill. All in favor of further discussion. Julio. Hi, Christine. Hi, myself. Hi. Uh, number 74 is to set the public hearing. I'd like to make a recommendation that we allow a lot of time for public input on this as well. That we not set it for nove we won't set it until November 19th. Let's set it for say 755 maybe. Give some time to get through.

And Robert, could you just specify which resolution? There's a resolution from B. That's the one you're referring to.

Yeah, we'll take B first. Uh Okay, there we are. 74. Uh, proposed form of local law entitled local law number B, updating and amending the town zoning law. The proposed amendments are consistent with the recommendations of the town comprehensive plan pursuant to section 239 of GML. Proposed amendments to the zoning law will be referred to department of planning and development for review and report thereon. Uh as a reminder, we have already referred uh the act actions with the exception of the two things that I mentioned. Um but it will be referred again. Um now therefore it be resolved the town board of the town of Red Hook um as follows uh shall hold a public hearing on November 19th. Does 7:55 sound good folks?

7:55 to hear all interested parties on said proposal of the law. Obviously send us input beforehand um if you'd like. Um, town clerk is hereby authorized and directed public notice published public notice. Uh, the town clerk uh hereby authorized and directed to refer a copy of proposed local law to the Duchess County Department of Planning and Development for a report and to our own planning board uh together with a copy of the EAF and CAF for report and recommendation. They're on. Who would like to move 74?

So moved. Thank you, Jacob. Is there a second? I'll second it. All right. Um, further discussion? If not, all in favor of Bill. Julia, I. Christine. Hi. Thank you.

There's the notice. Uh Deanna here uh local law C. We also have um a resolution establishing a date for a public hearing regarding adoption by the town board of the town of Red Hook. Chris, I'm wondering if we can do a concurrent public hearing on these. It seems it would seem to make sense. Um I think you could if you wanted to.

Yeah. Why don't we do that? Let's call for uh public hearing on local law C proposed amending the town zoning law. Um the resolution reads as the previous one does with referrals to both county and local planning board. Town board of the town of Red Hook shall hold a public hearing. What do we think? Same time or you want to wait a little later. Jacob, do you look I feel like it's fine either way. It might make sense to separate them because of different issues. Okay.

But I don't know how much time they want to get for B and I don't know. I don't think is a strong opinion. I don't feel extreme strongly enough. I agree. I think it's nice to separate them. I mean, we've separated the law. I think it helps people differentiate which issues relate to which law. Okay. Um, yeah, that's fine. You like that? Okay. Um, Christine. Yeah, I think that should be separate. Separate. Okay. Maybe give it another 20 minutes then in between 8:15. Okay. I I don't want people have to come too too late.

It's fine. Okay. Uh town board shall hold a public hearing on November 19th, 2025 at 8:15 p.m. to hear all interested parties on said proposed local law and at which time and place the town board may determine whether to adopt the proposed local law. And it talks once again about the the town clerk is hereby authorized as directed to work for and publish resolution number 75. Who would like to move that please? Don't all jump in there. Thank you Christine. Second.

Thank you Jacob. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor? I William. Christine, Jacob, Julia. Okay. All right. Um, moving Sorry. Could you just repeat the the motion was by the motion was by Christine, seconded by Jacob and all five voted in favor. Sorry, I think my packets out of order. Did we um did we establish the agency for policy as well as lobby? Yeah, it's a combined resolution.

It's a crime combined resolution. Okay. Uh we are now at the point of uh acknowledging the state's update to the building code. Uh we received communication from Department of State along with myerta and the international code council. The ICC is really the one that develops the updates every few years to the code. Um, the codes were recently adopted by the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council as part of a major update to the state uniform fire prevention and building code and energy conservation construction code. The new code and energy code will take effective will take effective sure that our language works but uh will take effect on December 31, 2025 beginning October 1st which has already passed. Regulated parties may use either the current or newly adopted provisions of the uniform code to represent compliance as part of a building permit application. On December 31, 2025, the newly adopted state building and energy codes will become formally effective. The energy code has no transition period and will become effective on December 31st, 2025. If you want to access the appendixes, there are the QR code, there's the chapter 74, uh, which talks to adoption of the rules and regulations that's within our local

Uh whereas pursuant to article 74 of the town code, is it article 74 Christine or chapter 74? unmute myself. I I'll just double check while we're on if you give me a second. Sure. I thought it was article, but I'll check.

No worries. Uh the town of Red Hook provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention of Building Code and the State Energy Conservation Code in the town of Red Hook. And whereas pursuant to a notice of adoption filed September 16th, 2025 published in the register, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code has been amended effective the end of the year. It is chapter 74. Okay. So, let's make that change. Let me make that change, please.

I thought as much. uh 786 dated October 14th regarding New York State Building Code update.

Okay. Um

what else, folks? I think we we said copies of the uniform code and energy code are on file in the office of the building department. I would recommend if you're thinking of doing some building now take a look at this summary notable changes to the uniform code and energy code folks um proposed rule making give you some idea of what the changes are if that helps you at all. It is six pages long. Okay, that's 76. Who would like to move 76 subject to the building codes? Thank you, Bill. Is there a second?

Second. Thank you, Julia. Further discussion? If not, all in favor? Christine, I. Jacob, I. Myself, I Julia.

Hi, Bill. Okay. Um, we're back to that project, the Winnick project. Uhoh. Apologize, folks. This is sideways. Let's see if I can turn that. Look at that. Look at that. I can do something technological. Okay. Um, just to remind folks, this property is uh on the Camp Rising Sun. Um, to orient yourself, it is adjacent to uh what was the Hudson Valley Wool. Hudson Valley Wool. Mary Godesky's farm off of Morton. It's also adjacent to the golf course. Um it is uh 150 acres the parcel. Um what I am showing you here again if you have not been with us in previous meetings is um the trail that is proposed. Um it's it's all open unlike the other project we did with with Winnie. there's little to none uh as far as clearing is concerned. What's proposed is a parking area um and to make it uh ADA accessible there as well. Um the camp will continue to operate and will need to use a portion of this field during a portion of the year, portion of the hours. Um so we are uh partnering with them again another public private partnership. Um

here is oh look at that we're upside down. Let's try turn around there are key conservation values. So you can see uh just how much regulated wetlands are there. Um, I don't know if you can follow this with the camera, but this is the sawill meandering here through the area. The these are state funds mostly to protect this. It's part of the WQUI program, water quality improvement program. And uh what we are going to do is uh consider partnering with Winnie to hold a conservation easement so for forever protect this parcel from development and to allow for a public access. And so uh that's what the conservation parcels look like. Oh, I've turned everything upside down. That's great. Um Let's go back. Okay. Um, so we have a public hearing, but before we do that, um, the notice of public hearing and it it speaks to the dollar amounts. We'll have a final appraisal. We have to get an updated appraisal. We'll have that in and we'll get the dollar amounts. But what we've been um saying for approvals is up to $390,000 would be the share. All of the money would come from this community preservation fund, which we have uh $3.6 million for uh the folks at home. We have raised over or

approximately $7.5 million through this real estate transfer fee. uh folks buying into the community pay a 2% search charge above the county median at the time goes into a fund can be used for only specific uses. We often times hear people say why don't you use it for this or why don't you use it for that. It's because the state enabling legislation will not allow us to use it for those well-meaning intentions that uh people propose. Um okay. which we need to first before we go ahead and call for a public hearing. Uh there's our our review uh by um community preservation fund advisory committee members. Uh they had a favorable review uh of the recommendation and uh unanimously voted to recommend and we appreciate their time um in reviewing the project. First we need to as always do an environmental review. Um lay it on the desk. Um part one and the project is Sulk Hill project phase two purchase of conservation easement of public access easement on rising sun uh property. The location is Oral Mills Road. If you have not been on Oral Mills Road, I encourage you to take a peek. It's the very last road that's unpaved, I believe, in the town of Red Hook. Well, almost the very last. Um, and, uh, it's a beautiful, if not windy, uh, part of the community. Um, in the EAF, the, uh, description of the action is the easement and public access,

uh, and the parcel number there. um the applicant. Uh this was prepared by Wiki. Government approvals, you'll see similar um city council, town board, yes. Town board of Red Hook. Uh approval funding for sponsorship. So here, Chris, we have a yes from the uh planning board of commission. And I'm assuming they're contemplating a site plan. Okay. Right. Because the parking aspect. Okay. Because they're proposing the new lot. Okay. Right.

Makes sense. Uh city, town, or village zoning board of appeals? No. All other agencies? No. County agencies? Same referral 239. Regional? No. state agencies. Yeah, we'll need to coordinate with DEEC for uh that said Winnicki um for the public access part of it. Uh the walking trail, is it within a coastal area, a waterfront area, or designated inland waterway? No. Um is the project site located in a community with an approved WRP? Yes. Is it in a coastal erosion hazard area? No. Um will administrative, legislative, change of plan, local law ordinances or rules be required? No. Adopted use plans? Yes, it's consistent with all of our comprehensive and other plans. Um, is the site within any local or regional special planning district? For example, Greenway Brownfield opportunity area designated state or federal heritage area, wershed management plan or others? Yes, it's within the greenway, um, the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area as well. Um, is the proposed action located wholly or partially within an area listed in an adopted municipal open space plan? Yes. Is the site of the proposed action located in the municipality with an adopted zoning law ordinance? Yes. If yes, what is the zoning classification included? any applicable overlay district waterfront conservation because it's within 100 ft of the salt hill and the ABD is the use permitted or allowed by special or

conditional use permit? Yes. Is a zoning change requested? No. Um existing community services as with the previous EAS details the police department, fire department, county sheriff's, New York State Police, Central School District. the total acreage of the site of the proposed action. You heard me say 150, it's 142. Um, no disturbance, although

Chris, I'm wondering if we want to put less than one acre there instead of zero because of the parking. Yeah. Yeah. This was provided by Winnicki. So if you feel that you should make a modification, I think we should be appropriate.

Yeah, let's change let's change BB if you will. Total leverage to be physically disturbed to less than one acre. It's a tiny area for the parking, but nonetheless, um I don't want to assume there'll be zero disturbance with with that uh total acreage. Uh, okay. So, less than 1 acre. Can we make that change, please, and lay it on the desk? Uh, is the proposed action an expansion of an existing project for use? No. Is it a subdivision? Nope. Uh, is it a cluster? No. Uh, will it be constructed in multiple phases? No. New residential uses? No. Nonresidential? No. Uh does the proposed action include new nonresidential construction total number of structures? So zero structures approximate extent of building space. Okay, so it's not a structure. It is pardon me. Uh does the proposed action include construction or other activities will result in the empoundment of any liquids? No. Uh, does the proposed action include any excavation, mining or dredging during construction, operations, or both? You know, Chris, I think I'm going to recommend that we put in a little language there. Um, and and change that to yes. Uh, town board members, what do you think just for the parking? I know that it's a fairly level, but I think it's better to just say yes and then uh put the purpose of the excavation. What do you think on that, Chris?

This is on item. Tell me the item you're I'm sorry. We're on D2 project operations. So, I don't know. Is that the appropriate place to put that

liquid waste?

No, I'm on D2 pro, I'm sorry. D2 A1 AI. Uh, does the pro D2 project operations does the proposed action include any excavation, mining, or dredging during construction operations or both? It's a little confusing but it is the form that we have to work with. Uh, I well I don't You're talking about a though.

D2A. Does the proposed action include any excavation? Excavation. I I mean I don't think that you're not talking about excavation here, right? You're talking about Well, we're just talking about leveling if there's any leveling necessary. Maybe that's too minor to include. Not including general site preparation grading. Oh, not including Okay, never mind. Okay, you're not going to move things off site, right? No, we're not. No, no, no. Right. Okay. Okay. So, grading grading is Yeah. Okay. Right.

Uh will a proposed action generate liquor waste? No. Uh disturb more than one acre? No. Uh proposed action include or will it use on-site one or more sources of air emissions including fuel open? Um sources named in D2F title five permit. No substantial increase in traffic above present levels or generate substantial new demand for transportation facilities or services. No. We've talked a lot about how our parks get used but they're not overrun. Um, this would be another walking trail, another option for people uh who like to walk on trails and it'll be a trail for that neighborhood as well. Um, proposed action generally new or additional demand for energy. Um quite the opposite by preserving the land that will limit the energy needs of that area of town. No potential to produce odors. No petroleum storage. No uh pesticides herbicides during construction or operation. No will the proposed action involve and require the management or disposal of solid waste. No construction or modification of a waste facility. No commercial generation, treatment, storage or disposal. Um, land juices on and surrounding the project site.

Nothing has changed. As I showed on the map, it's all open um where the trails are gone. So there is no removal of trees proposed. Um is the project site presently used by members of the community for public recreation? No, it is not. It is being used by Camp Rising Sun. Are there any facilities serving children, the elderly, people with disabilities, daycare centers, or group homes within 1500 ft of the project site? Yes, that is Camp Rising Sun, a youth summer camp operated by the Louis August Jonas Foundation. Um, does the project site contain an existing dam? Um, no. Has the project site ever been used as a municipal, commercial, or industrial solid waste management facility? No. Has the displays been generated? No. Is there any potential contamination history? Not that we know of. Uh is the project within 2,000 ft of any site uh remediation database? No. Are there bedrock outcroppings on the project site? No. What are the predominant soil types? They're detailed here. You can see much of the soils the way land are silty long there are hydra. What is the average depth to the water table the project site less than a foot sort of underscores the need to protect these large parcels. Drainage status of project site soils

well drained moderate well drained and poorly drained. That's that 46.4% poorly drained. Approximate proportion of proposed action site with slopes. Not a lot of slopes. Well, 22% or 15% or more. Uh geological features of unique characteristic. No surface water features. Yes to all of those. It is after all a water protection project. The streams are named and identified. Is the project site in a designated floodway? Is the project site in a 100red-year flood plane? Is the project site in the 500year flood plane? Is the project site located over or immediately adjoining a primary principal or sole source aquifer? project is located in and around DEC classified wetland predominant wildlife species. Um, some are listed here that are known. Does it contain a designated significant natural community? any um endangered or threatened? Says yes. And I think that goes back to the Blandings turtle, the infamous Blandings turtle. So, there's some habitat there. Um plant or animal that is listed by New York State is rare or of special concern. No. Is it currently being used for hunting, trapping, fishing, or shell fishing? Yes, there may be occasional hunting or fishing on adjacent properties.

Designating public resources on or near project site. It's near, as I've mentioned, um agricultural district properties. Um, are agricultural lands consisting consisting of highly productive soils present? Yes. 41 or 42 acres of that? Um, is it contiguous to a national natural landmark? No. Is it uh does it adjoin a state listed critical environmental area? We do not have any critical environmental areas in the town of Red Hook. So, the answer will always be no. in the EFs. Um, does the project site contain or is substantially contiguous to a building, archaeological site or district which is listed on the register of historic places or that has been determined by the commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Wreck, and Historic Preservation to be eligible for listing on the state register of historic places? No. in or adjacent to area designated as sensitive archaeological sites. Now, have that even been identified on the site? No. Is the project site within five miles of officially designated publicly accessible federal, state, or local scenic or aesthetic resource. Route 199 is a scenic byway. Um the town of Red Hook years ago have established a scenic corridor overlay district and that's a third of a mile away from the site. Is the project site listed with a designated river corridor under

the Wild Scenic and Recreational Rivers Program? That is no. Okay. And this was prepared a while ago. So, um, the EAF, uh, here's the mapper. Um, this all comes out of the state. So, with that change or does it change as proposed less than one acre Yeah. May we now entertain 76. Are we ready to entertain? Is it 76 or 77?

767. 77. And we need to set a time for the public hearing and a date, please.

In the motion, because there's blanks for that, please. I mean, it might behoove us to do this on the 5th. Chris, what do you think? Or wait until the 19th. You have any thoughts on that? Um, well, I think we need to circulate because of their DEC involvement. So, we probably need to do it on the 19th. 19th.

Yeah, unfortunately. Okay. I know. Got a lot going on that night. Well, look, I think maybe should we try and squeeze this in at 7:30 then? Yeah. I think this will be a short one. He said hopefully um why don't we go ahead and do that at 7:30. Uh wait, we didn't do our EAF though. We didn't do our classified resolution, right?

Yes, we have a resolution. We might need to do that by a motion. Okay. I don't think we had a Let's see. I think No, I don't see it here. Yeah, I didn't see it here on the packet. So, I'd like to make a motion um that after review of um the EAF and the project documents including

and it's unlisted. Yes. Yes. Uh uh let's see. We just looking to declare legity upon review of the EF draft. um and uh for you know circulation. You want to give us some verbiage?

You're looking to um declare the town board as lead agency um in connection with the action and provide for circulation to involved agencies involved and interested agencies. That's what we would say in the resolution. It works for me. I'd like to work for everyone. Okay. I'd like to Oh, I'm sorry. And and in an unlisted action. Okay. Right.

Okay. What she said, the attorney said in the motion um number 77. Is that where we're at? 77. 77 declaring the lead agency town board as articulated by the attorney to the town. That was a motion, not a resolution. Yeah, 77 will be the resolution. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Just a motion. Thank you. And I so move. Who wants a second? Second.

Thank you, Julia. Any further discussion on the motion to declare lead agency? Okay. All in favor? I I I the motion carries. 520. That's 7:30. So that's one, two, three. Four public. for public hearing. So then you need to separately adopt resolution 77 to establish a date for the hearing. Please. Yeah,

that is 77. 77, a resolution to set the public hearing on the CPF application by Winnick Land Trust under the under the town's community preservation fund program 7:30 November 19th at town hall to hear all interested persons regarding the acquisition of an interest or right in real property to preserve open space pursuant to section 247 of GML to remind folks, if you want your voices to be heard and on the record, we must first call the public hearing. From the moment we vote, you call the public hearing and you say that you want to speak up on the matter, that will then be included in the record. So when we hear people say we'd like to, you know, have input on this, this starts the clock where your input we is not only welcome but required to be considered as part of the action. The project is proposed to have up to a total cost of $1.6 million. That's for the acquisition, the parking lot, all of that. the town share would only be estimated to be less than 400,000 or 390,000 um as the uh maximum amount and this is resolution 77 establishing the date for public hearing on this project and I so move back to the front page Uh,

the other way. That's it. Yep. What are we feeling? 11. November 19th. 7:30. Right there. Yeah. Just go down a little bit. Yeah. Number two. Number two. There you go. You just have to fill that in. on or before November 14th, which is not less than five days prior to the date of public hearing. Is it the 14th or is it the 13th at that point? Chris, [Music]

look at the days. It would be Well, it's five days unless it falls on a holiday or a weekend. So, um let's see. The 19th is a Wednesday. It' be it' be the 14th, so it's 5 days. Okay. I mean, obviously, we can do it sooner than that. There's plenty of time. So, we want as soon as possible, but just the blank is there November 14th and Christine is correct. Once again, thank you. That's 77. So, moved. I think I moved it already. Sorry. You want to second it?

Thank you, Christian. Um, as amended by council person Kane to include the date to be published. Any further discussion? All in favor?

Okay, we're getting there, folks. Thanks for your patience. Um, we are now moving on to Don't look at the screen, you'll get dizzy. Resolution to award the subscription manager. Uh, we had uh three people, the three entities interested in submitting, but only one did submit on this. Um and that is uh power market. Actually they have another corporate name doing business as power market. Um this is for the customer acquisition and management the subscribers. Um there are three fees. The initial one is to obtain the customers. Um the next is to upload uh onto the system as part of the management and the third is the ongoing one. And um here is the organization. They have uh very substantial qualifications of 125,000 customers. Um our market manages more than 370 projects. It's partnered with over 50 municipalities. Notice the states that they're working in. Uh nearby Kingston is one example.

And you see the staff person in our background. The attorney will uh have to, you know, review the contracts, make sure they're conforming. Um, here are uh just in New York. Okay. Um, we do have a resolution subject to the attorney's review of the contracts to make sure performance. Where is our resolution here people? There we go. 78 uh authorizing Cookingham solar community distributed generation subscriber services consultant. We uh had a request for proposals. I think we sent out to 10 dated September 11, 2025 for the acceptance of proposals for a consultant for the Cookingham solar community distributed generation subscriber services project with proposals received by October 3rd at 2 p.m. After review of the proposals received, the town board has determined to enter an agreement for professional services between and um they're a DBA course. So what is the what's the name of the company the power market's doing?

No, no, it is one second. It's uh project economics. Okay. Yes. Thank you. Project economics. Let's put that on the first page of their proposal. What's that?

It was on the first page of the proposal. Yes. project e economics DBA uh power market um and the town substantially in the form of file with the town clerk agreement to provide professional consulting services for the project uh for services in the amounts that forth in the agreement um to be reviewed by the attorney to town uh for compliance um and execute the agreement in substantially in the same form that's on file Um, this is resolution number 78. Is that right? What are we on? 78.

Thank you. Any questions, folks? All right, we got to keep moving with this project. We uh need to get it up and running by the end of the year. Um, so we can get some of our uh incentives With that being said, we would like to move resolution number 78. So moved. Thank you, Jacob. Second. Thank you, Christine. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor? Julia? I. William. Hi. Myself. Christine. Hi. Jacob. Hi.

Okay. Roll up to 10. We're getting there. Okay. Uh, we have some reor to do. Um, you mentioned handout and we've got some new blood. Is it new blood or it's the same old blood that you've been walking around with all these years? Bit of both.

Pretty much. Um we uh welcome and thank as we did last uh time Maryannne Harvey who was the representative for the town of Greg Hook for so many years. Um, Maryanne has decided to resign from that position after all those years. And um, Carol Klene has offered to step up. If I ever get there with all these documents. There we go. Here we go. Carol Klein, we're not going to put the U address up there. Um, Carol has a a very impressive uh, resume. It seems like we've got some very professional producers around here, don't we?

Suzanne Fable. Um, and that's that's wonderful. Um, look at some of the things that she's been involved in. Some of the names that you might all recognize. Here's the program named after me. What not to wear BBC had a reality program. All right, I digress. Let's get on with it. Um, okay. Uh, Sesame Workshop, the electric one.

I'll be holding that for the rest of the night. Um, multiple Emmy award-winning producer with significant experience and all. Does that does that mean Panda might someday be up for an Emmy, Suzanne, with you and Carol being involved? I don't know about Andy, but there are special awards I'm hold are there. Okay. Maybe. Thank you very much. Um, so, uh, I'd like to make a motion that we, uh, go ahead and we appoint Carol Klein that Marian had to resign. Um, as the panda representative for the town of Red Hook gleefully. That was a motion. That was a motion.

Second. Thank you, Jacob. Any further discussion? All in favor?

I. And we thank you Carol for stepping up to volunteer. the ratio of volunteers to employees is very high one and it's important that we have uh this level of participation and it's a real statement to how people feel about their communities, the villages and the town that they're willing to step up and and continue to work towards um keeping what they love about it and also embracing the future and getting the best results. Um, with that being said, we have the ZBA and we have an applicant who is interested in joining as an alternate because the ZBA is actually full. Um, we have five members, uh, which is the complement, the full complement of the ZBA. Susan Grover, uh, retired from a career as a law professor in a university. Bill, why don't you read it so I can stop talking for a second?

All right. Well, I'll read the recommendation letter from the chair.

I write to recommend the appointment of Susan Gerbert of the town's DVA. After several email exchanges, I met with Susan West Money to discuss the role and functioning of the board. Susan was interested in both the legal foundations of our zoning code and the practical implication of the board's decisions for the town and its residents. I believe Susan would be a great addition to the board. She's outgoing, personable, and has strong ties to Red Hook. She lived in town since 2017 and has family here, including grandchildren and the local schools. Consequently, she is familiar with the town, its recent development, and the challenges it faces as it works to preserve its traditional values while adapting and developing to everchanging social and economic conditions. Finally, Susan's experience as a lawyer and legal educator would make her an effective and colleial board member. uh in our conversation. She impressed me in our interest and enthusiasm for serving and I recommend her appointing to the ZBA.

We have two vacancies uh for alternate positions. Yep. And this would be for the two-year terms for alternate. This would be for the period ending December 2026. Well, um six. You can't go past two years. But we're in 2025. Yeah, you can only do one in chain. Okay. Yeah. I make a motion that we appoint Susan Gmer as an alternate member of the ZBA uh for the period ending in December 31st of 2026. I'll second that.

Thank you, Jacob. Um any further discussion? If not all in favor Christine I

Julia myself I taking that bill is that uh there is the list we still have a few openings folks if you want to check out um some of the committees. Uh last but not least uh community composting bid. We've got to do some work. The attorney's got to do some work on this agreement. Um, we discussed needing to go out to bid even though Ozone is doing this for us now. Uh, someone who was working for Ozone is taking over that business. that you have not followed all the wonderful things going on over at Ozone and related entities over there that are doing such great work. Um reducing carbon footprint. Um the compost service agreement, we've been doing this for a few years now. I think I mentioned the county has um modeled after us and has started uh programs like this. Um, we went out to get quotes from other, uh, companies and we didn't get any back. So, um, this is just a minor change from the previous one that we had, but the attorneys need to work on the language of the agreement, make sure it's in in formats. Um, but, uh, once that's done, I mean, that's the only one that's submitted. It seemed like a reasonable as you all mentioned I think at the last meeting it was a tiny bump up to go from six pins to eight bins and it sounds like we need it does anybody know has has uh Amelia started to do the eight bins yet not you there

no she hasn't she hasn't so we're we're in six now

okay more scraps for you okay um that's it we'll take this up for a vote the next meeting [Applause] folks I want to thank Thank you all for coming tonight. Uh folks at home, thank you very much for joining us. Please stay healthy. Things are going around. I won't mention which things are going around, but uh you hear reports of this virus or that virus going around and so I would appreciate um everything we can do to keep everyone healthy in this community. Thank you very much for your time. Um, before I wish you good night, I'd like to uh entertain a motion to go into attorney client session. Is there a second?

Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I Julia. Okay. Thank you. Good night everyone. Good night, Panda. Thank you for being here. Thank you.